Category: Hockey

The Florida Panthers snapped their 7-game losing streak last night by knocking off a really good Toronto Maple Leafs team but I wouldn’t get too excited because tonight they will be at Bridgestone Arena to face one of the best in the game, the Nashville Predators. The Panthers have not been getting it done on the road, losing their last 6, and they are 2-8-1 in their last 11 trips to the Music City.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NASHVILLE PREDATORS

The Washington Capitals are on a 3-game skid and it won’t get any easier for them tonight because they will be facing their ex-coach, Barry Trotz, and the red hot New York Islanders. New York will be playing back-to-back games after disposing of the New Jersey Devils last night, so fatigue could be an issue. The Islanders have not fared well against the Caps, going 1-4 in their last 5 meetings and 2-7 in their last 9 at Capital One Arena. Washington will honor their ex-skipper Trotz tonight, who took them to the Promised Land last year, but that is just a charade. Deep down inside they would love nothing more than to put the screws to him.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WASHINGTON CAPITALS

The San Jose Sharks are on a roll, winning 7 in a row, and will seek their 8th straight win tonight when they travel to the desert to take on the Arizona Coyotes. The Sharks will face a team with a host of injuries and the Coyotes are just 3-11 in their last 14 home games. San Jose is getting it done on the road, winning 6 of their last 7 and they are 4-0 in their last 4 trips to Gila River Arena. The Sharks are hot, ride them ’til they’re not. 
TONIGHT’S PICK: SAN JOSE SHARKS

The Toronto Maple Leafs are a solid 13-9-1 at home this season but have lost their last two games at Scotiabank Arena and 4 of their last 5. Toronto should be able to fix their home woes tonight because the Colorado Avalanche come to town. The Avs are going in the wrong direction, notching just 3 wins in their last 16 overall, and they have lost 7 straight on the road. The Leafs could see the return of their #1 goalie tonight, Frederik Andersen, who has been sidelined since December 22nd with a groin injury. Toronto’s young stud, Auston Matthews, has just 1 tally in his last 9 games so he is due for a big night.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

The Arizona Coyotes will be a huge dog tonight when they travel to Scotiabank Saddledome to take on the red hot Calgary Flames. The Flames have won four in a row and are a force at home, with a record of 14-4-4. But, the Coyotes come into this one also hot, winning 3 in a row. Arizona is a pretty good road team, at 12-9-1, and they will have a slight edge in goaltending tonight, with Adin Hill expected between the pipes. Hill is 7-4-0, with a 2.36 GAA and a .916 SV%. Mike Smith is expected to get the start for Calgary. Smith is 12-9-1, with a 3.09 GAA and a .886 SV%. Arizona has won the last two out of three meetings with Calgary and are worth a shot in this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ARIZONA COYOTES

The Carolina Hurricanes saw their 5-game winning streak come to a halt last night, falling to Tampa Bay 3-1, and just like winning, losing can also be contagious. Tonight they will be playing back-to-back games when they host the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres’ Jeff Skinner, who is second in the league in scoring with 29 goals, will be facing the team that traded him in the off-season, so you know he will want to put on a show. The Sabres are coming off of an impressive win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday and could also see the return of their captain, Jack Eichel, tonight. Buffalo has lost the last 6 meetings with Carolina so it’s time for them to snap the trend.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BUFFALO SABRES

The Carolina Hurricanes are red hot, winning 5 straight, but they will be hard pressed to make it 6 because they will be at Amalie Arena tonight to face the NHL’s best – Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning own a home record of 18-4-0, where they are averaging 4.41 goals per game, and surrendering an average of 2.64. On the flip side, the Canes are 9-10-1 on the road, where they are averaging 2.45 goals per game, and allowing an average of 3.05. Carolina’s record against Tampa is not good, going 7-22 in the last 29 meetings, and they are 0-8 in their last 8 trips to Tampa.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING