The Chicago Blackhawks will be a home dog tonight when they host the 8-0 Carolina Hurricanes. Chicago had two positives happen to them on Monday when they faced the Ottawa Senators: the return of superstar Patrick Kane and their first win of the season, and now the monkey is off their backs. Chicago is better than their 1-7-2 record reflects and after losing to the Canes on Friday in North Carolina they will have incentive to even the score. The home team is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings and the Blackhawks are a different team when Kane laces up.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Tuesday MLB Pick
The Atlanta Braves had the Houston Astros on the ropes in Game 5, up 4-0 in the first, but couldn’t finish it, allowing Houston to crawl back and win, 9-5. Tonight the series will switch to Houston and the Astros will have momentum on their side as well as 41,000 fans to back them. Lefty Max Fried is expected to take the hill for Atlanta. Fried was lit up the last time he faced Houston in Game 2, allowing 6 runs on 7 hits over 5 innings of work, and the Astros rolled to a 7-2 victory. Houston is expected to counter with Luis García. García allowed 1 run over 3-2/3 innings in Game 3 and will be on short rest, so any sign of trouble he’ll get the hook. Having their backs against the wall is nothing new for the Astros. They are also 5-1 in their last 6 interleague home games against a left-handed starter and 7-2 in their last 9 playoff games at Minute Maid Park. The Braves had their opportunity on Sunday to close it out but squandered it and that could come back to bite them.
TONIGHT’S PICK: HOUSTON ASTROS
Monday NHL Pick
For an expansion team, the 3-5-1 Seattle Kraken have played better than one would expect but will be tested tonight when they cross the border for a matchup with the red hot 6-1-0 Edmonton Oilers. The Kraken will be playing back-to-back games after falling at home yesterday, 3-1, to the NY Rangers and will be without their top producer, Jared McCann. Not good. Edmonton’s Connor McDavid is playing like the superstar he is and the Oilers are averaging 4.0 goals per game and have a power play attack that is off the charts. The number is high in this one but as a favorite the Oilers are 5-1 in their last 6, 5-0 in their last 5 against the Pacific, and barring a total meltdown should notch a victory tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: EDMONTON OILERS
Sunday NFL Pick
After a tough loss on the road to the Tennessee Titans and coming off a bye week, the 4-2 Buffalo Bills will be ready to put a beating on someone in front of the home crowd and that someone is the 1-6 Miami Dolphins. The Bills have won 6 straight against their AFC East rival, averaging 38.7 points per game including a 35-0 blowout of the Fins earlier this year in Miami. The Dolphins are a mess and their problems are too numerous to list. The weather in Buffalo is expected to be 52-degrees at kickoff, overcast with light winds, and very little chance of rain – perfect conditions for Allen and company to do some damage. The Bills are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 home games and 5-0 ATS in their last 5 against teams with a losing record. The chalk is high in this one obviously, but if the Bills want to cover the 14 they will.
TODAY’S PICK: BUFFALO BILLS -14
Saturday NHL Pick
You have to hand it to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Despite all their injuries to start the season they have held their own, going 3-2-1-1, and things are about to get better. Both Sydney Crosby and Jeff Carter skated in yesterday’s practice and could make their return to the ice tonight when the Penguins host the New Jersey Devils. New Jersey (3-2-0-0) will be playing their first road game of the season and have not fared well against Pittsburgh. The Devils are 0-5 in the last 5 meetings, 1-4 in their last 5 trips to PPG Paints Arena, and the favorite is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between these two clubs.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Friday NHL Pick
The 4-0-3 Washington Capitals’ last two games at Capital One Arena did not go their way, losing to Detroit and Calgary both in OT, but tonight’s outcome should be different. Washington will host the winless Arizona Coyotes before they head south for a matchup with two of the NHL’s best, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers, so they cannot afford to lose at home against the lowly 0-6-1 Coyotes. Arizona will be playing back-to-back games after being dominated last night by Tampa, and if the Caps stay focused and not on Monday’s matchup with the Lightning, they should cruise to a victory.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Thursday NHL Pick
The defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning are off to a mediocre start, at 3-3-0-1, but seem to have found their groove after Tuesday’s convincing 5-1 road victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tonight they will return home to Amalie Arena where they are still winless but that should change tonight when they face the 0-5-0-1 Arizona Coyotes. Arizona is averaging just 1.8 goals a game and will likely have to face one of the best netminders in the NHL, Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Lightning are due for a win at Amalie and the home team is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two clubs.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING