Caps Cap Pens; Jets Bomb Preds

My Monday  Tuesday picks: 

Pens 4;  Caps 2

Jets 3;  Preds 1

Actual Final Scores:

Pens 3;  Caps 4

Jets 7;  Preds 4

The NHL once again had two incredible games last night, and if you've abandoned the NFL because of its political/player issues and you're looking for a new sport, you could not pick a finer time to make NHL Hockey your new choice.

Despite being down 0 - 3 after the first period - and playing incredibly poorly - the Jets hit the ice hard in period two and scored four goals. The Preds kept up the pressure, playing hard, but they could not return to their first period style of play. The Jets nailed 3 more goals in period three with the Preds gaining only one for an incredible comeback for the Jets.  Jets lead the series 2 - 1 with game 4 tomorrow night.

The Pens / Caps game ended period one with each team scoreless. The Pens nailed three goals in period two, the Caps scored twice. In the third period, the Caps made their comeback tying the Pens, and then scoring once more for a win of 4 - 3. Caps lead the series 2 - 1 with game 4 tomorrow night.

Here's my take (which, of course, means absolutely nothing) on the eight teams and where I think they stand.

These are the teams I see as "playing to win." In other words, these teams are giving everything they have, even when they are down, to do what it takes to win, even though some are down by a game in their series:

Playing to win

Winnipeg Jets
Pittsburgh Penguins
TBay Lightning
Washington Caps

These teams are "winning". These teams are playing fantastic, almost error-free hockey. But they can be beaten, it just may not be in the current series they're in:

Winning

Las Vegas Knights
Boston Bruins

Writing-off (just what it means)

San Jose Sharks - I don't know what they're doing on the ice, but I don't see the desire, blood, sweat and tears in them to beat LV. I'd like to see the Sharks win, but the only thing consistent in their play is their inconsistency.

Wild Card

Nashville Predators - they could go either way; continue in the playoffs or collapse. 

Tonight's games:

Game 3, TBay playing in Boston, series tied 1 - 1; 7PM EST.

Game 4, LV at San Jose, series 2 (LV) - 1 (SJ); 10PM EST.

For all the factors considered at Odds Shark, their predictions haven't been any more scientifically accurate than mine.

Odds Shark: TBay 2.9; Boston 2.7.

Odds Shark: LV 4.3; SJ 2.1.

My picks:

Boston 4; TBay 1

LV 4; SJ 2

( See Disclaimer at the end of this post. )
- - -
5/4/2018 Fixed day top of post from Monday to Tuesday