in NHL Free Picks

GAME ONE

Toronto Maple Leafs (14-13-5) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (15-13-4)

Friday, December 15, 2006, 7:00pm EST

Paul Maurice returns to Lightning 5-4 on Tuesday. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, are still reeling from a four-game skid on the road.

The Leafs and Canes have always played each other viciously. The last five meeting prove that, having been settled by a difference of a single goal each game. Last year, the teams split their four-game series. There’s no reason to believe that tonight’s game will be any different as the Canes try to snap their losing streak, and the Leafs play hard to vindicate Maurice’s firing.

With LW Cory Stillman coming off the IR and getting more ice-time, the Canes will find more punch on offense. The Canes have the clear edge between the pipes with G Cam Ward, but the penalty kill has been atrocious as of late. They allowed four unanswered goals against the Avalanche in their last game.

That does not bode well, as Toronto ranks 8th in the league in power play percentage (19.0%) and RW Darcy Tucker has been one of the best power play goal scorers in the league this season. G Andrew Raycroft has struggled this season, but he only allowed a single score on 17 shots against the Lightning on Tuesday.

Both teams need this win, but, while the Canes are playing at home, look for the Leafs to boost their winning streak to two tonight. If Carolina gets into penalty trouble early on, the Leafs have the talent and depth to capitalize.

Leafs – 3

Canes – 2

GAME TWO

Washington Capitals (13-10-7) vs. Atlanta Thrashers (18-9-5)

Friday, December 15th, 2005, 7:30PM EST

Kovalchuk. Ovechkin. Grab your Stolichnaya and get ready for a scoring spree courtesy of a couple of  hockey’s best Russian imports.

The Thrashers may own the better record, but they have lost their last three games, including an 0-8 loss at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning. To make matters worse, they have been outscored 14-4 during the losing streak.

LW Alexander Ovechkin has scored at least one point in each of his last nine games. What has to make the skidding Thrashers worry even more is that Ovechkin turns it up a notch when he plays other big superstars. The Capitals are chasing the Thrashers in the Southeast Division. A win tonight would be a step in the right direction. The Capitals have been playing fantastic hockey as of late and the emergence of LW Matt Pettinger (five points in his last five games) has only boosted a productive offense.

Look for a big night of production out of Ovechkin as he out-duels his Russian comrades.

Capitals – 4

Thrashers – 2