Category: Hockey

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

The 28-13-1 Tampa Bay Lightning will go for their fifth straight win when they visit Rogers Arena and the 18-22-3 Vancouver Canucks. The Lightning have owned the Canucks. They are 5-0 in the last 5 meetings overall and 7-1 in their last 8 in Vancouver. The Bolts will be extra motivated tonight for their captain, Steven Stamkos, who is one goal shy of his 500th career tally.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

The Florida Panthers knocked off the Buffalo Sabres yesterday, 4-1, in a matinée at KeyBank Center and tonight they will make the short trip to Scotiabank Arena for a meeting with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs have been outstanding on their home ice, with a record of 15-3-4, and they will be well-rested tonight, having not played since falling to the Bruins, 4-3, on Saturday. Florida is 10-14-1 on the road, will be playing back-to-back games, and on zero days’ rest, the Panthers are 0-4 in their last 4. Toronto has won 8 of the last 9 meetings with Florida at Scotiabank Arena and I expect that trend will continue tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

The Washington Capitals will have payback on their minds tonight when they host the Philadelphia Flyers at Capital One Arena. The two clubs met on Wednesday in Philly, with the Flyers coming out on top, 5-3. In Wednesday’s matchup, the Capitals were sloppy and made too many mistakes and you can bet coach Laviollette won’t let that happen again tonight. The Capitals are 13-6-3 at home and despite Wednesday’s loss to the Flyers, they have owned them. Washington is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings overall and the home team is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings. The Caps won’t come cheap but should come out on top tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WASHINGTON CAPITALS