Sports Picks & Predictions

Columbus has played over in five straight games. They have been bad defensively but also able to score enough to get their share of the total. We think the same scenario plays out here. The over has hit in 10 of the last 14 meetings here in New York. Columbus allows four goals per game, and we think the Rangers get at least that, and the Blue Jackets will make up the rest.

The Sharks offense has been pitiful, and we don’t see things improving against one of the best defensive teams in the NHL. The Sharks are looking for their first win of the season, and if they are going to get it against New York they will have to perform well on the defensive end. The Sharks have one of the worst offenses in the NHL through five games, not to mention that the last four meetings here have all gone under. San Jose has a total of three goals in the last four meetings.

Both teams come in on a back-to-back. While it’s early in the season and players are still fresh, they aren’t conditioned as they would be midseason and we think this will affect the defense tonight. Toronto played in Montreal against their biggest rival. They scored three goals despite a very strong defensive effort from Montreal, so we think they could light up the scoreboard tonight. They also gave up four goals to what is a middling Montreal club. Washington gave up five goals to Boston. They scored only two, but we think we will see a much better offensive effort from them tonight, and we see a competitive game where both teams hit the back of the net multiple times. The over is 4-0-1 in the last five meetings and 4-1 in the last five meetings in Toronto.

This is a rematch of the playoff series from last season where the Lightning bounced the Rangers in six games. That sets up a revenge scenario and also both teams will want this game and these fresh squads will step up the defense on Opening Night on Tuesday. In that playoff series, Game 1 went over then the rest of the five games all went under. Two of the three regular season meetings went under. On Opening Night these teams are going to be hyped up and they should both have a lot of defensive energy. This is the only 5.5 total so far for the first two days of a full schedule on Tuesday and Wednesday, and there is a good reason for that. We expect this one to go comfortably under the posted number.

 The under is 10-3 in the Lightning’s last 13 games in these playoffs. Tampa is back at home after a very embarrassing Game 2 blowout in Colorado. We are confident that the Lightning will do everything in their power to play a top defensive game tonight. They have a great chance to accomplish that goal with the players to do it and the goaltending.  

 The under is 10-1 in the Lightning’s last 11 games in these playoffs. We think they will continue right where they left off. They have been playing amazing defense in these playoffs and have had amazing goaltending. Colorado has been off for too long and we expect they are going to come into Game 1 cold. The Avalanche also did play some pretty good defense against the Oilers, a strong offensive team. These matchups have been pretty low scoring, and these teams played to five goals last time they met.

We have been big on the under in this series so far, with great results, but we think it’s time to go the other way here in Game 5. The series moves back to New York for this one, and the Rangers offense should benefit from the venue change. They scored nine goals in the two games at home. Tampa Bay seems to have shaken off the rust that was probably caused by the long layoff, and their offense has played well against the tough Rangers defense and we think that will continue here. The Rangers have stated they will be making adjustments on offense after not playing well in Tampa Bay. We see a competitive game here with both teams getting their share of goals.

We have done the Zig Zag Theory for some of these totals in the postseason with some good success, but we think this series will continue to stay under, at least for this Game 4. The last two games both finished 3-2, but we think this one could be even lower scoring. Tampa Bay is firmly back in this series with a win and the Rangers will be heading home for an elimination game if they win, so both teams have a lot on the line and both will really tighten on the defense here for this crucial game. Seven of eight games for Tampa Bay have gone under the posted number, and the under is 8-2 for the Rangers last 10 as a road underdog.

Edmonton has nothing to lose here on the verge of elimination, so they have no choice but to push the pace and take chances. We think this will result in multiple goals for each team. The scoring has gone down since that Game 1 where we saw 14 goals scored. There have been 10 combined goals in the last two games. But we expect this to be the second highest scoring game of the series and we think that the road team has a great chance to close things out, but we expect a competitive game where both teams get their goals.

We saw some crazy scoring in Game 1, and we think that bettors and oddsmakers won’t forget that, hence the 7 line here. We had this one handicapped at 6.5, so we think there is excellent value here. Colorado played amazing defense in a Game 2 shutout. We think they have figured the Oilers out a bit and we don’t see the home team breaking out for a big offensive game. We think if they are to challenge for the win here that they will have to do it on the defensive end, and the home crowd should help them with the energy needed to play a strong defensive game. Four of the last six meetings have gone under the posted total. This season has been all about scoring, and we have seen some high scoring playoff games, too, but we think the defenses are going to be the dominant force in this series, and the teams did those of us that like the under a favor with the flurry of goals in Game 1, to keep the odds with value for us here in Game 3.

Tampa Bay was embarrassed in Game 1 and they have to be very embarrassed after they had had ample time off and the Rangers were coming off a grueling series. But this team has seen and done it all the last couple years in the postseason, and they know that is just one game and that with a win here that lousy performance will be far in the rearview mirror and they will be decent favorites to reach their third straight Stanley Cup Finals. Both of these teams have top defenses, and we think that will be on display here, and we especially expect Tampa Bay to batten down the hatches after an abysmal Game 1 performance. It’s telling that the bookies didn’t adjust this total after a high-scoring Game 1, and we still have to pay extra juice here on the Under.

The Lightning have gone under in five straight games, and the Rangers have gone under in five of seven. We see a defensive battle here. We have two of the best goaltenders in the game here for Game 1. We think after the Rangers brutal series against Carolina that this is too quick of a turnaround for them to play their best, while Tampa Bay should be primed for a top performance tonight. We think the moneyline if more than fair for the defending champs here and they will win a low scoring game.

Edmonton has been great offensively in the postseason and we see them scoring some goals tonight in a competitive game. Edmonton has covered the puckline in all of the last three meetings and the over is 5-2-1 in the last eight meetings in Colorado. We expect another high scoring game here and the underdog has a decent chance to pull the upset.

We are going to follow the trends for this Game 7 as the home team has won every game in this series, and every game besides Game 6 has gone under. Carolina is almost unbeatable at home this season. We think both teams lock down defensively but we just don’t see the Hurricane losing here at home when they have played so well not only during the long NHL season but during this series.

Both games have gone under so far in this series, but we think things will open up a bit here in Game 3. There were plenty of shots in the first two games and we think some more will go in here on Saturday. Both teams are in the Top 5 offensively for goals per game, and we think Colorado will be very aggressive here as they need to open up the floodgates for scoring to get back into this series. Six straight meetings had gone over the posted number before this series. The over is 6-1-1 in the last eight meetings in St. Louis. We expect the highest scoring game of the series so far here tonight.

We think this series is going to be reminiscent of last round’s series between the Stars and Flames. We expect to see many low scoring games. These are the Top 2 defensive teams in the NHL for goals allowed. With a season of serious scoring and high totals in the regular season, the Rangers were one of the bright sports for under bettors as they regularly went under the total, especially when the total was 5.5, as we have here tonight, where they went 29-18 to the under. After the low scoring Game 1, the under is now 4-1 in the last five meetings here in Carolina. We expect another slugfest here on Friday.

These teams combined for 14 goals last time they met. We don’t think we will see nearly that many tonight, but we think we will see more than half that output. Calgary struggled to score against the Stars stifling defense, but Edmonton is one of the worst defensive teams in the postseason and Calgary should see their offense flourish in this series, and we all know Edmonton can score. We expect a competitive game here and think both teams will get their goals.

We expect a very competitive game here and we think the road team has a great chance to win this one. There should be plenty of goals here as these teams have gone over in 20 of 30 meetings (one push). Normally scoring goes down in the postseason, but not this year. We see both teams getting their goals tonight, but in the end Tampa Bay comes out on top.

Three of four games between these two have gone under the posted number, and the one that didn’t was only because of an empty netter with five seconds left. Calgary seems to have taken control of this series and both teams are locking down on defense, and we don’t see the Stars scoring more than one goal here. Still nice value on the under despite the juice.

Edmonton put up a whopping eight goals last time out and 14 in the last two games. The Kings have been one of the best defensive teams all season and they will make adjustments here after being completely embarrassed last time out at home. They will put a premium on stopping a lot of goals and we think we see their best defensive effort of the season. It’s telling after last game that the oddsmakers didn’t move this line to 7.

Dallas is playing great defense in this series, and that does not bode well for a Calgary team that suddenly can’t get the puck in the net. It’s not just in this series, either, where Calgary has been held to one goal in two games. They struggled to end the season too and Dallas will continue to do what they have been doing and we think they have a great chance to win another low scoring game.

After their Game 1 win, Carolina has now won four straight by a margin of 21-2! They obviously match up well with the Bruins, and they ran up the score on Monday night. We think they win this one also, but Boston should play better defense and the game will be closer, but we see the home team going up 2-0 in this series.

Florida had the No. 1 offense in the regular season, averaging more than four goals per game. They were one of the best over teams during the regular season. Washington was even better for over bettors. We see this Game 1 being pretty free flowing and we expect both teams to hit the back of the net early and often. Eight straight meetings have gone over.

Four of the last seven meetings have gone under the posted total, but the two most recent meetings went over. Those weren’t because of Boston, however. They scored only one goal in those two games. Carolina went off on offense. But this is the playoffs. Boston won’t allow the amount of goals we saw in those previous meetings. These are two Top 5 defenses and we think that will be on display here in Game 1 as neither team wants to go down 0-1 to start this thing off. This is the only 5.5 on the board today, and for good reason.

With the playoffs right around the corner, we think this one could have a postseason atmosphere and we think the defense should be amped up. The under is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings between these teams in Tampa Bay. The Leafs have been really good offensively and that is why the oddsmakers bumped up this number, but this is one that should have been at 6 in our opinion. We think this will be a low-scoring, defensive matchup.

The Rangers have scored 14 goals in their last three games, so their offense is playing well at the moment. Pittsburgh exploded for 11 goals last time out against Detroit, and sometimes goals come in bunches as a team gets hot and can find the back of the net more easily. The over is 18-5-3 in the last 26 meetings, so this series has a long history of high scoring games. These teams played last week and we saw six goals scored, and we think we could see more than that tonight.

Both teams are trending to the over. Six of eight for the Blackhawks have gone over the posted total. Three of four for Anaheim have gone over. We lean to the home team here and expect a big performance. Chicago has been giving up a lot of goals lately and we think they will get a couple through as well. The over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings.

These are two Top 7 offenses and we think the puck will hit the back of the net plenty tonight. The over is 5-1-1 in the last seven meetings in Colorado. The Edmonton offense has been playing very well lately (19 goals in three games), and we expect the Avs offense to take up here against an opponent that can score the puck.

San Jose is on a back-to-back after losing to their biggest rival last night and they were shut out. We don’t see them bouncing back here and expect another poor offensive showing. The under has cashed in their last four B2Bs and they are 4-1 to the under in their last five. They have been shut out in two of their last six games. Colorado has either failed to score or shut out their opponent in three straight games. They have only six goals in those three games, so they are not in great offensive form. Mainly we don’t see the Sharks getting their share of goals here to get this one over, but at the same time we don’t see Colorado putting up a big number on their own.

