Month: February 2020

The New York Rangers have won 5 in a row and had better play flawless hockey tonight if they want to make it 6 because they will be at Wells Fargo Center to face the Philadelphia Flyers. Philadelphia has ripped off 4 straight and they dominate at home, with a record of 22-5-4. Carter Hart is expected between the pipes for the Flyers and his numbers in Philly have been off the charts. He is 17-2-2, with a GAA of only 1.65, and a SV% of .941. New York will be playing back-to-back games, after downing the Habs last night, 5-2, so fatigue could be an issue. The Flyers are 7-3 in their last 10 meetings with the Rangers and put the screws to them, 5-1, in their last meeting on December 23rd.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

The Tampa Bay Lightning have hit a bump in the road, losing a rare 3 in a row, but I expect them to get back on track tonight because the Chicago Blackhawks come to town. Chicago is only 1-7 in their last 8 road games and just 2-9 in their last 11 overall. The Lightning, who are 20-8-2 at home, have won the last 8 meetings with the Blackhawks, and the last 4 against them at Amalie Arena. The Bolts superstar, Steven Stamkos, is questionable for tonight’s game with a lower body injury, but with or without him, they get it done.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

The Buffalo Sabres are not dead in the water just yet. Buffalo has won 5 of their last 6 and are coming off of impressive victories over the Winnipeg Jets and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tonight they will be a big dog when they take their game to Pepsi Center for a matchup with the Colorado Avalanche. The Avs are always tough at home, at 16-9-5, but are riddled with injuries and will be without one of their top producers, Mikko Rantanen. Buffalo was embarrassed at home by Colorado, 6-1, in their last meeting on February 4th and they have not forgotten that. The Sabres are worth a shot.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BUFFALO SABERS

Alex Ovechkin finally notched his 700th tally and the Washington Capitals snapped their 4-game skid on Sunday, downing the Pittsburgh Penguins, 5-3, so now they can get back to what they do best. Win. Washington will be at home tonight facing the Winnipeg Jets. To say the Caps have dominated the Jets over the years would be an understatement. Washington is 12-4 in their last 16 meetings overall and 19-7 in their last 26 in DC. If the Capitals offense wasn’t potent enough already, now they have Ilya Kovalchuk, recently acquired from Montreal. The Jets road record is a respectable 16-13-2 but now that Ovi and the Caps have the monkey off their backs, look out.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Due to a rash of injuries, the Columbus Blue Jackets have lost 8 in a row but are still very much alive in the playoff hunt. The good news for the Jackets is the Ottawa Senators will be visiting Nationwide Arena tonight. The Senators are just 6-17-5 on the road, 1-5 in their last 6 against Columbus, and 0-4 in their last 4 trips to Nationwide. The Blue Jackets have fared well at home, going 18-11-4, and John Tortorella will not allow his club to let this golden opportunity slip through their hands.
TONIGHT’S PICK: COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

The Minnesota Wild are back on track, winning 2 in a row, and are 9-4-1 over their last 14 games. Tonight they will be hosting the Central leading Saint Louis Blues at Xcel Energy Center. The Blues are riding a 3-game winning streak but have notched just 4 wins in their last 10 games. Minnesota has fallen twice to Saint Louis this year, but each game was decided by just 1 goal so you know they can hang with the Champs. The Wild are tough at home, at 17-9-5, and are vying for the second wild card spot, so they are motivated and will have payback on their minds.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MINNESOTA WILD