Wednesday's games

Buffalo (4-9-2) at New Jersey (4-10-1), 7 p.m. EST

Ugh. In Hell, this is the game they're showing. I mean, OK, Hell is probably always showing Devils games, because, well, let's face it, Hell is home to devils, and New Jersey plays such a horrible style it can only be described as torture to watch, but I mean this game has the makings of just being the worst thing ever. As for actual hockey information, Martin Brodeur remains out for the Devils.

Predicted winner: There are no winners in this game, only losers. (But since we have two backups in net, let's go Buffalo 4, New Jersey 2.)

Boston (7-3-1) at Pittsburgh (7-7-1), 7 p.m., NHL Network

Let's run down the list. The Penguins can't score, can't defend, can't win at home. The Bruins can score, can defend, get great goaltending and are great on the road. Yeah.

Boston 3, Pittsburgh 0

St. Louis (9-1-2) at Columbus (8-5-0), 7 p.m.

I think there's little question this is the best game of the night. Only game with two teams over .500, I really had to go out on a limb to figure that out. I'm still trying to figure out how the Blue Jackets are winning. They've given up the same number of goals they've scored. It basically comes down to, when they lose, they lose bad. When they win, they barely win. Six of their wins are by one or two goals. I guess Steve Mason maybe gets a chance at redeeming himself after Mathieu Garon played three straight games.

The Blues keep rolling along. Some of Jaroslav Halak's magic rubbed off on Ty Conklin. Here's a fun stat: five of St. Louis' nine victories came when the Blues scored only one or two goals. Their three losses (one overtime, one shootout) are all by one goal.

Translation: This team still can't score but it apparently doesn't need to.

St. Louis 2, Columbus 1

Toronto (5-6-3) at Florida (5-7-0), 7:30 p.m., TSN

I accidentally double typed the "3" key when I inputted Toronto's record and it got me to thinking: Wouldn't it be some crazy shit if some team lost 33 games in regulation or shootout?

That's basically all I have to say about this game.

Florida 3, Toronto 2

Phoenix (4-5-5) at Chicago (8-8-1), 8:30 p.m.

I'm not sure what ails the Blackhawks, but they've lost three of their last four games, and two of those were to some pretty dreadful squads in Edmonton and New Jersey. I guess it basically comes down to defense and goaltending that's not on par with last season's team.

The Coyotes aren't a very good team either. They're in the bottom 10 in the main stat categories. Wojtek Wolski has been a big disappointment. Ray Whitney (no goals) has been even worse.

Chicago 3, Phoenix 1

Long Island (4-8-2) at Anaheim (8-7-1), 10 p.m., NHL Network

Talk about two teams heading in opposite directions. The Islanders have lost seven straight games, all in regulation, five by at least two goals. A once promising season has turned super sour and only the futility of the Devils is keeping New York out of the Atlantic Division cellar. The second-year leap many people hoped for from John Tavares started out well, with six goals in his first six games, but he's now gone through a five-game stretch in which his only point is an assist. He's also a team-worst minus-13.

Then we have the Ducks, who have won four games over a list of impressive opponents (on paper), even if Anaheim had no business winning Tuesday. Jonas Hiller has been improving, and he's had to, as the Ducks still routinely give up over 40 shots a game. What's funny is Anaheim has the third-worst goal differential in the West yet the Ducks are in second place in the Pacific Division.

Anaheim 5, New York 3