The over has cashed seven straight for Montreal. They are playing better offensively and they are good to give up 4-5 goals nightly lately. Four of six have gone over for Dallas. They have allowed 11 goals in their last two games. The last two meetings have both gone over the posted total, and we see a competitive game here where both teams get on the scoreboard often.

Arizona has 29 goals in their last five games. They have been playing very well offensively and have a lot of trends pointing to the over tonight. We think they get their share of goals as an underdog in this matchup. And they are on a back-to-back as only one of two teams to play on Monday and their defense shouldn’t be good because of fatigue so Montreal should be able to score early and often

Both teams have been hot offensively, and we think that will continue here. The Coyotes have scored 17 goals in their last two games. They are scorching hot right now and scoring goals can be contagious, especially against a Toronto defense that is middle of the pack. Toronto has scored 11 themselves in their last two games. Arizona has one of the worst defenses in the NHL, so Toronto should stay hot. We expect a big night from the home team, which is one of the better over bets in the league this season.

We think there is value here in the road team and we expect a low scoring game. We see the Bruins pulling off a 3-2 or 3-1 win here. Both squads are excellent defensively but we think Boston is the better team. The under is 6-1 in the last seven meetings and they are 5-1 in their last six overall.

These are two of the Top 6 defensive teams in the league and this one should be very low scoring, high quality NHL matchup. If you like defense, this should be the game for you. The Rangers are almost an automatic under bet at 33-18 on the season. They don’t often face a defensive foe as good as the Blues. The Rangers are really trending to the under now as five of their last six have gone under. If these teams set a strong defensive tone early, which we think will happen, this one could go well under this posted number.

Colorado is one of the best offensive teams in the NBA and we see them putting up a big number on offense tonight. They average four goals per game, and we think they get more than that tonight and the Jets will make up the difference. But we expect both offenses to be fluid and the puck should hit the back of the net often.

Ottawa has hit seven straight unders. They have been playing solid defense and their offense has struggled. In fact, both teams are among the worst offensive teams in the NHL. Coming off the break, both teams should have solid energy on defense and the offenses might be rusty. The Devils allowed 13 goals in their last two games, but both were against Toronto, and they are facing a worse offense here on Monday.

The Oilers have been very inconsistent on offense but more consistent on defense, and we think that combo will help us cash another under ticket with them on Wednesday. They have had a couple breakout games recently, but mostly they are scoring 2 or 3 goals in regulation. Only three of their last 10 games have gone over the posted number. Washington’s defense is No. 7 in the NHL for goals allowed, so we don’t see Edmonton going off tonight. The Capitals have gone under in four straight. And usually either their defense or offense has shown up on any given night. The under is 3-0-1 in the last four meetings in Washington and 5-2-1 in the last eight meetings overall.

After an uptick in scoring, goals have been down in the NHL recently and these two teams in particular have been cashing under tickets lately. Ottawa has had trouble getting the puck in the net as they have gone under in five straight and eight of 10. Their offense is one of the main reasons for all these unders as they have struggled to score except for one breakout game against the Sabres. Edmonton has gone under in three of their last five. We expect them to get some goals today but we don’t see them going crazy as the Ottawa defense has been doing a decent job lately. These teams met a couple weeks ago and this was a high scoring game but a little fluky and we don’t see the Sens playing as well in this rematch. Six of the last nine meetings have gone under.

Sometimes it’s tough to go against the trends. Colorado is the No. 1 offense in the NHL. And they have been an over machine this season. But we think this total should have been at 6 goals, and we would have leaned to the under at that number. Colorado will probably get their goals here. But we don’t see them putting up a monster number on offense. Buffalo has been playing pretty solid on defense lately, and that is a big reason they have been competitive. And a big reason they have gone under in six of eight. Colorado went over in their last two, But that followed a streak where they didn’t go over the total once in eight games. Also, Buffalo is on a back-to-back and they are 6-2 to the under with no rest this season. We see Colorado getting most of the goals here, but it won’t be enough to push this over the total.

These teams played on Monday and 8 goals were scored. Calgary got the lions share of those on Monday, but we think both teams will get their shots in tonight. Calgary has scored three or more goals in four straight games and they are feeling it right now. St. Louis has a Top 5 offense and they are dangerous every time they lace up the skates.

Colorado has been on a string of unders lately, but that just means we are getting a solid moneyline here for the over. Colorado is 24-12 to the over this season. Boston has gone over in four of five, and their offense has been playing as well as it has all season in the last couple weeks. We see both teams getting some goals here in what should be a competitive game.

These are two of the worst offensive teams in the league and we think there is nice value on the under. Ottawa has gone under in five of seven, while Buffalo has gone under in four of six. Ottawa is last in the league in shots on goal. This series has a long history for the under as the under is 15-7-2 in the last 24 meetings. These teams played exactly a week ago, and the Sabres won 3-1. Buffalo has had a couple nights off and should be primed to play hard on defense. The Sabres have been playing some of their best hockey of the season lately and are 3-3 in their last six, and they were in position to win a couple of those losses but the puck didn’t go their way. They are 26-15 on the puckline this season, so they have a knack of keeping it close as an underdog.

The Vegas defense has been allowing a lot of goals, and we think the Capitals have a great chance to light up the scoreboard tonight. Both teams have been trending to the over with Vegas going over in three straight and Washington in four of five. The Knights have been off for a few nights and we think they may be rusty here on defense, but the offense comes naturally. The over is 5-1 in the last six meetings, and we think this will be a competitive game and we think the winner here gets 4 or 5 with the loser not far behind.

The over is 11-2 in the last 13 meetings. We expect another high scoring affair here. Florida has now gone over in nine straight games. They have 21 goals in their last three games. They have eclipse this total by themselves in some games recently. We see another high scoring affair here.

We were all over Arizona last time out against Toronto, and they got a big upset win. One of their biggest wins of the season. They are in a letdown spot here, and we don’t see them contributing much to this big goal total. They have two or fewer goals in three of their last four games. They have gone under in 10 of 13 games as a road underdog. They have some of the worst offensive numbers in the NHL. We think Colorado will get their share of goals but Arizona won’t contribute theirs.

The league as a whole is trending to the over right now, but we would like the over here anyways. Boston has gone under in only one of their last seven games. They have scored five or more goals in five of their last six games, so if their offense plays like it has recently, this team could score most of the goals to get this one over the total by themselves. But Philly will probably get their goals, too. Boston is coming in on a back-to-back. Offense will be instinctual to them. But giving the energy for top flight defense might come as a challenge with tired legs. And Tuukka Rask is making his first start of the season after offseason surgery. He missed his rehab stint in the minors and came straight to the big leagues. We expect some rust and he could be extra vulnerable tonight. The over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings between these teams.

We think this moneyline is more than fair for the road team, which is a much stronger club. Both teams are solid defensively and we see a low-scoring game and expect the Rangers to win a 2-1 or 3-1 type of game. Both teams have been playing well but we think the Rangers match up well here and we feel they have been very strong on the road.

Both teams are trending to the over, and we expect another high scoring contest here. The Red Wings have gone over in 4 of 5, while the Kings have gone over in 3 of 4. The over is 7-1 in Detroit’s last eight games as an underdog, and lately they have either been scoring or allowing a bunch of goals, and we think that will be the case again tonight.

San Jose has played a lot of over games recently, but thanks to that we are getting a fair number here on the under in what we expect should be a lower scoring game. Buffalo has gone over this total just twice in the last nine games. We think they will allow a couple goals here but we don’t see their offense doing too much today and they will have to rely on the defense if they want to be competitive here. These are two of the worst ranked offenses in the NHL for goals per game and we don’t see either team really breaking out here. Nice value on the under tonight as we don’t have to lay too much juice.

Both teams have been trending to the over, and we expect the offenses to rule the ice here again on Tuesday. San Jose has given up 5 or more goals in three of their last four matchups. Six of their last nine games have gone over the posted total. Detroit has gone over in 8 of 10. The Wings have been struggling lately and we see them giving up a bunch of goals in this one, and we will go with the hotter side as the Sharks have looked good on offense recently.

4-Unit Play. Take UNDER 6 (-110) - Florida/Detroit (Friday at 7pm)

We roll with the under here in this spot as we feel Florida is due for a letdown in one of their next couple of games after winning on Wednesday vs the Bruins. The Wings are a pesky team to play against and they come off a 3-2 win against Washington and four of their last 6 games have stayed under the posted total of 6 goals. I expect Florida to come in a little sleepy as they have to go to Boston on Saturday for a rematch with the Bruins. We see this a 3-1, 3-2 type hockey game that Detroit could very well win.

4-Unit Play. Take OVER 5.5 - St. Louis/Vegas (-120) (Wednesday at 10pm)

As per your selection on the over, this is a great spot for both teams to continue scoring a bunch of goals. The Blues just came off an 11-goal thriller the other night and while we see the upside of the offense, the defense has given up 7 goals in two games played. I Don't expect that to change much against a good Vegas side who is coming off a 6-2 loss to the Kings. Both teams like to play a high-tempo game and we see chances being traded at both ends and we ultimately see this is a 3-3 OT game, or a 4-2 win for either team.

3-Unit Play. Take UNDER 6 goals - Tampa/Pittsburgh (Tuesday at 7:30pm)

As per your selection on the UNDER in this spot, we feel this game is going to be a low scoring contest as both teams will want to ease themselves into the season and with what we've seen over the last few years, typically banner-raising nights are long and exhausting for the players and the play is really affected. Either way, you have Vasilevskiy in one net who is the best goalie in the league and a Pittsburgh team that has put a ton of emphasis on defense in the preseason. We expect a 3-2 type game in this one.

4-Unit Play. Take Over 5 Goals (-130) - Montreal/Tampa Bay (Wednesday at 8pm)

This write up doesn't need to be very long. We've been on the over for the majority of the games here and we go right back to it after pushing in Game 4. The offensive firepower is too much on display and we see this game getting out of hand and the Bolts closing out this series by a big score.

4-Unit Play. Take OVER 5 Goals (-125) - Montreal/Tampa Bay (Monday at 8pm)

As per your selection on the OVER, we are banking on Tampa winning this game due to Montreal's aggressiveness. The Habs have nothing left to lose as they are down 3-0 and we see them taking plenty of chances to win this game and we see Tampa hitting them back where it counts and that's on the scoreboard. Tampa's offense is great and with the chance to clinch the Cup, we see them coming out with a great effort and taking matters into their own hands. Look for this game to be played at an uptempo pace and we see a few late empty net goals to seal the deal for Tampa.

4-Unit Play. Take Over in Tampa vs Montreal (Wednesday at 8pm)

As per your selection on the over, we hit the OVER in Game 1 and we go back to the well here. Tampa is just too good an offensive team to be contained and they broke out in a big way in Game 1, and we expect more of the same here today. The Habs are just a step too slow, and we see the Lightning dropping another four spot here tonight with the Canadians chipping in to help us cash the over.

4-Unit Play. Take OVER in Montreal / Tampa Bay ( Monday at 8pm)

As per your selection on the OVER, we think both teams are going to come out and want to assert themselves in this very important Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. We know how good both goalies are but we believe this game is going to be a more wide-open affair with plenty of chances and at least six goals. The Lightning were buzzing in their Game 7 win against the Islanders and they only managed 1 goal. We see a similar effort here but with a different result. Look for this game to end around 4-2.

3-Unit Play. Take Under in Montreal/ Vegas (Thursday at 8pm)

As per your selection, this is a great spot to take the under. Both teams have gotten to this point by playing good defensive hockey and taking advantage of the other team's mistakes. This is an elimination game so you can expect both teams to come out a little hesitant in this one and not want to be the first team to make a crucial mistake. Both goalies are good and the defensive game has been taking up another level. The Habs will continue to grind away and wear you down, while the Knights will try and play fast but that hasn't seemed to work so far this season. We expect a very low scoring game here and a 2-1 scoreline would not surprise me.

3-Unit Play. Take Under in Tampa/New York (Wednesday at 8pm)

As per your selection on the under, we believe this series is all but over for the Islanders. They went off the rails in Game 5 and got blown out. They should show up and put up a fight in this contest, but Tampa has the upper hand and will be urgently looking to close out the series. Tampa Bay, in close out games, have won by a combined score of 6-0 and with the series on the line, we expect the defense and goaltending to come up big once again. The knee jerk reaction from Game 5 would be to take the over again, but we'll flip sides and bank on a low-scoring game in which the Isles play tight and safe in order to ensure they don't piss away the game on a mistake. Look for 2-1, 3-1 type of game.

3-Unit Play. Take OVER in - New York/Tampa Bay (Monday at 8pm)

As per your selection, we think this is a good spot for both teams to break out offensively in what is the pivotal game of the series. So far, the over has cashed in just once, but we see this game being a moe offensive affair that will include plenty of chances. We think the price is right on this one and we are happy to grab a 5 instead of a 5.5.

3-Unit Play. Take Over in New York/Tampa Bay (Tuesday at 8pm) Quick write up for this one, I see both teams breaking out in a big way offensively in this contest. The attacking fire power both teams have is too much for it to be contained in two straight games, so I'll take a shot at the over 5 in this contest at plus money.

3-Unit Play. Take Over 5.5 Goals (+125) - Tampa  Bay vs New York (Sunday at 3pm)

As per your selection on the over 5.5 goals in this spot, we know both teams are sound defensively but typically the first games of these series are high scoring before teams settle in and make life miserable for each other. Each team has the talent offensively to put up a big number on any given night so we'll take a shot with the plus-money total here tonight.

7-Unit Play. Take UNDER 5.5 (-125) - Montreal/Winnipeg (Friday at 7:38pm)

As per your selection on the UNDER in this contest, after a high scoring and bad-blooded Game 1, these two teams should settle down and get into a series of adjustments and adjusting to the adjustments. It's not every day you see Montreal put up 5 goals and Price allows three, so we are banking on it getting back to the norm here today. You know Winnipeg will need and want to be better defensively and without one of their best offensive players in the lineup, the defensive game must be sound because the extra boost of offense will not be there. As for Montreal, they should be feeling good about themselves, having won four straight games dating back to the last series, but the team should expect a more tight-checking game and this is where we believe the under comes into play. Carey Price and Connor Hellebuyck are two great goalies that played poorly in Game 1. Expect a bounce-back from both of them here today in a slow, chippy affair.

4-Unit Play. Take UNDER 5.5 Goals - Washington vs Boston (Tuesday at 7pm)

As per your selection on the UNDER 5.5 goals in this Washington vs Boston game, we will keep the analysis short and sweet. These two teams are hooking up in the first round of the playoffs and this game is going to set the tone for the playoff series. Look for both teams to start finishing every hit and sending a message to the opponent that they aren't going to be pushed around. Boston has gone UNDER 5.5 in three of their last 5 while Washington is coming off a low-scoring 2-1 game vs Philly.

3-Unit Play. No. 35/36. Take Under 5.5 in Tampa Bay/Carolina (Monday at 7 pm) As per your selection on the Under, these two teams tend to play each other tightly. In six games already this season the Under 5.5 has hit in four of those games and we see another tight and low scoring affair. Carolina has played to the under in six of their last eight games while Tampa has hit the under in two of their last four. Vasilevskiy let in four goals to the Hurricanes in the last game, so we see him stepping up his game in goal and shutting the door. Great spot to take the under here as a contrarian play.

4-Unit Play. No.23/24. Take Over in Boston/New York (Friday at 7pm) Great underdog winner last night with the Jets. Let's keep the momentum rolling. as per your selection on the over in this matchup, both teams come in off losses and we expect them to be eager to get back in the win column. Both teams have combined to go over the number in six of their last eight games and we see another open affair with plenty of chances and goals.

