Category: Hockey

The Edmonton Oilers are in a funk, losing 3 straight and 5 of their last 7. It won’t get any easier for them tonight when they travel to Amalie Arena to face off against the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning. The Bolts have won 5 straight and have outscored their opponents 24-11 over that span. Tampa and Edmonton are similar in many ways and match up well. Both can score and have great goaltending; however, the Lightning are hot at home, where they are 19-7-2, and they will be extra motivated to even the score with the Oilers who beat them in a close one, 2-1, back on Dec 10th in Edmonton.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

In their first game after returning from the break, the New Jersey Devils fell at home to the Dallas Stars, 4-2, and I’m going to chalk that one up to rust. Today they will travel to Nashville to take on the Predators and should come away with a win. The Preds did win yesterday at home over the Colorado Avalanche, but they are still just 20-28-7 on the season and will be challenged today by the Devils. The 31-21-6 Devils have been good on the road with a record of 16-11-2 and cruised to an easy victory over the Preds in their last meeting in November. 5-2. Nashville has trouble scoring, averaging one of the league’s lowest goals per game, at 2.64, and will have trouble finding the back of the net against a New Jersey team that is ranked second in the league in goals allowed, at 2.5. The Devils have been in a pattern where they win one, lose one, so today they win.
TODAY’S PICK: NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Finally, the NHL gets back to business and one of the matchups this afternoon will be the Washington Capitals visiting the Pittsburgh Penguins. Washington is the top dog in the Eastern Conference and has a legitimate shot of once again winning the Cup. They are second in the league in scoring, averaging 3.56 goals per game, and third in goals allowed, surrendering just 2.56 per game. The Caps had no players participating in the ridiculous 4 Nations tournament so they will be well healed and rested. They are also 19-7-2 on the road and cruised to a 4-1 victory over Pittsburgh back on January 18th. The Penguins look like a team that is tired and have their best days behind them. They limped into the break losing 2 of their last 3 and are 2-9 in their last 11 against the Eastern Conference. Also, Sid Crosby is a game time decision for Pittsburgh and if he doesn’t lace up, they don’t stand a chance.
TODAY’S PICK: WASHINGTON CAPITALS

The Ottawa Senators were on a roll, winning five straight, but that all ended when they hit the state of Florida. The Sens have lost two in a row, both to the Tampa Bay Lighting. Tonight they visit the champion Florida Panthers and had better bring their A-game. The Panthers are 16-9-2 in Sunrise and are hot. They have won 4 of their last 5, 7 of their last 10, and are 4-0 in their last 4 home games. Ottawa has been a force on their home ice, with a record of 16-7-2, but when they take it on the arches they are 13-15-2 and have lost 4 of their last 5 away from Canadian Tire Centre.
TONIGHT’S PICK: FLORIDA PANTHERS

The 32-16-4 Edmonton Oilers have lost their last two but the Pacific’s best should get back on the rails tonight when they visit the 24-25-4 St. Louis Blues. The Blues did win their last game, eking one out against the Utah Hockey Club, 2-1, but prior to that they had lost four straight and rarely put back-to-back wins together. McDavid and company play well on the road with a record of 14-7-2, won the last meeting against St. Louis back in December. They also average more goals per game than the Blues, give up less, and the list goes on.
TONIGHT’S PICK: EDMONTON OILERS

The Detroit Red Wings are riding a 4-game win streak and will try to make it 5 when they head to the Saddledome tonight to take on the Calgary Flames. The Red Wings, who are 10-10-3 on the road, will have their hands full tonight. The Flames are 16-7-3 in Calgary and just acquired two quality players from the Philadelphia Flyers, Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee, and they both can find the back of the net.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CALGARY FLAMES

The Tampa Bay Lightning are in a funk, losing 2 straight and 4 of their last 5, but 3 of their 4 losses were on the road. Tonight they will be on their home ice to take on the Los Angeles Kings. At Amalie Arena, the Lightning are an impressive 15-7-1 and they will be playing a Kings team that is also slumping. LA will be playing back-to-back games after falling to the Florida Panthers last night, 3-0, have now lost 3 straight and 5 of their last 6. Tampa is always worth considering when at home.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING