Category: Hockey

The Vancouver Canucks are spiraling out of control, with just 3 wins in their last 15 games, and now they will host the red hot Toronto Maple Leafs tonight. Good luck. Toronto is off to their best 24-game start in franchise history, at 18-4-2. They have won 4 straight and are coming off a 3-game sweep on the road against of a really good Edmonton Oilers team, outscoring them 13-1. The Leafs have won 5 straight against the Canucks, including 3 this year at Scotiabank Arena, winning all 3 with ease.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

The Tampa Bay Lightning are playing at a level above all others and Dallas bore witness to that Saturday night when the Lightning blanked them 5-0 at Amalie Arena. Tonight they will meet again but the venue will switch to the Stars’ home ice, American Airlines Center. The Lightning are on a 4-game run, outscoring their opponents 15-3 during that span. Now if that’s not domination, what is? Dallas has struggled all year with a record of 6-6-2-2, are just 1-8 in their last 9, and will have their work cut out for them tonight. Tampa is not only hot, they have the #1 offense in the league as well as defense, and the Bolts are 5-1 in their last 6 in Dallas.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

The Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings will meet again tonight at United Center in back-to-back games. Detroit got the better of Chicago yesterday but I expect the Blackhawks to even the score tonight. Chicago’s superstar, Patrick Kane, will be extra motivated. He needs just one more goal to reach 400 and that will put him in an elite class with Blackhawk legends Hull, Makita and Larmer. Detroit has been playing better of late but let’s not forget, they have mustered just 3 wins on the road this season and Chicago has owned them, winning 4 of the last 5 and 8 of the last 10.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

The Philadelphia Flyers are starting to get healthy and that could spell trouble for the Buffalo Sabres today when they host the Flyers at KeyBank Arena. Buffalo has been awful at home all year, with a record of 2-5-2-0, and the injuries are starting to pile up. Some key players are questionable for today’s matchup, including captain Jack Eichel and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. The Sabres top goalie, Linus Ullmark, will miss a couple of weeks and is expected to be replaced with Carter Hutton, who is just 1-4-1 on the season with a 3.24 GAA and a 0.889 SV%. The Flyers have won 5 of the last 6 meetings and should hand the Sabres their fifth straight home loss. Consider the Bullies.
TODAY’S PICK: PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

The Toronto Maple Leafs will have no issues dealing with the struggling Calgary Flames tonight at Scotiabank Arena. The Leafs have won 3 straight, have the best offensive squad in the business, and are 6-2 in their last 8 at home against the Flames.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

The Boston Bruins are in a bit of a funk, losing two straight, but they will get back on track tonight when they face a depleted Philadelphia Flyers team at the Lake. The Flyers are without some of their top performers and that bodes well for the Bruins who have won 4 straight against the Broad Street Bullies.
TODAY’S PICK: BOSTON BRUINS

The venue cannot be any better today for outdoor hockey when the Vegas Golden Knights clash with the Colorado Avalanche in beautiful Lake Tahoe. These two teams will be facing each other for the 4th time in a 7-day span, with the Golden Knights taking 2 of the first 3. Vegas is expected to have Marc-André Fleury between the pipes and it doesn’t get any better than that. Colorado is used to playing in high altitude but Vegas sits at 2,000 feet so I don’t see that being an issue. Consider the team from Nevada.
TODAY’S PICK: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS