Category: Hockey

Look for the Minnesota Wild to continue their dominance over the Atlantic Division tonight when the host the Tampa Bay Lightning at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild are 6-0 in their last 6 against the Atlantic Division and are tough to beat at home, owning a 17-6-1 record. Devan Dubnyk is expected between the pipes tonight for Minnesota and has been on his game. Dubnyk is 29-9-3 on the season, with a GAA of just 1.99 and a .933 SV%. The Lightning come into tonight’s game with a road record of 10-14-4, and are 0-4 in their last 4 games in Minnesota. Ben Bishop is expected in net for Tampa Bay and he has a record of 13-12-3, with a 2.69 GAA and a .907 SV%. The edge goes to the Wild in this one.

Tonight’s pick:

Minnesota Wild

The Montreal Canadiens are on a 3-game slide but they should be able to get back on track tonight when they visit the league’s worst team, the Colorado Avalanche. Colorado is 14-33-2 on the season, with a home record of 6-18-1, and were throttled by the Habs on December 10th, 10-1. Montreal is expected to have Carey Price between the pipes tonight and he is 23-12-5, with a GAA of 2.35 and a .922 SV%. Colorado will likely counter with Calvin Pickard, who is 8-14-1, with a GAA of 3.05 and a .903 SV%. Montreal has had issues in Colorado, going 2-7 in their last 9 games at Pepsi Center, but they should get this one.

Tonight’s pick:

Montreal Canadiens

The Buffalo Sabres have lost 3 in a row but they should snap that skid today when they host the Ottawa Senators at the Key. The Sabres young phenom, Jack Eichel, has 4 goals and 7 points in 5 games against the Sens, and Buff won the last meeting 5-4 on November 29th in Ottawa. Keep an eye on the Sabres. They are a team on the rise.

Today’s pick:

Buffalo Sabres

Both the Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals will be playing back-to-back games when they square off tonight at Verizon Center. The Capitals are coming off a 3-game road trip where they went 1-2, and will be glad to be back at home where they are tough to beat, owning a home record of 19-5-1. The Bruins counter with a very respectable road record of 14-9-6 but have struggled against Ovechkin and company. The Bruins are 0-7 in their last 7 meetings with the Caps, and 0-4 in their last 4 games at Verizon Center. I like Washington’s chances in this one.

Tonight’s pick:

Washington Capitals

If the Detroit Red Wings are going to snap their 4-game skid, it should be tonight when they play host to another bottom dweller, the New Jersey Devils. The Devils are 2-6 in their last 8 meetings with Detroit and 2-10 in their last 12 in the Motor City.

Tonight’s pick:

Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings will be without two of their top weapons tonight, Dylan Larkin and Thomas Vanek, when they take on the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. Larkin and Vanek were both injured in Sunday’s loss to the New York Rangers with upper and lower body injuries. The Red Wings are 0-6 in their last 6 games in Boston and 3-12 in the last 15 meetings with the Bruins. Boston is on a 4-game slide and if they lose another one, coach Claude Julien will probably not be on the Bruins’ payroll in the morning. The Bruins get this one for the coach.

Tonight’s pick:

Boston Bruins

If you need a win today, this is it, San Jose Sharks at home over the Colorado Avalanche.

Today’s pick:

San Jose Sharks