Ottawa scored 0 last game and has managed 5 goals total its last 3 games. Averaging 2.88 goals, Columbus is one of the lower-scoring teams in the league. The Jackets scored 2 last game which marked the third time in 4 games that they scored less than 3 goals. None of the last 9 meetings have exceeded 7 goals. Six games since 2022 have averaged less than 5 goals each. Under is 5-1 in Blue Jackets last 6 vs. a team with a losing record. Blue Jackets are also 4-1 to the under last 5 tries when playing with 1 day's rest in between games. This game goes Under! ***EASTERN CONF TOM***

The Panthers are off consecutive losses for the second time this season. After losing 2 in a row to start the season, they responded by winning a road game at New Jersey. They have enjoyed success in Canada's capital in the past. The Panthers are 5-1 the last 6 meetings with the Senators. The Panthers are also 5-1 the last 6 meetings played in Ottawa. The Panthers haven't played since Friday and they are 4-0 in their last 4 games playing on 2 days rest. Florida takes this one! **Atlantic Div GOW**

The Jets beat the Panthers in Winnipeg. The Panthers will beat them in Florida. The favorite is 47-23 in the last 70 meetings in the series. The Panthers are getting very strong goaltending and they got their two injured defensemen back. They've won 4 of their last 5 non-conference games and they will win again today. ***NHL Non-Conference GOW***

A lot of things would need to fall into place but it's not inconceivable that these teams could face each other in the Stanley Cup Finals. I'll just focus on tonight. Here's the setup. The Rangers are on a winning streak. The Stars just blew a 3-0 lead in their last game which snapped their winning streak. That result will give Dallas some extra hunger. Before the Colorado loss, the Stars had allowed 3 or fewer goals in 9 straight. They still average 4.6 goals over their last 5 games. They are 43-22 (+15) last 65 after allowed 4 goals or more, 2-0 this season. Sorry Ranger fans, Dallas takes this one! ***Non-Conf GOW***

Colorado is still a really good team but the Stars are simply better right now. They are playing at a different level and with more consistency. They have outscored last 4 opponents by a 20-10 score. They've got more depth and they are playing at home. The Stars have one of the best goalies in the world, the Avalanche have some concerns in net. The Stars are 13-3 in their last 16 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game. They will keep their winning streak going! ***Central Div. GOM***

Off a pair of losses, the Lightning will be at their most dangerous tonight. Tampa is 18-9 (+5.6) last 27 after scoring 1 goal or less. Over that period, Lightning are 48-27 (+10) against Western Conf. opponents. Blues are 31-35 (-10.3) against Eastern Conf. teams. Lighthing swept the Blues last year and they were -200 favorites for the game here. The favorite will move to 5-0 the past 5 meetings after this one! ***Non-Conf GOM***

Last month's game between these teams was high-scoring but Columbus divsion games are only averaging 4.7 goals. The Blue Jackets won that firs game. The Rangers have gone under 4 of the past 5 times that they played with revenge. Under has hit 4 of past 5 meetings in New York. Rangers are also 47-29 to the under their last 66 tries, off a 2 or more goal victory. Also, Under is 6-1 in Rangers last 7 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game. This one goes Under! ***Metro Division Total Of The Year

I've stated previously that when you can get the Leafs at home at this price, you do it. That goes even more so when facing an inconsistent opponent like Calgary. The Flames won a couple lately but they're going to be in trouble this season. The Leafs are 49-28 after allowing 4 or more goals. They are also 30-14 last 44 times that they were off a loss of 2 more goals. Calgary gets outscored 4.0 to 2.7 on the road. Leafs own the Flames and swept them last year. They will win again. ***Non-Conf. GOW

Tampa is a good team but Toronto will not be denied tonight. Actually, a visit from Tampa is going to be just what the struggling Maple Leafs need. This is a rematch from the first round of last year's playoffs. The Leafs eliminated the Lightning and ended a 19-year playoff drought by winning the series. The Lightning are 1-5 in their last 6 games vs. Atlantic Division teams. They are also 1-4 in their last 5 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in its previous game. The Leafs have beaten this team 5 of the past 6 meetings and they will agains tonight. *** Atlantic Div. GOM

Have a look at this group of 6 scores and see if you notice a pattern. 3-0, 3-2, 3-2, 3-2, 2-0, 3-1. Did you see it? Of course you did. All six games were low-scoring. All finished with 5 goals or less. Those were the scores from the last 6 meetings between the Avalanche and the Knights. No Western Conference team has allowed less goals than Colorado. Vegas would be right there but has played two more games. These teams are hard to score agaisnt. The Under is 6-0-1 in Colorado's last 7 games when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game. Under is also 6-1 in Colorado's last 7 vs. Pacific Division teams. This game stays under! ***total of the month

Both teams have 6 points. The Panthers have achieved that in 6 games. The Kraken needed eight to do so. Seattle was hot on the road for most of last year but that's already changed this season. They're 1-7 their last 8 on the road. Kraken are also 1-5 their last 6 games playing on 1 days rest. The Panthers are stronger at home and they have a road trip following this game. It starts with a difficult stop in Boston. So, you know they need to win this one. Florida is 13-3 the last 16 when its opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game. Make that 14-3 after Saturday. *Non-Conf GOM

An extra +1.5 goals is the way to go on Friday night in New Jersey. The Sabres are 3-3 last 6 with 2 of the losses coming by 1 goal. The Devils have played five 1-goal games in their last 7. Five of 10 meetings in the series were 1-goal games. Sabres off a 6-4 win. The Devils off a 6-4 loss and the Sabres are 5-0 against the money-line in their last 5 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game. Go with Buffalo on the puck-line. *GOW

Though they're not thrilled with their start, the Devils are a little stronger than the Islanders. The Devils had a big regular season last year and are poised for another big year. Determined to get a victory, they'll face an Islander team which is 1-5 in their last 6 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game. The Islanders are sound defensively and in goal but they often have trouble scoring and will have trouble keeping up. The Devils superior power-play will likely make a difference. NJ is a slight favorite and the favorite is 25-12 the past 37 meetings. NJ wins. *Metro Div GOW

The Senators lost their first game, at Carolina. Since then, they've been playing very well. They're off back-to-back 5-2 victories. They had a solid edge in shots and overall play in both games. The Capitals are fortunate to be 1-1. They've been outshot badly in both of their games. Struggling to score goals and generate offense, the Capitals will have trouble keeping up to a Senators team which is clicking. Washington is 0-6 the past six times that it faced an opponent which scored five or more goals in its last game. The favorite is 38-13 the past 51 meetings. Go with the Senators. *Eastern Conference Game Of The Month

Ignore the 0-2 record, the Oilers are still stacked. Understand that they had a 40-16 edge in shots in Saturday's loss. Just like 0-2 Florida yesterday, the Oilers will be extremely determined to get their first victory. Captain Connor McDavid commented: "You want to get off to a good start and we haven’t. A win tomorrow night leaves us at [1-2-0] and we were [1-2-0] last year too. It’s not the best start, not what we were looking for, but I thought Saturday was something to build off and we look to continue that tomorrow night.” Edmonton is 4-1 the past 5 times it played with 2 days off in between games. The Oilers are also 8-1 the last 9 times that played the Predators. Look for the favorite to improve to 18-7 the past 25 meetings in the series. *Oct. GOM

A very big O/U line. These teams faced each other already. Playing in their own building, the Canucks crushed the Oilers by an 8-1 score. Both Edmonton goalies struggled. We'll see a better defensive and goaltending effort from the Oilers on Saturday. Only one of Vancouver's past five visits here has produced more than 7 goals. Three of those five games finished with less than six. The under is 3-1-1 in those games and 6-2-1 in nine meetings overall. Also, the under is 5-1 the past six times that Edmonton allowed five or more goals in its previous game. Go with the Under! *NHL TOM

Classic rivalry. The Capitals have home ice advantage. The Penguins have already played a game though. They've had a chance to work out some issues. It will help them in this game. There were some positive signs. The Penguins had 40 shots and won most of the face-offs. They allowed 4 unanswered goals to blow the game though. That won't sit well and they're going to come out determined to make things right. The Capitals are missing a couple of players. The Penguins are quite healthy. They will spoil Washington's home opener. *Metro Conf GOM

Both teams are stacked on offense. Neither will have trouble scoring this year. Entering the season, I like Minnesota's defense a lot more. The Panthers are missing two of their top defensemen, Montour and Ekblad. Both had off-season shoulder surgery. They'll be missed tonight. The Wild are 40-23 (+10.6) against Eastern Conference teams the past two years. Florida is just 35-34 (-19) against teams from the West. The Panthers won last year's two games but the Wild will take this one. *NHL GOW

Vegas are heavy favorites and deservedly so.  Unless some unlikely magic happens this should be the end of the road for the scrappy Panthers.  Bobrovsky has been shown to be mortal in this series with a 3.47 GA avg. and dismal .850 save %, while Hill has continued his run with a 2.25 GA avg and .920 save %.   Hill has only allowed 2 goals/game in regulation in the entire finals. 

On the offensive side, Vegas has outscored Florida 12-4 at home when they have the last change and can dictate matchups against the Panthers’ inferior depth.  This has been further enabled by Vegas’ 100% PK  rate and their 33% PP rate in their last 5 playoff games.

Vegas’ physical superiority has also been demonstrated as Panther players are struggling on the injury front as Duclair,  Luostarinen and most notably Tkachuk are all struggling and questionable for game 5.  And we can’t forget that Gudas is also in rough shape and was not very noticeable in game 4,

Vegas is 7-0 in their last 7 at home against the Panthers.  They also know how to close out a series as evidenced by their decisive 6-0 win to finish off Dallas, the 5-2 closeout against the Oilers and the 4-1 series ending win over Winnipeg.  Notice the theme here. The Panthers will be even more dispirited than those three teams. The Knights should win this one by 2 or more goals which offers a healthy payout. 

As expected, we saw a much tighter-checking game three, with significantly fewer shots on both sides.  Play-off Bob looked sharp but the Panthers did a much better job in allowing him to see the puck.  While the Panthers didn't shut down Vegas's big three in Marchessault, Eichel and Stone, they did at least limit their opportunities to 8 shots on net in total.  The Knights are a very well coached team, exceptional at adjusting from game to game, and at limiting scoring on the road.  They limited Dallas at home to just 3 goals in 3 games.  I expect game four could again be low scoring, especially if Bobrovsky continues to rebound.  Hill wasn't quite as sharp in game three.  Look for the Knights' oversized defenders to come to his aid this time out.  Take Saturday's game to again go under.

Bobrovsky is going to start.  I agree he deserves at least this but it sure looks like Vegas has figured him out;  screen him and shoot high to the opposite side as he tries to peek around the screen.  Remember, in their last 12 games Vegas has seen the opposing goalie pulled 5 times.  At the other end of the rink, Aidan Hill looks fresh, unflappable and dialed in.  The Panthers can’t screen him to the same extent with all those huge defenders on the Knights’ blueline (6’6’, 6’4”, 6’3”, 6’2” x2, and tiny 6’1’ 209 lb Martinez) boxing them out.

In their last 10 games Vegas has averaged 4.2 goals for and 2.1 goals against while the Panthers are at 2.4 and 2.6 respectively. 

On the injury front Gudas is probable but really?  He was already hurt and that hit staggered him.  His replacement, Fitzgerald exposed the lack of depth on the Panthers’ blueline.  Karlsson is probable with an illness for the Golden Knights. 

The discipline issue is real for the Panthers.  They have had to kill 32 penalties these playoffs compared to 23 for the Golden Knights.  Vegas’ powerplay has come alive at an inopportune time for the Panthers.

The key stat for Vegas though is their ability to play lockdown hockey on the road even when the other team has last change.  The are 32-8 on the road while the Panthers are an OK but less remarkable 27-16 at home.  Vegas has lost only two on the road these playoffs.  Following a win this season Vegas is 26-9 on the road.

It all adds up to taking Vegas on the Money Line.

After a blow-out loss, the Panthers slink back to Florida for game three.  Location was highly significant for the Panthers in the regular season:  they were a .500 club on the road, and much better at home.  The Knights were actually a better on the road than at home this year.  They played a very different style, tight-checking and composed, and the totals reflected this.  The Panthers are now at critical mass and absolutely must play with more discipline and composure, limiting penalties.  They have had a couple of days of soul-searching.  Vegas, with solid defense and goal-tending from Hill, has been able to limit the Panthers' quality scoring chances.  I believe this will continue on Thursday.  I also believe that the Panthers will rebound and find their composure.  They'll have the final change, so with the right personnel on the ice, perhaps they can cool off the Eichel, Marchessault, Barbashev line.  Look for the return of the Florida forecheck, and a better game from Bobrovsky.  The Total has climbed to six.  Take the Under on Thursday. 10* Playoff TOY

Stats and records from previous rounds and the regular season don’t matter so much now.  They both played in a separate conference for the playoffs and the regular season.  Except for their split in regular season games this past season,  we have little to no experience of these teams together.  Game 1 gave us more of what we have seen in one sense as their last 11 games against each other over the past 4 seasons had the home team with a 10-1 record.  That includes the Panthers with a 0-6 record over their last 6 in Vegas, which gives us one data point.

Panthers’ powerplay was at 0% Saturday night, while Vegas was at 28%.  Given the Panthers’ interest in mixing it up Saturday, this gives us another data point in favor of the Knights.  Over the last 10 games the Panthers’ have averaged only 2.6 goals/game, even as they were successful.  The Knights have averaged 3.6 goals/game.  Another check mark for the Knights.  Over their last 8 games head to head the favorite is 7-1.  Monday night Vegas is the favorite.  All the above relevant data points, point to Vegas.  Take the Knights on the Money Line.

The total in Game One went as expected, with Bobrovsky allowing four goals against for just the first time in eleven games.  I doubt that his extended rest will prove beneficial in this series.  Let's not forget that in spite of his recent play, Bobrovsky had a pair of five goals-against games early in the Boston series.  Adin Hill continued to impress with a .943 save % on 35 shots.  On offense, Eichel had a pair of assists in Game one.  Stone was held scoreless but had seven shots on net.  Tkachuk took himself out of the game for the final five minutes, and was also held pointless.  I am still convinced that offenses, especially Vegas' will rule the day in this series.  That same 5 1/2 total is readily available.  We have a small sample size, but recent games with the Knights as the home side have all gone over.  Take the Over again in Game two.

It’s been quite a ride through the playoffs for us and the teams.  Now is when the Panthers take the truth serum of the Knights.  Are they for real?  Is Bobrovsky for real?  Can Tkachuk keep doing what he’s been doing?  Can the Panther’s patchwork defense keep it together?  Is Paul Maurice a genius?

Looking at Bobrovsky’s save % we think it’s otherworldly.  Hill’s is comparable and in the regular season it is superior to Bobrovsky’s.  Carolina’s approach is volume of shots from wherever (shot heat maps show the vast majority from the outside), so they made it easy for Bobrovsky to look impressive.  Vegas gets to the dirty areas and they will expose Bobrovsky like Carolina never did.

Tkachuk’s playoff history was mediocre before this year.  What’s different about this year?  He’s playing against the Eastern Conference, not the Western Conference.  He has had his way with Carolina, Toronto and surprisingly, Boston with little or no pushback.   Vegas is a different story and he will get push back.

The depth Vegas has upfront will expose the Panthers’ defence and show us that Forsling and Gudas aren’t what we might have thought they were and Marc Staal is not a top four defenceman.  Vegas’ third line with Karlsson, Smith and Marchesault will feast on Staal and the Panthers’ third pairing when they get a chance.  Vegas’ fourth line will punish the Panthers’ in their own end. 

With respect to Paul Maurice we’ll find out when his team comes up against a powerful Vegas team that has quietly worked through the Western Conference under the skilled guidance of Bruce Cassidy who’s former team, the Bruins, sputtered in the playoffs without him.  Take Vegas on the Money Line.

We have seen a stack of unders with the Panthers in the postseason, not in small part due to Bobrovsky's remarkable play.  It is now ten days since he played, so at what point does rest become rust?  He gave up three goals in his last start; I'm wagering that he will do at least the same tonight.  The Panthers are 0-5 in Vegas and those games have gone over to the tune of 4-1.  The Knights rolled out six goals against a very good defensive team in their last game.  The return of Mark Stone and Eichel's first foray into the playoffs have made the Golden Knights an offensive force to be reckoned with.  The Golden Knights have had five days rest and are mostly healthy, a rarity in the past two years. Let's not forget that the Panthers were a top six team in offense this season. Look for goal tending on a less heroic scale and a higher final score.  Take Vegas and the Panthers to go over the total.

It has not been common for the Knights, a superb road team, to give up four goals in a non-overtime away game.  The Stars carried it to the Golden Knights, looking faster and sharper, while hemming Vegas in with an blanketing forecheck.  While Hill was impressive at times, he definitely appeared more vulnerable in Game Five, with his save % dropping to below .900 for the first time in seven games.  In the other net, Oettinger appears to have bounced back from his three game slide and has looked more like his dominant self in the last two games.  Robertson has stepped up his game with more chances and better success, scoring three times in the last two games.  Eichel has bee held scoreless in three straight games now. 

With Benn back, Oettinger playing better and the Stars finally with some momentum,  I like Dallas' chances to tie the series up tonight.  Take the Stars, a very good home team to win.

The Stars and Oettinger bounced back with an overtime win in Game four.  I really thought that the young Stars goalie was down for the count, but he survived nearly 40 shots with by far his best game of the series.  Hill was again steady in net for Vegas as he has been all series long.  Dallas will be again in must win mode but at least they have now had a taste of success, however the Knights have been very good at making the necessary adjustments after a loss.  With 2/3s of the Stars second line out and with the final change tonight, Vegas can key on the Stars top line which accounted for all of the Dallas scoring in Game four.  This series was always expected to be a low scoring one, and in spite of some subpar goal tending by Oettinger, the last three games have gone under.  Look for another tight checking, low scoring affair tonight, and take the total to go under.

The Stars won't be out tonight down in Dallas.  Missing Benn and with Oettinger essentially a broken man, this is definitely the Golden Knights' game and series for the taking.  Vegas was, as usual, poised and tough on defense in a road game last time out, and I expect nothing different today.  They really have been an elite away team this season.  Add the continued success of Adin Hill, now with a shutout to add to some very stellar play in the post season.  Eichel and the returning Stone are top ten in playoff scoring but the Knights are getting goals from a variety of players.  Without Oettinger holding up in net, Dallas's blueline has been exposed. Take Vegas to finish off a rattled Stars side tonight.

The top and second top forechecking teams in the NHL (by advanced metrics) are masterful at getting in on the puck.  But it turns out they are also great at limiting in zone high danger chances.  Their skill at forechecking includes an ability to clog up the neutral zone and stifle rush chances.  Both teams still manage to keep things exciting with checkers and puck carriers selling out and sacrificing themselves all over the ice. 

When you combine this with unbelievable goaltending it is a sure recipe for low scoring affairs.  The losing goaltender in this series, Andersen has save percentages of .941 and .950.  That is phenomenal.  But Bobrovsky has been otherworldly with 1.0, .974 and.969 save percentages.  It’s no surprise that the Canes under record is 4-0 in their last 4 and the Panthers is 8-0 in their last 8.  Both teams have averaged totals of 5.4 (Carolina) and 5.2(Florida) GF +GA in their last 10 games.

When you have no high scoring stars on either side it’s no wonder that the under is a must call on this one.  Take the under and enjoy this hard fought hockey to the max.

The Stars have not been getting the goal-tending required for  playoff success in Round three.  In spite of Oettinger's track record, and the Knights being limited to just 24 shots in Game two, Dallas came up in the wrong side of overtime again.  Golden Knights' net minder Adin Hill has looked very sharp in his last four starts.  This is obviously  a must-win situation for the Stars.  Vegas has been a tighter close checking team when playing on the road all season.  I think Dallas will respond with even more defensive pressure, while an obviously weary Oettinger will look to rebound from some poor outings.  Game three will be another close one, with an equally low total.  Take the Under on Tuesday

Bobrovsky's three latest appearances, all going into overtime, could become legendary; facing 155 shots, he has turned in a .968 Save %.  I doubted him after that marathon Game one, but I won't this time.  Now throw in Tkachuk, a difference maker in all three series, whose impact on the Panthers' offense has been equally remarkable in the playoffs.  Add Barkov for star power, and the confidence the Panthers are playing with having knocked off two favored opponents, and you have a very tough row to hoe for Hurricanes.  Carolina's lack of offense was a given in this series, but the Canes have met an equally tough fore-checking opponent in the Panthers.  I like the Panthers, with the final change on home ice, to advance to 3-0 today.

There are no Bobrovskys in this series.  Oettinger was expected to excel but for what ever reason (fatigue?) he has been little better than average in the playoffs.  Adin Hill was the better goalie in game one.  We have seen a surprising number of high totals from these two teams in the playoffs; 7-1 in the Stars' case, and three straight from Vegas.  The odds-makers keep setting the number at 5.5 but without superlative goal-tending, that number seems low.  It has been a rare game in the playoffs that the Knights haven't scored 4 or more goals.  The Stars have also averaged roughly four goals a game over their last 1o games.  I am jumping on that low number in Game two.  Take Vegas and the Stars to go over the total.

There has to be a regression to the mean in Bobrovsky’s goaltending.  His .943 save% in his last 6 games is off the charts and way above his seasonal and career numbers.  After an almost 7 period game, this is the time for it to come back down to earth.  The Canes are 3rd in average shots per game while the Panthers are 22nd in average shots against.  Bobrovsky is due for a melt down.  The Panthers’ PK is at 61%.  The Canes PP hasn’t been great but this will be Teravinen’s second game back so he should help their PP and offense in general more than last game.  
Florida has been involved in a lot of under totals lately but two stats point to the Canes being able to make adjustments to juice up their attack.  They are 7-1 over/under on one day’s rest and have a 21-7 win loss record when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in the previous game.  It all points to an over total for game 2. Tired teams usually score more rather than less goals.  Take Game two to go over the total.

Both the Stars and the Knights mostly defended well against two offensive juggernauts in round 2.  Probable starting goaltenders Oettinger (2.44 GA avg. .916 save %) and Hill (.245 GA avg. .917 save %) have comparable records.  Oettinger has a 7-2-1 record in his last 10 while Hill is 7-3.  So there isn’t much to choose between them beyond Oettinger’s success in last year’s playoffs against Calgary.
The Stars are 4-0 in the last 4 meetings with the Knights.  The Stars have a better record on the road than the Knights have at home.  When you list all the matchup factors Dallas has the edge in offense, defense, PP, PK, faceoffs and discipline.  The only edge for Vegas is in goal during these playoffs but Oettinger last year in the playoffs and all season was far superior to Hill so it is difficult to imagine Hill continuing to carry the day.  Hill is seen as large and slow and clearly Coach DeBoer and the Dallas veteran attackers will figure out how to take advantage of this.  Pick Dallas as the dog and carry the day.
 

This is a very tough call. Limited due to injury, the Canes offense was questioned coming into the playoffs and the Panthers were largely written off with a 21st rated defense.  True to form, the Hurricanes stymied the opposition, allowing the least goals of any remaining team.  They were equally tough on the PK, and in spite of a "scoring by committee" approach, have scored as many goals as the Panthers while playing one less game.  Both teams got stellar goal-tending in the last series.  Bobrovsky re-found his form and was phenomenal in the Leaf series. Andersen, even allowing for one very bad game, still finished the last series with a .931 save %. The Panthers do have an edge on the power play but the Canes  have really limited PP opportunities with the least number of penalty minutes.  Carolina was one of the very best home teams this year while the Panthers were much less effective on the road.  Both teams are well-rested. Carolina of all teams should be able to limit the "Tkachuk effect".  Home ice and better defense tips the scales for me in what could be a very close Game one.  Take the Hurricanes, the favorite today, to win.

The Kraken have been a much tougher nut to crack in the playoffs than anyone expected.  The Stars came in as favored, but the series has see-sawed wildly in wins.  The only consistent factor is the over, and I expect another one today. Goal tending and the Kraken offense have been the keys in  Series two.  The Settle goal tending was always suspect, and Grubauer, after a terrific first series, has reverted to an .865 save %  against the Stars.  Oettinger who was expected to excel in the postseason, has been pulled twice and has exactly the same .865 save % as Grubauer.  The high totals are perhaps not so surprising as these were the 5th and 7th ranked offenses, however the Stars' inability to control Seattle with one of the league's elite defenses is an eye-opener.  I am not going to second guess this one.  Take game seven to again go over.

My run on totals is up to 13-3.  This is your chance to jump on board.  Skinner, tonight’s likely Oilers goalie, has alternated good with abysmal starts.  This is his turn for a good one. He has had save %s of .962 and .968 for his great starts.  We won’t talk about his bad starts.  Nurse will return from his suspension which should solidify the Oilers' back end. 

 Aidan Hill has had a .926 save % in his last 10 starts.  Pietrangelo and Kolesar have got their owlies out, so that should limit the power play chances for the Oilers.  The Knights have managed to limit the damage from Edmonton’s top scoring duo in most recent action. That combined with the fact that Vegas plays a different kind of lockdown game on the road should combine with all of the above to create a low event game for game 6. 

Three of the last 4 games of this series have been under.  In the last 8 meetings between these clubs, the under is 6-1-1.  Join me for another fine total selection. We should see a tense, much tighter,  more defensive tonight, especially from the last chance Oilers.The Under is the call for tonight’s game.

My run on totals in the NHL playoffs is up to 12-3.  I couldn’t believe my good fortune when I saw an over of 5.5 (-120) for Saturday.  I couldn’t write this pick quickly enough.  Dallas, in their last 10 games has averaged a total of 7 goals a game.  Seattle isn’t far behind at 6.8.  As a favorite Dallas’ games have averaged a total of 6.4 goals per game.  As a dog Seattle’s totals have averaged 6.5 per game. Overs are 4-0 for the L4 games in Seattle and 8-0 for the L8 meetings between these two clubs.  And then the clincher for me, Dallas is 5-0-1 on overs for their L6 and Seattle is 5-0 in their last 5. 

Although both clubs were just below .500 for overs against all opponents during the regular season, the playoffs seem to be a different story.  The intensity, physicality and pressure all seem to conspire to create high event hockey.  Jump on the over.

There will be no love lost between these two teams in Game five.  Pietrangelo's bizarre attack may galvanize the Oilers, who really stepped it up with their speed and size on Wednesday, limiting Vegas' puck-moving ability. The Knights will miss him more than the Oilers will miss Nurse today. Oilers' net minder Skinner bounced back with a fine start in Game four, but he has had trouble stringing two solid efforts together.  Vegas' goalie will likely be a game time decision, but none have thrived in this series.  The Oilers were much better on the road this season, and have had very good success in Vegas.  If anyone benefits from a choppy game with extra penalties it will be them.  Edmonton took charge in the Kings series in Game 5 and I believe they will do the same today. Look for the Oilers to string a pair of wins together and take today's matchup on the road.

I am again confident on this one despite going 1-1 last night.  This is my first under in awhile but the sports books have been taking a beating and they offered up a generous one to try and turn the tide. 

That combined with the new approach Toronto is taking to protect their young goaltender, Woll.  12 different Leafs blocked shots last game as a key point in their heroic defending.  That combined with the fact that Toronto’s core 4 forwards can’t seem to get untracked with Florida’s physical and smothering defense indicates a low event affair tonight. 

Also of note is that all 4 games in this series have been under, Toronto has been under for their last 6 and head to head the Panthers and Leafs are 6-0 on unders for their last 6.  The Leafs may be under the gun to extend this series and you can pick under with confidence for tonight’s match up.

Dallas is a heavy favorite tonight, but the Kraken are a much better team on the road, and a very good candidate to bounce back after a loss this season. The total has edged up to 6 today; not surprising as every game has gone well over in the series.  Grubauer did not look sharp in Game four, and was pulled after 40 minutes.  He has been much less successful vs Dallas with a save % under .900 in three of four games this series.  The same could be said of Oettinger, with a surprisingly low  save % of .860.   Fatigue could be a factor; the young goalie has played a ton of hockey this year.    Seattle still managed three goals in spite of the Stars limiting the Kraken to just 19 shots.  The Kraken continue to surprise on offense, and with McCann back, offense could still be the name of the game tonight.  With the topsy turvy nature of wins in the playoffs, I am hesitant to pick a side today but I am big on the total.  Take the Kraken and Stars to again go over.

Every game this series has been over 5.5 and yet the sports books keep offering it to us and we’ll keep taking it. These two teams have averaged a total of 8 goals/game. Whether the Devils start Schmid or Vanecek doesn’t matter to me. Both have struggled in their last 10 and are barely above .500. Not a good look for the playoffs. So even though Carolina is not the most high octane offense they have consistently got to both goalies. And the Devils have the 4th ranked power play while the Canes penalty kill is 20th ranked. So the Devils should score their share as well. All bodes well for my record with this pick and another total above 5.5 for a fifth consecutive game.

The see-saw nature of the Oilers/Knights series continued with Vegas stymying the Oilers in Edmonton, allowing just a single goal.  Vegas is a very tough out in away games, and they held the Oilers power play to no goals, while limiting penalties.  Adin Hill replaced Broissoit, and was perfect in game three as he was in the third period of game two.

Skinner was sub-par in game three.  In spite of his fine performance in the previous game, the Oilers have to be wondering about their young goal tender, who has now started 12 straight games.  There is no doubt that the Oilers will be all in tonight, but superior net-minding and their solid defensive road style should at least keep the Knight close in this one.  Take Vegas on the puck line at +1 1/2. 10*

Toronto is on the ropes, down 3-0 to the Florida Panthers. Everyone, against all the evidence expects them to finally push back and pull off a win. But with their top goalie injured all playoffs and now their second stringer, Samsonov injured as well, young Joseph Woll is thrown into the breach. His NHL career consists of 11 regular season and 2 playoff games. He lost both playoff games. Meanwhile, Bobrovsky has won 6 straight, all but one with a save % over .917. Florida is also 5-0 in their last 5 after a win, and 7-0 when their opponent scores 2 in the previous game. In the 3rd period and OT of game 3 against the Leafs, the Panthers’ scratch and claw style smothered a dispirited bunch of Toronto’s finest. There is nothing to indicate this will change in game 4. Bring out the brooms.

The last game surprised in many ways. Oettinger looking so shaky, Dallas so vulnerable without Heiskinen, and so many different Kraken scoring at will. That second period seemed to take the wind out of the Stars’ sails. Coach Deboer is a master at making between game adjustments. Even if Heiskinen plays, the injury could affect his offensive and defensive abilities. Seattle has some confidence now and the home crowd to boost them even more. With the possibility of Grubauer coming back down to earth as well, all of this bodes well for a high event, high scoring game. The over is 6-0 for the last six games between these foes. Dallas averaged 3.83 goals and Seattle average 4.0 goals over that span. The total set at 5.5 seems like a gift. Take the over and make like a bandit.

The Devils woke up on home ice, pounding two of the three Canes' goalies.  It remains to be seen if Raanta can go in game four or if Carolina will return to Andersen.  If it is anything like last series, it will be difficult for the Hurricanes to stuff the Devils' scoring genie back in the bottle, so we could be in for a wild ride in game Five.  NJ will come out flying again. Hughes broke out with four points, but New Jersey got scoring from a variety of sources.  Even Vanacek chipped in with an assist.  I have no faith in either of the Devils' netminders to limit Carolina.  I expect another barn burner with plenty of scoring. Game five will go over the total, possibly well over.

The Golden Knights could not contain the Oilers' high octane offense and their potent power play in Game two.  What was surprising was the Oilers, who are often defensively suspect, limiting the Knights to a single goal.  Vegas has been a much better away team this season, playing a tighter more disciplined style on the road that is very suitable to the playoffs.  They are a very well-coached team with an ability to adjust on the fly.   While the Oilers are a heavy favorite today, I am not ready to count Vegas out.  I think the Knights will focus on slowing down the Oilers down, at the cost of total goals.  The total went under in Game two, and an even higher number is available today. Look for a tighter checking game and take the total to go under.

The Stars were dominant in their Game two win, much better than the score would suggest.  Oettinger bounced back as expected, but the Stars also limited the Kraken to eighteen less shots.  Dallas was very good as a road favorite this season, while the Kraken were just 6-11 as a home underdog.  The Stars are healthy and were much the better team on offense in Game two, scoring four times on Grubauer  The Seattle goalie's save % has dropped  considerably to .890 in Round two.   The Kraken's 40 goal scorer, McCann, is still questionable to return on Sunday.  As  good as the Kraken's offense has been, I am banking on Oettinger and the Dallas defense today.  Take Dallas to win on the road.

The Devils bounced back after a poor start in the first series and are favored today, but the Hurricanes really seem to have New Jersey's number in this series.  The Devils' goalie situation is pretty ugly.  Neither net minder was effective in Game two, and Schmid's run would seem to have come to an end. I do think that the Devils will  score more than  one goal today; they certainly responded on offense upon returning home in the first series.  The Canes, despite missing some key pieces on offense, are getting scoring from a range of players at the moment.  They have been absolutely tenacious on the forecheck, and I don't see them taking their foot off the gas.  We have seen the over in both games of the series despite very limited offense from the Devils.  Carolina will again get their opportunities against whoever is in net.  I am wagering on the over today.

The Oilers will score their share of goals, and they still could win this series. It won’t be easy without an elite goalie considering how some of the defense plays, and while Skinner hasn't played badly, he is no game-changer.  Like all the successful teams this year ,Vegas was tenacious on the forecheck in Game One.  Broissoit has played better than expected but the Knights face an elite offense at 5 on 5, and one of the very best power plays ever. Add Draisatl, who is lights out in the playoffs, and the potential more than in any other series is for a bunch of goals from both sides . Take the over again in game two.

The Devils were embarrassed by the more experienced Hurricanes.  Let's hope that this will kick-start them for Game two.  Schmid was pulled in Game one after three quick goals, leaving Game two's starter a question mark.  The Devils had an even worse result in the first game of the Rangers series and did bounce back.  While Carolina is an elite defensive team, Andersen faced just eighteen shots.  I don;t believe that the high flyers we saw in the latter part of the Rangers series will be held to just a single goal and under twenty shots twice in a row.  New Jersey has rebounded well after previous losses all season long and are 13-6 after a loss of two goals or more.  Schmid has now had two poor outings.  Is it possible that his cinderella run has ended?  There are enough questions around the Devils goal tending to make the total, a low 5.5, very tempting.  Go with the over today.

Game one of the series featured more goals than expected.   Five goals against the Stars and Oettinger is a rare occurrence, but the Kraken accomplished it with tenacious forechecking and their usual balanced fifth-ranked attack. The Kraken's ability to play tough without taking penalties eliminated the Stars' very potent power play in game one.  Neither goal-tender looked sharp, but the less than stellar play by Grubauer is more concerning.  Oettinger is far more likely to bounce back.
The Stars bounced back after an opening loss in the first series.  It is unlikely that they will be able to completely shut down the Kraken, but they should get plenty of opportunity against Grubauer. Look for other forwards to chime in today, although Pavelski's return is significant.  Dallas is a very large, possibly exaggerated, favorite today.  I think the total is Thursday's best opportunity.  Take Dallas and Seattle to go over.

The Oilers' top rated offense and power play were a little much for the Golden Knights in the regular season.  Edmonton was 4-0 in Vegas and the over was 3-0-1.  They are a very good road team this year.  They do have their weak points, in goal tending and defense.  Skinner was the worst net-minder in the first round, and a healthy Vegas side will have their chances on goal.  Vegas got solid work from Broissoit in the Jets series, but the Oilers are a huge step up in speed and skill, and Broissoit has never been regarded as an elite talent.  It took Edmonton a series last year to really get flying.  We could see a very wide open style with the resulting high totals, starting in Game 1.  Take the Oilers and Knights to go over.    

The Devils looked shaky in their first two playoff games, but once Schmid started in net, they roared back, winning 4 o f 5 games.  NJ held the star-studded Rangers offense to just two goals in those four wins. The young net-minder bounced back after a poor outing in Game six, earning his second shutout of the series.  The Devils' top 10 defense should be able to hang in there against a very fine Hurricanes D.  Carolina does not have a a net-minder to match Shesterkin, the Devils' last opponent.  
New Jersey was at their best on the road this season, but Carolina was a very fine home team, so no obvious advantage there.  The real difference today is on offense.  NJ is both healthier and more potent.  They are blindingly fast and gave the Rangers' defense fits once they got over their early jitters.  After a slower start, I expect Hughes to step up, but he will have plenty of help.  While the Canes are a slight favorite, I am  going with the Devils today.  Take New Jersey to win on the road in Game one. 10*!

Devils goal-tending issues returned as the Rangers finally broke through against Schmid in Game six. Who the Devils start in net today is the big question.  At the other end, Shesterkin has been consistently good for the Rangers with a fine .939 save % in this series.  While it didn't hold in  this series, NJ has bee a force at home this season.  The speed of the Devils has given the Rangers fits and we have yet to see a goal from Hughes.  The Devils have been tough to beat at home this season and have also a very fine record in bouncing back from a loss. Having solved both Schmid and Vanacek, the Rangers will be ready for whoever is in net.  In spite of these two teams' reputation for defense, I expect offense to be the color of the day.  Wager on the Devils and Rangers to go over.

There are some compelling reasons to consider a Kraken win tonight.  Seattle is a very good road team and are 4-1 vs the Avs in Colorado.  There are even more reasons to look at the total.  The under has figured in five of six games in this series and in all of the Av's home games.  Nine of ten recent meetings have all gone under.  Seattle and Grubauer have defended  better than anyone might have expected.  The Av's have just a single player in the top twenty playoff scoring leaders and the Kraken have none.  Seattle could still be missing McCann today, a big part of their scoring.  I am not confident on picking a winner in game seven, but I do like the total very much.  Jump on the under, especially if under six is available.

Skinner has a save % of .884 in the series and Korpisalo has given up 9 goals in 2 games.  We have now seen the total go over in the last two games.  Neither of these two teams were better than average statistically this season and goal-tending had much to do with that.  With the Oilers the top offense and with a devastating PP, high totals seemed inevitable. For me, Korpisalo overachieved in the early series.  I am betting that the Oilers get to him or Copley again today.  I also can't believe that the Kings can subdue McDavid much longer.  I am not counting the Kings out yet, but I am big on a total prediction today.  Take this game to go over the total

I am sure many people are asking "who the bleep is Akira Schmid?" The young net-minder has sparked an equally young Devils' side to a three game win streak, outscoring the Rangers 9-2.  The Devils were a solid defensive force this season missing one thing; dynamic goal-tending.  It is not even as if Schmid had to work that hard in Game Five.  He faced just 23 shots vs 43 for Shesterkin.  Four extra Rangers' penalties in the third period is not a good look.  2-1 in OT, 3-1, and now 4-0; there is a definite progression here.  The Devils have a high speed effective offense, and it appears the goal-scorers are also starting to find their form and confidence. The Rangers are in big trouble.  Take the underdog Devils to win.  10*

The Stars got points form their big guns and a shutout from goalie Oettinger in Game five.  That is two straight premium efforts for him after a pair of sub-par performances.  Ti is the Wild's net-minder Gustavsson who has underachieved in Games four and five, allowing six goals on fifty shots.  Could we see Fleurie back in net? The Wild are a very good home team, but Dallas was exceptional on the road this year, and are driven to get a round one series victory off their back.   They've got Hintz as the (not so surprising) play-off points leader, and they have stymied an average Wild offense in two straight games. The Wild are still likely missing their top center Ek. These are two very defensively solid teams, but the Stars' superior offense will rule in Game Six. Take the Stars to win. 10*

The Panthers, much to my surprise, beat the Bruins on the road in overtime, earning a chance to tie the series at home.  I cannot believe that the Bruins will allow this series to go to a game seven.  The Bruins out-shot Florida 47-25, with Bobrovsky saving the Panthers' bacon with a huuge performance.  Ullmark had a rare off game, but I expect he will be back in the net in Game Six.  While it shouldn't matter in the playoffs, the Panthers have been a .500 home team this year.  After the Bruins' loss in game one, they stormed back in the second game, winning relatively easily.   I expect a similar reaction from Boston in Friday's match-up.  Pasternak is certainly due for some offense. Take Boston to win the game and the series on the road. 10*

This is a tough call. Not that I think the Golden Knights won't win. I just don't think the odds are great that they will win by more than a goal.  The Jets are now down three centers, a scoring winger, and their best defenseman. That is just plain too beaten up to win against a Vegas side up 3-1 at home.  The Jets have had very little success against the Knights anywhere, however there is always the Hellebuyck factor.  He could come up bit and limit Vegas scoring, although the Knights have managed four or more goals a game in Games 2 through 4.  High odds, but taking the Golden Knights to win is the best option. 10*

Both these teams have a penchant for winning on the road and the series has followed that pattern.  I think the Devils success in games three and four has more to do with A. a young team finding their playoff footing, and  B. putting Schmid in net.  The youngster has allowed just two goals in forty-nine shots..  It isn't as if the Devils are ripping up Shesterkin and the Rangers, having scored just just seven goals in four games.  These were, after all, two tough top ten defenses in the regular season, and if Jersey gets solid goal-tending again, we could see another low total.  I'm wagering on the under again today. 10*

The Bruins got to Bobrovsky for five goals and ran Lyons out in the previous game.  I'm not sure it will make any difference who is in net; Florida just doesn't have the defense to keep the Bruins in check.  Boston is an unstoppable force at this point and will have Bergeron back for game five, making them even tougher to play against.  I would be very surprised if the Panthers won another road game.  Ullmark looked terrific, stopping 41 of 43 shots, and trying to take on Tkachuk as well.  I think the Panthers have taken their best shot and have come up short.  Take the Bruins on the puck line at -1 1/2. 10*!

Korpisalo !has faced roughly forty shots a game from the #1 offense in the league.  He has been a lot better than most people expected so one off game is not surprising. 3 of 4 games in this series have gone to overtime so the Oilers as such a favorite in Game Five is a bit surprising.  The Oilers goal-tending situation is hardly clear.  They will have to decide between Skinner, who was pulled in the first period of Game Four, or Campbell who has barely played this month.  This has been an evenly matched series with the Kings largely keeping the Oilers offense in check.  There is every likelihood that LA can keep Game Five close again. A Kings win is not out of the question.  Take the Kings on the puck line at +1 1/2.  10*

The Colorado big guns solved Grubauer, leaving him with five goals against and an .845 save % in Game Three.   Not that Georgiev was that much better, but we knew the Kraken would press on offense.  The Av's are a a great road team and the Kraken struggle to defend, especially at home.  Goat-tending was always going to be the issue for Seattle, but Grubauer surprised with two very strong appearances.  It may be status quo now.  I don't think that the Kraken, regardless of who is in net, can stand up to an Av's team firing on all cylinders.  Look for Colorado to win on the road again.

The Avalanche got to Grubauer in a big way, which is not really a surprise.  Goal tending was always a question mark for the Kraken.  Seattle responded with four goals in game 3, again not really surprising, as they possess one of the better offenses in the league.  The Av's last 6  away games have all gone over, and Colorado is a tough opponent on the road.  Seattle has not been at their best at home this year.  We've reached situation critical in the series.   Seattle will be all in, and that means offense.  Colorado is tough to beat when MacKinnon et al get rolling. Look for another high total, and jump on the over today

The Jets just lost their top defenseman, Morrissey, a huge hit at this point in the series.  Vegas is probably as healthy as they have been all year.  Eichel appears to enjoy his first taste of play off hockey.  He and the Knights have solved the Hellebuyck problem.  Just keep firing shots at him.  This should have been an easier win for the Knights.  The Jets had just 11 shots in the first two period.  Credit to the Jets to find a way back from down three. It must have been demoralizing to finally lose in multiple overtimes.  I don't think Vegas will make that same mistake again.The Golden Knights are the better team and very tough to beat on the road. I believe they will steal another road game on Monday.  Knights to win outright.

You have to believe that Gustavsson will be back in net for the Wild.  He was sharp, but not overworked in Game 3 and sensational in Game !.  The Wild were able to push the Stars around, putting four past Oettinger.  His save % is just .860 in the last two games. Both teams are missing a top offensive player as Ek appeared to re-injury himself.  The Stars haven't had much success when playing in Minnesota, just 2-5 in recent match-ups.  Minnesota is a very good home team, playing a tough brand of play-off hockey at the moment, and if Gustavsson is in net, have topnotch net-minding.  Take the Wild to win at home again.

The Bruins were all business in Game Three, running up a 4-0 lead, and then surviving the Panthers' 19 shot 3rd period.  The Bruins broke through on Alex Lyon, bouncing him for Bobrovsky.  Today's Florida goalie will be a game time decision. Ullmark looked very solid, weathering the third period assault by the Panthers.  The Bruins could be down another center today with Krejci questionable, but Florida could be missing Ekblad on defense, which would be a more significant loss.
I don't think that Boston will take their foot off the gas today and allow the Panthers the opportunity to even up the series.  Even minus Pasternak, the Bruins are just too solidly built.  It is going to take a better defensive team and more potent goal-tending than the Panthers can offer to beat the Bruins consistently.  Take Boston to win.

The Avalanche have been a great road team all season, while the Kraken are just a surprising three games over .500 at home.  While all bets should be off in the playoffs, this is a very strong trend.  As good as Grubauer has been lately, that hasn't been the norm this season.  He is also consistently worse on home ice.  Georgiev is steadier, at home or away.  The Av's have the star power, the experience and the ability to break out.  The Kraken are tough offensively but have been only average on defense this year.  I think that the lack of defense and sub-par net-minding will catch up with them tonight.  Take the Av's to quiet the first-time playoff crowd in Seattle and steal this one on the road.

The Devils, a very good away team this season, are looking to bounce back on the road on Saturday, but they have taken a kicking at both ends of the ice in the first two games.  The Rangers' defense is definitely on top of their game, and they are getting timely offense from Kreider, Fox, and now Patrick Kane. Did I mention Tarasenko?  Vanacek struggled in both of the first two games, while Shesterkin has given up just a single goal in each game.  The usually offensively-charged Devils were held to 22 shots in Game Two, with just 7 coming in the third period.
It is hard to imagine the Devils out in four, but the Rangers look very tough to beat.  Take the Rangers to win Game Three at home.

I am betting the Bruins will be all business today after arguably their worst loss of the year.  They were masterful on the road this season, and very good in revenging a loss.  I am not sure I would want to be in the Panthers' skates today.  Expect Boston at their most pugnacious in tonight's match.  Panthers' likely goalie, Alex Lyon, bounced back with a better game two, but he doesn't have the track record and has played a ton of hockey in April.  It was an uncharacteristically poor game from Ullmark and the league's best defense on Wednesday.  Take Boston, even without Bergeron, to bounce back and win.

The Hurricanes have a stranglehold on the series to date, but are down another forward with Teravainen out.  The Islanders are healthier and a MUCH better team at home this season.  This is game critical for the Isles, and likely their best opportunity for a win; lose this one and there is no recovery. As one might expect, both goalies are statistically better when playing in their home rink. Look for better games from Barzal and Horvat, and for Sorokin (at home today) to out-duel Raata, as the desperate Islanders win at home.

I thought the Golden Knights would make more of a game of it, but the Jets shut them down, allowing just 17 shots. Hellebuyck, who can be a game changer, wasn't even worked.  However the Jets are not always consistent, so I am not convinced of a similar result in Game two.  Will it be Broissoit in net again?  He was very good down the stretch, but allowed 4 goals with an .867 save % in Game one. 

I think we will see a better game from the Golden Knights, but the Jets have been putting up some high numbers of goals lately and scored with relative ease on Monday night.  The best option in this match-up is the total.  With a very low number available on Thursday, look for this game to go over.

The depth and experience in the Rangers' lineup showed vs the Devils in Game one.  With a fine game from Fox and Krieder, the result was one-sided.  It doesn't hurt to have Shesterkin in net.  He was beaten only by a penalty shot.  Can the Devils turn things around in Game two?  They had solid success vs the Rangers especially at home this year.  I does appear that all of the trade deadline additions to the Rangers lineup have finally gelled in time for the playoffs.  Devils goaltender Vanacek has a chequered history in the post season.  This is still a very young Devils side.  I am going with experience and goal tending tonight.  Take the underdog Rangers to win.

The Kings struck first in their series vs the Oilers, just as they did last year.  They shut down McDavid if not Draisaitl, and got solid goal tending from Korpisalo.  Oiler's net minder Skinner looked less than sharp.  I am not convinced that LA can take two straight at home, but they appear to have the defense and muscle to at least contain Edmonton's potent offense. Goal tending is the Oilers' thorn in the side.  We will see if Skinner can bounce back.  The Oilers will either have to cut down on penalties or shape up on the PK  Take the Kings on the puck line at +1 1/2.

I wondered which goal tender would step up in the Wild/Stars series and it appears both will.  We could even see Fleurie tonight as Gustavsson did face over 50 shots on Monday. With Ek out and now Pavelski questionable, offense looks even more scarce for Wednesday.  These are two very strong defensive teams (third and sixth in goals-allowed), and with play-off hockey being generally tighter, a high total is not to be expected.  Take today's game to go under the total.

Vegas finished the season strongly and they have Mark Stone back after a very long injury.  The Jets have Hellebuyck, but otherwise don't always seem to pull in the same direction.  They were very fortunate to land in the playoffs, and are just .500 on the road this season.  Broissoit, an ex-Jet, will start for the Knights.  He has been very sharp in April, with a .946 save%.  Yes, Hellebuyck can be scary good at times, but Vegas is as healthy as they have been all year, and have a solid edge on offense.  Take the home side, the Golden Knights, to win at home.

The Leafs are back in a familiar spot; round one against the Lightning.  I like their chances much better this year, especially in their home games.  Toronto finished very strongly, winning four straight and beating Tampa, Florida and the Rangers.  The teams are equally matched on offense, but the Leafs are much better on defense, and they are tougher to play against this year.

Tampa is a bit of a mystery this season.  They were outright poor on the road, finishing 4 games under .500.  Even Vasilevskiy hasn't been as dominant this season.  He had some great games down the stretch, but was roughed up by the Leafs and the Rangers in his last two games.  Samsonov will return to the net for Toronto.  He has been better than steady down the stretch when he played, with a +.950 Sv % in his last three games.

With all of their previous experience, perhaps the Lightning can find another gear for the playoffs, but I am taking the Leafs until I see otherwise.  Toronto to win Game one at home.

The Oilers appear to have peaked at just the right time, winning 9 straight games.  What is perhaps most impressive in this stretch is that the Oilers have only allowed 6 goals in their last 6 games.  This from a team that was very casual on defense for much of the year.  Skinner has been nothing short of sensational in net lately with a .966 save % in recent games.  Included in this streak are a pair of wins against the Kings, during which he allowed just 1 goal. 

At 5-5 L10, LA looked sharper a bit earlier in the season.  They are a large step behind on offense especially if Fiala is still out.  They will need superior goal tending to withstand the Oilers onslaught, and I am not convinced that either Copley or Korpisalo is up to the task.  Kings will have a better chance at home, but I expect that game one will go the way of the Oilers.  It is higher odds than I would usually play on, but we will need to watch a game at least to see how this series will go.

The Wild did not finish the season strongly, losing 5 of 7 games.  They have Kaprizov back finally but have lost their top center Eriksson Ek, and have 3 other centers compromised at the moment.  The Stars, who looked shaky earlier in the season, are now 8-2, exceptionally stingy on defense, and scoring with regularity lately.  The Stars are healthier, have a very big step up on the Wild on offense, and are a good home team.  It is hard to argue with any of the goalies in this series, and a crap shoot at this point to see which one will stand out.  Dallas is definitely the stronger club, now very well-coached, with the shadow of an early exit last year to motivate them.  Take Dallas to win game one.

No one wants to face the Bruins in the first round, so this is still a significant game for the Panthers.  They have come down the stretch winning 6 of 7, losing that one game in OT.  

They're getting great goal-tending from back up Alex Lyon.  He has played in 7 straight games, and hasn't given up more than 2 goals in any of them.  Andersen is projected to start in goal for the Hurricanes.  He has bee up and down in his last 8 starts.  The Canes are just 1-3 lately and haven't fared well against the Panthers when playing in Fla.  Carolina is the better defensive team, but it is the Panthers who have been keeping goals against down.  They haven't given up more than 2 in any of their last 8 games.  The Panthers have a very solid edge on offense.

I like the Panthers' chances on Thursday.  It is a more meaningful game and they are the much hotter team.  Take Florida to win outright. 10*

There is just one meaningful NHL game today, with the depleted Canadiens facing a teetering NY Islanders side.  This is critical mass for the Isles, who inexplicably lost to a struggling Capitals side on Monday.  The Habs are 3-7, and have been outscored heavily in those losses.  They are a very poor road team and have a shockingly long injury list.  Montreal goalie Montembeault allowed seven goals in his last start.  Isles' stellar net-minder Sorokin had one of his worst starts ever in the Capitals' game allowing three goal early.  Expect him to bounce back today; he was exceptional in his three previous starts.

This is a season-defining game for the Islanders and I believe they will respond.  They crushed the opposition in their two games previous to the Washington debacle.  They are a very good home team with solid defense and have been overachieving on offense in their wins.  Take the Islanders on the puck line to day at  -1 1/2.

The 5-0 Kraken, benefiting from an easy schedule down the stretch, haven't faced a top team in more than a week, since they lost to the Kings.  They are in a back to back situation against a tough Knights team and have now confirmed at least a wild card spot.  Their goal-tending, a weak spot all season, is in flux tonight.

Vegas should take this game seriously.  They are in first place in their division, but some mixed play has the Oilers nipping at their heels.  They are better-rested and have a fine past record against the Kraken.  Broissoit has looked sharp in net lately, so the goalie advantage goes to Vegas.  Call this a pre-playoff game for both teams, with the better-rested Golden Knights coming out on top.

The Jets, on the cusp of a wild card spot, have won four of five games. With both offense and defense firing in their last two games, they've scored twelve goals and allowed just three, against better teams than Monday's opponent. They are well-rested and in an absolute must-win situation.

The Sharks have surprised some teams lately, but other than the PK, this is a pretty pedestrian team running out the season on the road. Kahkonen the Sharks' likely goalie, was pulled from his last game, allowing 4 goals in under 20 shots.

Looking at the Jets' schedule this is their only "easy" game left.  Look for all-out effort from a good defensive team with a top net-minder.  Take Winnipeg on the puck line on Monday.

It is situation critical for the Panthers and they are without their #1 net minder Bobrovsky.  The good news is that Lyon has been filling in more than adequately, with a .961 save % in five straight games.  The Panthers aren't the best road team this season, but this game is a must-win, and the Panthers have been jumping all over weaker teams lately.

It is hard to think of the Capitals as a "weaker" team, but they are 3-7 lately and giving up buckets of goals, over 4.5 a game on average over nine games.  Washington does have their top netminder in goal, but he has given up fourteen goals in his last three starts.  Missing Oshi today, the Caps are going nowhere but the golf course this season.  Look for a solid effort from the Panthers, and a big road win.

This is one of the few significant games today; significant for the Kraken, that is, who are still in a fight for a wild card spot. After eight straight losses, the Coyotes seem to have visions of Bedard and the golf green.  They lost their home game 8-1 to the Kraken, in a rink where they have been highly competitive this year.  They have been pretty dismal on the road this season..  This is an absolute must win for Seattle and not just for their  playoff position.  They have had real trouble stringing together wins, and a victory tonight would make it three straight.  They still have one of the league's best offenses, and Vejmelka, who has held Arizona in so many games this year,  has struggled of late.  Take the Kraken to go all in tonight.  Seattle to win on the puck line at -1 1/2.

After four straight losses, the Lightning finally got their act together and played the way they are capable of, winning 3 straight.  Not just winning; they have outscored the competition 14-2.  They will face the Rangers on 3 days rest.

The 8-2 Rangers are also well rested, and are playing at home tonight.  The under dominates these two teams' latest action, 4 straight for Tampa, 2 of 3 for the Rangers, and 7-0 when these two teams meet. The Rangers have the fourth best goals-against avg. and Shesterkin in net.  He has a .946 save % over his last seven games. Not to be outdone, the Lightning have Vasilevskiy at the top of his form, with 2 shutouts and a scorching .978 save % in his last four starts.

This is essentially an early play-off game.  Look for a continued tight checking, low-scoring affair, and take the total to go under.

The Sharks have won three straight games, including wins against two play-off bound teams.  Equally surprising, they have also scored 23 goals in their last 6 games. Not surprising then, that the over is 5-1 in the Sharks last six games. The Avs, playing in San Jose on Tuesday, have won five straight road games, scoring 21 goals.  They have an exemplary record against the Sharks, with the over figuring in 14 of 19 meetings.  Kahkonen  is off a rare win, but has allowed at least four and as high as eight goals in recent appearances.  This is still a meaningful game for the Avs, but it appears San Jose still has it's heart in it while playing down the stretch.  Look for another high scoring game and take the over.

The Golden Knights play a very tight brand of hockey on the road, essentially play-off hockey. They have an exceptional road record. They beat up on the Wild last time out, holding Minnesota to a single goal. The Wild are not a highly productive offense, especially with Kaprisov still out.  Minnesota gets by on solid defense and excellent goal-tending, especially from Gustavsson, who should be in net on Monday.  He has been exceptional lately. Both teams are in first in their respective divisions, but have no breathing room.  Look for a pre-playoff type of game, and take the total to go under.

The Senators are still not eliminated from a wild card spot, and have won four of seven games.  The Blue Jackets are 3-7 and have now lost four straight.  Even worse, they have also lost Merzlikens, and have called up depth goalie Gillies from the AHL.  While both these teams were shut out yesterday, Columbus lost by a full seven goals. Both teams have lengthy injury lists, but Columbus is missing both Laine and a full five defensemen.  The Jackets are a wretched 3-12 when playing on back to back days.  The Senators are  6-5 in the same situation and will have their starting goalie Talbot back in net.

The Sens are 4-1 in recent games vs Columbus.  I expect it will be 5-1 after Sunday.  Take the Senators to win.

The Bruins seem to dictate the flow of the games they play, and five of their last six games have gone under the total.  With the best defense and PK in the league, no one seems to score often against the Bruins, and Boston hasn't relied on  a ton of offense for their recent wins,  Swayman will likely be in net today.  He has had 2 shutouts, and a .962 save % in his last 4 games. Jarry is much improved of late, off a  shutout win of his own.  The under is a solid 5-1 when the Bruins and Penguins meet up in Pittsburgh.  With a hefty total of 6 1/2 available, I believe this game will also go under the total.

The 7-3 Bruins are off a rare loss, never a good sign for the next opposing team. Columbus has been giving up vast numbers of goals, 38 in their last 6 games alone.  The Columbus goal tending situation is unclear tonight, but it will likely be Swayman  in net for the Bruins.  He has "just" a pair of shutouts in his last four games.  With the best defense and PK in the business, the Bruins allow very few goals.  They don't usually win big, but today could be an exception. That loss in their last game should keep them focused against a very weak opponent.  Columbus also has Laine and four defensemen out today. Take the Bruins on the puck line today at -1 1/2.

The 6-4 Islanders have stepped up their play lately and have been finding the back of the net regularly, but have not been defending to their norm.  The Capitals are still a scoring threat, but are giving up goals at an alarming rate, 4+ GA  on average in their last 8 games.  Seven of ten of the Isles' games and a full nine of ten Caps' games have  gone over today's total.  Sorokin was great in his last start but has been more uneven of late than we have come to expect.  Caps' goalie Kuemper has allowed  4 goals in three of his last four starts.  The Islanders played poorly vs the Capitals last time out and are still on the dance card for the play-offs, so look for a better effort today.  The over is 4-1 when these two teams have met recently.  With the low total available, I expect a similar result today. Go for the over.

The 5-5 Flames are uninspired at the moment, considering they are still in sight of a wild card spot.  They aren't much of a home team, and were absolutely crushed by the Kings the last time they faced them.They are riding Markstrom in net, and while he was better in his last two games, he has not been especially effective.

Meanwhile LA, at 8-2, is as hot as anyone in the NHL and a sizzling 10-1 against Pacific Division teams. They have a better road record this year.  Their offense is hitting on all cylinders, scoring 30 goals in the last 6 games. Other than a sloppy win over St Louis, the Kings are also very tough to score on lately. Korpisalo has been very good since moving to LA, with a .929 save % in his last 5 games.

Now just two points out of first in the Pacific, I think the Kings will prove too much for the Flames on Tuesday.  Take the underdog Kings to steal this one on the road.

31 goals in 7 games; not bad for the NHL's 26th ranked offense. The Canadiens have been scoring surprisingly frequently lately.  Unfortunately they are also 29th/31st in goals against/PK, and have given up 37 goals in that same period.  The Habs have had 7 of 10 games go over the total.

The 3-7 Sabres have a legitimate barn-burner of an offense, but they've also struggled to defend.  They shut out the Islanders, but all 5 previous games went over, with the Sabres allowing 5+goals against on average. No net minder can be expected to perform well given these defenses, however Allen is scheduled in net for Montreal and he has been truly dreadful in his last 3 games.

Given the up and down nature of these two teams, either one could burn up the ice or flame out on any given day.  The total is a much more dependable bet.  Take the Over on Monday.

Since an embarrassing loss against the Black Hawks, the Bruins have been all business lately, winning six straight and out-scoring their opponents 23-6.  They are off a win over Tampa.  The 6-4 Hurricanes dispatched the Leafs on Saturday.  They are an excellent home team, but will face one of the league's very best road teams tonight.  Boston was ousted by the Canes in last year's playoffs, and is 0-9 in games in Carolina.  I am sure that this must rankle, so look for all-out effort from the best team in the league. 

I don't believe that history will repeat itself tonight.  Boston has the edge in the net with Andersen facing Swayman.  Andersen has a sub-.900 save % in his last five games, and even worse in recent home games. Bruins' net-minder Swayman has a pair of shutouts in his last three appearances.  While roughly equal in defense for the season, the Bruins have played a much tighter style than the Hurricanes in recent games.  Boston has a solid edge on offense.

I'll take the Bruins as an underdog against anyone. This is a very significant game for an immensely proud team. Boston is playing play-off-style hockey at the moment . Take the Bruins to win.

The Kings are riding high in recent games.  They haven't given up more than two goals in nine games, a real step up from their  3.2  goals against season's avg.  Korpisalo has played very well as a King, with a .929 save % in his last eight starts.

The Jets seem to be reverting to their fine defensive form but don't score much themselves lately.  Their last five games have all gone under the total.  Hellebuyck has looked better recently after a poor early March.  The Jets are still in the running for a wild card spot, but must do what they do best to succeed, which is play a tight defensive game with solid goal-tending.

Look for this match-up to go under the total.

The Islanders, winners of three straight, have scored seventeen goals while allowing just six.  Five of six of their games have gone over the total.  They have also won six straight against the Blue Jackets. The Islanders, still in the running for a wild card spot, have been beating up on weaker teams (and the Leafs), scoring in a very prolific un-Islander-like  style.  They face one of the league's worst defenses on Friday.  Columbus are off a 7-6 win, but victories have been few and far between. High totals have not.  The over has figured in eight of their last ten games.  The Jackets have given up a ton of goals, but they have also managed to score an average of four goals a game in their last five games.

The total is lowish, given the Islanders' reputation, but I expect a higher total on Friday night.  Take the game to go over the total.