Category: Hockey

The New York Islanders are still in the playoff hunt but had better get back on track soon if they want to see the post-season. They will have that opportunity tonight when they travel north of the border to take on the Ottawa Senators. The Islanders have won 6 straight against the Sens, and both meetings this year, but this will not be as easy as it appears. Despite having only 58 points to their credit, Ottawa is a tough opponent at Canadian Tire Centre, with a record of 17-13-6, and they have the veteran, Bobby Ryan, back on the ice, who was out with some personnel issues. However, New York is due after losing 4 straight and if they are going to get back on track it will be tonight against an Ottawa team they have dominated.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Whenever you can get Connor McDavid and his Edmonton Oilers as a dog, you have to consider them, and they will be one tonight when they visit Bridgestone Arena to face the Nashville Predators. The Oilers enter tonight’s game with a road record of 18-13-3 and have faced the Preds twice this year, winning both meetings. Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl, who leads the league in points, has been a Predator killer, notching 4 tallies in the first two contests. Nashville has won 3 of their last 4 games and are fighting for a playoff spot so this will not be a walk in the park for Edmonton but with Mike Smith expected between the pipes for the Oilers , who is 11-1-4 in his last 16 starts, they get it done.
TONIGHT’S PICK: EDMONTON OILERS

The Anaheim Ducks are riding a 2-game winning streak and they have accomplished it by beating two of the elite teams in the NHL, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Edmonton Oilers. Tonight the competition will be less formidable when they host the New Jersey Devils at Honda Center. The Devils, who are 13-17-2 on the road, have lost 2 in a row, both in OT, and will be playing back-to-back games tonight after falling to the Los Angeles Kings last night, 2-1. Anaheim has had New Jersey’s number at the Pond, going 5-0 in the last 5 meetings, and they are 9-3 in the last 12 meetings with the Devils overall.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ANAHEIM DUCKS

The New York Rangers have won 5 in a row and had better play flawless hockey tonight if they want to make it 6 because they will be at Wells Fargo Center to face the Philadelphia Flyers. Philadelphia has ripped off 4 straight and they dominate at home, with a record of 22-5-4. Carter Hart is expected between the pipes for the Flyers and his numbers in Philly have been off the charts. He is 17-2-2, with a GAA of only 1.65, and a SV% of .941. New York will be playing back-to-back games, after downing the Habs last night, 5-2, so fatigue could be an issue. The Flyers are 7-3 in their last 10 meetings with the Rangers and put the screws to them, 5-1, in their last meeting on December 23rd.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

The Tampa Bay Lightning have hit a bump in the road, losing a rare 3 in a row, but I expect them to get back on track tonight because the Chicago Blackhawks come to town. Chicago is only 1-7 in their last 8 road games and just 2-9 in their last 11 overall. The Lightning, who are 20-8-2 at home, have won the last 8 meetings with the Blackhawks, and the last 4 against them at Amalie Arena. The Bolts superstar, Steven Stamkos, is questionable for tonight’s game with a lower body injury, but with or without him, they get it done.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

The Buffalo Sabres are not dead in the water just yet. Buffalo has won 5 of their last 6 and are coming off of impressive victories over the Winnipeg Jets and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tonight they will be a big dog when they take their game to Pepsi Center for a matchup with the Colorado Avalanche. The Avs are always tough at home, at 16-9-5, but are riddled with injuries and will be without one of their top producers, Mikko Rantanen. Buffalo was embarrassed at home by Colorado, 6-1, in their last meeting on February 4th and they have not forgotten that. The Sabres are worth a shot.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BUFFALO SABERS

Alex Ovechkin finally notched his 700th tally and the Washington Capitals snapped their 4-game skid on Sunday, downing the Pittsburgh Penguins, 5-3, so now they can get back to what they do best. Win. Washington will be at home tonight facing the Winnipeg Jets. To say the Caps have dominated the Jets over the years would be an understatement. Washington is 12-4 in their last 16 meetings overall and 19-7 in their last 26 in DC. If the Capitals offense wasn’t potent enough already, now they have Ilya Kovalchuk, recently acquired from Montreal. The Jets road record is a respectable 16-13-2 but now that Ovi and the Caps have the monkey off their backs, look out.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WASHINGTON CAPITALS