Category: Hockey

The Buffalo Sabres snapped a 3-game skid yesterday, with a 5-2 victory over the Florida Panthers, but I wouldn’t get too excited. The Sabres are just 2-8 in their last 10 games and will be playing back-to-back games tonight when they make the short trip from Sunrise, Florida to Tampa for a matchup with the Lightning. Tampa is starting to click, winning 2 straight and 5 of their last 7. The Bolts have owned Buffalo, winning 5 straight against the Western New Yorkers, including a pair in early November in Sweden. The Lightning’s captain, Steven Stamkos, is not expected to return to the ice tonight but, with or without him, Tampa gets it done.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

After going 1-6-1 to start the season, the Ottawa Senators are starting to click. The Sens have won 2 straight and 4 of their last 5, and tonight they will host the New York Rangers. Ottawa’s record at Canadian Tire Center is a respectable 6-4. They have won 7 of the last 10 meetings with New York, which includes a 6-2 thumping of the Rangers on Nov 4th at MSG. New York has been unreliable all year and on the road they are just 3-4. Ottawa was expected to end up dead last in the standings but are proving their critics wrong. They are a young talented team that is having fun and that is always dangerous.
TONIGHT’S PICK: OTTAWA SENATORS

The Dallas Stars are hot, but so are the Winnipeg Jets, and the two teams will meet tonight when Dallas hosts Winnipeg at American Airlines Center. The Stars have won 4 straight, are 11-1-1 in their last 13 games and at home they are 6-3-1. On the flip side, the Jets have won 3 straight, are 7-1-1 in their last 9 games and are 8-3-0 on the road. Winnipeg will be a road dog in this one and have won 7 of the last 10 meetings with Dallas, including a 3-2 overtime victory on November 10th. If anyone is going to slow down the Stars, it’s the Jets.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WINNIPEG JETS

The San Jose Sharks have been on a tear, winning 6 straight, but a letdown is inevitable and that could happen tonight when they host the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers lead the Pacific Division at 13-6-3, they are 6-4-1 on the road, and will be extra motivated tonight to put the screws to the Sharks. San Jose has won 5 straight against Edmonton, including a 6-3 win just one week ago at the Shark Tank.
TONIGHT’S PICK: EDMONTON OILERS

The Anaheim Ducks finally got back in the Win column with an impressive victory over the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, knocking off the Champs 4-1 at Enterprise Center. Tonight they had better be on their A-game once again because they will be in DC to take on Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. This game is doable for the Ducks. Anaheim has won the last 3 meetings with Washington, they will be a big dog in this one and are worth a shot.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ANAHEIM DUCKS

Two teams that are desperate for a win, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Calgary Flames, will meet today in an afternooner just off the Strip at T-Mobile Arena. Vegas has lost 5 straight, with Calgary dropping their last 3. In the Golden Knights franchise history, they have won all 5 meetings with the Flames at home and Calgary is just 4-7-1 on the road.
TODAY’S PICK: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

If the Buffalo Sabres lose tonight at home against the Ottawa Senators, someone needs to take it on the arches and his name is Ralph Krueger. Ottawa is playing a back-to-backer and they are 2-6-1 on the road.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BUFFALO SABRES