The Toronto Raptors will be spotted 5 points tonight when they visit Chesapeake Energy Arena for a match-up with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Raptors are catching a Thunder team that has lost 3 straight and have not been covering the number. OKC is just 3-12 ATS in their last 15 overall and 1-6 ATS in their last 7 at home. Toronto is an impressive 21-14 on the road, 4-1 ATS in their last 5 in Oklahoma City, and the road team has covered 6 of the last 7 meetings.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO RAPTORS +5
Tuesday NHL Pick
With the Arizona Coyotes and the Minnesota Wild both breathing down their necks in the wild card race, the Dallas Stars know they have to get back on track and in a hurry. Dallas will try to do just that and snap their 2-game skid when they host the Florida Panthers tonight at American Airline Center. Dallas has played well at home with a record of 21-12-3, they expect to have Ben Bishop between the pipes and he has been red hot. Bishop has not allowed a goal in over 230 minutes of play, has a .933 SV% and a 2.05 GAA. On the flip side, Florida has been playing well, winning 4 of their last 5 but their road record is not great at 14-16-6 and they fell to Dallas at home back in February, 0-3. The Stars get back on track.
TONIGHT’S PICK: DALLAS STARS
Monday NHL Pick
With a win tonight at home over the Arizona Coyotes, the Tampa Bay Lightning will capture the Atlantic Division title. The NHL’s best is 30-6-2 at home and are riding a 4-game winning streak. In the last meeting between these two clubs, the Lightning were throttled by the Coyotes, 7-1, but that was in the desert and Tampa has not forgotten. Payback time.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Sunday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The play today is the St. Bonaventure Bonnies over the St. Louis Billikens. The Bonnies have won 9 straight against the Billikens, including a victory back on March 9th, 66-57. They have the edge in field goal percentage, free throw percentage, defense, and turnovers. Saint Bonny is laying 1.5 and has covered 5 of the last 6 meetings with the Billikens but the money line is only -125. Don’t sweat the hook.
TODAY’S PICK: SAINT BONAVENTURE BONNIES M/L
Saturday NHL Pick
The San Jose Sharks will look to secure a playoff spot tonight when they host the Nashville Predators. When the Sharks take the ice at SAP Center, good things usually happen. They win. San Jose is 23-6-5 at home and will face a Predators team that has struggled on the road against the Sharks. Nashville is 1-4 in their last 5 trips to SAP Center and have lost both meetings with San Jose this year. The Sharks will get another weapon back in their arsenal tonight when Evander Kane returns to the ice after missing the last 6 games. The Sharks clinch.
TONIGHT’S PICK: SAN JOSE SHARKS
Friday NBA Pick
The Charlotte Hornets and the Washington Wizards are both vying for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and will meet tonight on the Wizards’ home court, Capital One Arena. The Hornets have been in a tailspin, losers of 2 straight and 12 of their last 16. Charlotte’s road record is nothing to write home about, at 9-23, where they are averaging 108.9 points per game and allowing an average of 115.4. The Wizards have won 2 straight and have been tough at home. They are 20-12 at Capital One where they are averaging 118.1 points per game and allowing an average of 114.2. The home team has won the last 4 meetings and these games are usually close so consider the Wizards on the money line.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WASHINGTON WIZARDS M/L
Thursday NHL Pick
The Philadelphia Flyers have been on a roll but if anyone can slow them down it’s the Washington Capitals, and that is who they will be hosting tonight at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers, who sit at 34-27-8 on the season, have won 2 straight and are 18-4-2 in their last 24 overall. The Metropolitan Division leading Capitals, 41-22-7, fell to the Penguins on Tuesday but prior to that they they were riding a 7-game winning streak. Washington is 6-2-2 in their last 10 against Philadelphia, including a 5-3 victory against them on March 6th. Carter Hart is expected between the pipes for Philadelphia but has not played since February 21st due to an ankle injury so rust could be an issue. I like the Capitals in this situation.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WASHINGTON CAPITALS