Category: Hockey

The Colorado Avalanche are hot, winners of nine in a row, but when you take them out of the mountains, they are a mediocre 8-9-1-1. Tonight they head north of the border to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs are no pushover at home, with a record of 13-7-2-0, and are 5-1-2 in their last 8 meetings with the Avs. The goalie match-up is about equal, with the ex-Leaf Jonathan Bernier expected between the pipes for Colorado. Bernier has a GAA of 2.61, with a .919 SV%. Toronto is expected to counter with Frederik Andersen. Andersen has a GAA of 2.68 and a .920 SV%. Andersen has faced Colorado three times in his career, posting a record of 2-1-0, with a GAA of 1.33 – not bad. Consider taking the Leafs in this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

The Buffalo Sabres will be at Madison Square Garden tonight to face the New York Rangers. The Sabres will be coming off of their mandatory bye week so rust could be an issue for them. In addition to that, the Sabres have been horrendous on the road, with a record of 5-13-6, and will have to face a Rangers team that has been dominating them. Buffalo is just 3-11 in their last 14 meetings with New York and 2-5 in their last 7 trips to MSG. The Rangers looked impressive with their 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night, and have won 14 of their last 19 home games. Henrik Lundqvist is expected to be between the pipes for New York, so it will not be easy for Eichel and company to find the back of the net.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK RANGERS

The Minnesota Wild are a force on their home ice and they showed that dominance last night, when they knocked off a really good Winnipeg Jets team, 4-1. Tonight they will be back at Xcel Energy Center to host the Vancouver Canucks. The Wild are 15-4-3 at home and are 10-2 in their last 12 at Xcel Center. Early in the season, Vancouver was getting the job done on the road but things have changed. They are now 1-6 in their last 7 road games. These two clubs last met in Minnesota on October 24th, with the Canucks getting the win, 1-0. The Wild won’t let that happen again.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MINNESOTA WILD

The Pittsburgh Penguins will have revenge on their minds tonight when they host the Detroit Red Wings and the reason for that is because Pittsburgh ended 2017 with a 4-1 loss in Detroit. The Penguins are tough at PPG Paints Arena, boasting a record of 13-7-1-0. The Red Wings come into tonight’s game with a road record of 7-10-1-0 and are just 3-9 in their last 12 trips to Pittsburgh. Crosby and company get it done tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

The Boston Bruins will host the Carolina Hurricanes tonight and should be well rested after Thursday’s game with Florida was cancelled due to weather. Boston is tough at TD Garden, with a record of 13-5-3. The Bruins have been on a roll, going 16-3-2 in their last 21 games and are 4-0 in their last 4 home games. Carolina is 9-9-4 on the road and has been on a roll as well , winning 8 out of their last 11. These two teams match up well: 7 of the last 8 meetings ended in Overtime or a Shootout. The goalie match-up tonight is a good one. The Hurricanes are expected to have Cam Ward between the pipes. Ward is 11-2-2, with a GAA of 2.52, and a .915 SV%. Boston is expected to counter with Tuukka Rask. Rask is 14-8-3, with a GAA of 2.09, and a .925 SV%. Carolina is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings with the Bruins but are 2-5 in their last 7 trips to Boston. Over the years, for whatever reason, the Bruins play well on Saturdays, going 63-30 in their last 93 games. Boston prevails in what could be another nail biter.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BOSTON BRUINS
Update – Boston has just confirmed they will start Anton Khudobin instead of Tuukka Rask. This should not change the outcome because he is 8-2-3, with a 2.47 GAA and a .923 SV%.

The Florida Panthers have now won five in a row but if they want to make it six, they had better be on top of their game because they have to travel to Xcel Energy Center tonight to face the Minnesota Wild. Florida has not been great on the road, with a record of 7-10-2, and have struggled miserably against Minnesota. The Panthers are 5-15 in their last 20 meetings overall with the Wild and 0-5 in their last 5 trips to Xcel Energy Center. Minnesota rarely loses at home, with a record of 12-4-2, and are 7-1 in their last 8 on their home ice. Minnesota is a dangerous team and getting healthy. Consider the Wild in this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MINNESOTA WILD

The Vegas Golden Knights have proven they are the real deal and will be riding a 5-game winning streak when they head to Staples Center tonight to face the Los Angeles Kings. Vegas will be playing back-to-back games, after a decisive win last night over the Anaheim Ducks, so fatigue could be an issue. Los Angeles on the other hand will be well rested, last playing on December 23rd. Vegas has been scary at home, with a record of 15-2-0-1, but take them out of Clarke County and they come back down to earth, with a record of 9-7-0-1. The Kings boast a home record of 11-5-2-0 and are 5-0 in their last 5 at Staples Center. Jonathan Quick is expected between the pipes for Los Angeles and we all know his track record. The Kings should get it done.
TONIGHT’S PICK: LOS ANGELES KINGS