Category: Hockey

Two of the original six will face each other tonight when the Montréal Canadiens return home to Bell Centre to host the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Canadiens are on a rare 3-game slide, losing to Chicago, Florida, and Carolina in a close one last night. Of their 3 losses, Montréal’s All-Star goalie Carey Price was between the pipes just once, in a 4-3 overtime loss to Florida on Tuesday. Price is confirmed in goal tonight and he is having a spectacular year, posting a record 10-0-1, a 1.63 GAA and a .948 SV%. Toronto is expected to have the ex-Anaheim Duck in net, Frederik Andersen, and he is 8-4-3, with a 3.16 GAA and a .907 SV%. The Leafs have struggled against the Canadiens, going 3-14 in the last 17 meetings and they are 0-7 in their last 7 at Bell Centre. This is not the Leaf team of old, but Montréal should get back on track tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Montréal Canadiens

The red hot New Jersey Devils will take their 5-game winning streak to Southern California tonight to face Ryan Getzlaf and the Anaheim Ducks. The Devils are 3-3-2-0 on the road this season and will be without their top scorer, Taylor Hall, who is sidelined for 3-4 weeks with a torn meniscus. Anaheim, who is 5-2-0-0 at home, opened a 5-game home stand on Tuesday with a decisive 4-1 victory over Edmonton. The Devils edged the Ducks 2-1 on October 18th but are 1-5 in their last 6 meetings with Anaheim and 2-7-1 in their last 10 at Honda Center. I like the Ducks chances tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Anaheim Ducks

The Montreal Canadiens are a perfect 9-0 at home this year and with a win today, they will set a franchise record of 10 straight home wins to start the season, but they have a problem; they are hosting the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings might be 2-8 in their last 10 meetings with the Habs and 0-5 in their last 5 in Montreal, but in 1953 the Canadiens were a perfect 9-0 to start the campaign and you know who stopped them from going 10-0? The Detroit Red Wings. The Wings spoil it again.

Today’s pick:

Detroit Red Wings

It should be a battle tonight at the United Center when the 10-3-0-1 Chicago Blackhawks play host to the 8-3-0-1 Washington Capitals. The Blackhawks have been red hot winning their last 7 games but could be without one of their top producers, Artem Anisimov, who suffered an upper body injury in Wednesday’s win over St. Louis. Washington has been hot as well, winning 4 out of their last 5 and they are tough on the road, going 4-1-0-1 in their last 5 road games. In the last 5 meetings between these clubs, Washington has taken 4 of them. Braden Holtby is expected between the pipes for the Capitals and has been stingy in his last 5 games, giving up just 10 goals and is 4-2-0 in his career against the Blackhawks. Chicago’s streak could end tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Washington Capitals

The New York Islanders will take their 0-3-0-0 road record south tonight to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. The Islanders are 0-5 in their last 5 meetings with the Lightning and 2-5 in their last 7 in Tampa. Tampa Bay has the edge in every category except discipline. I like the home team in this one.

Tonight’s pick:

Tampa Bay Lightning

It looks as if the Anaheim Ducks have turned things around after a slow start to the season, and they will try to keep the momentum going when they travel to Columbus tonight to take on the Blue Jackets. The Ducks’ Ryan Getslaf looked sharp in his return to the line-up on Sunday by notching 3 assists in a victory over the Calgary Flames. Anaheim should have Hampus Lindholm back in the line-up tonight, which will help bolster the defense. On the flip side, Columbus will be without one of their top defensemen tonight, Seth Jones, due to a fracture to his right foot. I like the Ducks’ chances in this one.

Tonight’s pick:

Anaheim Ducks

The young phenom, Connor McDavid, will take his Edmonton Oilers into PPG Paints Arena tonight to face his idol, Sidney Crosby, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Edmonton is off to a great start but has struggled in the past against Pittsburgh. The Oilers are 3-8 in their last 11 meetings with the Penguins and are 1-4 in their last 5 at the PPG. Matt Murray is expected between the pipes for Pittsburgh and he has been spectacular, owning a 2-0 record with a GAA of just 0.50 and a .985 SV%. The Penguins are 5-0-1 at home this season and they should get the win tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Pittsburgh Penguins