This is a 5* play on Under.

I had the over in Game 6, and I was very lucky that Edmonton scored a pair of empty net goals seven seconds apart at the end of the game to push the total over. The series goes back to Florida for a 7th and deciding game, and we can expect both teams to be tighter than a nun's (see you next Tuesday). We can't ignore the history when it comes to Game 7s. All three Game 7s went under in these playoffs. Three of four went under last year, four of six went under in 2022 and two of three went under in 2021. That's 12 of the last 16 failing to go over a total of 5. Since 2005 more than 61 percent of Game 7s have gone under the total. That stat however includes nine games with a total set at 5 that were pushes. The number of games that have failed to hit 5.5 is closer to 70 percent. I fully expect this game to end with exactly five goals scored.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over.

The Oilers can force a Game 7 in Florida with a win tonight, and they have seized all the momentum in this series. I had the over in Game 5, and here is what I said prior to the game: "I expect the Oilers to be loose, as if they are playing with house money. They have finally solved Sergei Bobrovsky. chasing him from the net early in Game 4. I had mentioned that momentum might carry over after they scored three late goals in Game 3. The Panthers have to be concerned that the floodgates have opened. Bobrobsky fell apart in last year's Finals, conceding eight goals on 31 shots in Game 5 in Vegas. With this being an elimination game, there is also potential for the late empty net goals that could push us over the number." Another shootout is expected in Edmonton tonight.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Colorado.

The Avs stole home ice advantage in the series with a win in Game 1 in Dallas, and that's great news for Colorado fans as their team had the best home record in the NHL this season. The Avs were 31-9-1 at home, and perhaps aided by the elevation in Denver. Colorado won three of four meetings during the regular season, and they are 7-3 in their last 10 versus Dallas. The Avs lead the playoffs in scoring and they rank second on the power play this post-season.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over.

The Canucks won all four meetings in this series during the regular season, and three of the four games saw 7 or more goals. The Canucks are down to their 3rd string goaltender, 23 year old Latvian Aturs Silovs. The Oilers went over in four of five games in the first round, and I expect Edmonton to come out hot here in Vancouver. Edmonton scored two first period goals in Game 1 versus LA, one in Game 2 and three in Game 3. The Oilers power play was one of the best in the league in the regular season, and they are converting on an incredible 45 percent of their chances in the playoffs.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on BOS.

The Bruins have been historically one of the most successful teams in history in the NHL Playoffs. That includes recent history as well as long term. The Leafs on the other hand are notorious for their futility in the playoffs. Boston has owned the Leafs, sweeping the season series and winning seven straight meetings dating back to January of 2023. The most important factor in a playoff series is almost always goaltending, and the Leafs starter Ilya Samsonov has allowed 11 goals on 52 shots in his last two starts. He ranks 38th in the 32 team league with a GAA of 3.18. The Bruins starter Jeremy Swayman ranks in the Top 10 in GAA (2.53) and Top 5 in save percentage (.916). Boston is tougher, better defensively and built for success in the post-season.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 4* play on COL.

Dallas sits 1st in the Western Conference standings, three points clear of Colorado. The Stars are on the road for the second game of a back to back in Denver tonight, and the Avs have the best home record in the NHL. History favors the home team as Colorado is 6-1 in their last seven versus Dallas and 3-0 at home during that span. Alexandar Georgiev is 23-4 with a 2.54 GAA at home this season. This appears to be a tough spot for the road team.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on EDM.

The Battle of Alberta was once one of the most heated rivalries in sports, but it has been rather one-sided lately. The Oilers have won eight of the last 10, and they are 5-0 in their last five at the Saddledome. The Flames already have one foot on the golf course, while Edmonton is gearing up for a potential Stanley Cup run. The Oilers still have plenty to play for as they jockey for seeding in the Western Conference.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on VGK.

Vegas is serious about defending it's Stanley Cup championship, making a ton of deals at the deadline to shore up their lineup. They added Noah Hanifin, Anthony Mantha and Thomas Hertl, and Mantha and Hanifin are already in the lineup. Vegas has plenty of work to do, as they are currently sitting in the final Wild Card spot in the West. They can't afford to leave any points on the table, and this looks like a good spot to take advantage of a struggling Seattle team. The Kraken are eight points back of the final Wild Card spot, and not a serious contender to make the playoffs.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on VGK.

This looks like a let down spot for the Canes, playing the second game of a back to back on the road at Vegas. Only the Colorado Avalanche have more home wins than the Golden Knights, and Vegas might have an even better record if it hadn't been for an injury to starting goaltender Adin Hill. He ranks 1st in the NHL in save percentage, and 2nd in GAA. Hill is 7-2 with a 1.86 GAA 11 home starts. The Canes might turn to Spencer Martin between the pipes in this second game of a back to back, and he's 1-4 with a 3.95 GAA in five road starts.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on NYI.

The Isles won in OT in Patrick Roy's coaching debut, and they ran into a hot goaltender in his second game behind the bench. They held a 42-27 advantage in shots on goal, but they lost 3-2 to Adin Hill and the Vegas Golden Knights. Now it will be a return to Montreal for Patrick Roy, which is sure to be an emotional experience. The Habs have lost six of eight, and they will likely prove no match for an Islanders squad highly motivated to make a good impression on their new coach.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on VGK.

The Knights host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night, and the bookmakers might have over compensated for the injury to Jack Eichel. Vegas is riding a hot goaltender in Logan Thompson, who is 10-4 with a 2.16 GAA at home this season. He's also posted a 2.17 GAA in the month of January. The Golden Knights have the best home record in the NHL, with 17 wins in Sin City. They also have the edge in special teams play, and the Penguins struggling power play might just cost them here.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Dallas.

These two teams are trending in opposite directions. The Kings have lost eight of their last nine overall, and five of their last six on the road. They #1 goaltender Cam Talbot is 0-5 with a 3.59 GAA in his last five starts. The Stars have won three of their last four, and they are just five points out of first place in the Central Division. The Stars have won four of their last five home games against LA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TB.

This is a tough spot for the Knights playing on the road at Tampa just days before Christmas. Andrei Vasilevskij is back for the Bolts, and he's up to his old tricks. The perennial Vezina candidate is a brick wall at home. He's 3-1 with a 1.26 GAA at home this season, and he was 20-8 with a 2.57 GAA at home last year. He's 61-19 at home since 2020. The Knights have been forced to start third string goalie Jiri Patera due to injuries to Adin Hill and Logan Thompson.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Under.

The Jets lost by a score of 2-1 in San Jose last night, and they come limping into LA without their leading scorer Kyle Connor. The good news is that perennial Vezina candidate Connor Hellebuyck will be back between the pipes tonight. While he ranks in the Top 10 in GAA, Cam Talbot ranks 2nd in the NHL with a 1.91 GAA. Special teams could help both netminders, as both these teams have elite penalty killing units, and neither team is that great on the power play. The under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings, and three of the last four in LA have gone under the number.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on ARI.

