Category: Hockey

With the Arizona Coyotes and the Minnesota Wild both breathing down their necks in the wild card race, the Dallas Stars know they have to get back on track and in a hurry. Dallas will try to do just that and snap their 2-game skid when they host the Florida Panthers tonight at American Airline Center. Dallas has played well at home with a record of 21-12-3, they expect to have Ben Bishop between the pipes and he has been red hot. Bishop has not allowed a goal in over 230 minutes of play, has a .933 SV% and a 2.05 GAA. On the flip side, Florida has been playing well, winning 4 of their last 5 but their road record is not great at 14-16-6 and they fell to Dallas at home back in February, 0-3. The Stars get back on track.
TONIGHT’S PICK: DALLAS STARS

With a win tonight at home over the Arizona Coyotes, the Tampa Bay Lightning will capture the Atlantic Division title. The NHL’s best is 30-6-2 at home and are riding a 4-game winning streak. In the last meeting between these two clubs, the Lightning were throttled by the Coyotes, 7-1, but that was in the desert and Tampa has not forgotten. Payback time.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

The San Jose Sharks will look to secure a playoff spot tonight when they host the Nashville Predators. When the Sharks take the ice at SAP Center, good things usually happen. They win. San Jose is 23-6-5 at home and will face a Predators team that has struggled on the road against the Sharks. Nashville is 1-4 in their last 5 trips to SAP Center and have lost both meetings with San Jose this year. The Sharks will get another weapon back in their arsenal tonight when Evander Kane returns to the ice after missing the last 6 games. The Sharks clinch.
TONIGHT’S PICK: SAN JOSE SHARKS

The Philadelphia Flyers have been on a roll but if anyone can slow them down it’s the Washington Capitals, and that is who they will be hosting tonight at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers, who sit at 34-27-8 on the season, have won 2 straight and are 18-4-2 in their last 24 overall. The Metropolitan Division leading Capitals, 41-22-7, fell to the Penguins on Tuesday but prior to that they they were riding a 7-game winning streak. Washington is 6-2-2 in their last 10 against Philadelphia, including a 5-3 victory against them on March 6th. Carter Hart is expected between the pipes for Philadelphia but has not played since February 21st due to an ankle injury so rust could be an issue. I like the Capitals in this situation.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WASHINGTON CAPITALS

The Montreal Canadiens had better step up their game if they want to see the post-season and they know it. Tonight they will have an opportunity to right the ship when they return home to Bell Centre for a match-up with the Detroit Red Wings. Montreal has won the last 8 meetings with Detroit and 9 of the last 10 against them in Quebec. Carey Price is expected between the pipes for Montreal and with a victory tonight, he will surpass the win record of the greatest Canadien goalie of all time, Jacques Plante. Habs get it done.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MONTREAL CANADIENS

The Anaheim Ducks looked impressive in their last outing, burying the Montreal Canadiens 8-2, and tonight they will host their arch-enemy, the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings have been on a 3-game skid and are 11-19-5 on the road. The Ducks have won 5 of the last 6 meetings and get it done tonight. TONIGHT’S PICK: ANAHEIM DUCKS

If the New York Rangers are going to snap their 6-game losing streak, it should be tonight when they host the New Jersey Devils. The Devils are also in a funk, losers of 5 straight, and have been awful on the road, with a record of 8-22-3. During their 5-game skid, the Devils have notched just 5 goals and only 1 in their last 3 games. New Jersey will be playing back-to-back games after falling to the Champs last night, 3-0, and on zero days’ rest they are just 3-8 in their last 11. New York has played well at MSG, with a record of 16-11-8, and are 5-1 in their last 6 at home against New Jersey.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK RANGERS