NHL Picks Contest ($100 Prize): NHL Christmas Break Standings Update

Free NHL Picks Contest ($100 Prize): Standings Update, NHL Christmas Break Well, the Arizona Coyotes won a thriller despite the Toronto Maple Leafs being on the tail end of a back to back and on the road coming into the NHL Christmas Break. Most of you moved up a spot in the standings in our free NHL Picks Contest as hockey takes time for players to be with family and celebrate. Below is our NHL Christmas Break Standings Update.

We’ll take a short break too, but don’t forget to check out our NFL Picks page as there is a ...

NHL Picks Contest ($100 Prize): Toronto Maple Leafs at Phoenix Coyotes

NHL Picks Contest: Toronto Maple Leafs at Arizona Coyotes

Tuesday, Dec. 22nd It’s funny, but the Toronto Maple Leafs are everything the Arizona Coyotes want to be, right? History and prestige aside, the Toronto Maple Leafs have put a terrible team on the ice and still fill the arena. Oh, why can’t the Arizona Coyotes have the same loyal fans? Woe is the Phoenix Desert.

That said, while both teams are still pretty bad, the future is pretty bright. The Toronto Maple Leafs are still a destination for free agents, while the Arizona Coyotes are starting to assemble enough ...

NHL Picks: New Jersey Devils at Buffalo Sabres

NHL Picks: New Jersey Devils at Buffalo Sabres The New Jersey Devils struggle enough offensively as it is. With Adam Henrique and Travis Zajac out of the lineup, the New Jersey Devils were rather predictably shut out in their last contest. Still, Adam Henrique is skating and looks to return to the lineup tonight, and Cory Schneider is one of the best goalies in hockey. Even a modicum of offensive spark should be enough for New Jersey here.

The Buffalo Sabres aren’t as terrible as they were last year, but they haven’t been a viable threat in the East since ...

NHL Picks: New York Islanders at Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL Picks: New York Islanders at Columbus Blue Jackets I actually really like the Columbus Blue Jackets. It makes me happy that they have a goaltender that makes the Flyers look silly with every successful season he puts together. That said, this year is not going well for the Jackets. A coaching change may have given them a temporary boost, but they are in the midst of another slide.

The New York Islanders, on the other hand, are playing some really great hockey at the moment. They’ve got some serious top-line talent and one of the hottest goalies in hockey ...

Free NHL Picks Contest ($100): Tampa Bay Lightning at Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL Picks Contest ($100 Prize): Tampa Bay Lightning at Columbus Blue Jackets

Monday, December 14th John Tortorella, laughing stock of me for squandering the best years of the New York Rangers’ dynasty of regular season dominance, was quite predictably exactly what the Columbus Blue Jackets needed. His focus on defense and system saved his reeling goaltender from falling from the ranks of above average NHL net minders. They’re on fire.

Meanwhile, Tampa has only won 13 of their 28 games despite a great goalie and some of the best offensive talent in the East. They’re dangerous and dynamic, but they’re ...

NHL Picks Contest ($100 Prize): Senators Panthers

NHL Picks Contest ($100 Prize): Ottawa Senators at Florida Panthers

Tuesday, December 8th In this round of our NHL Picks Contest, I’m picking two of the most middle of the pack franchises in hockey doing battle in one of the emptiest stadiums in hockey. The Florida Panthers are a fun team and I really like them. The Ottawa Senators were probably the most fun to watch team in hockey down the stretch last season. Who will win this epic showdown on total median play?

As always, simply comment on this post to participate. Remember, first to ten wins gets the ...

NHL Picks: Chicago Blackhawks at Ottawa Senators

NHL Picks: Chicago Blackhawks at Ottawa Senators Supporting Patrick Kane is tough. He’s a rapist (allegedly and then not allegedly and now maybe allegedly again in a civil action). He beats up cab drivers (fact). He scores a point every single game (also fact). He’s on one of the most consistent teams in hockey over the last decade… But do ethics have a role in gambling? Doesn’t a part of you want this guy to fall flat on his face? Like how we kind of all are rooting for Michael Vick to break his leg again in some freak dog-related ...

NHL Picks: Buffalo Sabres at Detroit Red Wings

NHL Picks: Buffalo Sabres at Detroit Red Wings Don’t forget, today features a contest game between the Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils! That game, obviously is not a system pick because I view it as something of a coin flip. The New Jersey Devils are hard to trust with their offense the way it is, and the Devils defense makes them a threat to beat anyone – especially the lowly Colorado Avalanche.

Here, I like the Detroit Red Wings at home. The Red Wings are a great team at home historically, and much of my analysis that led us ...

NHL Picks: Florida Panthers at Detroit Red Wings

NHL Picks: Florida Panthers at Detroit Red Wings I like the Florida Panthers. My greatest hockey memory is probably the double-overtime playoff thriller they hosted against my New Jersey Devils that began their (somewhat) improbable Stanley Cup run a few years ago. They’re young, they’ve got a goalie with personality, and they are on their way up towards sustained mediocrity from the depths of hockey despair a few years ago. You can root for the Florida Panthers, I just won’t be doing it here.

The Detroit Red Wings are the opposite of the upstart Florida Panthers. This is Hockey Town. ...

NHL Picks: New York Islanders at Florida Panthers

NHL Picks: New York Islanders at Florida Panthers This is far from an easy game but it’s hard to deny the value in a pick ’em line between the New York Islanders and the Florida Panthers. The Panthers are struggling right now while the New York Islanders are poised to be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference this year.

Roberto Luongo makes the Florida Panthers a viable threat. Their young scoring is somewhat dangerous, and they compete. Still, I don’t think theFlorida Panthers should be even money in this one and I see a lot of value on the New York Islanders.

A weak Panthers defensive corps is going to struggle with some of the best scoring in hockey. Speed and skill are the Islanders’ signature the past few season and I think they’ll skate circles around the Panthers and generate a lot of chances. Sure, the Florida Panthers can win this one with goaltending, but I ...