The Caps are playing their third game of a road trip at Arizona, and the Coyotes have won three straight home games. While these teams may have similar records, Arizona ranks far superior in goal differential as well as special teams. The Coyotes are converting on better than 25 percent of their power play opportunities, while the Caps are scoring on less than nine percent of their power play chances. The Caps #1 goaltender missed the last game due to an illness, and he's questionable tonight.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on VAN.

The Canucks have been one of the hottest teams in the league, and they come off a let down in a loss at Calgary on Thursday. I had them the night before at home versus the Islanders, and I said this prior to that game: "Vancouver has the 2nd best record in the Western Conference, they have three players ranked in the Top 5 in the NHL in scoring, and Elias Pettersson currently leads the league with 25 points in 15 games. They have the league's 3rd best power play, and the league's 4th best penalty kill. The Islanders are 3-8 in their last 11 road games, and they come in on a five game losing streak. I don't think he markets have quite caught up to how good this Vancouver team is at the moment. "

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Oilers.

Edmonton has got off to a brutal start, and that has them treating tonight's as a must win. It will be the third straight game on the road for Nashville, and they have lost four of five road games so far. Special teams could cost the Predators here, ranking among the worst in the NHL on the penalty kill, and facing the Oilers potent power play.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on BOS.

The Bruins have picked up right where they left off last year, when they had the league's best record in the regular season. They got off to a 3-1 series lead in the first round of the playoffs, only to lose three straight and fall in seven games versus the Florida Panthers. This sets up one hell of a revenge spot for the Bruins tonight. The Panthers are 8-20 in the last 28 meetings in Boston, and the Bruins are 45-11 in their last 56 home games.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Under.

The Hurricanes face elimination in Game 4, and Florida is riding a hot goaltender. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 32 shots he faced in a 1-0 win in Game 3, and he's been standing on his head this entire series. We should see another low score tonight, as the under is 6-1 in the last seven meetings between these teams. The Panthers have failed to reach the total in eight straight overall. Clearly the key here is the play of the Panthers veteran goaltender.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on CAR.

Just the second game of the Eastern Conference Finals and the Hurricanes are already facing a must win situation. They haven't lost back to back games in these playoffs, and they catch the Panthers off back to back OT wins. The Panthers are 15-37-2 in the last 54 meetings in Carolina, and the Hurricanes are 42-16 in their last 58 home games.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on VGK.

Dallas won all three meetings in the regular season, but two of those wins came in shootouts. Game 1 won't be decided by a shoutout, that is one thing I can promise you. The Knights have had the more impressive journey to the Conference Finals, and they really appear to be destined to make another Finals run and maybe take home the cup. Adin Hill comes in ranking among the top goaltenders in the playoffs, with a 2.19 GAA and a .934 save percentage. The Golden Knights are 16-5 in their last 21 home games.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Under.

The #8 seed Panthers have been giant killers in these playoffs, and they find themselves as just a slight underdog on the road in Game 1 versus Carolina. The price seems a bit low considering it's an #8 seed versus a #2 seed. The Panthers turned things around when they went to Sergei Bobrovskty, and the veteran has turned back the clock. The Canes though have Freddy Anderson, who is 5-0 with a 1.80 GAA in the post-season. Carolina has also won 42 of their last 57 home games. The over/under trends for these teams may not be relevant, as they include mostly games with different goaltenders. Both these teams come into this series in great shape between the pipes.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over.

Traditionally we see lower scores in elimination games in the NHL Playoffs, but the Edmonton Oilers are a different beast. They own by far the best power play in the NHL, but their goaltending and subpar defense always lets them down. Vegas won Game 5 by scoring three goals in just over a minute. The Oilers are 12-3 in their last 15 home games, and they have scored 49 goals in those games.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on CAR.

The Hurricanes can close out this series here at home in Game 5, and that seems like a likely outcome given the Devils goaltending situation. Here is what I said prior to Game 4: “The goaltending situation is on shaky ground for both teams in this series. The Devils will most likely start Vitek Vanecek, who had lost the starting job halfway through the first round series versus New York. The Hurricanes chased Akria Schmidt from the net early in both the first two games of this series. The Canes have had their #1 goaltender sidelined by illness, and both Freddy Anderson and Pyotr Kochetkov struggled in an 8-4 loss in Game 3. All three games have gone over the number, and yet the bookmakers haven't budged offering 5.5 instead of 6. I think this is a mistake. The over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.” After Anderson allowed just one goal on 22 shots in Game 4 the Hurricanes have a decided advantage. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over.

The goaltending situation is on shaky ground for both teams in this series. The Devils will most likely start Vitek Vanecek, who had lost the starting job halfway through the first round series versus New York. The Hurricanes chased Akria Schmidt from the net early in both the first two games of this series. The Canes have had their #1 goaltender sidelined by illness, and both Freddy Anderson and Pyotr Kochetkov struggled in an 8-4 loss in Game 3. All three games have gone over the number, and yet the bookmakers haven't budged offering 5.5 instead of 6. I think this is a mistake. The over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Under.

If the Leafs played baseball they would the Cubs. If they were in the NFL they would be the Buffalo Bills team that lost four Super Bowls. In other words, this team is cursed, haunted by years of past failure. Now they are up against a hot goaltender here in Florida, as Sergei Bobrovsky has turned back the clock. He's playing like he did when the Blue Jackets swept the Lightning in the first round. The Leafs have gone under in four straight, and they have failed to reach the total in each of their last four versus Florida. The under is 6-0 in the Panthers last six Conference Semifinals games.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on NYR.

I had the Rangers in Game 1 of this series, and I said this before the puck dropped: "The Devils come in as the #3 seed with 112 points in the regular season, and they host the #5 seed New York Rangers who finished the regular season with 107 points. Both these teams had more wins on the road than they did at home this season. so you have to wonder how important home ice advantage will be in this series. The Devils won the regular season series 3-1, and three of those four games were decided by one goal. The Rangers made a splash at the trade deadline acquiring 3 x Stanley Cup champions and Conn Smythe winner Patrick Kane. The Rangers have a superior power play, and Igor Shesterkin was statistically better than Vitek Vanecek during the season. I'll take the underdog in Game 1 and for the series." Heading into Game 4 the Rangers have already chased Vitek Vanecek from the net, and the Devils have turned to 22 year old rookie Akira Schmid. I expect New York to take a stranglehold on the series with a win in Game 4.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on BOS. 

