PPG Paints Arena will be the venue tonight when the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Both teams have been playing well, winners of 4 of their last 5, but Columbus has had issues with the Kid and company. The Blue Jackets have lost both meetings with the Penguins this year and are expected to have Joonas Korpisalo between the pipes. His numbers are not good. Korpisalo is 7-10-0 with a bloated 4.10 GAA and an SV% of just .878. On the flip side, the Penguins are expected to have Tristan Jarry defending the net and he is having another banner year. Jarry is 31-12-6 with a GAA of 2.28 and a .922 SV%. Pittsburgh has won 22 of the last 27 meetings with Columbus at PPG and the home team is 20-8 in the last 28 meetings.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Monday NHL Pick
The Edmonton Oilers are hot, winning 5 straight, but all good things must come to an end. Tonight they will be in the mountains to take on the Colorado Avalanche. The Avs are 24-3-3 at Ball Arena and beat McDavid and company back in November, 4-1. Tonight will be no different.
TONIGHT’S PICK: COLORADO AVALANCHE
Sunday NHL Pick
The Washington Capitals are smoking hot and will look to keep it going when they host the Dallas Stars tonight at Capital One Arena. Washington has won 4 straight, 7 of their last 8, and blanked the Stars in their last meeting in Dallas, 5-0. Dallas has been just the opposite, losing last night to the Islanders, 4-2, and are just 1-4 in their last 5. The Stars have had success in the past at Capital One Arena but that was then and this is now.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Saturday NHL Pick
The Edmonton Oilers are hot, winning four in a row, and will host the New Jersey Devils in an early one today at Rogers Place. New Jersey can be a pesky team but are just 8-20-2 on the road, have lost two straight, and Edmonton will have payback on the minds today after falling to the Devils on New Years’ Eve, 6-5.
TODAY’S PICK: EDMONTON OILERS
Friday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament will take us to Greenville South Carolina tonight where the Michigan State Spartans will face the Davidson Wildcats. The Wildcats are currently a 1-point dog and that is just fine. Davidson is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 overall, 5-1 ATS in their last 6 at a neutral site, and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 as an underdog. The Wildcats average more points per game than the Spartans, give up less, and are better beyond the arc.
TODAY’S PICK: DAVIDSON WILDCATS +1
Thursday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The #13 seed South Dakota State Jackrabbits will face the #4 seed Providence Friars in a matinée today at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. The Jackrabbits had a season like no other. They set a Summit League record by running the table in the regular season and then winning the conference tournament. Since losing four non-conference games, the Jackrabbits have won 21 straight heading into the tournament. South Dakota State accomplished this by being a scoring machine. The Jackrabbits averaged 86.7 points per game and were the best team in the nation beyond the arc, which could be a problem for the Friars. Providence was blown out in their last outing by Creighton, 85-58, and you know what the Bluejays do well is nail 3-pointers. The Friars are currently laying 2 and are just 3-7 ATS in their last 10 as a favorite and 0-5 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games. The Jacks are worth considering.
TODAY’S PICK: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE JACKRABBITS +2
Wednesday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The NIT Tournament takes us to Chaifetz Arena where the St. Louis Billikens will be on their home court to take on the Northern Iowa Panthers. St. Louis held their own in a tough Atlantic 10 Conference. They were 14-4 on their home court and should cruise to a victory tonight. The Panthers finished first in the Missouri Valley Conference but the level of competition is not what it is in the A-10. The Billikens have the edge tonight in Points Per Game, Points Allowed Per Game, Field Goal %, 3-Point Field Goal %, Total Rebounds Per Game and Blocks Per Game.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ST. LOUIS BILLIKENS M/L