Category: Hockey

Tonight the 7-5-1 Nashville Predators will be playing back-to-back road games, which is always tough, when they visit the 8-2-1 St. Louis Blues. The Predators have won the last 4 meetings with the Blues but trends end.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ST. LOUIS BLUES

The San Jose Sharks are off to a respectable 6-4-0-1 start but the Covid-19 virus has hit them hard, and they will be without seven players tonight plus coach Boughner when they cross the border for a matchup with the Calgary Flames. The 7-1-3 Flames are a top tier team but do not get the publicity they deserve. Calgary was impressive in their 6-0 shutout over the visiting Rangers on Saturday and should take this one at home over a depleted Sharks club.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CALGARY FLAMES

The Los Angeles Kings have won 4 straight but that streak could be in jeopardy tonight when they visit the red hot Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto has won 5 straight with wins over powerhouses like the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning. They are also 6-1-1 at Scotiabank Arena and superstars Auston Matthews and John Tavares are finding their groove. LA has yet to win on the road, at 0-3-1, and as impressive as a 4-game winning streak is, two of those wins were at home against less than formidable foes, the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres. The Kings are just 2-10 in their last 12 games as an underdog and 1-5 in their last 6 in Toronto.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

It was a tough loss for the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, losing in overtime to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a game they should have won. Today they will look to right the ship when they pay a visit to the struggling Ottawa Senators. Ottawa has lost 3 straight, 6 of their last 7, and will face a Lightning team that, despite not having superstar Nikita Kucherov in the lineup, are playing like the champions they are. Tampa has won 3 of their last 4 and are 4-1 in their last 5 trips to Canadian Tire Centre. Up next for the Bolts are two of the leagues best, the Carolina Hurricanes and then the Florida Panthers, so if they stay focused on the task at hand, and not Tuesday’s battle with the Canes, they should get this one.
TODAY’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Just at it appeared the Chicago Blackhawks had pulled themselves out of the abyss with a 5-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators, they resorted right back to their losing ways, squandering a two goal lead at home over Carolina on Wednesday and now are a dismal 1-8-2 on the season. Tonight they will travel to Canada Life Centre for a matchup with the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets have always been tough at home and this year is no different. The 5-2-2 Jets are a perfect 3-0 at home and have had the Blackhawks’ number. Winnipeg is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings with Chicago overall and 6-1 in their last 7 against them at home.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WINNIPEG JETS

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