Sports Picks & Predictions

The fact that Buffalo is favored here may surprise some but the Sabres are favored for a reason. They have lost six straight games but all of those came against four of the top five teams from the Western Conference and they were actually competitive in most of those with only two losses coming by more than one goal. Carolina is coming off a win in its last game but that was at home against Edmonton and the Hurricanes have had a very favorable schedule of late with 10 of their last 12 games coming at home and both road games resulted in losses. Buffalo falls into a very favorable contrarian situation where we play on favorite against the money line after losses in six or more consecutive games, playing their 3rd game in 5 days. This situation is 71-26 (73.2 percent) since 1996. 10* (16) Buffalo Sabres

San Jose is off to a 3-0 start on this current roadtrip but it has been a far from dominant exhibition as two wins have been by one goal in regulation while the third came by a goal in overtime. The run has been much needed as the Sharks are now just 6-8 in their last 14 games following a perfect 4-0 start. San Jose has been very solid on the highway, going 7-3, but because of that, it is paying the price as we see here. The Flyers are off to a rough start, which was anticipated, but playing them in spots is what needs to be done and this is one of those. They have dropped nine of their last 11 games, which is certainly playing into this line as well, and this includes five straight losses at home. That makes this the ultimate contrarian play as Philadelphia looks to avoid its longest home skid since 2011 while San Jose will be out to produce its longest road winning streak since 2011. Additionally, the Sharks have won seven straight meetings in this series in Philadelphia which adds to the contrarian piece. Despite the recent short run for San Jose, it is 9-18 in its last 27 games following a road win while going back, the Flyers are 8-3 in their last 11 games against teams with a winning record. 10* (56) Philadelphia Flyers

It has not been the start that Calgary was banking on but a return home could get things going the right way. Calgary concluded a 1-3 road trip by getting dominated 4-1 by the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. The Flames were a playoff team for the first time in six years last season despite an eight-game losing skid in December and losing their captain Mark Giordano to injury for the final quarter of the regular season. The Flames are 3-5 at home but have won two straight at the Saddledome and they have not lost to New Jersey at home since 2007. What a turnaround it has been for New Jersey. The Devils earned their fourth win in five games Saturday following a 4-0 victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday, two days after a 3-2 win at defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago. Last year was rock bottom, as their 78 points were the fewest in franchise history for an 82-game season. Calgary falls into a situation where we play against road teams with a winning percentage between .501 and .600 that are coming off a win by three goals or more over a division rival, playing a losing team. This situation is 65-41 (61.3 percent) since 1996. 10* (66) Calgary Flames

The Rangers, which finished with the most points in the Eastern Conference last season, are again near the top of the standings as their 24 points are second to Montreal's 28 points. They have won six straight games and while most of those have come against below average teams, New York has still held its own against the elite teams as it has won four straight games against teams with a winning percentage of .600 or better. St. Louis trails Dallas by just one point in the Western Conference and this game represents the final game of a four-game roadtrip. The Blues have won the previous three games with the most recent two being shutouts so while playing great, this puts them in a difficult situation against a team with an even better defense. The Rangers are 13-4 in their last 17 games against teams allowing 2.4 gpg and they fall into a solid situation where we play on favorites coming off a win against a division rival going up against an opponent off two or more consecutive road wins. This situation is 37-7 (84.1 percent) over the last five seasons. Also, we play against road underdogs of +100 to +150 after allowing one goal or less in two straight games going up against an opponent after scoring three goals or more in two straight games. This situation is 32-6 (84.2 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (4) New York Rangers

It has been disappointing season's for both Calgary and Florida as each team came into the season with some lofty expectations. The Flames made the playoffs last season and were expected to make a bigger run this year although the season is far from over. The Panthers meanwhile fell short of the playoffs but a strong second half built some positive offseason momentum. They are back home following a three-game west coast roadtrip where they failed to come away with a win and now the losing streak has reached five games following a 5-4 start to the season. Calgary meanwhile has won two games in a row but both of those were at home and it comes into Florida having dropped four of its last five games on the highway. Florida's Roberto Luongo is 12-3-3 with a 1.85 GAA in his last 18 starts against Calgary. He's allowed two goals or fewer in 14 of those games. On the other side, Karri Ramo has been solid the last two games but on the season, he has a below average 3.53 GSAA and .889 save percentage. Here, we play against road teams against the money line that are coming off two or more consecutive home wins going up against an opponent coming off two or more consecutive road losses. This situation is 47-22 (68.1 percent) over the last five seasons. Additionally, the Panthers are 20-7 in their last 27 games against teams with a winning percentage below .400 while the Flames are 2-10 in their last 12 road games. 9* (10) Florida Panthers

Detroit has won three straight games and looks to make it a season-high four games in a row against the top team from the Western Conference. The Red Wings snapped a three-game home skid with a victory over Tampa Bay on Tuesday with that victory being sandwiched around two road wins. The Stars remain the top team in the Western Conference and the best offense in the conference as they are averaging 3.56 gpg but Detroit will get a big player back as defenseman Mike Green will return today after missing the last six games with a shoulder injury. Slowing down the Dallas offense is vital and the Red Wings have been solid on that side as they have allowed just one goal in each of their last two games. Captain Henrik Zetterberg, who scored his 300th goal Friday, has six goals and 10 assists while helping Detroit go 9-1-1 in its last 11 in the series. Detroit falls into a great situation as we play on home teams against the money line that are coming off a win against a division rival going up against an opponent off two or more consecutive road wins. This situation is 38-10 (79.2 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (2) Detroit Red Wings

There are five home underdogs on the six-game Friday card and Carolina looks to be in the best position of them all. The Hurricanes had their three-game winning streak snapped on Sunday with a 4-3 home loss against Tampa Bay. They have had a solid period of time off which should have them amped up tonight to get back onto the ice. Dallas won in Boston on Tuesday and the Stars remain one of the bigger surprises in the league thus far as they are 10-3 which is good for the top spot in the Western Conference thus far. They are doing it with offense as they lead the conference in scoring and power play percentage but will be tested here against a solid defensive team. Here, we play against road favorites of -200 or less against the money line off a road win by two goals or more, in November games. This situation is 65-43 (60.2 percent) since 1996. Additionally, Carolina is 5-0 against the money line against teams allowing an average of 29.5 or more shots per game this season while going 9-4 in its last 13 home games against teams with a road winning percentage of greater than .600. Meanwhile, the Stars are 1-4 in their last five road games against teams with a home winning percentage of less than .400. 10* (6) Carolina Hurricanes

We lost with Detroit on Tuesday as it fell at home 3-1 against Carolina. The thought was a big opportunity for the Red Wings to pick up a win at home following a four-game roadtrip and try to get out of a recent funk. Instead, they fell to 1-5 over their last six games but we are catching a good number here in the first of this home-and-home set against Ottawa. The Senators are coming off a 5-4 shootout win over Calgary which closed a four-game homestand and halted a four-game losing skid. While the offense has been solid, the issues have been on defense with the Senators surrendering 15 goals in their last four games. They're also used to falling behind, allowing the first goal in seven straight games and this is where Detroit needs to take advantage. Special teams has been an issue for the Red Wings, which rank 20th in power-play goal percentage (16.1), and 21st in penalty-killing percentage (78.8). Ottawa is 8-18 against the moneyline in its last 26 games after scoring five goals or more in their previous game and won't show much resistance tonight as Detroit gets its offense going once again. 9* (60) Detroit Red Wings

Chicago hits the road following a perfect homestand where it went 4-0 to make it five straight wins at the United Center overall. The last two were nearly identical victories as the Blackhawks were scoreless with Tampa Bay and Anaheim through regulation but scored goals in each overtime to pull off the dramatic wins. Per Elias, since overtime was reintroduced in the NHL in the 1983-84 season, the Blackhawks are the first team to post consecutive overtime shutout victories. Also, The Blackhawks became the first team to win consecutive games by a 1-0 score in overtime with the same goal scorer and goaltender. That certainly leads to a letdown situation here when hitting the highway where Chicago is 1-2 including losses in two straight. Winnipeg concludes its six-game homestand tonight where it is just 2-3 including a loss last time out against the Kings 4-1. After facing the Blackhawks, Winnipeg plays eight of its next nine games away from home which makes game a pretty big one. Winnipeg falls into a great situation where we play against road Teams when the money line is -100 to -150 that are coming off three or more consecutive home wins in the first half of the season. This situation is 23-9 (71.9 percent) over the last five seasons. Additionally, the Jets are 15-4 against the moneyline in their last 19 home games after a loss by three goals or more in their previous game while going 10-4 in their last 14 games after scoring two goals or less. 10* (10) Winnipeg Jets

It has been opposite starts for Detroit and Edmonton and we expect things to get back to normal tonight. The Red Wings opened the season with three straight victories but have since dropped two straight games including a 4-1 defeat at Montreal on Saturday. Edmonton meanwhile opened the season with four straight losses but the Oilers have won their last two games and both coming on the road no less. Now they return to Edmonton where they look to pick up their first home win in the Connor McDavid era. The Oilers are playing with confidence but they have been off since Sunday which can hurt positive momentum and on the flip side, the Red Wings time off can get rid of any negative energy taking place. This is a big three-game stretch in Western Canada for Detroit as the Red Wings are a combined 19-6-4 in Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver since 2009-10. Detroit has especially dominated this particular series as it has won eight in a row since Feb. 4, 2012, and is 15-0-2 against Edmonton dating back to Dec. 3, 2009, the Oilers' most recent regulation win in the series and going back further the Red Wings are 22-1-7 in their past 30 against the Oilers. Puck possession is normally a strength for the Red Wings but they easily rank last in the league at 21.4 shots per game while allowing 33.4 which is among the most. They've been outshot 88-41 in two road games but this is the spot to turn that around. A short price with good value gets Detroit back on track. 10* (5) Detroit Red Wings

Columbus remains the lone winless team in the NHL and it hasn't been pretty. Columbus is the 13th team in NHL history to not earn a single point through its first six games, getting outscored 30-13 and this is also the worst start in franchise history. This is the time for the streak to come to an end considering that the Blue Jackets play seven of their next eight games on the road even though just three of those are against playoff teams from last season. The Islanders are off to a solid start as after dropping a pair of games against reigning Stanley Cup Champion Chicago, they have won their last three games, all of which came at home. That puts New York in a tough spot tonight and playing against a desperate team in need of a win adds to that. The 1997-98 Chicago Blackhawks were the last club to start a season with seven regulation losses, according to the Elias Sports Bureau so this is a rare streak. The Blue Jackets are 9-1-2 against the Islanders at Nationwide Arena and going back, New York is 12-38 against the moneyline in its last 50 road games after three consecutive wins. We also have two situations on our side as first, we play on home teams against the moneyline after allowing three goals or more in four straight games going up against an opponent after scoring four goals or more in three straight games. This situation is 20-5 (80 percent) over the last five seasons. Second, we play against road teams when the moneyline is -100 to -150 that are coming off three or more consecutive home wins, first half of the season. This situation is 23-7 (76.7 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (52) Columbus Blue Jackets

We played on Anaheim Friday and it got shutout again, the third time in four games that the Ducks have been held scoreless to start the season. It is a shocking start to the season as the Ducks are near the top of the list in the Western Conference to challenge for the Stanley Cup after coming just one win away a season ago. Anaheim has not scored a goal in seven periods but look for this offense to bust out tonight. Minnesota started the season 3-0 but lost in overtime against Los Angeles on Friday which was the Kings first win of the season and the Wild are facing another desperate team in a similar situation. Going back to last season, Minnesota has won 14 of 18 road games so that is helping in keeping this number within reason as rarely do we catch a team that is a conference favorite at home with this small of a line. The Ducks are 21-7 in their last 28 home games against teams with a road winning percentage of greater than .600 and have owned this series of late, sweeping all three games last season and winning nine of the last 10. Additionally, Anaheim is 11-1 against the moneyline in its last 12 games after two straight losses by two goals or more. 10* (56) Anaheim Ducks

Minnesota is coming off a very tough loss in Game Three against Chicago and now has its back up against the proverbial wall. Center Kyle Brodziak used the word "daunting" to describe what's ahead as Minnesota trails the best-of-seven series 3-0. The answer, much in the way the Wild have played since their season was on the brink in mid-January, was focusing only on one game. Of the 180 teams in NHL history that have faced a 3-0 deficit, only four have come back to win the series but the most recent was just last year with the Kings so hope is not lost quite yet. The Wild have to start fast plain and simple as Chicago has scored first in every game. The Wild eventually tied Game One but they have one goal in the past two games against Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford. While his play has been solid the last two games, let's not forget he was benched for three games in the previous series against Nashville so Minnesota can get to him here. The Wild are 20-6 in their last 26 games after scoring two goals or less in their previous game while the home team has won 20 of the last 28 meetings in this series. Look for Minnesota to be around for at least one more game. 10* (4) Minnesota Wild

While it isn't do or die time quite yet for the Rangers, it is getting there as falling behind 3-1 to the Capitals would put them in a very tough place even though two of the final three games are at home. The Rangers were shutout in Game Three at Washington which is a rarity but the good news is that they have won their last four games this season following a shutout. New York has not made things easy on itself as it has participated in 10 consecutive playoff games decided by one goal which is an NHL record and what makes it most surprising is that in seven of its eight games in this year's playoffs, New York has allowed two goals or fewer. That shows the offense has been pretty tame and in the eight postseason games, the Rangers have tallied just 15 goals but this looks to be the spot where the offense finally gets going. Washington has done a great job of keeping that Rangers offense in check and especially to goalie Braden Holtby pitching the shutout Monday but he has allowed an average of 3.0 gpg this season in his next start following a shutout and that could be all the Rangers need. They are 28-7 in their last 35 games when their opponent scores two goals or less in their previous game and 38-15 in their last 53 after scoring two goals or less in their previous game. 10* (75) New York Rangers

While the term-must win gets thrown around a lot, sometimes it is appropriate and that is certainly the case here with the Flames tonight. After losing the first two games of this series on the road, Calgary cannot afford to fall down 3-0 against Anaheim as it will be all but done. Anaheim has won five of the seven meetings this season but the home ice has played a big role in that as the Ducks are 4-0 at home while Calgary was able to win two of its three games at home so it can use that tonight to get back into the series. As loud and energetic as the Saddledome was for Calgary's first home playoff game since 2009, it should be equally electric for its first second-round game since 2004. Something will have to give here as Anaheim has won six straight road games while Calgary has won five straight home games. Three of those Ducks wins were against non-playoff teams and all six were against teams no longer competing and while the same can be said for Calgary's streak, it has been more dominant in putting it together and going back further, the 5-0 in their last five home games against teams with a road winning percentage of greater than .600. 10* (72) Calgary Flames

Tampa Bay was a surprising winner in Game One of this series based on it being on the road against a quality home team. On the flip side, it was not a surprise considering the Lightning have dominated the Canadiens this season as the victory was the sixth straight win in the season series after a sweep during the regular season. We are paying a higher price today than what Montreal was favored by in the first game but it is still well within reason so we have no issue laying it in Game Two. Tampa Bay is no doubt a motivated bunch right now after getting swept by the Canadiens in last year's playoffs but I expect Montreal to step up Sunday on its home ice where it is still a very solid 28-17. Despite the victory, the Lightning are 11-31 in their last 42 road games against teams with a home winning percentage of greater than .600 while Montreal looks to improve upon its 41-20 Eastern Conference run and with six of those losses coming against today's opponent, there will be plenty of effort to avoid a 2-0 deficit heading out on the road. 10* (62) Montreal Canadiens

Saturday was the third time in less than a month that Tampa Bay was shut out by Detroit which happens to be the only times all season that the Lightning have been blanked. They bounced back with victories in the next game the previous two time and will be out to do so again tonight which will extend the series and send it back to Tampa Bay. Obviously, the Detroit defense is doing something right especially with two shutouts over the last three games but I am expecting a Lightning adjustment which results in a big offensive response. Tampa Bay averaged a league-high 3.16 gpg en route to a team-record 108 points this season and I do not see it quietly going down without a fight. With the offense struggling to score, the Lightning likely need a strong performance from Ben Bishop between the pipes. He has a 2.22 GAA in the series and while four goals were allowed last game, one was an empty net goal and he has not allowed more than three goals in 18 straight games including giving up two or fewer in 11 of those. Going back, the Lightning are 5-1 in their last six games following a loss of three or more goals while the Red Wings are 1-9 in their last 10 games following a win while going 2-10 in their last 12 games after allowing two goals or less in their previous game. 10* (19) Tampa Bay Lightning

Three teams can clinch their series on Saturday including two home teams, Chicago and Calgary. The lone home team with their backs against the wall are the Islanders which are down 3-2 following consecutive losses to Washington after grabbing a 2-1 series lead. There is no need for any more motivation for the Islanders but we can expect one of the best home ice edges you will ever see as this is very possible the final game at Nassau Coliseum which has played host to the Islanders since their inaugural season in 1972-73. The Islanders need to find a way to get their power play going after going 0 for 12 in the series, one reason they've been held to four goals over the last three games. They finished fourth in the NHL with 2.99 gpg and their 133 goals scored at home were the third most in the NHL. Look for greater offensive output today. The Islanders lost their home game in this series in overtime despite outshooting Washington 37-30 and going 0-4 on the power play was a huge part of it. Despite that loss, the home team has won seven of the nine meetings this season and that continues today which sends this series back to Washington for a decisive Game Seven. 10* (6) New York Islanders

The Rangers are squarely in the driver's seat in this series with a 3-1 lead and they have a chance to close it out tonight. The puck is going their way right now and this series has been so close that the Penguins could feasibly have a 3-1 game lead heading into tonight or at the very worst, a 2-2 split. Because every game has been decided by just one goal, the 3-1 lead is a little skewed but the moneyline is still based on that record and the Rangers are laying the highest number not only in this series but the highest number against Pittsburgh in years. I don't think it is warranted at all as the Penguins have a excellent chance to steal another game at MSG. And Pittsburgh knows first hand that winning this series is not out of the question. Of the 275 teams in league history facing a 3-1 deficit, the Rangers were the 27th and most recent to rally, knocking off the Penguins in seven games in last season's second round. The Penguins are 4-1 in their last five road games against teams with a home winning percentage of greater than .600 and going back further, they are 98-48 in their last 146 after allowing two goals or less in their previous game. 10* (81) Pittsburgh Penguins

After splitting the first two games at home to open this series, Nashville could not return the favor as it lost both games in Chicago including a brutal triple overtime loss on Tuesday to fall down 3-1 in the series. Obviously tonight is a must win game and while we often see lines being inflated because of that, we are not seeing it here as the line has actually gone remained roughly the same as the first two games that were played here. The Predators struggles that go beyond this series are playing a big role in that but heading home in their most important game of the season can offset the poor run. They have gone just 1-9 over their last 10 games overall but they snapped a five-game home losing streak with a victory in the last game played here, a 6-2 statement game that has unfortunately lost some of its luster after two straight losses in Chicago. Through the series' first four games, both teams have scored 13 goals and both have allowed 10 goals while playing 5-on-5 and Nashville has out hit Chicago in three of four contests and both out blocked and out shot the Blackhawks in all four games. This shows they are the possible better team here but don't have a lot to show for it. Look for the Predators home ice edge and the energy created by their fans to let them stay alive in this series for at least one more game. 10* (78) Nashville Predators

Like Ottawa, the Jets are down 3-0 in their series with Anaheim following an overtime loss on Monday. While the Senators have had a 1-0 lead in each of the three games against Montreal, Winnipeg has been even better but has nothing to show for it. The Jets have led in the first three games for more than 65 minutes to Anaheim's 11 and were arguably the better team in two of the three games so far, including the overtime defeat Monday night at MTS Centre. It is obviously do or die for Winnipeg which came into the series as a sleeper to take down Anaheim and while it has played well enough to do so, the scoreboard has proven otherwise. The Ducks have now won seven straight in this series including all six this season after taking the three games during the regular season. Even two of those had to be decided in extra time so luck has just not been on the Winnipeg side against this opponent. Only four teams in NHL history have come back from a 3-0 series deficit to win it but adversity is nothing new for the Jets, and they have no choice but to embrace the situation they have fallen into. Expect another loud environment tonight in Winnipeg as the noise was deafening at times. Despite the loss on Monday, the Jets have won 11 of their last 16 home games with four of the five losses coming by one goal in either regulation, overtime or in a shootout. 10* (72) Winnipeg Jets

It was a difficult defeat for Ottawa on Sunday in overtime which dropped it into a 3-0 hole in this best of seven series. It was the third one goal loss for the Senators, the last two coming in overtime and while the chances of winning the series are slim, they remain confident. Four teams have come back from 3-0 deficits so it is not impossible and the fact this has been a very close series shows that Ottawa can play with the Canadiens. That was proven during the regular season as well as the Senators took three of the four meetings. Montreal has won five straight games, all by one goal with four of those coming in either overtime or in a shootout so things have certainly gone the Canadiens way. Montreal has fallen behind 1-0 after one period in all three games of the series only to turn things around and outscore Ottawa 9-4 the rest of the way so it is up to the Senators to keep the early intensity going. The Senators having their backs against the wall is no big deal as they were 14 points out of a playoff spot before going on a 23-4-4 run that earned them the first wild-card berth. Despite the Sunday loss, the Senators are 10-2 in their last 12 games after scoring two goals or less in their previous game while going 15-3 in their last 18 games after allowing two goals or less in their previous game. 10* (66) Ottawa Senators

Ottawa was the hottest team in the NHL over the last two months of the season as the Senators went 21-6 over their last 27 games to secure a come-from-behind playoff spot. A big reason for that was the play of goalie Andrew Hammons who was sensational as he posted a 1.79 GAA, a .941 save percentage and a 20-1-2 record including 10-0-2 on the road with three shutouts. On the other side, Canadiens goalie Carey Price led the NHL or shared the lead in each of the four major categories: wins, goals-against average and save percentage. He put up those numbers despite facing a steady barrage of shots and playing on a team with below-average possession metrics, one that had a tendency to get pinned in its defensive zone. He led the NHL in goals-against average (1.96), save percentage (.933) and wins, setting a new Canadiens record with 44 victories. The penalty kill and power play matchup also favors not many scoring chances as both teams struggled on the power play, Ottawa ranking 22nd overall at 16.8 percent and Montreal finishing 23rd at 16.5 percent. On the penalty kill, the Canadiens were seventh overall (83.7 percent) and the Senators finishing 11th at 82.9 percent. With this being the first game of this series, it is a feel out type of game with teams not taking many chances early on. 10* Under (1) Ottawa Senators/(2) Montreal Canadiens

Numerous playoff positions and seedings are up for grabs as we enter the final week of the season and both teams here are right in the thick of it. Vancouver, Calgary and Los Angeles are separated by three points in the Western Conference with two guaranteed playoffs up for grabs and the odd team out will be fighting for the second Wild Card spot with Winnipeg. The Canucks are in the drivers seat right now as their last three games are all at home and the final two are against two worst teams in the conference, Arizona and Edmonton. While those games are never a guarantee, Vancouver wants to get a step closer here without needing to win out over the weekend. The Canucks have lost two straight games while the Kings have won two straight games which is partly playing into this line but it is mostly because of name. Los Angeles held the Avalanche to 10 shots in its last game, tying the NHL season low but things will not be as easy here. A couple road wins over the Islanders and Rangers were nice but the Kings have dropped their other five games against winning teams since mid-March. The Canucks are 11-4 in their last 15 games after allowing five goals or more in their previous game while going 53-26 in their last 79 home games against teams with a road winning percentage of less than .400. 10* (8) Vancouver Canucks

The regular season is winding down and several teams remain mathematically alive for the playoffs in both conferences which makes some games must win scenarios including this one. With that comes inflated lines and this game falls right into that. San Jose has made the playoffs every season for the last decade but that streak will be coming to an end this season unless the miraculous happens which is far fro likely. The Sharks are seven points back in the Wild Card race with just six games left and will have to pass three teams to get there. They are back home following a seven-game roadtrip that did not go well as they went 3-4 and were unable to gain any ground. The overinflation of this line can also be backed up by the fact San Jose is just one point better than Colorado in the Western Conference standings with the home/road splits not that far off yet the Avalanche are catching a big number. With game at Anaheim and Los Angeles to end this roadtrip, this is the most winnable road game of the bunch and with Reto Berra in net, the chances are strong. Berra will start the next two games after having stopped 59 of the last 61 shots (.967) that he has faced. The Avalanche are 11-2 in their last 13 games following a home loss of three or more goals while the Sharks are 3-10 in their last 13 home games. 10* (57) Colorado Avalanche

Montreal is one point ahead of the Rangers for the top spot in the Eastern Conference while sitting three points behind Anaheim for the overall lead in the NHL and tonight marks a big game going forward. A win would pad the Canadiens lead to five points over Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division and would put it in good shape to secure the division. While that is motivation enough for Montreal, getting past Tampa Bay could be an even bigger motivator as the Canadiens are 0-4 against the Lightning this season including a pair of home losses, the last coming at the start of the month in overtime. They also lost two weeks ago in Tampa Bay before going on to win their next three games. Tampa Bay has dropped two straight games following a four-game winning streak and it will be out to avoid its first three-game losing streak of the season. While the Lightning are 7-0 this season following consecutive wins, six of those wins have come at home so the schedule has been in their favor with the lone road win coming at Philadelphia. Additionally, this is the first time all season that all three games will be against playoff teams. Going back, the Lightning are 24-52 in their last 76 road games against teams with a home winning percentage of greater than .600. 10* (52) Montreal Canadiens

The Rangers became the first team in the NHL to clinch a playoff spot with their win over Ottawa on Thursday and while I don't see a letdown, I do see some desperate play taking place on the other side. New York now has 101 points which is tied with Anaheim for the most in the NHL so it certainly wants to keep winning but I don't like the spot here Saturday afternoon. The Rangers have dropped the last five meetings in Boston and while the Bruins are not playing to their potential, sometimes facing a rival in a must win game is the best way to break out. Boston has dropped six straight games and has unfathomably dropped out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins are tied with Ottawa for the East's final Wild Card spot, but the Senators have played one fewer game. Goalie Tukka Rask has been inconsistent of late but he is still much stronger at home compared to on the road as he is 19-8-6 here compared to 10-11-6 on the highway and the home ice GAA is a solid 2.06. Rask is 8-2-0 with a 1.84 GAA in his last 10 starts against New York, including the playoffs. The Bruins skid comes to an end today. 10* (60) Boston Bruins

There is no denying the Senators are the hottest team in the NHL right now as they have won seven straight games while going back further, they are 15-2 over their last 17 games. There are some impressive wins along the way with a pair coming against the Canadiens and one against Anaheim but nine of those victories have come against teams outside of the playoff picture looking in. Momentum could be a little lost here as well as Ottawa has been off since Monday and the Senators are 2-6 in their last eight games playing on two days rest. The Rangers have a comfortable lead in the Metropolitan Division as they have been playing well while the Islanders have been slumping. There is still plenty at stake though as they are tied with Tampa Bay for second place in the Eastern Conference, just one point behind Montreal and if things go right tonight, they could find themselves in first place heading into the weekend. While they have been solid at home, the Rangers possess the best road record in the NHL at 23-12 including wins in five straight on the highway as well as 10 of 12 going back further. The Rangers are 6-0 in their last six games in the fourth game of a 4-in-6 situation and 21-7 in their last 28 games playing on one day of rest. 10* (61) New York Rangers

We won with Los Angeles on Monday as it needed a win to open this roadtrip against New Jersey and did just that. Surprisingly, the Kings came back and won the next night against the Rangers as they continue to keep their playoff hopes alive. They are just a point behind Calgary, which lost last night, for third place in the Western Conference and they are only two points behind Winnipeg for the second Wild Card slot. While they may be riding a high, the other side looks to be the more desperate team at this point. The Islanders were looking very good in the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference as a whole but a recent 3-8 skid has dropped them six points behind the Rangers and they are in jeopardy of losing home ice in the first round of the playoffs. New York is just two points ahead of Pittsburgh, which plays at Carolina tonight, and is now actually closer to sixth place than third place. After a 23-8 start at home, the Islanders have dropped five in a row here so motivation will not be lacking. The Islanders are 11-4 in their last 15 home games against teams with a losing road record while the Kings are 2-5 in their last seven road games against teams with a home winning percentage of greater than .600. 10* (52) New York Islanders

The Bruins were looking solid for a playoff spot but three straight losses coupled with three straight wins by Washington has dropped them five points behind the Capitals and they sit just two points ahead of Ottawa for the eighth slot. Following an embarrassing home loss against Buffalo as a massive favorite, Boston lost to the Senators on Thursday to open this three-game roadtrip. With a game at Tampa Bay tomorrow, this is a must win for the Bruins. Florida defeated Detroit on Thursday as it continues to creep up the Wild Card standings, now just five points behind Boston. The Bruins have a favorable matchup tonight as its nine straight wins over the Panthers ties it for the second-longest series winning streak in the league. That streak goes up by one for goalie Tuukka Rask who has won 10 straight games against Florida while posing a 0.99 GAA. Going back, the Bruins are 21-10 in their last 31 games after allowing five goals or more in their previous game while the Panthers are 27-59 in their last 86 games after allowing two goals or less in their previous game. This is by far the lowest moneyline Boston has seen in this series during the winning streak and we take advantage of that tonight. 10* (15) Boston Bruins

Pittsburgh has lost three straight games and is in desperate need of a win with Washington hot on their heels. The Capitals are just two points back of the Penguins for third place in the Metropolitan Division following two straight wins. Pittsburgh is coming off a loss at New Jersey on Tuesday which made it three straight games of offensive struggles as it has managed just one goal over that stretch. The Penguins are a decent 18-16 on the road but more importantly, they are 11-3 in their last 14 road games coming off a road loss. The Stars are one of a select few teams in the league that have performed better on the road than they have at home as their 13-22 record in Dallas is pretty unattractive. Dallas remains within eight points of Winnipeg, which holds the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference but there are still three teams between them as well so making the postseason is pretty slim at this point for the Stars. Pittsburgh falls into a great situation where we play against teams coming off a divisional loss by two goals or more going up against an opponent coming off a shutout road loss. This situation is 24-8 (75 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (13) Pittsburgh Penguins

We often talk about line value and this is an instance of some of the best you will find. We played on St. Louis Sunday in Dallas as a -108 favorite and it ended up closing as a +108 underdog and that was against a team with 74 points and more than likely completely out of the playoff picture. Now the Blues are -150 favorites at the high point against a Calgary team that has 81 points and is tied for third place in the Pacific Division without a lot of room for error. While the Blues are going after the Presidents' Trophy, the Flames are one point out of the playoff race completely which shows how big of a game this is. They are coming off a loss at Colorado in their last game on Saturday which was their eighth road game over the last 10 and home ice has been solid of late as Calgary is 8-4 over its last 12 home games after a 0-3 start in 2015 and overall it is 19-15 at home. This is the first of five straight home games and while it is the toughest of the bunch, a good start to the homestand is vital. Here, we play against road teams against the money line that are coming off a divisional win going up against an opponent coming off a road loss by one goal. This situation is 82-39 (67.8 percent) over the last five seasons. Additionally, Calgary is 11-4 coming off a road loss this season. 10* (16) Calgary Flames

With its home loss yesterday against Minnesota and the Nashville victory in Los Angeles, St. Louis is now two points behind the Predators in the Central Division. The Blues have a good chance at tying back up with a win today and Nashville having to play in Anaheim. St. Louis had its three-game winning streak snapped by the Wild and will be out to avenge to home losses against the Stars from earlier this season. Dallas has won three straight and five of its last six thanks to a 4-1 roadtrip. The Stars are one of a select few teams in the league that have performed better on the road than they have at home as their 13-21 record in Dallas is pretty unattractive. Dallas remains within six points of Winnipeg, which holds the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference but there are still three teams between them as well so making the postseason is pretty slim at this point for the Stars. The Blues are 19-14 on the road and they fall into a solid situation where we play against home underdogs against the money line with a winning percentage between .400 and .499 after having won four of their last five games. This situation is 62-20 (75.6 percent) since 1996. Additionally, Dallas is 2-9 in its last 11 games following three consecutive wins. 10* (5) St. Louis Blues

Here we have two teams heading in opposite directions but because of that, we are getting an exceptional number tonight. Nashville is coming off a loss at San Jose on Thursday as it was shutout 2-0 which made it seven losses over its last eight games but the Predators are still tied with St. Louis in the Central Division with 91 points which is only two points behind Anaheim for the most points in the league. They have pretty average on the road this season but this is one place they have had a lot of success over the years. The Kings meanwhile have won two straight games following a 4-0 shutout at Vancouver on Thursday. Los Angeles has now won 12 of its last 16 games and has passed Winnipeg for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference and the Kings are now only two points behind Calgary for second place in the Pacific Division. They are not in a good spot tonight though as they are 9-21 against the money line in their last 30 games coming off a win by four goals or more and they fall into a negative contrarian situation. He we play on teams against the money line after scoring two goals or less in three straight games going up against an opponent after scoring four goals or more in two straight games. This situation is 60-34 (63.8 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (73) Nashville Predators

It has been a difficult season for Boston as it is sitting in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with just a six point lead over Florida. The Bruins have won three straight games however including their last two at home where they are a respectable 20-15 on the season. One of those victories came against Tampa Bay in January as this is one team the Bruins have been able to solve as they have won nine straight meetings in this series. Boston is 12-2 against the money line coming off a road win against a division rival over the last 2 seasons. The Lightning won a big game in Montreal on Tuesday in overtime to pull within a point of the Canadiens in the Atlantic Division. It was their fourth straight win and snapped a two-game road losing streak. Going back, Tampa Bay is 4-12 against the money line in road games after allowing 1 goal or less in their previous game over the last 2 seasons. Additionally, we play on teams against the money line that are coming off a win by 2 goals or more over a division rival going up against an opponent after a low scoring road game where both teams scored 1 goal or less. This situation is 38-15 (71.7 percent) since 1997. 10* (56) Boston Bruins

Two huge games take place in the Eastern Conference tonight including this one between the top two teams in the Atlantic Division. Montreal leads Tampa Bay by two points and heads home following a rough roadtrip. The Canadiens dropped three straight games to San Jose, Anaheim and Los Angeles before breaking the skid with a win over hapless Arizona, a much needed victory before heading home. Montreal has won nine of its last 13 home games and on the season, it is 22-11 on home ice. Tampa Bay is riding a three-game winning streak with all of the wins coming at home against below average opposition in Buffalo, Toronto and Dallas. The Lightning improved to 267 at home but they bring in a mediocre 15-19 road record. One of those wins came here back in January and Montreal will be out to avenge losses in the first two meetings this season. Going back, the Lightning are 23-52 in their last 75 road games against team with a home winning percentage of greater than .600 while going 1-7 in their last eight games after scoring five goals or more in their previous game. 10* (58) Montreal Canadiens

After going both winless at home and 3-8-2 overall in February, San Jose finds itself outside the playoffs, trailing Minnesota by five points for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. The Sharks have dropped all three games on this current homestand and going back, they have dropped seven straight games at home not counting the game at Levi's Stadium where they were designated the home team against the Kings. Sharks coach Todd McLellan agreed to a request let for a players-only session away from the rink rather than the scheduled practice on Sunday which is always a good sign for a team that is reeling. Montreal meanwhile has won four in a row as it continues to hold down the top spot in the Eastern Conference, three points ahead of the Islanders. Goalie Carey Price has been incredible away from home as he has a 1.18 GAA and .956 save percentage during a 9-0-1 stretch which is another main reason the Canadiens are road favorites but I think the run ends against a desperate Sharks teams. Despite recent struggles, going back the Sharks are 39-13 in their last 52 home games against teams with a road winning percentage of greater than .600. 10* (56) San Jose Sharks

Vancouver returns home following a lengthy but successful roadtrip where it went 3-2 but on the flip side, it was disappointing in the fact that the two losses came against New Jersey and Buffalo, two very winnable games. The loss against the Sabres came on Thursday to end the trek so we can expect the Canucks to bounce back at home where they have won four of their last five games and going back, they are 7-1 in their last eight games when playing with two or more days rest. St. Louis is coming off a win last night in Edmonton, its second straight win to open this roadtrip but this is now the toughest game of the bunch. The Blues have a four-game road winning streak but this is not a friendly place as they have lost three straight and the goalie situation is in our favor. Brian Elliott would be making his first start of the season with no rest should he go while Jake Allen is coming off a horrible performance in his last start in backing up Elliott and on the road, he has a very average 2.63 GAA. 10* (12) Vancouver Canucks

Chicago is coming off a home-and-home sweep of Florida on Tuesday and Thursday and it concludes its short two-game roadtrip tonight in Tampa Bay. The Blackhawks had dropped three straight prior to this week and this will be the first time they have p[layed back-to-back road games since the end of January. They are 1-3 this season in the second of back-to-back games playing with no rest and coming off a win. Chicago is 18-12 on the road which is very solid but it has dropped four of its last five games in Tampa Bay. The Lightning are back home following a five-game roadtrip where they went 3-2 but closed it out with a loss in Colorado on Sunday. The extra time off is a big bonus here as Tampa Bay looks to improve upon its 22-7 home record. Having Ben Bishop in net at home could be just what the Lightning need to conclude the month in positive fashion. He's 20-5-1 with a 2.16 GAA at Amalie Arena this season. The Lightning are 5-1 in their last six games playing on three or more days rest while the Blackhawks are 3-7 in their last 10 games after allowing two goals or less in their previous game. 9* (8) Tampa Bay Lightning

