Category: Hockey

The breaks are not coming the Pittsburgh Penguins’ way in the early going of the 2021-2022 campaign. After seeing the return of captain Sydney Crosby on Saturday from a wrist injury, he is once again sidelined, this time with the Covid-19 protocol along with D-men Brian Dumoulin, Marcus Pettersson, and Chad Ruhwedel. Tonight the depleted Penguins will try to snap their 3-game skid when they host their cross-state rival, the Philadelphia Flyers, and that is easier said than done. The Flyers are healthy, winners of 3 of their last 4, and are averaging 3.5 goals per game. Good value on the Bullies tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

The Chicago Blackhawks will be a home dog tonight when they host the 8-0 Carolina Hurricanes. Chicago had two positives happen to them on Monday when they faced the Ottawa Senators: the return of superstar Patrick Kane and their first win of the season, and now the monkey is off their backs. Chicago is better than their 1-7-2 record reflects and after losing to the Canes on Friday in North Carolina they will have incentive to even the score. The home team is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings and the Blackhawks are a different team when Kane laces up.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

For an expansion team, the 3-5-1 Seattle Kraken have played better than one would expect but will be tested tonight when they cross the border for a matchup with the red hot 6-1-0 Edmonton Oilers. The Kraken will be playing back-to-back games after falling at home yesterday, 3-1, to the NY Rangers and will be without their top producer, Jared McCann. Not good. Edmonton’s Connor McDavid is playing like the superstar he is and the Oilers are averaging 4.0 goals per game and have a power play attack that is off the charts. The number is high in this one but as a favorite the Oilers are 5-1 in their last 6, 5-0 in their last 5 against the Pacific, and barring a total meltdown should notch a victory tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: EDMONTON OILERS

You have to hand it to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Despite all their injuries to start the season they have held their own, going 3-2-1-1, and things are about to get better. Both Sydney Crosby and Jeff Carter skated in yesterday’s practice and could make their return to the ice tonight when the Penguins host the New Jersey Devils. New Jersey (3-2-0-0) will be playing their first road game of the season and have not fared well against Pittsburgh. The Devils are 0-5 in the last 5 meetings, 1-4 in their last 5 trips to PPG Paints Arena, and the favorite is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between these two clubs.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

The 4-0-3 Washington Capitals’ last two games at Capital One Arena did not go their way, losing to Detroit and Calgary both in OT, but tonight’s outcome should be different. Washington will host the winless Arizona Coyotes before they head south for a matchup with two of the NHL’s best, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers, so they cannot afford to lose at home against the lowly 0-6-1 Coyotes. Arizona will be playing back-to-back games after being dominated last night by Tampa, and if the Caps stay focused and not on Monday’s matchup with the Lightning, they should cruise to a victory.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WASHINGTON CAPITALS

The defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning are off to a mediocre start, at 3-3-0-1, but seem to have found their groove after Tuesday’s convincing 5-1 road victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tonight they will return home to Amalie Arena where they are still winless but that should change tonight when they face the 0-5-0-1 Arizona Coyotes. Arizona is averaging just 1.8 goals a game and will likely have to face one of the best netminders in the NHL, Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Lightning are due for a win at Amalie and the home team is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two clubs.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

The Washington Capitals have yet to lose in regulation, with a record of 4-0-2, and will play host to the 3-2-1 Detroit Red Wings tonight at Capital One Arena. The Capitals have been a scoring machine, averaging 4.3 goals per game, which is not good for a Red Wing team that is allowing an average of 3.5 goals per game. Washington has also owned Detroit in recent years, winning 5 straight, 8 of the last 10, and are 6-1 in the last 7 meetings with the Wings in DC.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WASHINGTON CAPITALS