I had the Bruins in Game 1, and here is what I said prior to the game. "Unlike the NBA, the NHL is all about parity. An 8th seed normally has a fighting chance against a #1 seed, but in the case of the Boston Bruins hosting Florida, we expect this to prove to me a mismatch. I am gonna call for a Gentleman's Sweep here. The Panthers are sending 30 year old journeyman goaltender Alex Lyon to the wolves here. I mean, normally when we refer to a player as a "journeyman", it means he's bounced around on many teams and might not have gotten a ton of ice time. Lyons has played the majority of his career in the AHL. He started just 15 games this season, which is a career high. The Bruins Linus Ullmark leads the NHL in GAA and save percentage, and his backup also ranks Top 5 in both categories. The Bruins broke the modern day record with 65 wins and 135 points this season. They should have little trouble getting past the Panthers." I still think this series is going to be a “Gentleman's Sweep”. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the JETS.

It's kind of ironic that the Predators are in Winnipeg tonight battling for the final Wild Card spot in the West. These two teams took the opposite approach at the trade deadline, with Nashville dumping veteran talent and Winnipeg looking to add players for a playoff run. One of those players is former Predator Nino Niederreiter. He's scored goals in two of his last three games. The Jets have owned their own division, going 20-8 in their last 28 versus the Central. The opposite is true for Nashville, going 8-20 in their last 28 in the Central. Too many injuries for the Preds, and Winnipeg is a tough place to play. I expect the Jets to blow the doors off here.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on NYI.

The Islanders face a must win game at home versus Tampa tonight, but this is actually a good spot for New York. Tampa is coming off a 6-3 loss to the Rangers, and they are scheduled to start their backup goalie here in the second game of a back to back. Brian Elliott has lost his last three road starts, giving up a whopping 18 goals in those games. Tampa has struggled in back to back situations, going 1-10 in their last 11 games playing on 0 days rest. The home team has won seven of the last nine meetings between these teams.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Winnipeg Jets

The Jets currently hold the final Wild Card spot in the West, and that makes tonight's home game against New Jersey a must win. The Devils won 6-3 at Chicago yesterday, and could be in a let down spot here in the second game of a back to back. The Devils have not had much success against the Jets, losing nine of the last 11 meetings. The Jets have won four of their last five home games versus New Jersey.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Arizona.

I had Arizona in their last game, a win against the Vancouver Canucks. Here is what I said prior to the game: "The Coyotes continue to be undervalued at home, as the Canucks come to town as favorites. Vancouver has five fewer road wins than Arizona has at home, and when you consider that several of Vancouver's wins and several of Arizona's losses came in games decided by one goal, the puckline looks good even at a high price. The Canucks are 4-11 in their last 15 road games, while the Coyotes have won four straight at home." Now they face a Blackhawks team that has traded away all their veterans and are in full rebuild mode.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Seattle.

The Kraken have lost three straight on home ice, but they head out on the road where they have actually have a much better record. In fact Seattle has a Western Conference best 21 wins on the road, and the San Jose Sharks have the worst home record in the entire NHL. San Jose has just a half dozen home wins, the only team in the league that doesn't have 10+ wins on home ice. The Sharks are 13-41 in their last 54 home games. This is a big game for Seattle as they need to snap out of a slump to stay in a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Sharks on the other hand are polishing their golf clubs.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on MIN.

The Wild are coming off a 5-4 loss at Arizona on Sunday, and they have had a few days to prepare for tonight's game in St. Louis. Backup goaltender Filip Gustavsson allowed five goal on 23 shots in the loss. We will see Marc Andre Fluery back between the pipes tonight, and he's 3-0 with a 1.68 GAA so far in March. The Wild are 10-3 in their last 13 overall, and they have won four of their last five road games. The Blues are just 3-9 in their last 12 overall, and they are 1-5 in their last six home games. These two teams are trending in opposite directions.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on FLA.

The Panthers and the Predators are each currently sitting a few points out of a Wild Card spot. The Panthers probably have a far better chance of clinching a playoff spot, and the Predators intentions look pretty clear as they dealt a bunch of their top players at the trade deadline. Home ice has been kind to Florida, as they are 64-25 in their last 89 home games. A win over Nashville could pull them within two points of a playoff spot.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Jets.

Winnipeg is gearing up for the playoffs, and picking up Nino Niederreiter at the trade deadline says plenty about their intentions. They come into tonight's game against LA as losers of five of their last six, but they have won four of their last five versus LA. This is a tough spot for the Kings who are the end of a long road trip. The Kings have lost seven of their last 10 versus teams with a winning record, and they are 3-8 in their last 11 in the fourth game of a 4-in-6 situation. The Kings are 5-12 in the last 17 meetings in Winnipeg.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over.

The Oilers had won six straight before dropping a home game to Columbus, and they host the Blackhawks off an upset win in Calgary. Edmonton has the best power play in the league, and they should have plenty of success against this Hawks penalty killing unit. The over is 9-2 in the last 11 meetings, and the Hawks have gone over in five of their last six at Edmonton.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over.

Release The Kraken! Ladies and gentlemen the hottest team in the NHL hails from The Emerald City, and Seattle had won eight in a row, prior to losing to Tampa last night. They scored a whopping 36 goals in those wins. Seattle has a potent power play, but they face the Oilers who have the best power play in the NHL. These teams have gone over in all five head to head meetings. The over is 19-7-2 in the Oilers last 28 overall, and they have scored 17 goals in their last three games. The Kraken have gone over in five of their last six versus Pacific Division opponents.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on SEA. 

The Vancouver Canucks have won all five head to head meetings versus division rivals Seattle, but I am going to fade that 100% trend here tonight. These two teams are obviously trending in opposite directions, as Vancouver is coming off back to back 5-1 home losses, and the Canucks are rumored to be shopping team captain Bo Horvat and star defenseman Quinn Hughes. The Kraken are coming off back to back home wins, but they actually have a better road record than they do at home. The Kraken are 7-3 in their last 10 road games, and they are 11-3 in their last 14 games following a win.

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TB.

The two time defending champions are on the ropes, but with the series back in Tampa and the Lightning coming off a 7-0 loss in Game 2, we should expect some push back. Keep in mind that Tampa was down 0-2 to the Rangers in the East Finals, and went on to win four straight. Andrei Vasilevskij allowed just three goals in the final three games of that series. The Lightning are 8-3 in their last 11 Stanley Cup Finals games, and they are 40-15 in their last 55 home games. Colorado is due to suffer a let down in Game 3.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over.

Andrei Vasilevskij has been dominant in these playoffs, but he's shown some rust when coming off a layoff. He allowed five goals on 32 shots in Game 1 versus the Leafs in the first round, and in the Eastern Conference Finals he was torched for six goals on 34 shots in Game 1 in New York. Pavel Francouz allowed five goals on 35 shots in Game 4 versus the Oilers, and it's unclear if the Avs will go back to Darcy Keumper now that he's healthy. The Avs come in averaging 4.64 goals per game in the playoffs, while allowing 2.86 goals per game. The over is 7-2-3 in Colorado's last 12 games playing on 3 or more days rest. I expect both teams to light the lamp early and often in Game 1. 

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on Under.

The Eastern Conference Finals might be the polar opposite of the West Finals, which produced 14 goals in Game 1. The Rangers netminder Igor Shesterkin was the best in the NHL in the regular season, while nobody has been better than Andrei Vaselevskiy in the post-season. The Lightning have failed to reach the total in eight of their last 11 Conference Finals games, and they have gone under in five straight. The under is 7-2-1 in the Rangers last 10 playoff games as an underdog.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Under.

The first five games of this series went under the total, but a few bad goals allowed by Antti Raanta early in Game 6 resulted in the first over. Raanta has allowed just one goal on 38 shots in the Canes last two home games, so expect him to be back between the pipes in Game 7 after getting the hook in Game 6. Igor Shesterkin was the best goaltender in the NHL this season, and he's having a solid playoffs. The under is 7-1 in the Rangers last eight games as a road underdog, and they have failed to reach the total in four straight at Carolina. With a trip to the Conference Finals on the line, expect a cautious approach from both teams.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TB.

I said this prior to Game 4: "The Leafs looked like the best team in the NHL in Game 3, but I am not ready to discount two decades of playoff futility after just 60 minutes of hockey. The Lightning are defending champions two years running, with a Vezina winner and Conn Smythe winner  in goal. It would be naive not to expect some push back from the Lightning in Game 4." Tampa went on to win Game 4 by a score of 7-3. Tampa appeared to be in the driver's seat in Game 5 in Toronto, leading 2-0 after the first period. The Leafs pulled on out of the fire, but I think that sets them up for a let down here in Tampa in Game 6. This series is destined to go seven games.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Minnesota.

The Wild come into the post-season as perhaps the hottest team in the NHL. They won 19 of their last 26 regular season games. They made some big moves at the trade deadline, adding a veteran netminder with three Stanley Cup rings and a Vezina Trophy. Fleury is 9-2 with a 2.74 GAA since joining the Wild. While Minnesota has a proven playoff performer, the Blues turn to Ville Husso, who had an outstanding regular season. The 27 year old lacks Playoff experience. The Blues are 0-6 in their last six playoff games as an underdog, and the Wild are 51-16 in their last 67 home games.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on MTL.

A coaching change can completely turn around a hockey club. It was just three years ago that the St. Louis Blues replaced head coach Mike Yeo, and went from last place to first place and on to win the Stanley Cup. We've seen Bruce Boudreau inspire the Vancouver Canucks to a record of 20-8-4, putting them back in the hunt for the playoffs. Montreal has also turned things around with seven wins in their last nine games under new head coach Martin St. Louis. The Kraken have lost 10 of their last 11 overall, and they are looking forward to a lottery pick in the draft.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Calgary.

The Flames were the hottest team in the NHL until they lost 7-1 at Vancouver. They are back home tonight, looking to get that awful taste out of their mouths. The Minnesota Wild are playing their fourth game on this road trip, and they have lost four of their last five overall. The Flames are 10-1 in their last 11 home games, while the Wild have lost four of their last five on the road. The Flames have won five of the last seven head to head meetings, and they are likely to scorch the Wild here tonight.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on CAL.

The Kraken sit dead last in the Pacific Division with a record of 16-30-4, and I have been fading them since December. I noted that the bookmakers are giving them too much respect, and I hypothesized that the success of the Vegas Golden Knights as an expansion team has skewed people's idea of what should be expected from an expansion team. If you look at other last place teams in the NHL (Arizona, New Jersey, Montreal), you will notice that the odds to bet against them are far higher. The Flames have won eight straight, and they have won by 2+ goals in six straight games. Calgary ranks 1st in the NHL in goals against, and they have one of the league's top penalty killing units.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the TB Lightning. 

The Lightning had a 2-0 lead in an elimination game in New York in Game 6, but the Islanders battled back to force a Game 7. Tampa hasn't lost back to back games in these playoffs, and they appear destined to prevail in Game 7, giving them a chance at repeating as Stanley Cup Champions. The Islanders are 4-10 in the last 14 meetings in Tampa Bay, and the Lightning are 47-19 in their last 66 home games. The officiating has been well below average in the 2021 playoffs, and the missed call favored the home team in Game 6. Nikita Kucherov suffered a serious injury from a crosscheck that went unpunished. As much as the Bolts will miss Kucherov, they have plenty of depth on offense. If the officials are going to be biased here, I expect that it would once again favor the home team. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Montreal.

I had the Habs in Game 2, and here is what I said before the game: "The Habs dominated Game 1 of this series, and much of the credit will go to Carey Price who stopped 27-of-30 shots. Price is the best goaltender in the world, and he did steal a few games in the series versus Toronto. A convincing win for Montreal was overshadowed by an injury to rookie Jake Evans, which resulted in a suspension for Mark Scheifele. The Jets could have a hard time replacing their leading scorer. The Jets are 0-6 in their last six playoff games as a favorite, while the Habs have won four straight as an underdog. I think the bookmakers have the wrong team favored here in Game 2."

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Oilers -1.5.

I had Edmonton on Thursday, and they were blown out in a home loss to the Canucks. This sets up a big revenge spot for the superior Oilers in a nationally televised game on Hockey Night in Canada. Here is what I had to say on Thursday: "The Canucks have been dealt a tough hand this season, even more so than the rest of the league. While it's been tough for everyone playing through a pandemic, Vancouver had to shut down when the entire team came down with Covid, and now they are forced to make up those games by playing almost every day. They will play their sixth game in eight days tonight in Edmonton, and to add insult to injury their first line center will not play while under investigation for sexual assault. Vancouver has lost six straight, and five straight by at least two goals. Edmonton is just six point out of first place in the North Division, so this looks like it could be another blowout."

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Winnipeg.

The Canucks head to Winnipeg off a six game home stand. They are 5-5 overall and four of their five wins came against teams with a losing record. They have lost three of four road games so far, and they are 1-10 in their last 11 games in Winnipeg. They are just 2-14 in the last 16 head to head meetings. The Jets are a strong home team, they are 13-3 in their last 16 games as a home favorite. The Jets are 16-5 in their last 21 games as a favorite. I'll take the short price on the home favorite given the history.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Under.

The Stars lead the series 2-1, and we have seen all three games go under the total. Both goalies have recorded shutouts, and another low score is expected in Game 4. Here is what I said prior to Game 2: "The Vegas Golden Knights and the Dallas Stars were each lighting up the scoreboard just last week, but as they have advanced to the conference finals the trend of high scores has faded. The Knights offense cooled off in a big way against Vancouver, and they could only manage 2 goals on 130 shots against Vancouver's backup goaltender Thatcher Demko over a four game span. If you take away the empty net goals they scored in Game 7, they have scored just one goal in their last three games overall. They have gone under in five of their last six Conference Finals games, and the under is 21-7-1 in the Golden Knights last 29 in the fourth game of a 4-in-6 days situation."

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse

This is a 10* play on Colorado.

The Avs entered this series as roughly a 2-1 favorite, but Dallas looked like the better team winning three of the first four games. Goaltending has played a key role in this series, and after losing their starter, Colorado's second string netminder struggled. Michael Hutchison is the third string goalie, a 30 year old veteran with experience playing for Toronto and Columbus. His play has turned this series on it's head, and now the Stars are on the ropes. The top line of Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Alexander Radulov have tallied just one point in the last two games. I like Colorado to complete the comeback.

Take COL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

    

This is a 5* play on Vancouver.

The Canucks were shutout in a 3-0 loss in Game 3, and they failed to rally to tie the series in Game 4. Here is what I said before this series started: "The Canucks dispatched of the defending Stanley Cup champions in six games, and now they are a big underdog in their second round series versus Las Vegas. Vancouver gives us every reason to expect this to be a competitive series. The Golden Knights have won six of their last seven versus Vancouver, but four of those wins came in games decided by just one goal."

Take VAN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TB.

The Lightning fell behind by a score of 3-0 early in Game 1, and then they dominated the rest of the game. Their rally fell short, losing by a score of 3-2. History favors the Lightning, as the Bruins are 3-11 in the last 14 meetings. "When you shrink the game to 40 minutes, it's going to be tough on you," coach Jon Cooper said. "I liked a lot of the way our game progressed, but if we're not going to manage the puck the way we did for much of the Columbus series, it'll be tough for us. You can't start games the way we did. It put us on our heels and shortened the game." These teams met in the playoffs two years ago, and Boston won Game 1 of that series. The Lightning went on to win four straight winning the series in five games.

Take TB.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 5.5.

Both the first two games of this series went over the total, and the Stars have gone over in four of their last five overall. Joe Pavelski (Dallas) and Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado) are tied for the playoff goal scoring lead. The Avs have gone over in each of their last five games, and losing their starting goaltender isn't going to help. Phillip Grubauer was among the league leaders with a GAA of 1.87 this post-season, and his replacement Pavel Francouz has been lit up since stepping in. The over is 9-3-1 in the Avs last 13 Conference Semifinals games, and there is every reason to expect Game 3 to look a lot like Games 1 & 2.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Nashville Predators.

The Habs have played hard lately, but injuries have taken their toll. Despite their best efforts, they are due to miss the playoffs once again in 2020. The Predators still have a lot of work to do if they hope to reach the post-season, but they are on the right track. They are coming off back to back shutout wins over Dallas in a home and home series. The Habs have lost back to back games by a combined score of 8-1 in Florida versus the Panthers and the Lightning. Leading scorer Thomas Tatar didn't play in either of those games, and his status remains in question. It's all a little too little too late for Montreal.

Take NAS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Winnipeg Jets.

I had the Jets in a recent home game against Buffalo and they came through for me. Here is what I said prior to their win over the Sabres: "The Buffalo Sabres will play their fourth game on this current road trip, looking to end a three game losing streak. It won't come easy in Winnipeg, where the Jets have won three straight. The Sabres are 5-13 in the last 18 meetings in Winnipeg, and they have lost six of their last seven versus Western Conference teams. This is a must win game for the Jets who are involved in a crowded race for the final playoff spot in the West. This is also a revenge game after losing 2-1 at Buffalo in the last head to head meeting. " A home game against Arizona in a similar spot, and I expect a similar result.

Take WPG.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Jose Sharks.

The New Jersey Devils come into San Jose as winners of three straight, including a 2-1 home victory over the Sharks. They beat the league worst Detroit Red Wings 4-1 on Tuesday, and Corey Schneider picked up his first win of the season. Schneider is now 1-6-1 with a 4.61 GAA in eight starts, and any confidence gained would be lost if he lets in an early goal in his next start. This sets up for a let down spot for the Devils as they travel across the country for a very meaningless game against the Sharks. For San Jose they are looking to snap a four game losing skid, and team leader Logan Couture will be playing in his second game back since recovering from an ankle injury. The Devils are just 4-10 in their last 14 versus the Sharks, and the home team has won four straight in the series.

Take SJS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Edmonton Oilers.

The Kings have lost two of three since trading their leading scorer to the Vancouver Canucks. Tonight they will play their second game of a back to back at home against the Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton has gone 3-2-1 without their leading scorer Connor McDavid, but he is expected to return to the lineup soon. The Oilers are just three points back of division leaders Las Vegas, but they are only three points up on ninth place Nashville. They find themselves (like most teams in the Western Conference) on the playoff bubble. With or without McDavid, this is a game that Edmonton desperately needs to win, and they couldn't ask for a more suitable opponent.

Take EDM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on the Winnipeg Jets.

The Vancouver Canucks have been on a roll, and they are at the end of a five game road trip tonight in Winnipeg. They haven't had a lot of success in Winnipeg in recent years, losing their last eight visits. In fact the Jets have owned Vancouver, winning 13 of the last 14 meetings. This looks like a let down spot for a Vancouver team that is starting to like their own smell, and a get right game for a Jets team badly in need of a win.

Take WPG.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Penguins have done just fine without the best player in the world, coming into Vegas tied for second place in the Metropolitan Division. With Crosby nearing a return, the Pens have been dealt a cruel blow. Leading scorer Jake Guentzel will be done for the season after suffering a shoulder injury at the end of December. The Penguins have since lost two of three games. Vegas is looking for a fifth consecutive home victory, and they are 14-7-3 overall at home this season. The Penguins have never won in Vegas, and the home team has won four of the five previous meetings since the Knights joined the NHL.

Take VGK.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on CHI@DAL to go Over 5.5.

The Stars have won 12 of their last 14 overall, and they have been putting plenty of pucks in the net during that span. They've scored three or more goals in five straight. The Chicago Blackhawks are coming off back to back losses, but they had won four straight before that. They have gone over (5.5) in six of their last seven overall. These two teams have gone over in four of the five head to head meetings, and with both teams clicking offensively we should see another high scoring game tonight.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Flyers have won back to back games, and they are 3-1 at home so far. They host the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight, and Columbus is just 2-2 on the road. "It's 10 games -- I don't know who the hell we are," Columbus coach John Tortorella said. "I like this team. I like the enthusiasm they bring. They've got to keep working at it so it becomes who we are, it becomes second nature." The Blue Jackets are 2-6 in their last eight games as an underdog of +110 to +150, while the Flyers are 13-5 in their last 18 games as a favorite.

