After a long layoff, we are back here at everything-hockey.com and ready to deliver some winning NHL picks as the season continues to roll along and the playoffs on the horizon. Tonight I will be looking at a goal total as well as a road underdog to kickstart what should be a fun final quarter of the NHL season.
NHL Picks for February 21st
Philadelphia Flyers @ Winnipeg Jets
One of the NHL’s best road teams will swing into the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba tonight to butt heads with one of the league’s best home teams. In fact, the Flyers’ road record of 18-9-2 is the exact same mark that the Jets have put up on home ice this season. Winnipeg’s solid home play this season has them battling for the 8th and final playoff spot in the East, while the Flyers have been one of the NHL’s most consistent road warriors thanks to their ability to put the puck in the back of the net, rather than keeping it out of their own. The Flyers rank 2nd in the NHL in overall scoring, averaging 3.3 goals per game, with that number slipping slightly to a rock solid 3.1 goals scored per game on the road. The problem? The Flyers also rank 27th in the league in overall defense allowing 3.1 goals per game. You may be saying that the Flyers back end really misses Chris Pronger, or you can be honest and say that the Philly goaltending has been atrocious this season. After signing for big money and a very long term in the offseason, Iyla Bryzgalov has been nothing but disappointing, both by his own measures and the team’s, recording a decent 20-11-6 mark (thanks to the offense) but also recording a weak 2.79 goals against average and a pourous .900 save percentage. There hasn’t been much to fall back onto lately either as backup Sergei Bobrovsky is 1-4-0 with a 5.50 goals against average and an .822 save percentage over his last 5 games played. The only thing I believe will overshadow the lack of goaltending tonight will be the abundance of goal scoring. The Flyers’ Claude Giroux has 6 points in his last 2 games, Scott Hartnell has 4 points in his last 2 games, Wayne Simmonds has 3 points in his last 2 games, while Eric Wellwood, Jaromir Jagr and Jakub Voracek all have 2 points in their last 2 contests. There is no shortage of hot hands on the Jets either as Dustin Byfuglien has 5 points in his last 3 games, Blake Wheeler broke out with 7 points in his last 2 games, Evander Kane has 6 points over his last 3 games, Bryan Little has 4 in his last 2 games, and Andrew Ladd and Kyle Wellwood both have 3 points in their last 2 games played. I’m looking for the OVER in tonight’s game, with some trends to back it up. The OVER is 5-0 in Philly’s last 5 games overall and 15-7 in their last 22 road games. The total has also gone OVER in 4 of the Jets last 5 games overall, and in 5 of their last 7 games against the Flyers which included a 9-8 victory earlier this season in Philadelphia. Lastly, the OVER is 4-1 in Philly’s last 5 trips to Winnipeg. Look for a lot of scoring tonight from the Manitoba capital.
My Pick – OVER 5.5 (-110) (bet it at www.5dimes.com and get $520 FREE)
Los Angeles Kings @ Phoenix Coyotes
It wasn’t more than a week ago where I watched the Phoenix Coyotes go into LA, blank the Kings, while scoring just one goal of their own to earn the two points. In fact, that was the second consecutive 1-0 game these two have played, going back to the Kings’ 1-0 overtime win in Phoenix on January the 5th. Story of the Kings’ season. The Kings rank dead last in the NHL in goals scored with just 124 tallies so far this season, but rank 3rd in the league in goals against, surrendering just 126 goals on the year. Jonathan Quick has easily been the Kings’ MVP this season, recording a 24-16-10 record with a 1.87 goals against average and a .934 save percentage on the season. While the Coyotes are a very impressive 7-0-1 in the month of February, I believe Quick can backstop the Kings to a road victory tonight as underdogs. As mentioned earlier, the Kings rank 3rd in overall defense, but that rank moves up to 2nd in road defense, with the Kings allowing just 2.3 goals against per game away from the Staples Center. The Kings are 6-2 in their last 8 meetings against the Coyotes overall, and have held the Coyotes to just 7 goals scored in their last 5 meetings . Take a strong look at LA tonight as road underdogs battling for a playoff spot.
My Pick – KINGS +110 (bet it at www.5dimes.com and get $520 FREE)