NHL 2016 Season Predictions: Eastern Conference

NHL 2016 Season Predictions: Eastern Conference Carolina Hurricanes Despite finishing 6th in the division in 2015, this team is possibly the worst in the NHL. Aside from Jordan Stall and Jeff Skinner, they have no impact players and their defense lacks experience. Look for them at the bottom of the standings all year. Buffalo Sabres The Sabres are progressing but doing so slowly. They are not a playoff contender this year. While they have a solid mix of fresh young talent and seasoned veterans, the team will continue to grow. However, temper your expectations. Wait a year or two and ...

2016 NHL Preview: The Western Conference

2016 NHL Season Preview: The Western Conference Vancouver Canucks The Canucks are a train wreck of mediocre goaltending and aging veterans without any solid prospects outside of Bo Horvat and Jake Virtanen. The team made weak offseason moves by trading Jared McCann, one of their few strong young players, for Erik Gudbranson and then paid way to much to acquire Loui Eriksson. This will surely be a disappointing season, and likely next few seasons, for fans in Vancouver. Arizona Coyotes This is a developing team with a ton of talented young players and a few solid veterans. However, the Coyotes ...

NHL Playoffs Picks: Predators Sharks Game Seven

NHL Playoffs Picks: Nashville Predators at San Jose Sharks Game 7 I had the team that the Nashville Predators knocked out in the first round winning it all, but the Preds showed resilience and consistency in pulling off a win in Game Seven. Here, they face another Game Seven against what is by all accounts an inferior team to the one they just beat. My issue is whether the Nashville Predators have enough gas left in the tank to pull off another Game Seven victory on the road. Right now, I’ll say yes with limited confidence.

The Nashville Predators have ...

NHL Playoffs Picks: Second Round Bracket Predictions, Caps Penguins

NHL Playoffs: Round Two Predictions, Caps Penguins, Blues Stars Well, that was the worst first round we have ever had at Z-Code. We went 4-4 in the first round, but 10-0 on our progression wagers. We finished up 3.84 units overall after deciding not to hedge out of our +320 Ducks bet when they were up 3 games to 2. I guess we got greedy. I had the Ducks winning it all this year. Swing and a miss.

Now, we regroup. We’re playing with house money a little bit here. Still, I had my eyes set on a $1,000 ...

NHL Playoffs Picks: New York Islanders vs Tampa Bay Lightning

We will have another bracket for you guys after the Anaheim Ducks (hopefully) take out the Nashville Predators tonight, but I wanted to commit to the Tampa Bay Lightning here in an ABC progression. I’ve got them winning the series. The New York Islanders are hot, but Tampa is the better team with the better goalie.

I look at these teams as having a lot of top-line strength but limited depth. The New York Islanders are led by one central scorer, and so are the Tampa Bay Lightning. Heck, I’ll ...

NHL Playoffs Picks: Caps Flyers Game Six

NHL Picks: Washington Capitals vs Philadelphia Flyers Game 6 The Philadelphia Flyers changed goalies, and it has given them a bit of a boost. The Flyers still aren’t scoring, but they’ve started to shut down the best offense in the conference. Here, however, after two big wins, I expect the Flyers to fall to the Washington Capitals at last. We continue our progression wager here, and we bet Washington to cover the last two losses.

It’s so difficult to beat the same team three and four times in a row. It is especially difficult when that team is the best ...

NHL Playoffs Picks: Washington Capitals vs Philadelphia Flyers

NHL Playoffs Picks: Washington Capitals vs Philadelphia Flyers I think the Philadelphia Flyers have completely imploded. It’s fun watching people try to defend these fans, but they are irrational and violent. Philly is a great city and a fun sports town, but Philadelphia fans are the absolute worst. Whether it’s the Eagles or the Flyers, the people are just ridiculous. As such, isn’t it fun to watch the best team in the East, the Washington Capitals, beat the snot out of them every night? I mean if you can’t have enough dignity when honoring your dead owner to not throw things ...

NHL Playoffs Picks: LA Kings at San Jose Sharks Game Three

NHL Playoffs Picks: LA Kings at San Jose Sharks

I think the LA Kings are the better team here, and I think that they have enough defense and goaltending to turn this series around on the road. The LA Kings lost two tough games at home, and as the series shifts to San Jose, the desperation will be high. They should be able to finally get things going.

The San Jose Sharks have surprised me in the beginning of this series. They look sharp and have the ability to score clutch goals and muscle out wins. The defensive system of the ...

NHL Playoffs Picks: Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues

NHL Playoffs Picks: Chicago Blackhawks vs St. Louis Blues I know the Chicago Blackhawks are always a trendy pick, what with their Stanley Cups and their playoff consistency, but this pick is more about the St. Louis Blues’ struggles than Chicago’s triumphs. The Blues just do not know how to win in the NHL playoffs.

I like the St. Louis Blues. I enjoy teams built in defense and goaltending, it reminds me of my own Devils. Still, the offensive shortcomings of a goalie-dominated league have led to the St. Louis Blues not being able to get over the hump. When ...

2016 NHL Playoffs Predictions: Caps Ducks Stanley Cup

2016 NHL Playoffs Predictions: Anaheim Ducks vs Washington Capitals Stanley Cup The Anaheim Ducks had one of the worst starts I can remember for an elite team. We lost some money early in the year, as I had them picked to dominate the West. That said, we got off them quick, they sorted things out, and they somehow won the division. With that kind of momentum, I like the Anaheim Ducks to win the Stanley Cup this year. I just don’t trust an Alexander Ovechkin Washington Capitals team. Here are the rest of our 2016 NHL Playoffs Predictions:

First Round ...