Category: Hockey

The New York Rangers will look to end a 4-game losing streak when they host the St. Louis Blues tonight at the Garden. For whatever reason, the Rangers have trouble winning games in Manhattan. On the road they are 9-4-1 but at MSG they are just 1-7-1. The tide should change tonight when they host the 7-9-6 Blues. The Blues snapped a 4-game skid on Saturday, eking out a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders but have trouble winning back-to-back games, going 0-5 in their last 5 following a win. Both teams have trouble scoring but the Rangers hold a huge edge in goals against. New York is allowing an average of just 2.65 goals per game and that doesn’t bode well for St. Louis.  
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK RANGERS

The Montréal Canadiens will look to snap a 5-game skid tonight when they host their Original Six foe, the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs have also been in a tailspin with just one win in their last seven tries. They will also be without superstar Auston Matthews and are just 1-5-0 on the road. Montréal has held their own a Bell Centre with a record of 5-5-1 and match up well with Toronto both offensively and defensively. For the Habs to get back on the winning side, their expected goalie for tonight, Samuel Montembeault, who has been shaky of late, will have to step it up and I’m betting he will.  
TONIGHT’S PICK: MONTRÉAL CANADIENS

The Pittsburgh Penguins will be hosting the Minnesota Wild tonight at PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins last played on Sunday blanking the Nashville Predators, 4-0, so they will be well-rested for tonight’s game. The Wild have won three straight and are a force on their home ice but on the road they are just 3-4-1. Pittsburgh scores more goals than Minnesota, gives up less, boasts a 5-2-1 home record, and has won the last two meetings with the Wild.  
TONIGHT’S PICK: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

The New York Rangers will be a huge dog tonight when they visit the Colorado Avalanche and so they should be. The Avs are the best team in hockey at 13-1-5, are 7-0-2 in the mountains, and are riding a 6-game winning streak. However, the 10-9-2 Rangers should not be taken lightly when they are the visiting team. New York is 9-2-1 away from MSG and is expected to have Igor Shesterkin between the pipes. If anyone can slow down the Avs’ offensive juggernaut, it’s him. The Rangers are definitely worth a consideration in this situation.  
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK RANGERS

When the 12-6-1 Anaheim Ducks lace it up at The Pond, good things happen, they win, and that is where they will be tonight when they host the 12-9-0 Boston Bruins. At home, the Bruins are a formidable opponent but when they take it on the arches they are 4-5-0, and against the Pacific Division they have just 1 win in their last 11 tries. The Ducks boast a 6-1-0 record in Anaheim, have won the last 4 meetings with the Bruins, and have the edge in goals scored and goals against.  
TONIGHT’S PICK: ANAHEIM DUCKS

The Chicago Blackhawks will host the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at United Center. The Leafs are just 1-4 on the road, and have lost 4 straight. They will be without their superstar Auston Matthews and that doesn’t bode well for them against a Blackhawks team that is allowing just 2.59 goals per game. 
TONIGHT’S PICK: CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

The 9-5-3 Pittsburgh Penguins and the 5-9-4 Nashville Predators will face off in Sweden this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. EST. The Penguins have lost two straight, are due for a win, and should come out on top in this one. Simply put, the Predators are not a very good hockey team. They have lost five straight, are averaging just 2.56 tallies per game and allowing an average of 3.61. On the flip side, Crosby and company are averaging 3.35 goals per game and allowing a stingy 2.65 goals per game. 
TONIGHT’S PICK: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS