Since Joe Sacco took over as head coach for the Boston Bruins, they have won 2 straight but they will be challenged tonight when the Vancouver Canucks come to town. Vancouver has been stellar on the road, with a record of 7-1-0, and are coming off yet another road victory after downing the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, 4-3. The Canucks can score and should be able to find the back of the net with Bruins’ expected net minder for tonight, Jeremy Swayman. He is 6-7-2 with a 3.30 GAA and a .887 SV%. On the flip side, the Bruins are dead last in the league in scoring and will have trouble getting tallies with goalie Kevin Lankinen expected between the pipes. Lankinen is 9-3-2 with a 2.74 GAA and a .901 SV%.
TONIGHT’S PICK: VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Monday NHL Pick
The reigning Stanley Cup Champions, Florida Panthers, have hit a bump in the road, losing 3 straight and 5 of their last 6 but are still 12-8-1. They will look to get back on track tonight when they host the banged up 13-6-1 Washington Capitals in Sunrise. The Capitals have lost 2 straight and will be without their captain, Alex Ovechkin, who has 15 tallies on the season and that hurts. The Panthers have won 9 straight against the Caps and are the side to consider tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: FLORIDA PANTHERS
Sunday NHL Pick
Even without their superstar, Auston Matthews, the Toronto Maple Leafs keep winning and will be at Scotiabank Arena tonight to host the Utah Hockey Club. Since Matthews went down with an upper body injury, the Leafs have won 3 straight and 6 of their last 7. The 12-6-2 Leafs have also dominated the boards at home, boasting a record of 9-3-0. The 8-9-3 Club finally snapped a 3-game skid last night with a 6-1 win over the struggling Pittsburgh Penguins but are still just 3-6 over their last 9. Toronto scores more goals per game than Utah, gives up less, and unlike the Club will be well rested after having three days off.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Saturday NCAA Football Pick
The 7-2-0 Liberty Flames and the 7-3-0 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers will meet this afternoon on Liberty’s home turf at Williams Stadium. These teams match up well, but the edge goes to the Flames. Liberty is 4-1-0 in Lynchburg and have won two straight due to a punishing ground attack. The Flames are averaging just shy of 250 yards rushing per game and the Hilltoppers’ weak run defense will have trouble slowing down the Flames top rusher, Quinton Cooley. He has rushed for 998 yards on the season and is coming off another big game against UMass where he ran for 147 yards on 20 carries. The line is jumping back and forth from -1 to -1½ Liberty, so consider the Flames on the money line at around only -115.
TODAY’S PICK: LIBERTY FLAMES M/L
Friday NHL Pick
Sid the Kid and his Pittsburgh Penguins will have their hands full tonight at PPG Paints Arena when they host the best team in hockey, the Winnipeg Jets. The 16-3-0 Jets are 7-2-0 on the road, averaging 4.21 goals per game, and are expected to have Conner Hellebuyck between the pipes, who has been outstanding. Helly is 13-2-0 with a 2.20 GAA and a .923 SV%. The 7-10-4 Penguins are just 1-4 in their last 5 and it took a shootout with the San Jose Sharks to get a win or they would be 0-5. It is no surprise that Winnipeg is favored in this one. Over Pittsburgh’s last 6 home games as home dog, guess what? They are 0-6.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WINNIPEG JETS
Thursday NHL Pick
The New York Rangers will be north of the border tonight to face the Calgary Flames. The Rangers have won 3 straight, 4 of their last 5, and have been the host teams’ worst nightmare with a road record of 7-1-0. Calgary has won 2 straight but over their last 10 games they have averaged just 2.2 goals per game and with Igor Shesterkin expected between the pipes for New York, that’s not going to cut it.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK RANGERS
Wednesday NHL Pick
The Buffalo Sabres could see the return of their top scorer tonight, Tage Thompson, when they head west for a matchup with the Los Angeles Kings. Thompson has 11 tallies on the year and his return would help the Sabres cause but he is still a game time decision. The Sabres could certainly use him back in the lineup, losers of 2 of their last 3, and are just 2-4-1 when away from Western New York. The Kings boast a 5-1-1 home record and won the last meeting with the Sabres in Buffalo on October 10th, 3-1. Thompson or not, the Kings should prevail.
TONIGHT’S PICK: LOS ANGELES KINGS