7-Unit Play. NO. 75/76. Take Over in Dallas vs Florida (Monday at 7pm) As per your selection on the over in this game between the Panthers and Stars, this sets up well for a high scoring game as you have a Dallas team that is coming off a lengthy layoff and will be fresh and eager to get on the ice and going in the right direction as they are on a five-game losing streak. The Stars have solid possession numbers and are second in the NHL in creating scoring chances. If they can get the special teams going, they can get on a roll here. As for Florida, you know what we are going to get with them. They are the fifth highest-scoring team in the NHL and second in shots on goal per game and have the sixth-best powerplay. their downfall is their 17th ranked GAA, 21st ranked SOG allowed and 17th ranked PK. The Panthers play some wild games and after getting bogged down by the Red Wings in a 2-1 loss on Saturday, we expect them to come out seeking blood. Great spot for the over in this matchup.

4-Unit Play. Take Over in Nashville/Florida (Friday at 7pm) Look, this game flew way over the number yesterday as Nashville completed a 6-5 comeback with two goals late in the third period to force OT before winning it outright. These two teams played a very wide-open affair and I see tonight being no different. The Panthers are not going to wow you defensively and the Preds have momentum from yesterday and should be good for another three tonight. The Panthers are still the only team that's unbeaten in regulation and are still averaging nearly four goals per game. We got back up tendies in net for both squads tonight I believe, so this game ends at least with six goals.

6-Unit Play. Take Over in Montreal vs Pittsburgh (Saturday @ 8:00 pm).

As per your selection on the over in tonight's game between Montreal and Pittsburgh, we believe Pittsburgh blitzes Montreal in this game which means the over is in play for Pittsburgh to cover on their own. Montreal looked like complete garbage in their tune-up against the Leafs, giving up odd-man rush after odd-man rush. I know it was just a scrimmage but against the firepower the Penguins have, if the Canadians are not tuned into the defensive side of the ice, they are going to be sent packing in three straight. We did see some good offensive things from the Canadians as they generated a bunch of good scoring chances and should be able to do the same against a Pens team that can be known to have lapses in their defensive zone. This game has 4-2 all over it and we are taking the over in this matchup.

4-Unit Play. #011/012. Take Under in Florida vs Minnesota (Monday @ 8:00 pm) As per your selection on the Under, you have two teams coming into this matchup playing some great hockey and on winning streaks. The wild have won 2 straight and outside a 7-0 win over Dallas in their last game (where they scored three PP goals), they've played under the total in six of their last eight games. The Wild play tight defense and we don't see that changing tonight on home ice. As for the Panthers, they come off a 4-1 win in Detroit and as they have to play a B2B tonight and tomorrow before the break, we don't see them being able to score four goals in this spot against a solid Wild team. The Under has hit in 4 of the Panthers last 5 road games and is 8-1 in their last 9 when their opponent gives up 2 goals or less in their previous game. The Wild love playing to the Under, as they are 7-2-1 to the under in their last 10 home games, and 14-4-3 to the under in their last 21 when scoring 5+ goals.

4-Unit Play. #007/008. Take Over 5.5 Goals (-110) - Minnesota vs Carolina. (Saturday at 7:00 pm)

As per your selection on the over in this spot, we feel as if this is a great spot to ride the Wild's momentum and bank on them scoring a few goals against a Carolina team who has been inconsistent over their last handful of games. The Wild just put up five on a great Tampa team and have extended their win streak to five games. We see them bagging at least three more goals tonight while the Hurricanes will want to also put on a show for their home crowd and we see them bagging a few goals themselves tonight. We love the fact that this game is at 5.5 as we can easily see a 4-2 game. Let's get this win and add to our NHL totals this weekend!

5-Unit Play. #070. Take Under in Goals - Vegas vs Washington (-110) (Friday at 7:05 pm). As per your selection on the Under here in this spot, we like both teams to really bring their A-game tonight in this showdown and when that happens generally the game tends to go under the number. Vegas is among the top-10 in terms of PK and goals allowed per game, while Washington is 6th on the PK and their ridiculous 13% shooting percentage simply can't be sustained. We also like the goaltending matchup in this one as we are getting both team's No.1 and Vegas has played to the under in two straight games. Great spot to go against the public here and take the under.

5-Unit Play. #041/42. Take Over 5.5 Goals - Boston vs Colorado (Thursday at 9:00 pm).

As per your selection on the over in the game between the Bruins and Avs, we expect plenty of goals between these two teams as they very rarely play each other and so familiarity won't be an issue in this game. Look, after two straight games of scoring 3 goals in their first three games, the Bruins broke out for 4 goals against one of the better defensive teams in the league in Vegas. Now they get to keep the goals coming against a sloppy Colorado team who in fact can score goals, as shown by their 5 vs Calgary and 4 vs Minnesota. Both teams have plenty of offensive firepower to go around and we love the fact that we are getting this line at 5.5 instead of 6 or 6.5. This is easily going to be a 4-2 or 3-3 type of game with it going to overtime. Take the over and enjoy a nice hockey winner!

4-Unit Play. #063/064. Take Over 5.5 - Detroit vs Nashville (-120) (Saturday at 8:00 pm).

As per your selection on the Over in this game between Detroit and Nashville, we saw how quickly Nashville can turn it on offensive as they put in three quick goals in the third period on route to a 5-2 win over Minnesota. Now they get to face a Detroit team who is going to be among the worst teams in the league this year, so we expect another 4 goals out of Nashville last least in this spot. Detroit does have some nice pieces up front, so they can score goals, but we believe Nashville is going to be too quick and to strong for Detroit to overcome. We'd rather not lay the -240 with the Preds, but we expect this game to get over the 5.5 total and land somewhere around 7 or 8.

4-Unit Play. #003/004. Take Under in St. Louis vs Boston (Wednesday, May 29 at 8:08 p.m.). As per your selection on the Under 5.5 goals, the sportsbook caught on and decided to tack on the hook to the total. We do believe that at 5.5, the total is staying under the number simply due to the fact that the teams have already seen each other and they can make adjustments accordingly. With a total of 5, we are always going over, but we just don't see 6 goals being scored in this game as St. Louis will look to do a better job at preventing Boston from getting shots on goal, and Boston will continue to be a tough team to score against in any scenario. IT should be noted that after the first period of Game 1 the Blue allowed Boston to outshoot them 30-12. The Blues are in fact a good defensive team and we expect that number to be cut in half and we expect Binnington to stand tall in goal. We know what we are going to get from Tuukka this postseason as he has been lights out. We look for a 2-1 or 3-1 type game tonight as this crucial Game 2 could end up deciding the series.

4-Unit Play. #001. Take Over in St. Louis vs Boston (Monday, May 27 at 8:08 p.m.) As per your selection on the over 5 goals, anytime we see a number set at 5, we will likely take the over as 3-2 is one of the most common final results in hockey, and even as such we don't mind the push. There is always an opportunity for an empty netter if we get to 3-2 at some point in the third so we like our chances. As per how these two teams stack up, they've both had plenty of time to rest up and we don't think that the time off will affect either team as this is the Cup Finals and if you're not ready to play Game 1, that could cost you the series. Both teams have great players and this could be a higher scoring series than many predict since both goalies are posting save %'s well above average. At some point that has to regress and it's not exactly much to ask for each team to score twice on their opponent. We believe we are going to see a 4-3 type game tonight, so we'll take our chances on the over.

3-Unit Play. #079. Take Over 5 Goals - New York Islanders vs Carolina (Friday, May 3 at 7:08 p.m.) As per your selection on the 'over' in this spot, we fully expect a big urgency game on behalf of the Islanders as their season is on the line and the only way they are going to stave off elimination is by finding their scoring touch. We know it's obvious to say they need to score more goals, but its the truth and their best players need to step up. The Islanders have been limited to just 3 goals in three games and so in this elimination game it's time to do the opposite of what they've done and generate more chances and play with a purpose. The Canes on the other hand have the benefit of playing at home again and they should be ready to end this series and as they are a team who generates the most shots on net in the league, they should have plenty of chances to put this game to bed. We love the fact that we have the empty netter scenario in play here, where in an elimination game, the Islanders could potentially pull the goalie early or several times trying to chase a goal that will get them closer or tie the game. The price is too good to pass up on the over and we expect at least 6 goals tonight.

3-Unit Play. #006. Take Under - Montreal vs Washington (Thursday, April 4 at 7:05 p.m.) As per your selection on the Under 6 Goals in the game between Montreal and Washington, we are going to bank on two good goalies and we believe that the situation surrounding this game makes for a tight checking affair. Look, the Habs have been playing playoff hockey for some time now. They are on the outside of the WildCard spots looking in but are still in the thick of it. They must win their two remaining games and get some help. In these situations, we look to the defensive side of the ice where team defense and good goaltending is how success is born. Carey Price has been lights out the last little bit and we believe he comes up to play in a big way and his teammates help him out by playing good team defense - they need to. Washington on the other hand, they don't mind a good defensive battle either. Five of their last seven games have been played to the under, and with them still needing two points to clinch the division title, we expect them to do everything in their power defensively from letting the title slip away. The Under is 8-1-2 in the Canadiens last 11 vs Metro division opponents and is 4-1 in their last 5 road games. The Caps have played to the under in 5 of their last 6 home games and the under has hit in 17 of the last 28 meetings in Washington (5 pushes).

4-Unit Play. #025/026. Take Under in Colorado vs Chicago (Friday, February 22 at 7:35 p.m.) We are going to side with the Under 7 in this spot as we believe both Colorado and Chicago played to the under on December 29th. Yes, I know, since then the Blackhawks are on a tear and seemingly play no defense as evident in their last 15 or so games. However, they are coming off an emotional win over Detroit and we believe they run into a bit of a lull tonight and simply won't be sharp. Their opponent, Colorado has played better of late as well, and a big reason for that is the goaltending play of Semyon Varlamov. Aside from the 7 goals they scored against Winnipeg (fluke), the Avs have played to the under 7 four times in their last 7 games with three pushes. We also like the fact that the head-to-head trends are on our side as the Under is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings in Chicago and 4-0-1 in the last 5 meetings overall. We will gladly take the under on the inflated number and enjoy a nice winner.

5-Unit Play. #73. Take Under in New York Rangers vs Buffalo (Friday, February 15 at 7:05 p.m.) As per your selection on the under in this game between the Rangers and Sabres, we like the fact that both goalies are playing hot right now. For the Rangers, you have Alexandar Georgiev who is coming off a 55 save win against the Leafs in his latest start. Prior to that, he stopped 27 of 30 in a win vs the Bruins and let in one goal in a loss vs the Flyers. He's on his game and we expect him to be able to keep it up against a Buffalo squad that is averaging not even three goals per game, and who has played in three consecutive games in which the scoreline was 3-1. The Sabres have been fading fast during the second part of the season, but one consistent has been their goaltending play and they are in a great spot to play on the under in tonight's game. The Under is 10-3 in the last 13 meetings between these two teams in Buffalo and 5-1-1 in the last 7 matchups overall. The Rangers have played to the under in 5 of their last 7 games vs the East and are 7-3 to the Under in their last 10 road games as an underdog of +110 -+150.

