HOCKEY NHL ARTICLES

The Vegas Golden Knights will try and continue their amazing run, as they take on the Winnipeg Jets in the Western Conference Finals. The Golden Knights have rolled through the first two rounds of the NHL Playoffs, while the Jets are coming off a very tough seven-game series against Nashville. The Jets will have home ice advantage in this best-of-seven series and they are a slight favorite to win the series. Let’s look at the series and Stanley Cup Playoff picks. ... 

Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday on NBCSN has the Tampa Bay Lightning favored at home against the Washington Capitals. The Lightning were very tough at home during the regular season, going 29-12, while the Capitals were basically a .500 team on the road, going 21-20. Tampa took two of the three regular season meetings between the teams. Let’s look at the contest and NHL Playoff picks. ... 

The Eastern Conference Finals between the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning begins on Friday, with the Lightning favored. The Capitals are coming off a very emotional series win against Pittsburgh, while the Lightning got past the Bruins. Tampa Bay has the home ice advantage in this series and they are listed as almost a 2-1 favorite to defeat Washington in this best-of-seven game series. Let’s look at the series and Stanley Cup Playoff picks.... 

The San Jose Sharks are slight home favorites on Sunday night, as they host the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals. This series has been very even, with the teams splitting their first four games, two of which went into overtime. The first three games of this series were high scoring, but Game 4 in San Jose was a 4-0 shutout win for the Sharks. Let’s look at this contest and NHL Playoff picks.... 

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals get the spotlight on NBC on Saturday night in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. The Penguins are the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions and they have Sidney Crosby, but the Capitals have Alexander Ovechkin who has been the best player in this series so far. Can the Capitals win a huge game at home against their nemesis, the Pittsburgh Penguins? Let’s look at the contest and NHL Playoff picks.... 

You can make a case that the best two teams remaining in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs are the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets. Unfortunately, one of the two is not even going to make it to the conference final. The Jets are listed as slight favorites at home in this Game 4 matchup on Thursday night that can be seen on NBCSN. Let’s look at the contest and NHL Playoff picks.... 

The Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning open up their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Saturday afternoon on NBC. The Bruins struggled to get past Toronto in the first round, finally prevailing in seven games, while the Lightning had little difficulty in beating New Jersey. The Lightning finished one point ahead of Boston for the best record in the Eastern Conference. Let’s look at Saturday’s Game 1 and NHL Playoff picks.... 

The Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Washington Capitals in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Sunday on NBC. The Penguins and Capitals have developed into one of the best rivalries in the NHL but unfortunately for the Capitals, it has been extremely one-sided in the playoffs in favor of Pittsburgh. Let’s look at Game 2 of this series on Sunday and NHL Playoff picks.... 

For the first time in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs we get a Game 7, as the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night on NBCSN. This series looked to be over after Boston took three of the first four games, but the Maple Leafs have bounced back to win the last two games and even the series. The Bruins are listed as home favorites on Wednesday night. Let’s look at Wednesday’s game and NHL Playoff picks.... 

The Tampa Bay Lightning will look to close out their series against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday afternoon on NBC. The Lighting won the first two games of this series at home and then split two games in New Jersey to take a 3-1 series lead. Tampa is a big favorite to close out this series on Saturday at home and advance to the conference semifinals. Let’s look at this matchup and NHL Playoff picks.... 

The prime time game in the NHL Playoffs on Saturday has the Toronto Maple Leafs visiting the Boston Bruins in Game 5 on NBC. The Maple Leafs had all kinds of trouble in Boston in the first two games of this series, losing 5-1 and 7-3. If the Maple Leafs are to win this series, they have to find a way to win in Boston. Let’s look at Saturday night’s contest and NHL Playoff picks.... 

The Washington Capitals are favored on Sunday night, as they host the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference playoff series on NBCSN. The Capitals were a very good home team in the regular season, winning 28 games, while the Blue Jackets were nothing special on the road. The Capitals have also won 8 of the last 10 at home against Columbus. Let’s look at Sunday’s game and NHL Playoff picks.... 

The Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Boston Bruins on Saturday night in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Playoff Series. The Bruins are listed as home favorites in this contest with the total at six. The Bruins were an excellent home team during the regular season, but the Maple Leafs won three of the four regular season meetings against Boston. Let’s look at the contest that can be seen on NBC and NHL Playoff picks.... 

The 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin on Wednesday, April 11 with three games, including one Eastern Conference matchup as the Philadelphia Flyers visit the Pittsburgh Penguins. The other three matchups in the Eastern Conference get underway on Thursday, April 12, as the New Jersey Devils visit the Tampa Bay Lightning; the Columbus Blue Jackets are at the Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Boston Bruins. Let’s look at each of these best-of-seven game series and Stanley Cup Playoff picks.... 

The Nashville Predators begin the Western Conference Playoffs as the top seed and the betting favorite. The Predators won the Presidents Trophy for finishing with the top record in the NHL this season. They are heavy favorites to defeat the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The other three Western Conference Playoff matchups have the Vegas Golden Knights taking on the Los Angeles Kings, the Winnipeg Jets vs. the Minnesota Wild and the Anaheim Ducks vs. the San Jose Sharks. Let’s look at each series and Stanley Cup Playoff picks.... 

The Anaheim Ducks control their own destiny, as a strong finish to the season will secure them a playoff berth in the Western Conference. However, some struggles down the stretch will open up a possibility of falling out of the top eight seeds. The Ducks will aim to pick up a critical win when they face off against the Dallas Stars in one of the NHL Games of the Week. ... 

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are favored on Thursday night in the Frozen Four on ESPN 2, as they take on the Michigan Wolverines. These two are better known for their football exploits, but Michigan is no stranger to hockey titles, having won it all eight times. Notre Dame has never won the college hockey title, but they did make the Frozen Four last season and this year they are a No. 1 seed. Let’s look at the matchup and Frozen Four picks.... 

The first of the two Frozen Four semifinal games on Thursday on ESPN 2 has Minnesota Duluth taking on Ohio State. The Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs were the runner-ups last year but they lost a lot of players from last year’s squad and were not expected to make a return trip to the Frozen Four this year. On the other side, the Ohio State Buckeyes are a No. 1 seed and a team loaded with talent. Let’s look at the matchup and Frozen Four picks.... 

The Philadelphia Flyers host the Boston Bruins on Sunday afternoon on NBC. The Bruins have one of the top records in the NHL and they are headed to the playoffs, while the Flyers still have work to do. The Bruins still could finish with the best record in the NHL, as they are just behind Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division. The Flyers are trying to stay in front of New Jersey and Florida for one of the last two playoffs spots in the East.... 

Metropolitan Division rivals meet on Sunday night, as the Washington Capitals visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on NBCSN. The Capitals could virtually wrap up first place in the division if they can win this game on Sunday, while the Penguins need to win this game to have any realistic chance of catching Washington. These teams have met three times this season, with Pittsburgh winning twice. Let’s look at Sunday’s contest and NHL picks.... 

The Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild play the first half of a home and home on Thursday night with the Wild listed as home favorites. The teams will play again on Saturday in Dallas. The Stars have been a disaster over the past few weeks and their playoff chances are almost gone, while the Wild are trying to hold onto third place in the Central Division. Let’s look at this contest on Thursday on NBCSN and NHL picks.... 

The New York Rangers and Washington Capitals will play the back end of a home and home on Wednesday night with the Capitals listed as home favorites. The teams met in New York on Monday night and on Wednesday they will play in Washington. The Rangers are trying to play the role of spoiler, as they are out of playoff contention, while the Capitals are trying to hold off Pittsburgh for first place in the Metropolitan Division. Let’s look at this contest on Wednesday and NHL picks.... 

Metropolitan Division rivals meet on Sunday afternoon on NBC, as the Philadelphia Flyers visit the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Flyers are just behind the Penguins in the division but nothing is set, as just five points separate first from fourth place. The Flyers and Penguins have met three times this season and it has been all Pittsburgh, as they won by scores of 5-4, 5-1 and 5-2. Let’s look at this contest on Sunday and NHL picks.... 

The top two teams in the Pacific Division meet on Thursday night, as the Vegas Golden Knights visit the San Jose Sharks. The Golden Knights are in first place in the division and unless they totally collapse, they are going to win the division. The Sharks are in second place, but they are just barely in front of Los Angeles and Anaheim. This will be the third meeting of the season between Vegas and San Jose, with the Golden Knights winning the previous two. Let’s look at this contest on Thursday and NHL picks. ... 

The Philadelphia Flyers are road favorites on Tuesday night, as they visit the Detroit Red Wings in a game that can be seen on NBCSN. The Flyers are making a push to the playoffs and can’t afford to be losing to a Detroit team that has really struggled over the past month. The Red Wings had lost nine in a row before Sunday’s game in Colorado. Let’s look at this contest on Tuesday and NHL picks....