Take PHI.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Colorado Avalanche.

It's no surprise that the Avs have picked up right where they left off in last year's playoffs. Colorado upset Calgary in the first round as the 8th seed versus the #1 seed, and they took the Sharks to seven games in the second round. So far in 2019 they are 3-0, and they rank 4th in the NHL in scoring averaging 4.33 goals per game. They host Arizona tonight, and the Coyotes have lost two of three games so far. The Coyotes are 4-14 in their last 18 games as an underdog, and they are 0-8 in their last 8 games following a win. The Avalanche are 18-4 in their last 22 home games.

Take COL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Las Vegas Golden Knights.

This is the mother of all revenge spots for Vegas, after they were eliminated from the playoffs in a Game 7 versus the Sharks last year. Leading 3-0 in the third period, it looked like the Sharks would be eliminated. San Jose was gifted a 5-minute power-play after Joe Pavelski suffered a serious injury in what replays showed was a fall after light contact, and San Jose scored four times to take the lead. They went on to win by a score of 5-4 in overtime. "It's so disappointing," Marchessault said afterward. "It's a joke. That's what it is. It's embarrassing." Vegas will have a chance to get a little revenge in their season opener on home ice. Joe Pavelski is now playing in Dallas, and Evander Kane is serving a suspension for contact with an official.

Take VGK.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on St. Louis.

Boston faces elimination tonight, and with all the injuries on the back end I don't like their chances of stopping the Blues. Here is what I said prior to Gsme 5: "The Blues took advantage of Boston's banged up blueline in Game 4, and they have now out-shot the Bruins in three of the four games in these Finals. Boston could be without team captain Zedno Chara for Game 5, and that could make life difficult for Tukka Rask." The Bruins are still furious about a blown call in Game 5, and that could prove to be a distraction ahead of Game 6.

Take STL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on STL@BOS to go Over the total.

The Blues took advantage of Boston's banged up blueline in Game 4, and they have now out-shot the Bruins in three of the four games in these Finals. Boston could be without team captain Zedno Chara for Game 5, and that could make life difficult for Tukka Rask. The Bruins will hope the power play can deliver again on home ice. Boston has been lethal with the man advantage in this post-season, hitting at almost 35 percent. The Bruins scored on all four of their power play chances in Game 3, but they only had 2 chances in Game 4 and went 0-for-2. Given the injuries on defense for Boston, I could see this shaping up to be another high scoring game.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the St. Louis Blues.

The Blues head home with the series tied 1-1, and their Game 2 win came in overtime by a score of 3-2. As much as it looks like there isn't much separation between these two teams, the fact is that St. Louis had dominated so far. They opened up a 2-0 lead in Game 1, and after outplaying the Bruins through two periods they came out a little flat in the third. They have been punishing the Bruins with their physical play, and it's taken it's toll. Boston has lost a key defenseman, and Patrice Bergeron appears to be suffering from a groin injury. If the Blues continue to play the way they did in Boston, this series could be over in a hurry.

Take STL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Under 5.5.

I had the under in Game 1, and unfortunately an empty net goal killed me in the final minute. Here is what I said before the game:

"They say that defense wins championships, and both teams in this year's Stanley Cup Finals are solid defensively. Both teams have been riding hot goaltenders, and goals could be hard to come by in Game 1.The Bruins have to like their chances with Tukka Rask, who leads all goaltenders in this year's playoffs with a 1.84 GAA. He's coming off an oustanding series against Carolina, allowing just one goal in his last two starts. Both of those games went under the total. Jordan Binnington allowed just two goals in his final three starts in the Western Conference Finals. He was 24-5-1 with a 1.89 GAA during the regular season. Both teams ranked in the top 5 in goals against during the regular season. We should see a tight, low scoring Game 1"

Boston was a little sloppy early, but they cleaned things up in the final two periods. I expect to see both teams tighten up in this pivotal second game.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* GOY play on STL@BOS to go Under the total.

They say that defense wins championships, and both teams in this year's Stanley Cup Finals are solid defensively. Both teams have been riding hot goaltenders, and goals could be hard to come by in Game 1.

The Bruins have to like their chances with Tukka Rask, who leads all goaltenders in this year's playoffs with a 1.84 GAA. He's coming off an oustanding series against Carolina, allowing just one goal in his last two starts. Both of those games went under the total.

Jordan Binnington allowed just two goals in his final three starts in the Western Conference Finals. He was 24-5-1 with a 1.89 GAA during the regular season.

Both teams ranked in the top 5 in goals against during the regular season. We should see a tight, low scoring Game 1.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Dallas.

I took Dallas to win this series, and they look good heading home with a split after two games in St. Louis. The Blues beat the Winnipeg Jets in the first round mostly as a result of Jordan Binnington out-playing Connor Hellebuck. They face the Dallas Stars in the second round, and I don't think they can count on superior goaltending in this series. Ben Bishop ranked 1st in the NHL in save percentage and second in GAA during the regular season. Here in the playoffs he ranks second in both categories behind Robyn Lehner of the Islanders. The Stars top line has also been hot, and I think Dallas matches up really well versus this Blues team.

Take DAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Colorado Avalanche.

I bet on Colorado to win this series, and heading home with a split after two games in San Jose, I love the Avs in Game 3 in Denver. Here is what I said prior to Game 1: "The Sharks are the better team on paper, but you have to think the seven game series versus Vegas took it's toll on this team. Martin Jones had a a few good games, but more often than not he was terrible. Joe Pavelski is hurt, and you can bet that the bench is full of veteran players that are playing hurt. Colorado is younger, faster, and very talented. They have the more consistent goaltending with Philip Grubauer. I'll take the Avs." The older Sharks appear to have run out of gas, and they are really struggling to match the speed and intensity of the younger Avalanche.

Take COL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Dallas.

I took Dallas to win this series, and they look good heading home with a split after two games in St. Louis. The Blues beat the Winnipeg Jets in the first round mostly as a result of Jordan Binnington out-playing Connor Hellebuck. They face the Dallas Stars in the second round, and I don't think they can count on superior goaltending in this series. Ben Bishop ranked 1st in the NHL in save percentage and second in GAA during the regular season. Here in the playoffs he ranks second in both categories behind Robyn Lehner of the Islanders. The Stars top line has also been hot, and I think Dallas matches up really well versus this Blues team.

Take DAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Boston.

