Category: Hockey

If the Pittsburgh Penguins want to snap their 4-game losing streak, they had better be at the top of their game tonight when they visit Ball Arena and the Colorado Avalanche. The 41-22-6 Avalanche have won 6 straight and, after blanking the Blackhawks 5-0 at home on Monday, they are 5-0 in their last 5 on one day’s rest. As for the 34-26-10 Penguins, the road has not been good to them. They are 6-13 in their last 19 away from PPG Paints Arena and the home team is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
TONIGHT’S PICK: COLORADO AVALANCHE

Two teams that are smoking hot, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Vancouver Canucks, will meet tonight north of the border at Rogers Arena. With a win last night by the Los Angeles Kings, Vegas is now tied with LA for the top spot in the Western Conference so they cannot afford to lose tonight to the Canucks. Vancouver has won 7 of their last 8 but even though they are playing like a playoff team the reality is they are not. The coaching change came too late in the season for the Canucks, who are under .500, at 31-33-5. The Golden Knights have played well on the road, with a record of 21-7-5. They have won 5 of their last 6 and have Jack Eichel, who is on a tear. The visiting team usually wins between these two clubs.
TONIGHT’S PICK: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

The Pittsburgh Penguins will look to snap their 3-game skid when they return home tonight to face the struggling Ottawa Senators. The Senators have lost 5 straight and have not played well on the road, at 14-18-2. The Penguins get it done at PPG Paints Arena, with a record of 19-10-5, and are 23-4 in their last 27 meetings with the Sens in Pittsburgh. If Pitt is going to get back on track, tonight’s the night.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

The New York Rangers are hosting the Nashville Predators tonight and are worth considering. New York is firing on every cylinder. The Rangers have won 3 straight and 5 of their last 6. At home, New York is 20-11-4.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK RANGERS

When you think of the elite teams in the NHL, the Los Angeles Kings usually don’t come to mind but they should. Todd McLellan has his team surging and they are now just 1 point back of the Vegas Golden Knights for the top spot in the Pacific. The Kings have won 7 of their last 8 and will host the Vancouver Canucks tonight. Vancouver, who has nothing to play for, had won a rare 5 straight but came back to reality Thursday, falling to the lowly Arizona Coyotes, 3-2. LA lost their only meeting with Vancouver this year back in November but that was in Vancouver and this is a different team than it was then. The Kings are 8-1 in their last 9 home games and should take care of business tonight against a Canucks team that is just 4-12 in their last 16 on the road.
TODAY’S PICK: LOS ANGELES KINGS

If you don’t think the New York Rangers will be extra motivated tonight when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins, you are sadly mistaken. The Rangers fell to the Penguins on Sunday in Pittsburgh, 3-2. They have now lost both meetings with the Pens this season but both games were in Pittsburgh and now the venue switches to MSG for tonight’s game and another meeting on Saturday. New York is 7-2 in their last 9 at home and have owned the Penguins at the Garden, winning 5 of the last 6 meetings. The home team usually wins between these two clubs and is the side to consider.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK RANGERS

Capital One Arena will be the venue tonight when the Washington Capitals host the Buffalo Sabres. Both teams are still alive in the playoff hunt so tonight should be a hard fought battle. The Capitals fell to the Rangers last night and have now lost 3 of their last 4. They are also 0-4 in their last 4 when playing with zero days rest and just 1-6 in their last 7 home games. Buffalo is still riding high after Monday’s road victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, and it’s a given, the Sabres get it done on the road. Buffalo is 20-10-2 away from KeyBank Center and have won both meetings with the Caps this year.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BUFFALO SABRES