Category: Hockey

The Vegas Golden Knights are expecting the return of some key players tonight when they host the Montreal Canadiens at T-Mobile Arena: defenseman Nate Schmidt, winger Alex Tuch and goalie Malcolm Subban. The Habs will be playing back-to-back games after knocking off Arizona last night, 4-1, which is a definite advantage for Vegas. The Golden Knights will be well rested since Sunday’s victory over the Anaheim Ducks and are expected to go with Marc-André Fleury between the pipes. Fleury is 8-3-0, with a 2.30 GAA and a .928 SV%. Keith Kinkaid is expected in goal for Montreal and he is winless, at 0-1-1, with a bloated 4.54 GAA, and a .875 SV%. Hockey in Vegas on Halloween night? It doesn’t get much better than that.
TONIGHT’S PICK: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Two young teams that are moving in the right direction, the Buffalo Sabres and the Arizona Coyotes, will meet tonight in Western New York at Key Bank Center. Buffalo leads the Atlantic Division at 9-2-1 and are at 5-0-0 at home. If they want to stay perfect at Key Bank, they had better be clicking on every cylinder because the Coyotes can bring it. Arizona is 6-3-1, 3-2-1 on the road, and have won 5 of their last 6 games. The Sabres have also been hot, winning 4 of their last 5, and will have the support of 19,000+ passionate fans behind them. Buffalo has won 7 of the last 10 meetings with the Coyotes and notch another one tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BUFFALO SABRES

The Minnesota Wild have been a disaster on the road, with a record of 1-6-0, but tonight they will be in the friendly confines of Xcel Energy Center for a match-up with the bottom dwellers of the Pacific Division, the Los Angeles Kings. Minnesota is 2-1-0 in St. Paul and 16-4-5 in their last 25 at home against Los Angeles. The Wild need this win and they know it because after tonight they play the next 6 of 7 on the road.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MINNESOTA WILD

Being on the road is always draining and today the Colorado Avalanche will conclude their 6-game road trip against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Avs have never won at T-Mobile Arena and will be without top point getter Mikko Rantanen, who is out with a lower body injury. To make matters worse, Marc-André Fleury is expected between the pipes for the Knights. He has been stopping everything that has been coming his way. Fleury leads the league with 7 wins and, over his last 3 starts, he has turned away 97 of 100 shots. Moreover, since joining Vegas he is 2-0-1 against Colorado, allowing just 3 goals.
TODAY’S PICK: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

The New York Rangers have lost 5 straight and will have to face a red hot Buffalo Sabres team tonight when they host the Western New Yorkers at MSG. The Sabres are off to one of their best starts ever, at 8-1-1, and the young upstarts are expected to have Carter Hutton between the pipes. Hutton is a perfect 6-0 and has a GAA of only 1.65. The Rangers are expected to counter with Hendrik Lundqvist, who is 1-3 with a GAA of 3.57. Edge Sabres. New York has won 6 of the last 7 meetings with Buffalo but this is not the Sabres of old.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BUFFALO SABRES

The Pittsburgh Penguins will be playing back-to-back games tonight when they visit Amalie Arena for a match-up with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Penguins have lost 2 straight and will be without superstar Evgeni Malkin. The Lightning have not been clicking like they are capable of and it’s just a matter of time before they do. Tampa should be able to take advantage of a fatigued Pittsburgh team.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

The St. Louis Blues have lost 4 in a row and are in dire need of a win. It won’t get any easier for them tonight because they will be hosting the hottest team in hockey, the Colorado Avalanche. If anyone can bring the Avs back down to earth, it’s the Blues. St. Louis has won 8 of the last 10 meetings with Colorado and will have 18,000 fans backing them tonight. Consider the Champs.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ST. LOUIS BLUES