The Los Angeles Kings have won 4 straight but that streak could be in jeopardy tonight when they visit the red hot Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto has won 5 straight with wins over powerhouses like the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning. They are also 6-1-1 at Scotiabank Arena and superstars Auston Matthews and John Tavares are finding their groove. LA has yet to win on the road, at 0-3-1, and as impressive as a 4-game winning streak is, two of those wins were at home against less than formidable foes, the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres. The Kings are just 2-10 in their last 12 games as an underdog and 1-5 in their last 6 in Toronto.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Month: November 2021
Sunday NFL Pick
The Las Vegas Raiders were once again blindsided with yet another off the field incident but if any team knows how to deal with it they do. The Raiders are atop the AFC West at 5-2-0, are 2-1 on the road, and were clicking going into their bye week with a 2-game winning streak under their belt. Today they will be in New Jersey to face the 2-6 NY Giants. New York’s offense has been lethargic to say the least and Saquon Barkley’s return is in question today after missing the last three games with an ankle injury. The Giants are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against a team with a winning record and a dismal 7-20-1 ATS in their last 28 in East Rutherford. The best way to deal with a tragic event is band together and that’s what the Raiders will do.
TODAY’S PICK: LAS VEGAS RAIDERS -3
Saturday NHL Pick
It was a tough loss for the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, losing in overtime to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a game they should have won. Today they will look to right the ship when they pay a visit to the struggling Ottawa Senators. Ottawa has lost 3 straight, 6 of their last 7, and will face a Lightning team that, despite not having superstar Nikita Kucherov in the lineup, are playing like the champions they are. Tampa has won 3 of their last 4 and are 4-1 in their last 5 trips to Canadian Tire Centre. Up next for the Bolts are two of the leagues best, the Carolina Hurricanes and then the Florida Panthers, so if they stay focused on the task at hand, and not Tuesday’s battle with the Canes, they should get this one.
TODAY’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Friday NHL Pick
Just at it appeared the Chicago Blackhawks had pulled themselves out of the abyss with a 5-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators, they resorted right back to their losing ways, squandering a two goal lead at home over Carolina on Wednesday and now are a dismal 1-8-2 on the season. Tonight they will travel to Canada Life Centre for a matchup with the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets have always been tough at home and this year is no different. The 5-2-2 Jets are a perfect 3-0 at home and have had the Blackhawks’ number. Winnipeg is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings with Chicago overall and 6-1 in their last 7 against them at home.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WINNIPEG JETS
Thursday NHL Pick
The breaks are not coming the Pittsburgh Penguins’ way in the early going of the 2021-2022 campaign. After seeing the return of captain Sydney Crosby on Saturday from a wrist injury, he is once again sidelined, this time with the Covid-19 protocol along with D-men Brian Dumoulin, Marcus Pettersson, and Chad Ruhwedel. Tonight the depleted Penguins will try to snap their 3-game skid when they host their cross-state rival, the Philadelphia Flyers, and that is easier said than done. The Flyers are healthy, winners of 3 of their last 4, and are averaging 3.5 goals per game. Good value on the Bullies tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Wednesday NHL Pick
The Chicago Blackhawks will be a home dog tonight when they host the 8-0 Carolina Hurricanes. Chicago had two positives happen to them on Monday when they faced the Ottawa Senators: the return of superstar Patrick Kane and their first win of the season, and now the monkey is off their backs. Chicago is better than their 1-7-2 record reflects and after losing to the Canes on Friday in North Carolina they will have incentive to even the score. The home team is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings and the Blackhawks are a different team when Kane laces up.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Tuesday MLB Pick
The Atlanta Braves had the Houston Astros on the ropes in Game 5, up 4-0 in the first, but couldn’t finish it, allowing Houston to crawl back and win, 9-5. Tonight the series will switch to Houston and the Astros will have momentum on their side as well as 41,000 fans to back them. Lefty Max Fried is expected to take the hill for Atlanta. Fried was lit up the last time he faced Houston in Game 2, allowing 6 runs on 7 hits over 5 innings of work, and the Astros rolled to a 7-2 victory. Houston is expected to counter with Luis García. García allowed 1 run over 3-2/3 innings in Game 3 and will be on short rest, so any sign of trouble he’ll get the hook. Having their backs against the wall is nothing new for the Astros. They are also 5-1 in their last 6 interleague home games against a left-handed starter and 7-2 in their last 9 playoff games at Minute Maid Park. The Braves had their opportunity on Sunday to close it out but squandered it and that could come back to bite them.
TONIGHT’S PICK: HOUSTON ASTROS