Category: Hockey

After going on a 4-game run, the 6-7 Vancouver Canucks have now lost two straight, and it won’t get any easier for them tonight when they visit the 7-2-1 Toronto Maple Leafs. Vancouver has not played well on the road, posting a record of 2-5, and have struggled miserably against Toronto. The Canucks are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings with the Leafs and 0-7 in their last 7 trips to Scotiabank Arena. Not good. Toronto is 4-1-1 at home and superstar Auston Matthews has been on fire, finding the back of the net in five straight games. Toronto is playing like the Stanley Cup contender they are.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

The reigning Stanley Cup champs, Tampa Bay Lightning, are 5-1-1 and 4-0 at home and I don’t see them losing their first game at Amalie against the bottom feeding 2-6-2 Detroit Red Wings. Detroit is on a 6-game skid and they will win eventually, but not tonight. The Red Wings are 4-22 in the last 26 meetings with the Bolts and 6-21 in their last 27 in Tampa. Obviously the money line is high in this one, but barring a total meltdown by the Lightning, Tampa gets it done.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

The Montreal Canadiens will try to slow down the red hot Vancouver Canucks when they open a 2-game set tonight at Bell Centre. This will be the fourth meeting this year between the two clubs, with Montreal getting the better of Vancouver, winning 2 out of 3 at Rogers Arena. The Habs have been playing at an elite level with only one regulation loss and have had Vancouver’s number, winning 17 of the last 22 meetings and 6 of the last 7 in Montreal.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MONTREAL CANADIENS

The 5-5 Vancouver Canucks are riding a 3-game winning streak, but keep in mind, those 3 wins were at home against the hapless Ottawa Senators. Tonight they will take it on the arches to Bell MTS Place to face the 5-2 Winnipeg Jets. Winnipeg is always tough on their home ice and this year is no different. The Jets are 3-1 in Winnipeg and as a home favorite they are 13-3 in their last 16. To say that Winnipeg has Vancouver’s number would be an understatement. The Jets are 14-2 in the last 16 meetings overall and 10-1 in their last 11 against the Canucks at home.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WINNIPEG JETS

The Dallas Stars will try to keep their perfect 3-0 record intact when they wrap up their 2-game set with the Detroit Red Wings tonight at American Airlines Center. The Stars have outscored their opponents by a ridiculous 12-3 in their first 3 games despite having key players out due to injuries. The Red Wings, who are 2-4-1, have mustered just 13 tallies on the season and will limp into tonight’s game with 5 players out due to COVID, including two of their best, Filip Zadina and Robby Fabbri. The Stars are 6-2 in their last 8 meetings with Detroit and 5-0 in their last 5 against the Wings in Dallas.
TONIGHT’S PICK: DALLAS STARS

The Columbus Blue Jackets are coming off an impressive win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, beating the champs 5-2 on Saturday. Tonight they will go for two straight when they host the Florida Panthers at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets had a blockbuster trade over the weekend with Winnipeg, acquiring high flying Patrick Laine, but his status is uncertain for tonight due to quarantine and visa issues. Florida has not played since January 19th so rust could be an issue and they are a dismal 2-14 in their last 16 in Columbus.
TONIGHT’S PICK: COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

The Winnipeg Jets are off to a 3-1-0 start and just took two from the Ottawa Senators in Ottawa. Tonight the two teams will meet again but the venue will switch to Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg. The Jets have had the Senators number, winning 4 straight and 8 of the last 10 meetings. If that’s not dominance, what is? Winnipeg will have the edge in goaltending tonight. Connor Hellebuyck is expected between the pipes for the Jets and as always, he has been spectacular, posting a GAA of only 2 with a .935 SV%. The 1-2-1 Senators are expected to counter with Matt Murray, who has a 3.79 GAA and a 0.88 SV%. I like the Jets in this situation.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WINNIPEG JETS