NHL Picks (Today's Free Predictions, Tips, Parlays)

Free NHL Picks: Blues at Rangers Odds
by George Monroy - 1/22/2014

The New York Rangers stepped up their defense during the month of January, and as a result they have won seven of their last 11 games. New York is back in the thick of the playoff race and trails the fourth- and fifth-seeded teams in the East by only two points. Veteran goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has played well to open up the year and has been stingy in front of the net, allowing only 2.12 goals per game during that span.

Free NHL Picks: Blackhawks at Red Wings Odds
by George Monroy - 1/21/2014

The Chicago Blackhawks started out 2014 on a bit of a slump, losing five of their first seven games of the year. It was the team’s worst slump of the season and allowed the Anaheim Ducks to take sole possession of first place in the Western Conference playoff standings. Chicago, however, put an end to its struggles with two impressive wins over the Ducks and Boston Bruins that proved the road to the Stanley Cup still runs through the Blackhawks.

Free NHL Picks: Canucks at Oilers Odds
by George Monroy - 1/20/2014

The Vancouver Canucks are still in playoff contention in the West, but if they continue to play the way the same way they have during the month of January, the Canucks will soon be on the outside looking in. The squad dropped eight of its last 10 matchups and already put a three- and four-game losing streak under its belt not even three weeks into 2014. Vancouver’s lineup has been plagued with various injuries to key players over the last month, but the team’s biggest issue over its recent slump is the simply fact that it plays in a tough Western Conference.

Free NHL Picks: Flyers at Islanders Odds
by George Monroy - 1/20/2014

The Philadelphia Flyers might be accused of ‘picking on the little guy’ after tonight’s matchup against the New York Islanders. Philadelphia’s last three games have been against the two worst teams in the Eastern Conference—the Buffalo Sabres and the Islanders—as well as the third-worst team in the Western Conference—the Nashville Predators. And to make matters worse, the Flyers will face New York for the second straight night in a home-and-home situation.

Free NHL Picks: Avalanche at Predators Odds
by George Monroy - 1/17/2014

The Western Conference is so top-heavy with talent that a squad like the Colorado Avalanche can skate through the season relatively unnoticed. The Avalanche is sitting on 65 points in the standings—which would make them a power house in the East—but wouldn’t host a home series if the playoffs started today. Patrick Roy’s squad has beaten every contender in the West this season and would be a nightmare first-round matchup for any squad.

Free NHL Picks: Ducks at Blackhawks Odds
by George Monroy - 1/16/2014

The Western Conference’s top two teams are headed for a marquee matchup on Friday night when the Anaheim Ducks visit the Chicago Blackhawks in what could be the biggest NHL game of the season. Anaheim is on a merciless winning streak that has seen the team win eight straight games and 18 of its last 19 overall matchups.

Free NHL Picks: Red Wings at Rangers Odds
by George Monroy - 1/15/2014

Injures have kept the Detroit Red Wings from playing to their full potential during the team’s first season in the Eastern Conference. Detroit’s team captain Henrik Zetterberg missed multiple weeks with a back injury, and the squad has still struggled to adjust to its new opponents in the Atlantic Division.

Free NHL Picks: Sabres at Maple Leafs Odds
by George Monroy - 1/14/2014

The Toronto Maple Leafs finally ended an embarrassing four-game losing streak that included three blowout losses—two of which were by more than four goals. The team will hit the road on Tuesday night to play the Boston Bruins then return home to host the Buffalo Sabres—a matchup that Toronto believes it should be able to win. The Maple Leafs also have a four-game road trip looming and need to continue earning points in the standings before they fall even further behind in the playoff race.

Free NHL Picks: Sharks at Capitals Odds
by George Monroy - 1/13/2014

The San Jose Sharks have alternated wins and losses over their last eight games but will be looking flex their muscle this week as they play three straight road games against the Eastern Conference. The team is currently sitting in the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoff standings but trails the Anaheim Ducks by 13 points for the Pacific Division lead.

Free NHL Picks: Canucks at Kings Odds
by George Monroy - 1/13/2014

The Los Angeles Kings have a wealth of talent at the goaltender position now that Jonathan Quick has returned to the lineup after a nearly two-month absence due to injury. Los Angeles fell behind the Western Conference leaders after a recent five-game losing streak left the team 14 points behind the first-place Anaheim Ducks in the playoff standings. Los Angeles’ offense has shouldered much of the blame as goaltenders Quick and Martin Jones have continued to play well in front of the net.

