Wednesday Puck Picks

[Raji]

Chicago vs. Columbus (-110, 5 ½)



Even if you believe the Blackhawks don’t have a chance to make the playoffs, statistically they're still alive. They are six points back with six games to play with a game in hand on the eighth-place Colorado Avalanche.



But if you think that’s a pipe dream, at least one guy has a reason to play for Chicago. Patrick Kane is trailing Niklas Backstrom of the Capitals by one point in the rookie scoring race. Kane also has one extra game to work with, so tonight is big with Washington idle.



Kane picked up a goal and an assist in his last game against St. Louis and he now has six points in his last five. The Blackhawks should want to pull through for their 163-pound rookie who leads the team in points and is a big reason why they’re still even being whispered about in playoff discussions.



Pick: Chicago -110



Vancouver vs. Colorado (-190, 5 ½)



The Canucks are a team that like their rest. You may have noticed on our matchup pages that they are just 7-7 on the puckline (hockey's 1 1/2-goal pointspread) on zero days' rest this season, but there’s an even worse trend.



Vancouver is a costly 1-7 straight up in its last eight games when it has played the night before. Last night the Canucks dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker to Calgary after jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first period.



These two teams are in a desperate fight to hang on to the last two playoff positions in the West with 86 points apiece, so Vancouver knows how costly last night's loss was.



Pick: Colorado -190

Raji