The Bruins avoided a let down in Game 1, and now they look to take a 2-0 lead in this second round series versus Columbus. The Blue Jackets showed the Tampa Bay Lightning that playoff hockey is a whole different ball game than the regular season. Their strategy worked perfect against the talented lightning, but they better go back to the drawing board. If they think they are going to out-work, and push around the big bad Bruins, they are kidding themselves. This Boston team is battle tested, with legendary playoff performers such as Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Zedno Chara.

Take BOS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Dallas.

I picked the Stars to win this series, and here is what I said prior to Game 1: "The first thing I look at in any best of seven series is the goaltending. If I am going to consider the underdog, they damn well have the better goaltender. Now Pekka Rinne has had some success in the playoffs, but he's often hot or cold. He was 30-19-4 with a 2.42 GAA during the regular season, and at the age of 36 he still looks like a capable netminder. It might be a stretch to say that Dallas has the better goaltender, but Ben Bishop has better numbers. He led the NHL with a .934 save percentage, and his GAA of 1.98 was second to only Jordan Binnington, who started 15 fewer games. The Stars have arguably more high end talent on their top line with Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Alelander Radulov. This series isn't likely to be easy for Nashville." Bishop has been the better of the two goaltender's and the Stars first line has been dominant in this series. I like Dallas to advance with a win at home in Game 6.

Take DAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Washington Capitals.

The first thing I look at in any best of seven series is the goaltending. If I am going to consider the underdog, they damn well have the better goaltender. Now Petr Mrazek has had a fine season, going 23-14-3 with a 2.39 GAA. Do you remember that time Mrazek stole a series for his team in the playoffs? No, neither do I. But I do remember Braden Holtby stealing plenty of games for Washington during last year's Stanley Cup run. The Caps have the better goaltender and the best pure goal scorer of his generation (Alex Ovechkin). At this price it's not at all tempting to bet against the champs.

Take WAS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Dallas.

The first thing I look at in any best of seven series is the goaltending. If I am going to consider the underdog, they damn well have the better goaltender. Now Pekka Rinne has had some success in the playoffs, but he's often hot or cold. He was 30-19-4 with a 2.42 GAA during the regular season, and at the age of 36 he still looks like a capable netminder. It might be a stretch to say that Dallas has the better goaltender, but Ben Bishop has better numbers. He led the NHL with a .934 save percentage, and his GAA of 1.98 was second to only Jordan Binnington, who started 15 fewer games. The Stars have arguably more high end talent on their top line with Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Alelander Radulov. This series isn't likely to be easy for Nashville.

Take DAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on MTL@CBJ to go Under the total.

I bet on Montreal in their last game, and here is what I said prior to the opening faceoff: "The Habs are barely holding on in the Wild Card race, and the Columbus Blue Jackets are hot on their heels. They can't afford to leave any points on the table here in a home game against Florida." They went on to open up a 5-0 lead in the second period, and won by a score of 6-1. Tonight's game will be the biggest game of the year for both teams, as the winner is almost surely in the playoffs while the loser will likely be eliminated. These teams have a history of playing close, low scoring games. Six of the last seven head to head meetings have gone under the total, and four of those games were decided by just one goal. The Habs have wone five of their last eight, and have only lost once by more than one goal during that span. Six of those games failed to reach the total.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on FLA@DAL to go Under the total.

The Dallas Stars have played themselves into a Wild Card spot, but they need to keep stringing wins together if they want to make the playoffs. They host the Florida Panthers, a team that isn't in the hunt for the playoffs. The Under is 20-4-2 in the Stars last 26 games as a favorite of -110 to -150. The under is 20-5-3 in the Stars last 28 versus teams from the Eastern Conference. Dallas ranks 2nd overall in the NHL in goals against, and Ben Bishop leads all goaltenders with a .933 save percentage. He ranks 2nd with a 2.05 GAA. He missed the last few games with a lower body injury, but is expected to return tonight to face the Panthers.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Blue Jackets are coming off a 7-4 win over Boston, putting them in a tie with Montreal at 81 points. They have a game in hand, which allows them to occupy the final Wild Card spot in the West. They host Carolina tonight, and the Canes are just two points ahead in the standings. The Blue Jackets picked up Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel from Ottawa at the trade deadline, and after a slow start, both players scored in the win over Boston. This is a must win game for the Jackets, with a playoff spot on the line and home ice advantage versus a division rival. Sergei Bobrovsky is playing better in the second half of the season than he had prior to the All Star break. He's 11-6 with a 2.28 GAA in his last 17 starts.

Take CBJ.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on MTL@NYI to go Under the total.

The Habs are barely holding on in the Wild Card race, and the Columbus Blue Jackets are hot on their heels. They can't afford to leave any points on the table, and they might be in for a battle here at the Islanders. New York has allowed fewer goals than any other team in the NHL this season. Carey Price has really stepped up his game for Montreal, winning three of his last five starts and allowing just four goals in those three games. The Islanders goaltending situation is pretty secure, with Ronin Lehner rankling in the Top 5 of the NHL in GAA and save percentage, and backup Thomas Greiss coming off a 31 save shutout. Greiss also ranks in the Top 5 in both those categories. Given that both these teams are engaged in heated battles for playoff position, we should expect scoring chances to be few and far between in tonight's game.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Penguins don't have much breathing room in their quest for the playoffs, sitting just four points ahead of ninth place Montreal. They are coming off a big home win over the Boston Bruins, ending a 19-game point streak for Boston. Sidney Crosby appears to be geared up for another playoff run, he has nine points in his last five games. Home ice advantage has been huge for the Penguins during the Crosby era, they are 112-47 in their last 159 games as a home favorite. The defending Stanley Cup champions come off a 3-1 home win over the Winnipeg Jets, and they've won seven straight. This looks like a let down spot for Ovie and company.

Take PIT.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Dallas Stars.

Dallas is coming off a 2-1 loss to Chicago at home, and they come into Buffalo as one of the two Wild Card teams in the Western Conference. With Arizona sitting just two points back in ninth place, the Stars can't afford to leave any points on the table. Buffalo is banged up, and they have lost six of their last seven overall. Their best player (Jack Eichel) will not play tonight as he's serving a suspension for a high hit in Saturday's loss to Colorado. The Stars have won seven of the last eight head to head meetings versus Buffalo, and the Sabres are 1-5 in their last six games as an underdog.

Take DAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Columbus is coming off a 2-0 loss at New York last night, and here is what I said prior to the game: "The Columbus Blue Jackets come into New York desperately needing to string a few wins together. They went all in at the trade deadline, not only keeping Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, but also trading for Matt Duschene and Ryan Dzingel. They currently sit in the final Wild Card spot in the East, but they are tied on points with ninth place Montreal." They return home for another must win game against Boston, a team that has earned points in 19 of it's last 20 games. I had Boston pegged to suffer a let down against Pittsburgh in their last game, and they lost 3-1. Now that their streak is done, they might still be a little vulnerable here on the road in Columbus.

