Category: Hockey

The Washington Capitals have won their last 5 home games against the Carolina Hurricanes and the home team between these two clubs has won the last 6 meetings. Caps advance.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WASHINGTON CAPITALS

After putting the screws to Toronto Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena, the Boston Bruins will have the momentum when the venue switches tonight to TD Garden in Boston. With the series knotted at two apiece, both teams are well aware that the winner of game 5 in a 7-game series, more times than not, will win the series. This has to be a major concern for the Leafs, knowing they have lost 4 of their last 5 trips to Legends Way, and that the home team has won 12 of the last 17 meetings between the two clubs. Brad Marchand has been a Leaf killer and with 20,000 raucous fans behind them, the Bruins get it done.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BOSTON BRUINS

The Montreal Canadiens are just 1 point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final spot in the Wild Card race so losing is not an option. The Habs are surging at the right time, winners of their last two, and will host a struggling Buffalo Sabres team tonight at Bell Centre. Buffalo is just 3-12-2 in their last 17 overall and a dismal 11-20-5 on the road. The Canadiens are 0-1-2 this year against the boys from Western New York so they are due.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MONTREAL CANADIENS

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