Hockey Betting Action in Toronto, Montreal Tonight

Frank Doyle previews tonight’s hockey action, and looks forward to Hockey Day in Canada as well.

The Maple Leafs, whose fans’ patience knows no horizon, are dreaming of the playoffs again. Toronto hasn’t been there since 2004, the year before the strike, and the trade for Joffrey Lupul from Anaheim this week is a sign of the Leafs’ ambition.

The Leafs sent popular Francois Beauchemin to Anaheim to get Lupul, Jake Gardiner and a conditional 2013 draft pick. Lupul’s back problems make the trade something of a gamble but the Leafs need offense and they hope Lupul can bring it.

Leafs fans will get to size up the transaction tonight when Toronto welcomes the New Jersey Devils to the Air Center tonight. New Jersey has improved since coach Jacques Lemaire was appointed just before Christmas, but Toronto is a home ice NHL betting favorite tonight.

The real test is Saturday, of course, when the Leafs visit Montreal as the keystone of Hockey Day in Canada, broadcast this year from Whitehorse, YT. The game at the Bell Center is bookended by the Senators at the Oilers and Calgary at Vancouver, but Leafs at Habs is the timeless rivalry.

The Habs have been in the headlines more for their dukes than their dekes this week after losing last night to the brawling Bruins. The Islanders visit Montreal tonight but it’s looking a lot like mission impossible for the Islanders, for whom very little has gone right this year. Things are unlikely to get better tonight either.

The Kings’ visit to Pittsburgh makes for an intriguing matchup. The Kings are currently dead last in the Pacific standings, but they’re only six points behind the division leaders Dallas and are in contention for a playoff spot.

Pittsburgh’s defense has stepped up heroically since Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin got injured, but those guys leave too big a hole to paper over, and the Penguins will get exposed eventually. The Kings are hoping that tonight’s the night.

The highlight game on Hockey Day will be Calgary’s trip to Vancouver. Vancouver has been awesome this year but the Canucks got caught at home last night when they lost to Anaheim. Calgary are on a charge for the playoffs and will have noted chinks in the armor.

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