Saturday’s NHL Picks — February 4

Good afternoon puckheads! Been a crazy week to say the least, with dramatic last second game-winning goals, furious late 3rd period comebacks, a litany of shutouts, a successful All Star game weekend in Ottawa and record setting night in Edmonton!

Anyhow, my hot streak hit a bit of a lull last week going sub.500 for just the 2nd time in months. Time to get back on the horse!

Stats as of Friday morning
Winning % on the season= 57%
Previous Week Record= 2-4

(~~ Follow Anthony Lancione on Twitter @Anthisdaman)

Washington @ Montreal (2:00pm ET)

By the Numbers – Frozen Pools

After kicking off 2012 with a more familiar brand of hockey, putting W’s on the board and a reclaiming of 1st place in the Southeast, the Caps have now dropped 4 of 5 and find themselves back on the outside looking in again in the East Conference playoff picture. Meanwhile, the Habs, after the shocking the hockey world with a demolition of the Detroit Red Wings, have now dropped two in a row. However, their four losses in the past six and seven of ten are the more indicative measures.

Pick
Washington – Visitor Win – V(ProLine)

Vancouver @ Colorado (3:00pm ET)
By the Numbers -Frozen Pools

Despite the Avs foiling in a 4 game losing streak, they’ve still been playing competitive hockey, losing all 4 by just a single marker. However, that factoid only begins to sum up the Nucks recent run of play. Vancouver only had 2 games in the entire month of January which WERE’NT 1-goal affairs. Giggy has really took the ball and run with it recently, with prized acquisition Varlamov only getting 1 start since January 15th!

Pick
Vancouver – Visiting Team Win – V(ProLine)

L.A. @ Carolina (7:00pm ET)
By the Numbers – Frozen Pools

As the Kings head to Carolina, they embark also on a 14-night, 6 -game road trip. One would think that a battle against the Eastern Conference basement dwellers is the ideal matchup for L.A. to kick off the trip. However, the Caniacs are coming off a 3-zip whitewash of the Stanley cup champs, so confidence may just be running at a season high.

Pick
L.A. – Visitor Win – V(ProLine)

Toronto @ Ottawa (8:00pm ET)
By the Numbers – Frozen Pools