Inside the Chalk

The Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers will play a matinee today at the TD Garden. The Bruins are hot, riding a 3-game winning streak and today they will be playing on one day’s rest, where they are 5-1 in their last 6 games. Florida comes in today’s matchup 0-4 in their last 4 road games and 1-10 in their last 11 games in Boston. Tuukka Rask is confirmed between the pipes for the Bruins and he is 35-20-4, with a 2.31 GAA and a .912 Sv%. Florida will counter with Reto Berra, who is also confirmed, and he is 0-3-0, with a 3.38 GAA, and a .874 Sv%. Boston has owned the Panthers, winning 8 out of the last 10 matchups.

Today’s pick:

Boston Bruins

The New York Islanders have lost 3 in a row but still have an outside chance at a playoff spot so tonight they had better take of business when the New Jersey Devils come to town. The Devils have lost 4 in a row, are 12-20-4-2 on the road and have struggled against the Islanders, going 2-10 in the last 12 meetings. New York has been solid at Barclays Center, with a record 20-12-5-2, and they won the last contest with the Devils, 6-4, on February 19th. New York needs this win; I like their chances tonight.

Tonight’s Pick:

New York Islanders

The Los Angeles Kings are thinking more about golfing than playing hockey and tonight they have back-to-back games when they travel to Calgary to take on the Flames. Calgary has won 3 in a row at home and with a victory tonight, will clinch a playoff berth. The Flames won on Monday, beating Colorado 4-2, and with 1 day’s rest they are 12-3 in their last 15 games. The Kings have lost 2 in a row, are 1-4 in their last 5 games overall, 0-5 in their last 5 road games, and 0-6 in their last 6 against the Pacific. Los Angeles will put up a fight tonight but Calgary should get this one.

Tonight’s pick:

Calgary Flames

The Montréal Canadiens are just 3 points ahead of the Ottawa Senators in the Atlantic Division, with Ottawa having a game in hand, so they had better take care of business at home tonight over the Dallas Stars. The Stars come into tonight’s game with a road record of 11-21-4-1, are 2-5 in their last 7 meetings with the Canadiens, and 1-5 in their last 6 in Montréal. Montréal is 22-11-4-1 at Bell Centre, have had 2 days’ rest after beating Ottawa 3-1 at home on Saturday, and are 7-0 in their last 7 games in this situation.

Tonight’s pick:

Montréal Canadiens

The Calgary Flames will open their final homestand of the season tonight when they play host to the lowly Colorado Avalanche. Calgary holds the second wild card spot in the Western Conference, are only 3 points back of Edmonton and San Jose, and 5 behind Anaheim. Colorado is just 9-27-1-0 on the road and 3-18 in their last 21 against the Pacific Division. The Flames are 8-1 in their last 9 home games and knocked off Colorado 4-1 on January 4th, and 6-3 on December 27th. Calgary should cruise to an easy victory tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Calgary Flames