Inside the Chalk

The Anaheim Ducks will have their 7-game winning streak on the line tonight when they host the Washington Capitals but they have a problem. Ovi and company have won 4 in a row, are 4-1-1 on the road, and 7-3 in their last 10 at the Pond.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Being on the road is nothing new for the New York Islanders but it has to be taking its toll. Tonight they will be at Amalie Arena to face a Tampa Bay Lightning team that has won 5 of their last 7 and are playing like the Champs that they are. The Islanders are just 2-6 in the last 8 meetings in Tampa and the home team is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two clubs.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Two of the Original Six will square off tonight when the Boston Bruins host the Montréal Canadiens and Boston should prevail. The Bruins are 5-1-1 at TD Garden and have owned the Habs. Boston has won 11 of the last 14 meetings and 5 of the last 7 in the Garden.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BOSTON BRUINS

The Toronto Maple Leafs should take care of business tonight in Western New York when they face the Buffalo Sabres. Both teams will be playing back-to-back games but Toronto is the better team, by far.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

The 5-5-2 Buffalo Sabres have lost five in a row and will have their work cut out for them tonight when they host the 10-2 Edmonton Oilers. The Sabres are a big home dog in this one but worth considering. Buffalo is 4-1-1 at KeyBank Center, are due for a win, and have a lot of young guns that will surprise you.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BUFFALO SABRES

Tonight the 7-5-1 Nashville Predators will be playing back-to-back road games, which is always tough, when they visit the 8-2-1 St. Louis Blues. The Predators have won the last 4 meetings with the Blues but trends end.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ST. LOUIS BLUES