Take CBJ.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on CBJ@NYI to go Under the total.

The Columbus Blue Jackets come into New York desperately needing to string a few wins together. They went all in at the trade deadline, not only keeping Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, but also trading for Matt Duschene and Ryan Dzingel. They currently sit in the final Wild Card spot in the East, but they are tied on points with ninth place Montreal. The Islanders are ranked 1st overall in the NHL in goals against, allowing 2.4 goals per game. We should expect a low scoring game between two teams jockeying for playoff position. The under is 4-0 in the Blue Jackets last four road games, and 11-5-1 in the Blue Jackets last 17 games as a road underdog. The under is 18-5-3 in the Islanders last 26 versus teams with a winning record.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on LAK@ARI to go Under the total.

The Arizona Coyotes are making a furious run for the post season, and they come into tonight's home game against LA as winners of seven of their last eight. Six of those eight games went under the total. They have been getting great goaltending from 28 year old Darcy Kuemper, who is 10-4-1 with a 2.25 GAA in his last 15 starts. Kuemper will face his former team tonight, and LA has lost back to back games and has only scored one goal during that span. The Kings rank 30th in the NHL in scoring, and they have scored two goals or less in seven of their last 10 overall.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on STL@ANA to go Under the total.

The Ducks are playing the role of spoiler, coming off back to back wins against two teams fighting to get into the playoffs (Arizona and Colorado). Both of those games went under the total. and goaltenders Ryan Miller and John Gibson each allowed just one goal. Jordan Binnington is having a fantastic rookie season for the Blues, with a record of 13-5-1 and a 1.68 GAA. The under is 18-8-2 in the Blues last 28 road games, and the under 15-6 in the Ducks last 21 as a home underdog. The under is 18-6-2 in the Ducks last 26 games playing on 0 days rest.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on DAL@STL to go Under the total.

The St. Louis Blues have been the NHL's best team since January 1st, and during that time they have conceded fewer goals than any other club. The Dallas Stars have been solid on defense this season, ranking 3rd in the league in goals against. Tonight's game is huge for both clubs, each battling for playoff position. History tells us that this should be a low scoring affair, as five of the last seven meetings have fallen short of the total. The under is 6-0-1 in the Stars last seven games as an underdog of +110 to +150, and the under is 21-7-5 in the Stars last 33 road games. The Blues have failed to reach the total in seven of their last eight home games, and they have won seven straight at home.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Dallas Stars.

The LA Kings were sellers at the trade deadline, and they come into tonight's home game versus Dallas as losers of nine straight. While the playoffs aren't a possibility for the Kings, the Stars are just one point out of the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Dallas has as many wins on the road (12) as the Kings have at home. LA ranks 30th in the NHL in scoring, while the Stars rank in the Top 5 in goals against. The Stars are 7-3 in the last 10 head to head meetings, but they have won five straight at LA. I'll fade the struggling Kings at home versus a team that still has plenty to play for.

Take DAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Flyers had been one of the league's hotter teams before dropping back to back games at Montreal and at home versus Tampa. What's particularly concerning about those games is that 20 year old rookie goaltender Carter Hart was chased from the net after allowing three goals in the opening 10 minutes in both games. If Hart is between the pipes Saturday, he'll face a star studded Penguins team that ranks in the Top 5 of the league in both goals scored and power play percentage. Not only have the Penguins won seven of the last 10 meetings, they have won five straight in the City of Brotherly Love.

Take PIT.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Hawks might be the hottest team in the league, coming into tonight's home game against Columbus as winners of eight of their last nine overall. I have bet on Chicago in several of those games, and here is what I said prior to their win over Detroit: "The Hawks come into Sunday's home game against Detroit as winners of six straight. The Red Wings on the other hand have lost back to back games, and sit just two points out of last in the Atlantic Division. The Red Wings are 18-39 in their last 57 road games, and 7-17 in their last 24 overall. Patrick Kane is just two points back of Nikita Kucherov who leads the NHL in scoring, and his partner in crime Jonathan Toews scored a highlight reel game winning goal in overtime versus Vancouver on Thursday. The Hawks are putting the rest of the league on notice ..." Chicago has won 20 of the last 27 meetings, and the home team is 6-1 in the last seven meetings.

Take CHI.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Edmonton Oilers.

Edmonton has lost five straight, but each of their last three losses came in games decided by one goal. They are now three points out of a Wild Card spot, and facing a must win situation at home tonight versus Chicago. The Blachhawks are only two points back of Edmonton, but they are still dead last in the Central Division with 49 points. Chicago has won four straight, but I expect them to suffer a let down here in Edmonton. It's tough to ask this team to match the intensity of a desperate Oilers team while playing their third straight road game. The Blackhawks are 13-30 in their last 43 road games, and 2-8 in their last 10 games playing on two days rest.

Take EDM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Washington Capitals.

The defending Stanley Cup champs have now lost seven straight, but I don't believe there is any reason to panic. Take a close look at this losing streak and you will see that their backup goaltender started the majority of those losses, and they played some tough teams during that stretch (Toronto, Nashville, San Jose). Calgary is way out in front in the Pacific Division, and they come into the nation's capital as winners of eight of their last nine. They should face a stiff challenge here from a desperate Capitals team. This Washington team can turn things around quickly, as they did in last year's playoffs coming back from a 3-1 series deficit against Columbus. I'll take the Caps as a home dog.

Take WAS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Vancouver Canucks.

We are witnessing a hockey renaissance in Vancouver, and the Canucks are riding a high heading into tonight's home game against Carlolina. Superstar rookie Elias Pettersson returned to the lineup Sunday, scoring a goal and an assist in a 3-2 home win over Detroit. Vancouver is now in a solid position to reach the post-season, something that wasn't expected at the beginning of the season. Pettersson can take a lot of credit, averaging over a point per game as a rookie. He's currently on pace to score more goals as a rookie than the likes of Sidney Crosby and Mario Lemieux. Carolina comes in as losers of three of their last four, and they just played the Oilers and Flames in Alberta. This looks like a tough spot for the visitors.

Take VAN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Vancouver Canucks.

The Canucks are 2-0-1 on their current home stand, and they host the cellar dwelling Detroit Red Wings Sunday. Detroit has lost five of it's last six on the road, and sits in dead last in the Atlantic Division Standings. Rookie sensation Elias Pettersson is expected to be back for the Canucks, and despite only playing 38 games he leads the team in goals with 22 and points with 42. His return would be welcome as the Canucks have lost four of six since he went down with a knee injury. The Red Wings are 16-37 in their last 53 road games, and 1-6 in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest. This is a far bigger game for the home team than it is for the visitors.

Take VAN.

GL,

Jesse Schule