Month: October 2024

The New York Rangers return home tonight to MSG and will host the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. The Rangers are clicking on every cylinder. They have won 4 straight, are 5-0-1 on the season, and 1-0-1 at the Garden. New York has been a scoring machine, averaging over 5 goals per game and allowing an average of just 2. The Champs are 4-3-1, 2-2-0 on the road, and will have their tail between their legs tonight after Tuesday’s 5-1 thumping by the Minnesota Wild in front of their home crowd.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK RANGERS

The Philadelphia Flyers and the Washington Capitals will be playing back-to-back games tonight but the venue switches from Wells Fargo Center to Capital One Arena in the nation’s capital. The 4-1-1 Caps cruised to an easy 4-1 victory last night on Broad Street and have now won 4 straight. The Flyers are just 1-4-1 on the season and have lost 5 in a row, and it won’t get any easier tonight. Ivan Fedotov is expected to be between the pipes for Philly and this guy can’t even stop a basketball. He is 0-2 with a bloated 6.00 GAA, a .818 SV%, and that doesn’t bode well for the Flyers when the Capitals are averaging 4 goals per game. Washington is 2-1-0 at home and have won the last 3 meetings with Philly. The current line is Washington -140, which is fishy. It should be higher, but you cannot ignore the fact that the Capitals are the better team, by far, and have the edge in goals scored, goals against, etc., etc., etc.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WASHINGTON CAPITALS

The Vegas Golden Knights have lost three straight, all on the road against some really good teams, but return home tonight to the strip where they are 3-0 to host the Los Angeles Kings. The Golden Knights 3-game road trip was not an easy one, but they could have and should have won all three. Vegas lost to Florida in OT 3-4, Tampa 3-4, and Washington 2-4. The Kings are wrapping up a 7-game road trip. Being on the road is never easy, especially a 7-gamer, so it has to be taking its toll. Vegas has won 3 of the last 4 meetings with LA, and as an underdog the Kings are just 1-5 in their last 6. Vegas gets back on track tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

The Winnipeg Jets will have their perfect 4-0 record on the line when they host the 3-3-0 Pittsburgh Penguins today at Canada Life Centre. Much of the Jets’ early success can be credited to their goalie, Connor Hellebuyck, who is expected to be between the pipes for Winnipeg today. Hellebuyck has been the net minder for all 4 wins and has a GAA of only 1.25 with a .925 SV%. The Penguins are expected to have Tristan Jarry in the crease and the Jets’ heavy hitters should be able to find the back of the net. Jarry is 1-1 with a bloated 5.45 GAA and a .836 SV%, which is not good. Winnipeg is averaging 4.5 goals per game as opposed to Pittsburgh’s 3.5, and with Helly guarding the fort they are the side worth backing.
TODAY’S PICK: WINNIPEG JETS

The New Jersey Devils are off to a great start, at 5-2-0, and tonight they will host the 2-1-0 Washington Capitals at The Rock. The Devils have already beaten the Caps this year in DC on October 12th, 5-3, so why not again tonight on their home ice?
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW JERSEY DEVILS