Despite COVID-19 wreaking havoc on the NHL schedule, we are still lucky to have some games on today that aren’t postponed. We are loving the action throughout this impressive NHL season so far. As we move towards the mid way point in the season, each division’s ladder is starting to take shape. Every single win or loss can have a significant impact on where each team will finish at the end of the season, so it is important that you don’t miss any of the action!
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Look below to find our free NHL picks, as we preview the two games on today’s schedule.
Columbus Blue Jackets @ Buffalo Sabres – 7.00PM ET
*This game has now been postponed.*
The first of only two games that remain on the schedule for Monday night’s slate, and we will see the Columbus Blue Jackets up against the Buffalo Sabres. The Blue Jackets will be looking to turn around their current two game losing streak, which puts their season record at 14-13-1. The Sabres have won two of their last three, with wins over the Jets and Wild.
Denis Kirilov
The Columbus Blue Jackets are surely a team one should be careful with. They have proved they can defeat even the best teams in the NHL as they are already 2-0 this year against the top favorite for the Stanley Cup, the Colorado Avalanche. The Blue Jackets, however, are struggling at the moment, winning just 2 out of their last 10 games. They have only managed to defeat the Seattle Kraken (5-4 OT), and the San Jose Sharks (6-4). Although they concede too many goals, in my opinion, their biggest weakness comes from their offense. They are 10th in the current standings in the East with 29 points from 28 matches.
The Buffalo Sabres don’t really have any big ambitions for this year. Similar to previous seasons, they will try to minimize the damages at the end of the campaign. It seems that they don’t have what it takes to compete alongside the best in the NHL, although they have managed to surprise the best rosters on single occasions. They have achieved victories over teams like the Edmonton Oilers, the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Minnesota Wild. However, the Sabres are having huge difficulties when playing against teams from the middle and bottom of the table. I think this will be shown once again on Monday as I expect the Columbus Blue Jackets to come out on top in this meeting.
Denis’ NHL Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets (-114)
Tony Battalio
The Columbus Blue Jackets got off to a great start this season but have been struggling here lately as they are on a two game losing streak entering this game on Monday night. Their record currently sits at 14-13-1 as they are right at the .500 mark through their first 28 games of this season. They will be looking to string some wins together as we approach the halfway mark of the year, and the upcoming Olympic break in February that is now in doubt due to the Covid pandemic. A win over Buffalo would be a great launching pad for them to get things turned in the right direction as Christmas approaches.
Alex Tuch is set to make his Sabres debut tomorrow!
That & updates on Tage Thompson in today’s practice report. #LetsGoBuffalo | @1LECOM pic.twitter.com/rpK1uVJyis
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) December 19, 2021
Much like their opponent, the Buffalo Sabres also had a shockingly decent start to the 2021-22 National Hockey League season. However they have since come back down to reality as they come into this game with a record of 10-15-5 and they are a full 10 games below the .500 mark. However they have won two out of their last three games against some decent competition. Despite their recent short term success I still do not have them winning this game, as I have the Columbus Blue Jackets picking up the win in this one on the road.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets (-114)
Michael Lantz
Despite being 10-15-5, the Buffalo Sabres have looked decent lately as they got a big win over the Minnesota Wild and took the Pittsburgh Penguins to the brink. They’re also thrilled to have former Vegas Golden knight Alex Tuch make his team debut. Tuch will definitely provide some firepower to this Sabres offense that could use another jolt. On Monday they’ll face the Columbus Blue Jackets team that’ll look to bounce back stateside after a rough couple of games north of the border.
The Columbus Blue Jackets sit in fifth place in the Metropolitan Division, but are ten points out of PIttsburgh’s fourth place spot. While there is still plenty of season left, the Penguins are only getting stronger as Sidney Crosby has returned and Evengi Malkin isn’t far behind. If they want any chance at the postseason, they’ll need to start going on some sort of win streak ASAP. They’ll hope to get going against a Buffalo team that is sixth in the Atlantic Division but have looked a little better in recent games. With the Sabres playing at home and with Tuch joining the team, I’m going to go with the Sabres in this one.
Michael’s NHL Pick: Buffalo Sabres (-105)
Minnesota Wild @ Dallas Stars – 8.30PM ET
The final game on today’s short but sweet schedule will see the Minnesota Wild take on the Dallas Stars. The Wild are currently on a three game losing streak, with losses to the Kings, Golden Knights and Sabres. The Stars managed to snap a five game losing streak last time out, with a win against the Blackhawks, 4-3, in overtime.
Denis Kirilov
The game between the Minnesota Wild and the Dallas Stars will wrap up Monday night in the NHL. The leader in the Western Conference, Minnesota, is in bad form recently as they are coming into this game on a 3-game losing streak. Luckily for them, the teams around them in the standings also lost a couple of matches which let them keep 1st place. Their negative run started off with a loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Later on, they were defeated in an epic match against the Vegas Golden Knights and lastly, they suffered a huge upset against the Buffalo Sabres at home. The Wild are one of the best teams in offense as they have scored a total of 108 goals for 29 matches.
The Dallas Stars enjoyed a great run a couple of weeks ago, winning 7 straight games. However, they went on to lose their next 5 matches in the NHL to the likes of the Golden Knights, the Kings, the Sharks, and the Blues. They eventually stopped this losing streak with a victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in their last meeting. They came close to suffering yet another comeback, but a winning goal by John Klingberg in overtime got them the victory. The Stars are 12th in the West with 30 points. They keep a close gap between themselves and the teams around 6th place. I think that the home advantage will be crucial as I expect to see the Stars cheering in the end.
Denis’ NHL Pick: Dallas Stars (-120)
Tony Battalio
The Minnesota Wild are still one of the best teams in the National Hockey League despite their current three game losing streak. Even with the recent losses they still find themselves firmly in the lead in the Central Division and 9 games above the .500 mark. If they return to their form they were at a few weeks ago they could likely clinch a playoff spot by the time March comes around. This game against a struggling Dallas team may be the perfect opponent for them to press the reset button and get things back on track.
Important win. Keep it rolling.@trulyseltzer | #TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/ylBMx6loiy
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) December 20, 2021
The previously mentioned Dallas Stars just recently broke a five game losing streak of their own in the game prior to this one. It took overtime to beat the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday for that to happen, now their competition will be much tougher in this one. They come into this game right at the .500 mark with a record of 14-12-2 on the year and they are sitting at sixth place in the Central Division. As for the result of this game, I expect them to drop below the .500 mark as I have the Minnesota Wild picking up the win in this one on the road.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Minnesota Wild (+100)
Michael Lantz
After eight straight wins, the Minnesota Wild have taken a tumble as they’ve dropped three games in a row. After looking like one of the elite teams in hockey, the Wild are now hanging onto a first place lead by one point over the Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues. On Monday they’ll face a team that’s fluctuated between winning and losing streaks in the Dallas Stars.
Dallas won seven straight games from the end of November to early December, only to follow that streak up with a five game skid. Luckily they broke out of their losing ways with a 4-3 overtime win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. They’ll look to head on another win streak against a struggling Minnesota Wild team on Monday night. Minnesota has to feel the competition in their division breathing down their neck and they’re too talented to keep this skid going. I think they’ll find a way to prevail against the Stars on the road.
Michael’s NHL Pick: Minnesota Wild (+100)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
