Category: Hockey

The 3-1-0 Boston Bruins lost their first game of the season on Tuesday, falling to the Ottawa Senators, 7-5, at Canadian Tire Centre. The Bruins were the better team by far in that matchup but probably took the Sens for granted and were playing back-to-back games, which is always tough. Tonight they return home to TD Garden to take on the 1-3-0 Anaheim Ducks. Since winning the season opener, the Ducks have lost 3 straight. They are expected to have John Gibson between the pipes and thus far he has not played well. Gibson is 1-2 with a 5.96 GAA and a 0.872 SV%. The Bruins are 2-0 at home and are expected to have Linus Ullmark guarding the net. He is 2-0 with a 2.59 GAA and a 0.927 SV%. Advantage Boston. The Ducks always give the Bruins a run for their money but Boston is averaging 5.33 goals per game which is the best in the league and should have no problem getting the puck past Gibson.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BOSTON BRUINS

The Florida Panthers are in trouble, down two games to the Tampa Bay Lightning, and tonight it won’t get any easier when they travel to Amalie Arena. The Panthers are 1-4 in their last 5 meetings with the Bolts and 8-21 in their last 29 in Tampa. Consider the Champs.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

After Monday’s loss at home to the inept New Jersey Devils, the Vegas Golden Knights head coach, Peter DeBoer, said they will have to win their remaining 5-games to even have a chance for the post-season, and he is right. The only problem is the best road team in hockey visits T-Mobile Arena tonight, the Washington Capitals. However, there is a positive note for Vegas. The Golden Knights have won the last two meetings with the Caps, and the home team is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings. Desperation is always a motivator.
TONIGHT’S PICK: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

The Winnipeg Jets are 10 points behind Nashville for the second Wild Card spot in the West. With 6 games remaining, it would take a miracle for them to get in and they know that. Tonight their playoff chances get even bleaker when they head to Manhattan for a matchup with the New York Rangers. The Rangers stingy defense is coming off back-to-back shutouts and are allowing an average of just 2.5 goals per game. New York has clinched a playoff spot but are 2 points behind Carolina for the top spot in the Metropolitan, so there will be no let up for the Rangers tonight. The Rangers are 25-8-4 at MSG, have won 2 straight, 5 of their last 6, and beat the Jets, 4-1, in the last meeting on March 6th.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK RANGERS

The New York Islanders are barely alive in their pursuit of a playoff spot but are alive and will be motivated tonight when they visit the Montréal Canadiens. The Canadiens have lost 3 straight, 7 of their last 10, and are a dismal 10-21-4 at Centre Bell. This morning New York lost one of the best Islanders of all time, Mike Bossy, which will given them even more motivation to take it to the Habs.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Riding a 5-game winning streak, the Vegas Golden Knights return home tonight to take on their Pacific foe, the Vancouver Canucks. The two clubs met on Sunday in Vancouver with the Golden Knights coming out on top, 3-2. Vancouver’s playoff hopes are starting to dwindle and it won’t get any brighter for them tonight at T-Mobile Arena. The Canucks will be without winger Brock Boeser and possibly D-man Quinn Hughes, and that will hurt. The Knights have won 5 straight at home, are 7-0 in their last 7 against the Pacific, and 14-5 in their last 19 meetings with Vancouver.
TONIGHT’S PICK: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

The Colorado Avalanche and the Pittsburgh Penguins will butt heads once again and this time it will be on the Penguins’ home ice at PPG Paints Arena. The two clubs faced each other on Saturday in Colorado, with the Avs eking it out, 3-2, but this game could have gone either way. Pittsburgh is 4-1 in their last 5 in the second game of a home and home scenario, 7-3 in their last 10 against the Avs at PPG Paints Arena, and the home team is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings. Altitude will not be a factor in this one for Pittsburgh and they match up well with Colorado. It’s hard to go against the best team in hockey but in this case it’s warranted.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS