Category: Hockey

The 12-11-0 Winnipeg Jets have lost 4 straight but should get out of their funk tonight when they visit the 8-12-4 Nashville Predators. The Preds have won their last 2 but are still 31st in the league in scoring and 29th in goals allowed – and that is not good. The Jets have held their own on the road, at 6-6, and have won 3 of the last 4 meetings with the Predators.  
TONIGHT’S PICK: WINNIPEG JETS

The red hot Tampa Bay Lightning will be in the Motor City today to face the Detroit Red Wings in an early one at Little Caesars Arena. Tampa has won 5 straight, 6 of their last 7, is 6-2-2 on the road, averages more goals per game than Detroit, and gives up less. The Bolts are hot; ride them ’til they are not.  
TODAY’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

The Anaheim Ducks should have no problem taking care of business tonight when they host the Vancouver Canucks. The 9-12-2 Canucks have lost 3 straight, 6 of their last 7, and are dead last in the league in goals allowed. Tonight they are expected to have Jiří Patera between the pipes and if he gets the nod Anaheim should be licking their chops. Patera has a GAA of 7.37 and that is not a typo. The 14-7-1 Ducks have no problem finding the back of the net, averaging 3.59 goals per game. They are also 8-2-0 at the Pond and have won 3 of their last 4.  
TONIGHT’S PICK: ANAHEIM DUCKS

The 13-5-4 Dallas Stars will be a road dog tonight when they visit the 10-9-5 Edmonton Oilers. The Stars have been clicking, winning 6 of their last 8, and the two losses could have gone either way after losing in OT 3-2 to the Calgary Flames and 2-3 to the New York Islanders. The Oilers snapped a 3-game skid with a 6-3 win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday and have played well at home with a 5-1-2 record. Dallas will be without Mikko Rantanen and that will hurt but the Stars are lethal on the road at 7-1-3 and are the better team offensively and defensively.  
TONIGHT’S PICK: DALLAS STARS

The New York Rangers will look to end a 4-game losing streak when they host the St. Louis Blues tonight at the Garden. For whatever reason, the Rangers have trouble winning games in Manhattan. On the road they are 9-4-1 but at MSG they are just 1-7-1. The tide should change tonight when they host the 7-9-6 Blues. The Blues snapped a 4-game skid on Saturday, eking out a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders but have trouble winning back-to-back games, going 0-5 in their last 5 following a win. Both teams have trouble scoring but the Rangers hold a huge edge in goals against. New York is allowing an average of just 2.65 goals per game and that doesn’t bode well for St. Louis.  
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK RANGERS

The Montréal Canadiens will look to snap a 5-game skid tonight when they host their Original Six foe, the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs have also been in a tailspin with just one win in their last seven tries. They will also be without superstar Auston Matthews and are just 1-5-0 on the road. Montréal has held their own a Bell Centre with a record of 5-5-1 and match up well with Toronto both offensively and defensively. For the Habs to get back on the winning side, their expected goalie for tonight, Samuel Montembeault, who has been shaky of late, will have to step it up and I’m betting he will.  
TONIGHT’S PICK: MONTRÉAL CANADIENS

The Pittsburgh Penguins will be hosting the Minnesota Wild tonight at PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins last played on Sunday blanking the Nashville Predators, 4-0, so they will be well-rested for tonight’s game. The Wild have won three straight and are a force on their home ice but on the road they are just 3-4-1. Pittsburgh scores more goals than Minnesota, gives up less, boasts a 5-2-1 home record, and has won the last two meetings with the Wild.  
TONIGHT’S PICK: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS