Category: Hockey

There is only one game on the slate tonight in the NHL, with the Winnipeg Jets hosting the St. Louis Blues. Both teams are in a funk. The Blues have lost four straight and will be without two key players tonight, center Ryan O’Reilly and winger Pavel Buchnevich, which will not help their cause. The Jets have lost three straight with two of those coming on their home ice, but despite those losses, they are still 17-8-0 at Canada Life Centre. Winnipeg has won the last five meetings with St. Louis, will have their dedicated fans for support, and should come out the victor tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WINNIPEG JETS

With a win tonight at home over the Los Angeles Kings, the Tampa Bay Lightning will set a franchise record for 12 consecutive victories at Amalie Arena. After Thursday’s home victory over the Boston Bruins, the Tampa Bay Lightning will not be lacking confidence, and they have owned the Kings. The Lightning are 6-0 in their last 6 against the Kings at home, have won 10 of the last 11 matchups overall, and LA will be playing back-to-back games which is always tough. Amelie Arena will be sold out as usual and you know it will be electric. Consider the Bolts.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

The Toronto Maple Leafs have won 2 straight and 4 out of their last 5. Tonight they will look to stay hot when they host the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena. If the Leafs want to keep their lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning for the second spot in the Atlantic, they need to take care of teams like Ottawa and tonight they will do just that. Toronto rarely loses on their home ice. The Leafs are 19-3-4 at Scotiabank, have won the last 4 meetings with Ottawa, and are 6-0 in their last 6 against the Senators at home.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

When the New Jersey Devils come to town, anxiety levels soar and that is what the Nashville Predators are experiencing right now as they prepare to host the Devils tonight at Bridgestone Arena. The 31-13-4 Devils are lethal on the road, with a record of 18-2-2, and they are hot. New Jersey has won 2 straight and 7 of their last 8. The Predators are not the dominant team they once were, at 23-18-6. Nashville has owned New Jersey in the past, winning the last 7 meetings, but things are about to change.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW JERSEY DEVILS

The Florida Panthers fell to the New York Rangers last night, 6-2, at MSG and it won’t get any easier for them tonight when they visit PPG Paints Arena and the Pittsburgh Penguins. With last night’s loss, the Panthers are now 11-15-2 on the road and have not fared well on zero days rest, going 0-5 in their last 5. The Penguins will be well-rested and are a stellar 13-5-4 at home. They are also 20-6 in their last 26 against the Cats at PPG.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

The Buffalo Sabres will take a 2-game winning streak and an impressive road record into the Big D tonight to face the Dallas Stars. Buffalo is 12-7-1 away from KeyBank Center but when in Dallas they have struggled, going 1-8 in their last 9. The Stars are also on a 2-game winning streak and at home they are tough to beat, with a record of 13-5-3. Not only has Dallas dominated Buffalo at home, they are 7-2 in the last 9 meetings overall. The Stars are second in the league in goals allowed, surrendering an average of only 2.5 per game, and you can credit Jake Oettinger for that. He is expected to be between the pipes tonight. Oettinger is 21-7-4 with a 2.20 GAA, a 0.926 SV%, and 4 shutouts.
TONIGHT’S PICK: DALLAS STARS

The Philadelphia Flyers have had the Chicago Blackhawks in their back pocket and that is who they will be hosting tonight. The Blackhawks are a mess. They are 12-26-4 overall and a dismal 3-11-2 on the road. You know things are not going well when their captain, Jonathan Toews, says it’s time for him to make a change. The Broad Street Bullies are 6-1 in their last 7 meetings with the Hawks overall and 17-1 in their last 18 against them at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers won’t come cheap but are still worth considering.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PHILADELPHIA FLYERS