Category: Hockey

The Winnipeg Jets will continue their lengthy West Coast road trip when they visit the Seattle Kraken tonight. The Jets are back to their winning ways after snapping a 3-game skid with a 5-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. The Jets will be catching a Kraken team that has lost its last 2 and 5 of their last 7. Winnipeg scores more goals per game than Seattle, gives up less, and has won 5 of the last 6 meetings against them.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WINNIPEG JETS

The Philadelphia Flyers will be a home dog when they host the Edmonton Oilers tonight and that’s perplexing. The Oilers are just 2-5-2 away from Rogers Place and have lost their last four on the road. The Flyers have lost their last three at home so they are due for a win on Broad Street and despite those losses they are still 6-3-1 at the X. Philadelphia’s goaltending has been stingy, allowing an average of just 2.6 goals per game, and should keep McDavid and company in check.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

The Winnipeg Jets’ west coast road trip is not going well after losing the first 3 games to the California teams. Tonight they will try to get back on track when they head north of the border to face the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. Winnipeg usually gets the better of Vancouver, winning 7 of the last 9 meetings, and despite only getting 2 tallies over their last 3 losses they are still averaging 3.13 goals per game. The Canucks have been inconsistent all year, are upside down at home with a record of 3-4-1, and have trouble stopping the puck, allowing an average of 3.41 goals per game. The Jets are a really good team; they have just hit a bump in the road (it happens), and if they are going to get back on the rails, tonight is their opportunity.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WINNIPEG JETS

The New York Rangers are still winless at home with a record of 0-6-1 but that should end tonight when they host the struggling Nashville Predators at MSG. The Predators are in a tailspin, losing 4 straight and 7 of their last 8. The Rangers are coming off a 5-0 shutout loss at home to the New York Islanders but have won 4 of their last 6. Nashville is 1-3-2 on the road and is allowing 3.47 goals per game. Both teams have trouble finding the back of the net but New York has a huge edge in goals allowed, surrendering just 2.5 per game.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK RANGERS

The 6-5-2 New York Islanders lost in a shootout in their last outing against the Boston Bruins at home on Tuesday, but I expect them to bounce back tonight when they host the 5-7-3 Minnesota Wild at UBS Arena. Despite Tuesday’s loss, the Isles are still 4-2-1 on their home ice and are expected to have David Rittich between the pipes and he is 3-1-0. The Wild lost last night 4-3 to the Carolina Hurricanes so they will be playing back-to-back games and are just 2-4-1 on the road. The Wild has also lost 6 of their last 8, are 1-10 in their last 11 against the Metropolitan Division, and 1-7 in their last 8 road games against a team with a winning home record. New York is the better team, will be well-rested, and should come out on top.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK ISLANDERS

The Buffalo Sabres and the Saint Louis Blues will square off tonight in Western New York. The perennial bottom feeding Sabres are showing some promise this year and have played well at KeyBank Center with a record of 5-2-2. The Blues are tied with the Calgary Flames for the fewest points in the league, with only 10, and will be playing back-to-back games after being blown out by the Washington Capitals last night 6-1 in Washington. St. Louis is expected to have Joel Hofer between the pipes, and this guy would have trouble stopping a basketball. Hofer is 1-3-0 with a 5.02 GAA and a .836 SV%. The Sabres have the edge in goals scored, goals against, and the Blues are 0-4 in their last 4 road games.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BUFFALO SABRES

Utah was lucky to get an overtime win last night in Buffalo. Tonight they will be playing back-to-back games when they make the short trip up the QEW to face the surging Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs have won 2 straight, 4 of their last 5, and are 6-2-1 at Scotiabank Arena. The Mammoth have a good team with solid goaltending but on zero days’ rest they are 3-7 in their last 10. Toronto is hot, at home, can score, and has Auston Matthews.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS