Happy Hockey Day in Canada, everyone! What a great way to celebrate with a tripleheader on CBC for those of us north of the border and too cheap to afford NHL Centre Ice :)

For non-proline purposes my last week of picks before the all-star game netted a 5-1 result (only 3-3 for proline purposes), including a successful prediction of the Avs sweeping their season series with the Kings in LA. That's 14 – 4 over the last 3 weeks of picks. Forget proline, send me to Vegas baby!!! Haha, yeah right, anyways… Thunder managed her respectable showing coming in .500 as has happened 5 out of the last 6 weeks. At least she's a model of consistency. We've got some great picks for you this week, including another risky pick for the last game. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Oilers @ Senators

By the Numbers – Frozen Pool

With 14 points in four February games, Sam Gagner has vaulted himself into a 3^rd place tie in Oilers scoring with Ryan Smyth. Seems like a great time for the Oilers to get a maximum return for Gagner before the trade deadline. Too bad Hemsky couldn't have gone on a similar run to increase his value. Apparently all the Sens needed to snap their losing skid and to realize that they're still in playoff contention is a visit from Carrie Underwood. The Oilers still have only six wins on the road this year.

My Pick: H (Sens win)

Thunder's Pick: V (Oilers win)

Jets @ Penguins

By the Numbers – Frozen Pool

The Jets seem to be peaking at the right time with wins in four of their last six games, knocking off opponents such as the Flyers, Lightning, Leafs, and Capitals. The Pens have lost their last two, but have had some time off since Tuesday's loss to the Habs.  Last week the team played in two back-to-back sets, pulling off a victory in each of the first games. Now they're set for another back-to-back this weekend. With three days off, they'll be hungry to erase a road trip where the team only managed 3 out of a possible 8 points.

My Pick: H (Pens win)

Thunder's Pick: V (Jets win)

Canadiens @ Maple Leafs

By the Numbers – Frozen Pool

Toronto’s New Year resolution for 2012 is still holding strong, as the team's penalty kill has gone from zero to hero.  The team has killed off 28 straight man advantage opportunities in 17 games in 2012.  Not only has the PK been terrific but the team as a whole has been taking fewer penalties. This good fortune finds the team only 1 pt. behind 2^nd-place Otttawa in the Northeast Division, with 2 games in hand, and trail first place Boston by only 6 points (the B's have 3 games in hand).  Never thought I'd be writing that this late into the season. The buds could use a playoff berth this season to calm the fan base and allow another 7-8 seasons of mediocrity to pass on by. As for the Habs, Scott Gomez scored his first goal in 368 days… wow, $7.5 million for a single goal. Why is Gauthier still there?

My Pick: H (Leafs win)

Thunder's Pick: H (Leafs win)

Canucks @ Flames

By the Numbers – Frozen Pool

The Canucks are 6-0-2 in their last eight games and are only one point behind the Red Wings for the Western Conference lead. Earlier this season, the Canucks waltzed into the Saddledome (is it still called that?) and came away with a convincing 5-1 victory. The team is poised to go deep into the playoffs again. The Flames are the only team in the league who have not scored a shorthanded goal. I laughed, when earlier this year a colleague used his one replacement selection and picked Olli Jokinen in my work pool. Jokinen has 11 points in eight games since he made that move, which bodes well for Flames fans. Cammalleri has 3 points in 10 games since his acquisition and is a -7. Ouch! Luckily, Rene Bourque's 4 points in 11 games aren't that much better.

My Pick: V+ (Canucks by 2 or more)

Thunder's Pick: V (Canucks win)

Blackhawks @ Coyotes

By the Numbers – Frozen Pool

The Hawks have lost six straight, and it may be seven before they take to the ice in Glendale (they play San Jose Friday night) hoping to snap their skid and try to salvage their current road trip, as the team three more road games before coming home February 19^th. The team has surrendered 27 goals in those losses, but GM Stan Bowman still stands behind his duo of Crawford and Emery. The Coyotes are riding a four-game win streak, their longest of the year, which began after the team fell to the lowly Ducks at home. Since than the team has reeled off wins against the Sharks, Wings, Stars, and Flames. The road team has won every game in the season series, which concludes tonight.

My Pick: V (Hawks win)

Thunder's Pick: H (Coyotes win)

Avalanche @ Blues

By the Numbers – Frozen Pool

The Blues are 22-3-4 at home this season, which is quite impressive as the team is trying to catch the Red Wings for first place in the Central Division (three points back with two games in hand). The Avs snapped a 5-game losing streak against the Hawks on Tuesday and hosted the Canes on Friday night before embarking on a four game road trip. This trip could eventually seal their fate as buyers or sellers come the February 27^th trade deadline.  Their pathetic 2-12-1 record against Northwest Division opponents, the worst by any team against their own division, makes this game in St. Louis essentially the game of the season. The Avalanche have played hard this year, and usually aren't rewarded despite outworking the opposition. Hopefully, they've saved all those bounces to go on a similar run as in 2006-07. That’s when they went 15-2-2 to close out the season and missed the playoffs by a single point.

My Pick: V (Avalanche win)

Thunder's Pick: H (Blues win)