Month: December 2018

When the San Jose Sharks take the ice at SAP Center they usually win and that’s where they will be tonight when they host the New Jersey Devils. The Sharks are 9-3-2 at home and the Devils are 3-10-2 on the road, which is not good. New Jersey will be playing back-to-back games after falling to the Anaheim Ducks last night, 6-5. This has a shark attack written all over it.
TONIGHT’S PICK: SAN JOSE SHARKS

The Philadelphia Flyers will be playing back-to-back games today so fatigue can be an issue for them when they head to Bell MTS Place to take on the Winnipeg Jets . The Jets home record is well documented at 52-19 in their last 71 and the home team between these two clubs has won the last four games. 
TODAY’S PICK: WINNIPEG JETS

The Buffalo Sabres have now lost four in a row, and will try to right the ship when they host the Philadelphia Flyers in a matinée  today at KeyBank Center. The Flyers have lost 7 of their last 10 games and they are 1-4 in their last 5 trips to Western New York. The Sabres are 6-1 in their last 7 at home and the home team is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two clubs. The Sabres get back on track today.
TODAY’S PICK: BUFFALO SABRES

The St. Louis Blues are a train wreck as they head north of the border tonight to face the Winnipeg Jets. St. Louis has lost two in a row and 4 of their last 5. They come into tonight’s contest just 3-6-2 on the road. After blowing a 2-1 lead late in the game against Edmonton on Wednesday, interim head coach, Craig Berube, said his team is fragile. I’m sure that went over well in the locker room. Winnipeg returns home tonight after a successful road trip and have now won four in a row. The Jets are never kind to visitors at Bell MTS Place, going 52-18 in their last 70 at home. Despite injuries, Winnipeg keeps winning and could see some key players back in the lineup tonight. The Jets have won the last 4 meetings against the Blues and 4 of the last 5 against them at Bell MTS Place. The Jets dominance at home should continue. 
TONIGHT’S PICK: WINNIPEG JETS

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ already potent offense should get another weapon in their lineup, William Nylander, when they host the Detroit Red Wings tonight at Scotiabank Arena. Nylander has not laced up this year because of a contract issue but over his last two seasons he has notched 42 goals to go along with 80 assists. Detroit has gone 2-1-1 in their last 4 games and to their credit, they have played well against some formidable opponents. On Saturday, the Red Wings knocked off the Bruins in Boston, 4-2, and almost got the victory against Tampa on Tuesday, only to lose in a shootout, 6-5. But injuries are starting to pile up for Detroit. They will be without Danny DeKeyser and Anthony Mantha tonight, who are both out with hand injuries. Detroit has not fared well against Toronto, going 1-8 in the last 9 meetings, and they are 0-4 in their last 4 at Scotiabank Arena. The Leafs are hot, winning five in a row, and so is Auston Matthews, who has 5 goals and 2 assists in his last 3 games.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

The Anaheim Ducks are riding high as they return home to Honda Center tonight to face the Chicago Blackhawks. Anaheim won their last four games on the road, which concluded on Sunday with an incredible come from behind victory against the reigning champion Washington Capitals. Chicago limps into Honda Center tonight, losers of their last four, and are just 4-9-2 on the road. The Blackhawks’ firing of Joel Quenneville has not helped matters much. Under their new skipper, Jeremy Colliton, they are 3-8-2. Chicago has struggled in Anaheim, going 12-25-2 in their last 39, and the home team has won 4 of the last 5 meetings. The Blackhawks won the first meeting this year in Chicago so it’s payback time for the Ducks. The Ducks are hot, ride them ’til they’re not.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ANAHEIM DUCKS

The Buffalo Sabres ripped off ten straight wins but now find themselves in a 3-game losing streak. Tonight they will return home from a 3-game road trip to host their hated rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Buffalo will be playing back-to-back games, after falling to Nashville last night, but fatigue is never an issue when they face the Leafs. Toronto is hot, winning four in a row, and are a force on the road with a record of 10-3-0. Buffalo counters with a stellar home record of 9-2-1 and they are 6-0 in their last 6 at KeyBank Center. The Home team is 26-8 in the last 34 meetings between these two clubs and the Sabres are a big home dog in this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BUFFALO SABRES