Free NHL Picks: Blue Jackets at Jets Odds
by George Monroy - 1/10/2014

The Winnipeg Jets had a tough time on a recent three-game road trip and ended up allowing a whopping 14 goals and losing all three matchups. The losing streak might not matter much since the Jets have already fallen to the bottom of the Central Division and would need a major turnaround to compete for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference—of course, anything can happen in sports, and the Jets are simply hoping that turnaround starts with Saturday’s matchups against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Free NHL Picks: Maple Leafs at Capitals Odds
by George Monroy - 1/9/2014

Alex Ovechkin earned his 376th career assist as a Washington Capital on Saturday, moving him into third place on the franchise’s all-time assists list. The team, however, managed to lose a two-goal lead against the Minnesota Wild and dropped its fourth straight game. Washington seems to be wasting another fantastic year from its captain Ovechkin and continues to slowly fall out of playoff contention with each loss.

Free NHL Picks: Blues at Flames Odds
by George Monroy - 1/8/2014

The St. Louis Blues have looked unstoppable over the last two weeks, and not even heading out on the road has been enough to stop them. St. Louis is on a dominant six-game winning streak that includes two huge wins over the Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks to go along with a road win over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. The Blues are right in the mix for the top seed in the Western Conference and may be the best squad in the entire NHL at the moment.

Free NHL Picks: Rangers at Blackhawks Odds
by George Monroy - 1/7/2014

The Chicago Blackhawks may have lost two of their first three games of 2014, but the team remains the favorite to win this season’s Stanley Cup title. Chicago dropped a game to the streaking New York Islanders last week and was bested during shootouts by San Jose Sharks on Sunday. However, the Blackhawks still sit atop the Central Division and are probably the most talented team in the league.

Free NHL Picks: Hurricanes at Sabres Odds
by George Monroy - 1/6/2014

The Carolina Hurricanes are quietly on a tear after winning their last four games and creeping back into the playoff race in the Eastern Conference. Carolina is currently tied for the ninth spot in the standings and is one point behind the eighth and final playoff position in the East. The team’s recent surge in play has come from solid defense and goaltending mixed with a couple of well-time goals on offense.

Free NHL Picks: Stars at Islanders Odds
by George Monroy - 1/6/2014

The improving New York Islanders split the first two games of a three-game homestand and will be looking to end the stretch on a positive note with a win over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. New York heads out on a six-game road trip starting Tuesday that will not end until a Jan. 18 matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers. The team has played much better hockey over the last two weeks, but it is still sitting firmly near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

Free NHL Picks: Devils at Sabres Odds
by George Monroy - 1/3/2014

The Buffalo Sabres are still on pace to barely crack the 50-point mark and earn the lowest NHL points total in the last 10 years. Buffalo has 26 points in the standings at the halfway mark of the season—the team played its 41st game on Thursday. However, the Sabres could have been in a much worse situation if not for a mini-surge that saw the squad play .500 hockey over an eight-game stretch.

Free NHL Picks: Oilers at Coyotes Odds
by George Monroy - 12/30/2013

The Phoenix Coyotes are on a three-game losing streak that includes a loss to the lowly Buffalo Sabres—the worst team in the NHL. Phoenix is hoping to redeem itself when it plays the equally-as-bad and worst team in the West, the Edmonton Oilers, on New Year’s Eve. The Coyotes have fallen to the eight spot in the conference after being in the top six for most of the early part of the NHL season. The team cannot afford to have losing months, especially when they play in a deep Western Conference

Free NHL Picks: Flyers at Canucks Odds
by George Monroy - 12/30/2013

The Philadelphia Flyers have finally caught up to the rest of the Eastern Conference after starting the season with only four wins during the first 16 games of the year. Philadelphia is currently in a three-way tie for the final playoff spot in the conference and has won five of its last seven games.

Free NHL Picks: Kings at Predators Odds
by George Monroy - 12/27/2013

The Los Angeles Kings are about to cap off the year with a three-game road trip that will feature a showdown with the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks on Monday. But first the team will take a trip to Nashville to play the slumping Predators on Saturday night in what should be a winnable game for a Kings squad that has won nine of its last 11 games during the month of December.