Category: Hockey

The New Jersey Devils will make the short trip to MSG tonight for a meeting with the New York Rangers. The Rangers have won the last two meetings with the Devils this year and after tonight it will be three.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK RANGERS

The Colorado Avalanche made a lot of moves to bolster their already lethal offense and they will be locked and loaded tonight when they host the Minnesota Wild. The Avs, who are just 2 points back of Dallas for the top spot in the Central, acquired forward Casey Mittelstadt from the Sabres, forward Brandon Duhaime from the visiting Wild, and they could see the return of winger Valeri Nichushkin tonight who can find the back of the net. Minnesota dumped a lot of players. It’s obvious they are writing this year off and looking toward the future. Colorado owns an impressive 25-6-0 record at Ball Arena, has won 3 of the last 4 meetings with Minnesota, and will be catching a Wild team that is playing back-to-back games.
TONIGHT’S PICK: COLORADO AVALANCHE

The Buffalo Sabres will be a big dog tonight when they make the short trek up the QEW to face their Atlantic rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Sabres have been playing well. They are 5-2 over their last 7 and have been good on the road, with a record of 15-12-3, and they always give the Leafs a run for their money. Buffalo has won the last 3 meetings with Toronto, 7 of the last 10, and both contests this year. In December, they blew out the Leafs at Key Bank, 9-3, and in November they took them down in Toronto, 6-4. The Sabres are getting no respect in this one and they should be. Don’t be surprised if the Western New Yorkers pull the upset tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BUFFALO SABRES

It appears the Calgary Flames made the right move when they sent D-man Chris Tanev and others packing because they are clicking on every cylinder. The Flames have won 5 straight, and the 5 wins were against some stiff competition: the Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, LA Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins. Tonight they will host the Seattle Kraken before heading off on a 3-game road trip, so this game is one they really want. Calgary has won 2 of the 3 meetings with Seattle this year and is 8-2 lifetime against the Kraken. The Flames are hot, ride them ’til they are not.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CALGARY FLAMES

If the 32-24-6 Tampa Bay Lightning are going to snap their 4-game home losing streak it should be tonight when they host the struggling 23-28-9 Montréal Canadiens, who have just 1 win in their last 7 tries. The Lightning, who still have an impressive 18-8-4 home record, have owned the Canadiens. They have won the last two meetings with the Habs, 8 of the last 10, and 5 of the last 6 meetings at Amalie Arena. The Bolts won’t come cheap but are still worth consideration.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

After a successful road trip where they won two of three, the Tampa Bay Lightning will return home tonight to face the Buffalo Sabres. Usually returning to Amalie Arena is a good thing for the Bolts but they have lost three straight in Tampa. The Sabres have been playing well and have a road record of 14-12-3. However, Tampa is still 18-8-3 at Amalie Arena and won the last meeting with the Sabres in Buffalo, 3-1 back on January 20th. Do the Bolts lose their fourth straight at home? I doubt it.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

The Central Division leading Dallas Stars will be at home tonight to take on the struggling New York Islanders. The Isles enter tonight’s game 10-12-5 on the road and have just one win in their last six tries. The Stars, who are 17-8-3 at American Airlines Center, have had trouble of late finding the back of the net but are coming off a 2-1 victory on the road against a really good Carolina Hurricanes team. The Stars fell to the Isles in their last meeting back on January 21st, 3-2 in OT, but that was in New York. Dallas has won the last two matchups at home against New York and the Stars offense is due for a big night.
TONIGHT’S PICK: DALLAS STARS