Montreal is obviously having an outstanding season as it remains on top in the Eastern Conference with 83 points, one point ahead of the Islanders. While the Canadiens want ot remain there and are clearly the better team in this matchup, they are getting a little too much credit here. They have been road favorites of a bigger moneyline only twice this season and those were games at Buffalo which resulted in a loss and a shootout win. They are off a win at St. Louis which could spell letdown and even though the Maple Leafs are having a tough season, a lookahead to rival Toronto is always there. Columbus was expected to make some noise this year but a rash of injuries early in the season put the Blue Jackets into a tailspin they have been unable to recover from. They are on a three-game slide that started with a loss in Montreal so they are eager for some immediate payback. While home ice has not been great this season, Columbus has won nine of its last 17 here including four of its last five with Curtis McElhinney in net who has posted a solid 2.60 GAA over that stretch. 10* (52) Columbus Blue Jackets

After eight straight wins in this series, Pittsburgh has lost the first three meetings this season against Washington and will be out to avoid the four-game season sweep tonight. This game comes at a great time for the Penguins for a few different reasons. After three straight games where they scored just one goal in each, they have tallied nine goals during their two-game winning streak and that offensive production is key here. Pittsburgh has been outscored 10-1 by Washington in the first three games so offense has been the issue and with those issues now reversed, the production should rise tonight. Additionally, Pittsburgh doesn't play again until Sunday after tonight and since being off since this past Sunday, it be full speed ahead tonight. The Capitals had their four-game winning streak snapped at Philadelphia on Sunday which dropped them back into the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. While they could leapfrog Pittsburgh once again here with a victory, there is too much going against them here. Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has gone 4-2-1 with a 1.00 GAA and two shutouts in his last seven starts. 10* (3) Pittsburgh Penguins

It has been an up and down season for the Flyers all season which can be summed in over their last four games. They lost consecutive home games against Columbus and Buffalo as favorites but then came back to defeat Nashville and Washington as home underdogs. Philadelphia now hits the road for the first time since February 15th and the highway has created its share of problems as the Flyers are 9-21 on the road this season. Playing the below average teams has mattered little as the Flyers are 2-9 in their last 11 road games against teams with a losing home record. Carolina has had its share of road issues as well and while it is far from dominant at home, it is 12-14 overall and is now playing just its fourth home game since the end of January. Four of the Hurricanes last five home games have been against Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Anaheim and the Islanders which are four of the six teams in the NHL that have at least 80 points. They have fared well against the lesser teams, going 9-1 in their last 10 games against losing teams while going a perfect 7-0 in their last seven home games against teams with a road winning percentage of less than .400. 10* (60) Carolina Hurricanes

It has been a rough week for Pittsburgh which has lost three straight games as the offense has been stuck in reverse, scoring just one goal in each of those losses. The last two defeats came at home including the last against Columbus as a -230 chalk and now the Penguins come into tonight as the underdog and for good reason. St. Louis is second in the NHL with 80 points following its blowout victory over Boston last night. It was the 22nd home win for the Blues but they are just 2-2 over their last four home games which shows they can be had. Goalie Jake Allen won his sixth straight start last night however Brian Elliott is confirmed to start Saturday despite posting a 3.79 GAA in his last five starts, getting pulled in two of those games. On the other side, Marc-Andre Fleury is 2-2-1 with a 1.76 GAA over his last five games against St. Louis and more recently, he has a 1.00 GAA in his last six starts overall. The Penguins are 37-14 in their last 51 games after scoring two goals or less in their previous game while going 90-41 in their last 131 games after allowing two goals or less in their previous game. 10* (17) Pittsburgh Penguins

Winnipeg and Washington are relative equals even though the line may be telling us different. The Jets are leading the Wild Card race with 70 points in the Western Conference while the Capitals are leading the Wild Card race with 72 points in the Eastern Conference. Even the home/road splits are very even as Winnipeg has 15 wins at home and on the road while Washington has 15 home wins and 16 road wins. This comparison shows the Capitals not having a huge edge here despite home ice and this moneyline is simply way too high. If anything, this is a much worse spot for Washington which is coming off two road upsets against Anaheim and Pittsburgh and it has a revenge game with the Islanders on deck. The Jets meanwhile have won two in a row, both coming in a shootout and those two points by not losing in extra time were huge as they maintain a four-point lead on los Angeles and San Jose. It doesn't help that the Capitals are 5-11 in their last 16 games in the fourth game of a 4-in-6 situation. 10* (5) Winnipeg Jets

After a strong start to the season, Chicago has been very inconsistent over the last couple months. A 10-1 run that ended in mid-December has turned into very little going right as the Blackhawks are just 13-12 over their last 25 games even though they have won their last two games. They used to have a dominant home ice advantage but have gone just 4-5 over their last nine home games. Detroit dropped its third straight game on Monday as it got shutout at home against Montreal 2-0. While they have definitely been better at home with a 17-12 record, the Red Wings has been decent on the road with a 14-12 record and this after a 2-5 start. They are 7-3 in their last 10 roadies and with Jimmy Howard having a few games under his belt since returning from injury, one of the top defenses in the league should be even better. The Red Wings are 5-1 in their last six games after scoring two goals or less in their previous game while the Blackhawks are 2-5 in their last seven games after allowing two goals or less in their previous game. 10* (53) Detroit Red Wings