Despite not being named to Team Canada, Claude Giroux has the Flyers winning and that should continue on Saturday

Going with the weekly favourites finally ran into a rather significant speed bump the last week and resulted in a less than stellar performance. However, we look to head into the Olympic Break on a high note, as there should be some easy money out there. Hope everyone enjoys the last night of hockey before we all get to sit down and watch the best players in the World represent their countries and battle for Olympic Gold. On to the action.

Flames @ Flyers

By the Numbers – Frozen Pool

The Flames are on fire, finally, winners of six of their last seven games they are probably the last team who wants to see an Olympic Break at this moment. Despite their recent success they are still well out of a playoff spot and currently sit 13 points back of Phoenix. The Flyers are also steering in the right direction having won four of their last five games outscoring opponents 18-8 along the way. Steve Mason continues his outstanding play making 38 saves in a 3-1 win over Colorado Thursday night and is 2-0-1 against Calgary with a 2.01 goals against average in his last three starts. Claude Giroux was hoping to get invited as a replacement for the injured Steven Stamkos, however his recent run of 14 points in his last 10 games just wasn't enough to send him overseas with the rest of Team Canada.

Pick: H (Flyers win)

Jets @ Blues

By the Numbers – Frozen Pool

The Blues are 5-1-1 in their last seven, despite surrendering a two-goal lead in the last three games. The Blues haven't scored on the power play in their last 12 chances, but have won five of their last six versus the Jets.  The Jets have managed a 9-3 turnaround under new coach Paul Maurice, but the offense has been fizzling lately, failing to score more than two goals in their last 3 games after 15 goals for in the previous four contests. Things won't get much easier going up against St. Louis' 3rd best defense in the league.

My Pick: H (Blues win)

Senators @ Bruins

By the Numbers – Frozen Pool

This is the final matchup between these two teams where the home team has won every game by a combined score of 13-5. The Bruins will be without Slovakian flag bearer Zdeno Chara as he's already in Sochi taking in the luxurious amenities within the athletes village. The Bruins are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games, and 7-2 in their last nine at home against Ottawa. The Sens are on a bit of a streak themselves with a 4-1-1 mark in their last six games, battling for one of the wildcard spots. Bobby Ryan has only managed two goals since Dec. 28th (their last win versus Boston).

My Pick: T (Bruins win in shootout)

Canucks @ Maple Leafs

By the Numbers – Frozen Pool

The Canucks are nose-diving, and it's been happening for over six weeks. The recent owners of a six game losing streak have also lost 15 of their last 19 games, which has seen them fall out of a playoff spot as they were overtaken by Phoenix's 2-0 shutout of Chicago last night. Daniel Sedin heads into Toronto goal-less in his last 18 games and pointless in his last eight, luckily he has a 10 game point streak against the Leafs with eight goals and 11 assists. Roberto Luongo is also 9-0-0 in his last 10 starts against Toronto with a 1.91 goals against average. The Canucks have outscored the Leafs 49-21 during an 11 game win streak, including five straight at the ACC. The Maple Leafs rebounded from an ugly loss in Florida with a 4-1 victory in Tampa Bay, their 10th win in 13 games, as both teams and Montreal are within one point of each other for second place in the Atlantic Division. The Leafs have won six straight at home and have scored 12 goals in their last two games at home.

My Pick: H (Leafs win)

Avalanche @ Islanders

By the Numbers – Frozen Pool

The Avalanche are sputtering offensively, after scoring 16 goals in three games before embarking for the East Coast, the team has managed just four goals in their last three games. At the center of the goal scoring drought is Matt Duchene who has managed a single goal in his last 22 games, although he has managed 16 assists during that span. MacKinnon's team leading 21st goal of the season with less than three minutes left against the Flyers ensured that the Avs and Blues remain as the only teams who haven't been shutout this season. Perhaps a date with the Islanders can right the ship as they have allowed the second most goals in the league. The Avs, however, haven't won at Nassau Coliseum in 15 years. The Islanders are slumping, going 1-5-1 in their last seven, allowing 3.6 goals against per game over that stretch, and it looks like general manager Garth Snow will be busy trying to unload impending unrestricted free agent Thomas Vanek who rejected $50 million over 7 years from the Isles. The Islanders offense is also struggling with only five goals in their last four games and their power play hasn't scored in 30 chances with the man advantage.

Pick: V+ (Avs win by two or more)

Coyotes at Stars

By the Numbers – Frozen Pool

The Stars are just two points behind Phoenix for the final playoff spot in the West. At the start of the season, where everyone was calling the Central Division the easiest division in hockey, no one would have imagined them to be in position to perhaps field five teams for the postseason. Every team in the Central is over .500 and three teams have 77 or more points, better than any of the other divisions in the league. The Stars special teams have really stepped it up allowing three power play goals in their last 10 games, and the defense allowed only two regulation goals on a recent three game West Coast swing versus Anaheim, Phoenix and San Jose. If the Stars want to win they'll have to do it in regulation as they've only managed to score a single goal in 14 contests that have gone beyond 60 minutes. Lehtonen is 8-3-4 with a 2.19 goals against average in his career against the Coyotes.

Pick: H (Stars win)

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