Category: Hockey

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

After going 4-0 on the road, the New York Rangers will have momentum on their side when they return home tonight to face the Calgary Flames. Darryl Sutter has his club playing well, with road victories over the Washington Capitals and the Detroit Red Wings, but they have not performed well at MSG. Calgary is just 1-6 in their last 7 in New York and the home team is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK RANGERS

The Calgary Flames finally broke the ice and got their first win of the season with a 3-0 shutout of the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. Today they will play a matinée with the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena and had better bring their A-game if they want to make it two in a row. Washington has surged out of the gate and are clicking on every cylinder. They are 3-0-1 in their first 4 games with their only loss coming in OT to the Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning. The Caps have outscored their opponents 17-6 and Alex Ovechkin is hot, with 4 tallies. Calgary is 0-4 in the last 4 meetings with Washington and 4-9-1 in their last 14 at Capital One Arena.
TODAY’S PICK: WASHINGTON CAPITALS