Category: Hockey

The struggling Chicago Blackhawks felt that they had to make a change and fired their long-time running coach, Joel Quenneville, on Tuesday. The Blackhawks won 3 Cups under Quenneville but failed to make the playoffs last year and are off to a slow start thus far – that doesn’t fly in the Windy City. The new skipper for the Blackhawks is Jeremy Colliton. At only 33, he should add some new life and a lot of enthusiasm. Chicago has lost 5 straight and will host another team tonight that has also dropped its last 5, the Carolina Hurricanes. This is a good spot for the Blackhawks to get back on track. They have a new coach, the United Center will be electric, and the Hurricanes are just 1-5 in their last 6 road games and 2-5 in their last 7 trips to Chicago.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

The Dallas Stars will conclude a 6-game road trip when they face the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight at Nationwide Arena. The Stars will be playing back-to-back games after falling to the Boston Bruins last night in overtime, 2-1, so fatigue could be a factor for them tonight. The Jackets will be glad to be back in Columbus after losing 2 of 3 on their West Coast road trip. They cannot be happy with their home record of 3-4-0-0 but they have dominated the Stars at home. Columbus is 4-1 in their last 5 meetings with Dallas at Nationwide Arena and they are 5-0 in the last 5 meetings overall. Tortorella will have his club ready tonight. Consider the Jackets.
TONIGHT’S PICK: COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

The Pittsburgh Penguins have lost three in a row but so has the club they will be hosting tonight, the New Jersey Devils. The Penguins home record of 2-3-1-0 leaves a lot to be desired but they should come away with a victory tonight. New Jersey has yet to win on the road with a record of 0-4-0-0. The Devils are just 1-6 in their last 7 overall and they are 5-14 in their last 19 trips to Pittsburgh. Crosby and company get it done.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

The Buffalo Sabres fell to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, 4-2, but that was in Ottawa. Today the two clubs meet again in an early one, but this time, the game will be played in Key Bank Center in Buffalo, NY. Ottawa has not been good on the road, at 1-3-1, and they are 15-38 in their last 53 road games overall. Buffalo is a team on the rise and will have revenge on their minds. They are 3-2-1 at home and will have an enthusiastic crowd for support. Eichel and company get it done in Western New York.
TODAY’S PICK: BUFFALO SABRES

The New York Rangers will conclude their 4-game road trip when they visit Honda Center tonight to face the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks, who used to occupy first place in the Pacific Division, have been spiraling out of control and have now lost 6 in a row. A visit though from the Rangers should get them back on track. New York is just 1-4-1-0 on the road this season and 2-5 in their last 7 visits to Honda Center. Anaheim has been dominating the Metropolitan Division, going 8-1 in their last 9 and the home team has won the last 4 meetings between these two clubs. The Ducks right the ship.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ANAHEIM DUCKS

The Anaheim Ducks have lost four in a row and it won’t get any easier for them tonight when they host their archrival, the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks have had the Ducks in their back pocket, winning 6 of the last 7 meetings and 5 of their last 5 visits to Honda Center. But trends don’t last forever.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ANAHEIM DUCKS

The Nashville Predators will put their perfect 4-0 road record on the line tonight when they head to New Jersey to take on the Devils. New Jersey is 4th in the Metropolitan Division at 4-2-0-0 and have been a force at Prudential Center, with a record of 4-1-0-0, but have struggled against the Central Division, going 2-6 in their last 8 overall. On the flip side, Nashville sits atop of the Central Division at 7-2-0-0 and are 5-0 in their last 5 against the Metropolitan Division. The Devils are riddled with injuries, with defensemen Steven Santini, Ben Lovejoy, and right winger Drew Stafford all on the IR, and they could also be without center Travis Zajac for tonight’s match-up, who is battling a lower body injury. The Predators are 22-7 in their last 29 road games and the road team is 6-0 in the last 6 match-ups between these two clubs.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NASHVILLE PREDATORS