Category: Hockey

The Minnesota Wild have not been kind to visitors at Xcel Energy Center, with a record of 24-5-5, and tonight they will host the Colorado Avalanche, a team they would really like to put the screws to. The Avalanche won both meetings this year, 7-1 on March 2nd, and 7-2 on January 6th, but both games were in Colorado. The Avalanche have not fared well in Minnesota, going 2-10 in their last 12, and the home team is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings. Consider the Wild in this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MINNESOTA WILD

The Nashville Predators are on a roll, winning 9 in a row, and they will seek their 10th tonight when they host the Anaheim Ducks. Nashville has not been kind to visitors at Bridgestone Arena, with a record of 23-7-1-2, and especially Anaheim, who is just 1-5 in their last 6 trips to Nashville. However, Anaheim has also been on a roll, winning three in a row and 7 of their last 10. The Ducks looked sharp on Tuesday when they blanked the Washington Capitals, 4-0, at Honda Center. On one day’s rest, Anaheim is 6-0 in their last 6 games, and they are 5-0 in their last 5 against the Central. This game looks ripe for an upset.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ANAHEIM DUCKS

The Minnesota Wild rarely lose at home, with an outstanding record of 23-5-5-1, and they will try to notch another one tonight when they host the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes’ road record is 13-14-3-2 and they are just 3-7 in their last 10 games overall. Carolina has not fared well against Minnesota, going 2-7 in the last 9 meetings, and they are 0-4 in their last 4 trips to Xcel Energy Center. The home team is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two clubs. All points are in the Wild’s favor in this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MINNESOTA WILD

The Toronto Maple Leafs have lost three in a row but should be able to right the ship tonight when they travel to Western New York to take on the Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo’s home record is not good, at 9-18-4, and they are expected to have Chad Johnson between the pipes, who has been less than spectacular. Johnson is 6-10-3, with a GAA of 3.18, and a .896 SV%. Toronto on the road is 17-13-5 and they will have the edge tonight in Offense, Defense, Power Plays, Penalty Kills, Face Offs, Discipline, and Goaltending.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

The Chicago Blackhawks are not the force they once were and tonight they will be out west to face a very good San Jose Sharks team. Chicago’s away record is not good, at 12-14-5, and they have lost 6 in a row on the road. In addition to their road issues, they have struggled at SAP Center, going 3-8 in their last 11. The Sharks are solid at home, with a record of 18-9-3, and have won 4 of their last 5 games in San Jose. The Blackhawks did win last week, 3-1, but that was in Chicago and the Sharks did not have the newly-acquired Evander Kane, who is already paying dividends. The home team usually prevails between these two clubs and San Jose should keep the trend going.
TONIGHT’S PICK: SAN JOSE SHARKS

The Vancouver Canucks will be playing back-to-back games when they travel to Colorado tonight to take on the Avalanche. The Canucks are 13-16-3 on the road this year, and when playing on zero days rest, they are 0-4 in their last 4 games. On the flip side, the Avalanche has been tough at Pepsi Center, with a record of 20-8-1, and they like Mondays because they are 5-0 in their last 5 Monday games.
TONIGHT’S PICK: COLORADO AVALANCHE

The Boston Bruins will be in Western New York today to take on the lowly Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres will be without Jack Eichel today due to a high ankle sprain. One of their top producers, Evander Kane, will not play because he will be traded tomorrow. The Bruins are better on the road than the Sabres are at home. Boston is 8-2 in their last 10 meetings with Buffalo and 7-0 in their last 7 trips to KeyBank Center. How do you not take the Bruins in this one?
TODAY’S PICK: BOSTON BRUINS