Free NHL Picks Contest ($100): Pittsburgh Penguins at LA Kings

NHL Picks Contest ($100 Prize): Pittsburgh Penguins at LA Kings

Saturday, March 7th

The LA Kings seem to make it to the Stanley Cup Final every year, while the Pittsburgh Penguins seem to be preseason favorites each season. This is a battle of two of the premier teams in hockey. The Penguins will be a long way from home, but I think they’re the better team overall – especially in the regular season. Meanwhile, the LA Kings have been surging of late and on their own ice they certainly are difficult to beat.

Who do you think will win? As always, our NHL Picks Contest is free to participate. Simple comment on this post, pinned to the top of our Facebook page, to participate.

Here are our NHL Picks Contest standings after the Penguins defeated the Caps (A game we predicted the score exactly if you followed along on game day). Congrats to our new leader, Duane:

Six Wins

Duane  ... 

NHL Picks: Anaheim Ducks at Dallas Stars

NHL Picks: Anaheim Ducks at Dallas Stars

The Stars have some weapons and various players are having great seasons in order to keep them in the hunt. That said, they’ve fallen off completely of late and the Anaheim Ducks are turning a corner. Anaheim has won four of five while the Stars have lost five straight.

The Ducks are an elite team in the NHL this season. On a winning streak, they’re one of the more difficult teams to face in hockey. They’ve rested up for this road trip and should be prepared for the Stars. I don’t think Dallas can  ... 

NHL Picks: Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes

NHL Picks: Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes

The Washington Capitals are the much better team. The Caps have been on a nice stretch before two tough losses, and I think they’re ready to bounce back against one of their old division rivals.

The Canes have been sloppy this year and at the basement of a very top-heavy Metropolitan Division. The Caps are fighting for a playoff spot, and though they’re on the road, I expect them to play well against a familiar opponent.

The Caps will bounce back after playing good teams. Meanwhile the Canes are dumping talent and have  ... 

Free NHL Picks Contest ($100 Prize): Penguins Capitals

NHL Picks Contest: Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals

Z-Code Prediction

This is an interesting one for the latest round of our NHL Picks Contest. The computer has a five-star underdog pick for the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Washington Capitals. I have no such confidence, and there is some serious conflict in the algorithm. Either way this should be a fun one.

The Penguins have started to find their stride and are scoring again as their better players are finally starting to get healthy. The Washington Capitals are playing excellent hockey and are settling into a playoff position in the East. This could be a playoff preview.

I like this rivalry – even if I don’t buy into how much the NHL has hyped it up over the years. I’ll be avoiding this one because I agree that there is underdog value in the line but expect the Capitals to battle on home ice. Rather than place a wager, I suggest  ... 

NHL Picks: Edmonton Oilers at Minnesota Wild

NHL Picks: Edmonton Oilers at Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild have been good to us lately. They’ve consistently defeated teams they should be beating, and we’ve made some money on their most recent run. You could feel the momentum building up and the playoff push beginning. It was a great time to back them, and they’ve come through. The Edmonton Oilers are a team the Minnesota Wild should beat. That said, -280 has very limited value for me in hockey.

I like the Wild here, but I’m looking for parlay value and will be conservative with my money line wager.  ... 

Free NHL Picks Contest ($100 Prize): Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals

NHL Picks Contest: Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals

Wednesday, February 25th

There was a time where the NHL would have had you believe that Washington Capitals Vs Pittsburgh Penguins was the premier rivalry in hockey. Alex Ovechkin Vs Sidney Crosby, the concussions, the hatred, and two of the elite teams in the east… but the Washington Capitals never really lived up to expectations and haven’t delivered any playoff success during the Ovechkin era, and really, Crosby’s Penguins have disappointed since his injury-plagued seasons too. Right now, the Caps are playing great hockey and surging, one point ahead of a slumping Penguins team that is starting to get healthy again.

When these teams meet on Wednesday, who ya got? It’s still a wide open competition, with just three successful predictions last week. Remember, first to ten wins $100. It’s free to participate and easy. Simply comment on this post pinned to the top of our Facebook page to participate!

Here are our  ... 

NHL Picks: Nashville Predators at Buffalo Sabres

NHL Picks: Nashville Predators at Buffalo Sabres

The Preds are coming off a tough loss to a weak team and the road trip continues, making this an interesting game given the sharp line. That said, the Nashville Predators are quite simply the better team here and I don’t see how the Buffalo Sabres will keep pace.

I see some parlay value here and expect a money line win from the Predators, but I won’t be investing aggressively here. The line is very sharp, the Predators are tired, the backup is in net, they’re on the road, and the Sabres aren’t  ... 

NHL Picks: Minnesota Wild at Edmonton Oilers

NHL Picks: Minnesota Wild at Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers are playing good hockey by their standards. Realistically, even with the Boston Bruins hurting the way they are right now, that was still an impressive win. That said, the Minnesota Wild are playing much better hockey than Boston right now, and I don’t see them letting this one slip away.

Quite simply, if you got in early enough, there’s value here. -160 was my opening line, and even early this morning we had -170. The movement continues to rise, which is a sign of Vegas fearing public money. I like  ... 

NBA Picks: San Antonio Spurs at LA Clippers (+3)

NBA Picks: San Antonio Spurs at LA Clippers (+3) The computer gives a strong underdog value signal here, and with only two games on tap tonight I agree with the Z-Code algorithm. The Los Angeles Clippers are a strong team, starting to turn a corner after a little bit of a slide. The San Antonio Spurs, despite the dynasty being in tact, have been a little slow this year. I think the speed of the Clippers, at home, as underdogs, has some value here for sure.

There is no question this is a battle of elite teams and either is  ... 

NHL Picks Contest ($100 Prize): Standings Update, Blue Jackets Flyers

NHL Picks Contest ($100 Prize): Standings Update, Flyers Blue Jackets

Only three of our contestants got our contest game right, so the standings look pretty similar. Duane has jumped into a five-win tie with Robert and Mike, while Lee jumped into striking range at four wins. It’s still anyone’s game, and your continued participation keeps our contests going. First to ten wins takes the whole thing, but we’ve seen leaders stumble and the door is wide open.  Simply follow along on our Facebook page to participate.

Five Wins

Robert Wilson

Mike Galanti

Duane Atkinson  ...