Category: Hockey

The New York Rangers got back on track on Wednesday, with a 5-3 win over the St. Louis Blues, and tonight they will try to keep the ball rolling when they play host to the New Jersey Devils. New York is 34-15-5 on the season, 18-5-3 at MSG, and should have no problem disposing of the Devils tonight in Manhattan. New Jersey is a dismal 19-30-5 and just 8-17-2 on the road, but the line in this one is a little fishy with New York currently at only -165. It should be a lot higher. Nonetheless, the Rangers have dominated the Devils, winning the last 7 meetings, are 10-4 in the last 14 against them at MSG, and are worth considering.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK RANGERS

After losing 2 straight, the New York Rangers will look to get back on track tonight when they host the surging St. Louis Blues. St. Louis has won 4 in a row and 6 of their last 7 but keep in mind, 5 of those wins were against some of the worse teams in hockey: Chicago (twice), Buffalo, Philadelphia, and Ottawa, with their loss coming against the lowly Montréal Canadiens. Not impressed. New York is a dominant 17-5-3 at MSG and are expected to have Igor Shesterkin between the pipes, and who is better at guarding the cage than him? Shesterkin is 25-6-3, with a GAA of only 1.95, and a SV% of .941. New York gets back on track tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK RANGERS

The Anaheim Ducks are loaded with young talent and that will be on display tonight when they host the New York Islanders. New York will be playing back-to-back games after losing to the LA Kings yesterday, 5-2, and have not fared well against Anaheim. The Isles are just 1-5 in the last 6 meetings with the Ducks and 3-7 in their last 10 at the Pond. At 25-20-9 on the season, Anaheim is still in a playoff hunt. Expect them to come out swinging tonight against a team they know they can beat.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ANAHEIM DUCKS

The 33-14-4 Toronto Maple Leafs snapped their 3-game skid on Thursday with a 3-1 win over the Minnesota Wild and as usual they were led by Auston Matthews, who had two goals in the victory. Tonight they will make the short trip to the Motor City to face the 23-23-6 Detroit Red Wings. Toronto needs to go on a run if they want to win the Eastern Conference so they can’t lose to teams like Detroit and they know that. The Leafs have won both meetings with the Wings this year. They are also 18-6 in the last 24 meetings overall and 5-1 in their last 6 trips to Little Caesars Arena.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

The Calgary Flames are the hottest team in hockey and coach Darryl Sutter has his boys clicking on every cylinder. Tonight they will seek their 11th straight win and a franchise record when they visit the Vancouver Canucks. Vancouver is a mediocre 11-10-3 at Rogers Arena and had better bring their A-game if they want to score goals because they will be facing the best defense in the league as well as their former goalie, Jacob Markström, who has 8 shutouts on the season with a GAA of 2.06 and a 0.928 SV%. Calgary is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings overall with the Canucks and 5-2 in their last 7 in Vancouver. The Flames stay hot.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CALGARY FLAMES

The Winnipeg Jets will be a road dog tonight when they head to the Big D to face the Dallas Stars. These teams match up well and split their two meetings this season with one going to OT and the other to a shootout. Winnipeg is breathing down Dallas’ neck for the 5th spot in the Central. The Jets will be motivated to gain some ground on their rival and snap their two-game skid. Consider the dog in this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WINNIPEG JETS

The Boston Bruins have lost two in a row but should get back on track tonight when they head north of the border to face the Ottawa Senators. The Bruins have owned the lowly Sens, going 13-3 in the last 16 meetings overall and 7-1 in their last 8 at Canadian Tire Centre. With or without Brad Marchand, the Bruins should get this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BOSTON BRUINS