Inside the Chalk

After a disastrous 1-3 road trip, the Calgary Flames return home tonight to face their North Division foes, the Winnipeg Jets. Calgary still has playoff hopes, but barely, so they need to get back on track now and they know it. Winnipeg is coming off a 2-game sweep of the Vancouver Canucks and have played well on the road, going 10-6-1-0 but have struggled against the Flames at the Saddledome, where they are just 2-8 in their last 10. Calgary is a respectable 8-5-0-1 at home and won the last meeting with Winnipeg on February 9th, 3-2. The Flames are 11-4 in their last 15 at the Saddledome as a favorite and the home team is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings between these two clubs. Darryl Sutter will have his team ready and the Flames get back on track tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CALGARY FLAMES

Not surprisingly, the Ottawa Senators will be a home dog tonight when they wrap up a quick 2-game set with the Calgary Flames at Canadian Tire Centre. Ottawa may be one of the worst teams in hockey but at home they are no pushover, with a record of 7-6-2-1. The Flames enter tonight’s game with a less than stellar road record, at 7-10-2-0, and have lost 3 of their last 4. Ottawa has had the upper hand with Calgary at home, winning 4 of the last 5 meetings, and are worth a consideration tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: OTTAWA SENATORS

After an 8-game road trip, the Nashville Predators finally return home tonight to Bridgestone Arena to face the Detroit Red Wings. The Predators have won 3 of their last 4, with two of those wins coming against the League’s elite, the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Detroit has been playing better of late and has had success in Nashville in the past but let’s not forget, they are just 3-10-1-0 on the road this season. Nashville is 8-1 in their last 9 at Bridgestone as a favorite and when a team returns home after a lengthy road trip, you know what happens? They usually win.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NASHVILLE PREDATORS

The Minnesota Wild are in need of a win after being humiliated in Colorado, losing both games to the the Avs by a combined score of 11-1, but they return home tonight and are in luck. The hapless Anaheim Ducks come to town. The Ducks are a far cry from the Perry/Getzlaf days and find themselves dead last in the West. Anaheim is a dismal 4-6-2-1 on the road and have gone 3-11-3 in their last 17 with all 3 wins coming in overtime. Not good. The Wild, who sit in the third spot in the West, have been nothing but stellar at Xcel Energy Center, where they are 10-3-0. Minnesota has won 3 straight against Anaheim this year, all at Honda Center, and should cruise to a victory tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MINNESOTA WILD