Category: Hockey

The Anaheim Ducks are fighting for their post-season lives, so from now on down the stretch they will be pulling no punches, which will make them a very dangerous opponent. The New Jersey Devils will roll into Honda Center tonight with an impressive road record of 19-12-2-3, but this is where it ends. The Devils have not fared well in Anaheim, going 2-8-1 in their last 11 and the Ducks are 5-1 in their last 6 at home. Add to the mix, the home team is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two clubs. Ducks look like the side to take in this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ANAHEIM DUCKS

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