Find out who Lancione likes in this week’s Saturday Picks.

After an impressive opening week, I had a bit of a hiccup last week, taking my early record down to .500. I'll look to start inching my way back toward last season's two-thirds winning percentage right away as we enter this Saturday's busy slate. 

Chicago @ Winnipeg (3:00pm ET)
By the Numbers – Frozen Pools
 
Chicago, a single point out of the Central Division lead faces off against the jets, who sit one point out of the Central Division basement. As the pretenders start to have their hot starts simmered down, we can see this is a bit of a mismatch. The Hawks have won two straight and have lit the lamp 19 times in the past four outings alone. While the Jets have lost two straight, five of six overall and have failed to score more than twice in a game since October 22^nd. The Jets have been sub.500 at home thus far, while the Hawks have been 3-1-1 on the road. This one is a cakewalk for Chicago.

Pick
Chicago – Visiting Team Win Plus– V+(ProLine)

Boston @ NY Islanders (7:00pm ET)
By the Numbers – Frozen Pools
 

The Bruins come into this affair having failed to score more than three goals in the past four games and having just put a halt to a two game skid. However, they have been one of the league's best defensive units for the past half-decade and this season's opening month has been no different. The Bruins ranking second in the NHL in goals against, with a mere 22 allowed over 12 games. Rask remains the elite fantasy goaltender in the NHL. Krejci, Lucic and Iginla have all been hot of late with all three just having significant point streaks snapped. The Islanders on the other hand appear to continue being the team on the rise, sitting third in the Metropolitan division. Tomas Vanek may need a few more games to get familiarized with his teammates, so his true impact may be withheld a little longer.

 
Pick

Boston – Visiting Team Win – V(ProLine)

Florida @ Washington (7:00pm ET)
By the Numbers -Frozen Pools
 
After skyrocketing toward the top of the NHL individual scoring leaderboard last week, Ovechkin has slowed down with a two game pointless streak and counting. He had been averaging 6.7 shots on goal per game heading into this two game mini-slump, thus his three and five shot performances in them help to explain why he's been held out. Look for a bounce back from him. The Caps and Panthers have lost a combined five consecutive games so one of them will bash their current futility streak. My money's on Washington do it as Florida has been dreadful on the road, winning just once thus far, heading into what will be their sixth road contest. It helps that Nicklas Backstrom has been more than a point per game guy over the past two weeks, with eight points in his last seven.

Pick
Washington – Home Team Win – H(ProLine)
 

Pittsburgh @ Columbus (7:00pm ET)
By the Numbers – Frozen Pools

Marc-Andre Fleury continues to be remarkable between the cage this season, sporting a league leading 9 wins, as well as a sparkling 1.81 GAA and a .927% Save percentage. He really is seemingly trying to prove Stevie Wonder wrong for declining to invite him to August's Team Canada Olympic Selection Camp. Sid the Kid continues to light it up, with 22 points in 14 games (as I type; early in Friday night's matchup). He's on pace for 129 points on the campaign, which would smash his career high record of 120 in 2006-2007. The Blue Jackets continue to toil in mediocrity, with essentially a .500 record and sitting on the outside of the playoff picture looking in for the 13^th time in 14 seasons in the league. Its made matter worse that big summer acquisition Nathan Horton has yet to make his debut with the franchise, (nor will he for a couple more months). Not to mention that defending Vezina winner, Sergei Bobrovsky has returned to the middle of the pack this yearwith a mortal 2.60 GAA so far(about to get much worse, already down 3-0 to Pittsburgh beginning of the second period).

 
Pick
Pittsburgh – Visiting Team Win – V(ProLine)

Nashville @ L.A. (10:30pm ET)
By the Numbers – Frozen Pools

The Rinne mid-to-long-term absence leaves glaring questions regarding Nashville's crease situation. Swedish prospect, Magnus Hellberg, has yet to record his debut career start, though his relief appearance vs St.Louis a week ago was ugly. Meanwhile Carter Hutton, while outstanding in his first couple starts looked less than ordinary in the past two, with mediocre peripherals in the meantime. My hunch is that Goaliepost.com will have an update by the team you read this which will see Hellberg awarded that elusive start. Meanwhile Jonathan Quick hasn't been that stellar either, losing his lead on Jimmy Howard and co for the starting job for Team USA in Sochi. However the team in front of him has been [predictably strong, so he's continued to get his wins to mask the mediocre peripherals. Jeff Carter has now been placed on the IR, so the Kings top scoring threat will make it even harder for Quick to get by on average performances. But Nashville has been god awful at getting the puck into the opposition zone this year, so LA should be just fine.

Pick
L.A. – Home Win – H(ProLine)

Phoenix @ San Jose (7:00pm ET)
By the Numbers – Frozen Pools

San Jose remains the top team in the NHL, as they were last year through the first few weeks, alongside Chicago (who of course managed to maintain that ridiculous pace of production all year long. With 51 goals, the Sharks are also the NHL's highest scoring team, not to mention. Meanwhile Phoenix has been the surprise team in the West through October with a surprising 9-3-2 record, from a balanced attack and a dependable Mike Smith. San Jose is a perfect 5-0-0 at home though and former all-star Marty Havlat is back in tow, of which did not look rusty in his debut. Just another sniper for the overachieving 'Yotes to look out for.

Pick
San Jose – Home Win – H (ProLine)

Happy betting this week, everyone!

Follow Anthony Lancione on Twitter @Anthisdaman.