The best team in hockey, the 26-6-1-1 Tampa Bay Lightning, will take their 5-game winning streak into the desert tonight to face the worst team in hockey, the Arizona Coyotes. During their 5 game run, the Lightning have outscored their opponents, 23-9, and that can be attributed to the play of top producers, Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos. Arizona is going in the opposite direction. The Coyotes have lost 4 in a row, are just 7-21-4-1 on the season, and 3-8-1-0 at home. Tampa Bay however, better be careful and not take this game for granted. The Desert Dogs won both meetings with the Lightning last year and have beaten two of the NHL’s top teams this year at Gila River Arena, the New Jersey Devils and the Los Angeles Kings. If the Lightning stay focused, they should be headed to Colorado with a 6-game winning streak.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Wednesday NBA Pick
The Washington Wizards should have their All-Star point guard, John Wall, back in the lineup tonight when they host a really bad Memphis Grizzlies team. The Wizards are laying 7.5 in this one and should be able to cover the number easily. The home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 contests, and the Wizards have the edge in Points Per Game, Field Goal Percentage, Rebounding and Turnovers. Memphis has lost 4 straight. The Grizzlies are 3-8 on the road, 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games against the Eastern Conference, and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 trips to Washington.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WASHINGTON WIZARDS -7.5
Tuesday NHL Pick
The Vegas Golden Knights are expected to have their #1 goalie back tonight, Marc-André Fleury, when they play host to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes will be playing back-to-back games after getting knocked off last night 3-2 by the Anaheim Ducks, which now makes it 4 losses in a row. Carolina is 5-7-2-2 on the road and 0-6 in their last 6 against the Pacific Division. Vegas has been outstanding at home, with a record of 11-2-0-0, and have won 4 in a row. The line in this game opened at Vegas -145, and has now climbed to Vegas -160, and we know what that means. The Golden Knights might be an expansion team but they are the real deal.
TONIGHT’S PICK: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Monday NHL Pick
The Pittsburgh Penguins will be heavily favored tonight at home against the Colorado Avalanche but there is a reason for that. The Penguins are 10-4-1-0 at PPG Paints Arena and 44-15 in their last 59 home games overall, and that’s impressive. The Penguins captain, Sidney Crosby, has been on fire, racking up 16 points in his last 9 games. Pittsburgh’s top goalie, Matt Murray, is still out with a lower body injury but Tristan Jarry is expected between the pipes and he is a respectable backup. About Colorado: The Avalanche are 5-8-0-1 away from home and 12-40 in their last 52 road games overall. Colorado is 3-9 in their last 12 meetings with the Pens and 2-5 in their last 7 trips to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh should get this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Sunday NBA Pick
The New York Knicks lost to the lowly Chicago Bulls last night, 104-102, but tonight they can redeem themselves when they return home to host a really bad Atlanta Hawks team. The Hawks are 6-19 on the season, 3-10 on the road, and 1-6 ATS in their last 7 meetings with New York. The Knicks come into tonight’s contest with a 12-13 record, 11-5 at home, and 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games at MSG. New York has the edge in every category except turnovers and bench.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK KNICKS -5
Saturday Men’s College Basketball Pick
The Loyola Marymount Lions will be laying 4.5 tonight against the CSU Northridge Matadors and I like the Lions in this one. The Matadors are 1-7, averaging 67.9 points per game and allowing an average of 75.5. CSU is 0-5 ATS in the last 5 games overall and 1-4 ATS in the last 5 games against the West Coast Conference. Loyola is 4-4, averaging 79.1 points per game and allowing an average of 78.5. The Lions are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 non-conference games and cover on Saturdays, going 12-4-2 ATS in their last 18 games.
TODAY’S PICK: Loyola Marymount Lions -4.5
Friday NHL Pick – UPDATE
The Chicago Blackhawks are in a funk, losers of their last 5 games, but that could end tonight because the Buffalo Sabres come to town. The Sabres have lost 11 of their last 13 games and hold the crown for the fewest points in the league. Add to that, they are 0-11 in their last 11 meetings with the Blackhawks and 0-7 in their last 7 trips to Chicago. The kid from Buffalo, Patrick Kane, has lit up the Sabres with 15 points in 13 career games. Chicago is expected to have Anton Forsberg between the pipes for the injured Corey Crawford, who is due back mid-December. Forsberg has not been spectacular, with a record of 1-4-3, a 3.33 GAA and a .906 SV%. Buffalo is expected to counter with Robin Lehner, who is 6-12-2, with a 2.93 GAA, and a .906 SV%.
UPDATE: Even better, Crawford is now expected to start tonight for the Blackhawks.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS