Category: Hockey

The Ottawa Senators are seeking their third straight win today but I don’t see that happening because they have to travel to Bell Centre to take on the Montreal Canadiens in an early one. The Senators road record is not good, at 7-13-4, and they have not fared well against the Habs. They are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings and 1-4 in the last 5 trips to Montreal. I like the Canadiens in this situation.
TODAY’S PICK: MONTREAL CANADIENS

The Philadelphia Flyers are in need of a win, losing three in a row, but things might brighten up because the Ottawa Senators come to town in an early one in Philly. The Flyers are 13-9-4 at Wells Fargo Center and have won 5 of their last 6 at home. Ottawa is in turmoil and they bring a dismal 6-13-4 road record to Broad Street. Consider the Bullies in this one.
TODAY’S PICK: PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

The Vegas Golden Knights were lucky to get a win last night in Winnipeg. It took overtime and a controversial goal that was clearly goalie interference, and how it wasn’t overturned is beyond me. Tonight they will be playing back-to-back games and the Golden Knights will need Vegas luck again because they have to travel to Xcel Center to face the Minnesota Wild. The Wild have been dominant at home, with a record of 17-4-4, and haven’t lost in regulation at Xcel Center since December 16th. These two clubs met in Minnesota on November 30th, with the Wild getting the win, 4-2.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MINNESOTA WILD

The Boston Bruins are red hot and tonight they will host another team that is firing on all cylinders, the Anaheim Ducks. Boston will be without two key players in this match-up. Brad Marchand will not play due to a suspension and Charlie McAvoy with a heart issue. The Ducks have had the Bruins’ number, winning the last 8 match-ups, and they are 5-1 in their last 6 trips to Boston. Good value on Anaheim in this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ANAHEIM DUCKS

The stumbling Carolina Hurricanes will be north of the border tonight for a match-up with the Montreal Canadiens. With losses to Pittsburgh and Vegas, the Canes have now lost two in a row and are just 3-8 in their last 11 overall. Montreal was able to snap the Avalanche’s 10-game winning streak on Tuesday, with an impressive 4-2 victory at Bell Centre. Carolina won the last meeting with the Habs on December 27th, 3-1, but are 5-11 in their last 16 meetings with the Canadiens and just 1-7 in their last 8 in Montreal. The Canadiens make it two in a row going into the break.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MONTREAL CANADIENS

The Colorado Avalanche are hot, winners of nine in a row, but when you take them out of the mountains, they are a mediocre 8-9-1-1. Tonight they head north of the border to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs are no pushover at home, with a record of 13-7-2-0, and are 5-1-2 in their last 8 meetings with the Avs. The goalie match-up is about equal, with the ex-Leaf Jonathan Bernier expected between the pipes for Colorado. Bernier has a GAA of 2.61, with a .919 SV%. Toronto is expected to counter with Frederik Andersen. Andersen has a GAA of 2.68 and a .920 SV%. Andersen has faced Colorado three times in his career, posting a record of 2-1-0, with a GAA of 1.33 – not bad. Consider taking the Leafs in this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

The Buffalo Sabres will be at Madison Square Garden tonight to face the New York Rangers. The Sabres will be coming off of their mandatory bye week so rust could be an issue for them. In addition to that, the Sabres have been horrendous on the road, with a record of 5-13-6, and will have to face a Rangers team that has been dominating them. Buffalo is just 3-11 in their last 14 meetings with New York and 2-5 in their last 7 trips to MSG. The Rangers looked impressive with their 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night, and have won 14 of their last 19 home games. Henrik Lundqvist is expected to be between the pipes for New York, so it will not be easy for Eichel and company to find the back of the net.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK RANGERS