4-Unit Play. #013. Take Under in Calgary vs Washington (Friday, February 1 at 7:05 p.m.)

As per your selection on the under, we simply like to believe that the Washington Capitals are much better than their 7 game losing streak indicates. Look, I get it, teams go through slumps all the time, but when you give up 30 goals in their last 5 losses, that's a serious issue. However, the all-star break came at the right time and we believe that this team will come out focused and heavily committed to keeping the puck out of their own net. Not to mention, they will not have Alex Ovechkin in the lineup for this one as he sits out his one-game suspension for missing the All-Star game. That alone is worth at least one goal to the total. The Flames, on the other hand, is a better defensive team than they get credit for. While everyone talks about the offensive firepower, the flames are quietly fourth in shots on goal allowed and seventh in goals allowed at 2.8. After the lengthy all-star break, we've seen teams struggle to get going and we believe this will be the case here tonight. The Under has hit in 6 of the last 8 Capitals home games and is 19-5-5 in their last 29 home games vs a team with a winning road percentage of greater than .600.

4-Unit Play. #071. Take Under - Winnipeg vs Dallas (Saturday, January 19 at 7:05 p.m.).

As per this selection on the Under, we simply think Winnipeg will have a bit of a let down coming into this game after beating Nashville in their home barn. Look, when you think of the Jets, you generally think of taking the over, but we don't expect that to be the case tonight. They are getting superb goaltending of late, and when that happens, teams are very unlikely to light the lamp early or often. The Jets sit 6th in the NHL in goals allowed and have a top-10 PK. Their opponent, Dallas, sit 4th in the NHL in goals allowed and also have a top-10 PK, not to mention the Stars rank 29th in goals for at just 2.54. From a scheduling perspective, this is also Winnipeg's last game before the all-star break, so it's easy to believe they have one foot out the door for their 10-day break. The Stars meanwhile simply cannot score. They've lost the last four games and these were their scoreline; 2-1, 2-0, 3-1, 2-1. They've gone 5-0-1 under the posted total of 6, so we see no reason why that trend can't continue. The Stars are 5-0-1 to the Under when playing on 1 days rest, 4-0 to the under in their last 4 home games and 4-1 to the under when their opponent scores 5 or more goals in their previous game. Let's bank on these trends and enjoy a nice bounce-back winner.

7-Unit Play. #014. Take Over in Los Angeles vs Minnesota (Tuesday, January 15 at 8:05 p.m.)

As per this selection on the over, something is clearly wrong with this Minnesota Wild team. They were embarrassed on home ice by Detroit, and their coach called them out. They then proceeded to give up 7 goals to a Flyers team that is averaging 2 goals per game. Now they have to return home to play on back-to-backs against a Kings team that is playing decent hockey of late. If you look at these two teams, you will see two middling defensive teams. One of them has a terrible PK, while the other has a top 10 PP, and then vice-versa. This is also a great play on spot to the over, as the Over has hit in 4 of the Kings last 6 games when their opponent gives up 5 or more goals in their previous game, and it's also hit in 6 of the last 8 meetings between these two teams. I've watched both Minnesota games over the last few days and as I said, something is wrong with this team defensively. The Kings do have a few players that can put the puck in the net, but they aren't as good defensively as you would think. This is an opportune time to take advantage of a total that sits at 5.5. One would think a bounce-back performance is coming for Minnesota defensively, but not yet. The schedule doesn't allow for that, as Minnesota should be on their toes ready to go for this game.

4-Unit Play. #067. Take Under - Tampa Bay vs New York Islanders (Sunday, January 13 at 7:05p.m.).

As per this selection on the under here, this is a bit of a contrarian play given the recent run of both teams. Tampa has played to the over in 8 of the last 12 games, but we feel that playing in their second game of a back-to-back after traveling will catch up with them tonight. This is also their third game in four nights, and the fourth game in six nights. I've watched enough NHL in my day to know that heading to the Island for a Sunday matchup is a tough spot. The Islanders, on the other hand, have are one of the best defensive teams in the league (weird, I know) giving up just 2.64 goals per game which are ranked third. They also don't generate too many chances, as they rank 28th in shots on goal with 28.3. The Islanders have stayed under the number 4 times in their last 7 games, and they are in a great under spot here, as the Under is 4-0 in their last 4 games while playing on 0 days rest. The under is also 8-2-1 in their last 11 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game, and 15-5-1 in their last 21 Sunday games. We know that Tampa is the better team in this matchup, but we simply think two good goalies will shut the door and it will be a very boring matchup.

4-Unit Play. #069. Take Under 6 - New Jersey vs Arizona (Friday, January 4 at 9:05p.m.)

As per this selection on the under, we just don't see where the goals are going to come from. The Devils are missing their best player in Taylor Hall and despite going over the total two nights ago against Dallas, they've played to the under 4 of their last 6 games prior to that. We like the fact that the Devils rank 18th in PP% and will be going up against the first ranked PK in the league. We doubt they find a way to score a PP goal in this one. Not to mention, the Devils own PK is ranked third in the league, and that will be going up against the 22nd ranked PP in the league, so special teams won't be so special in this one. Arizona has played to the under in three of their last four games and in those three games, they've managed just one goal. We can fully see that happening again tonight as they are still without several key pieces throughout the lineup. The Yotes are 4-1 to the under in their last 5 vs the East and 8-2 in their last 10 vs a team with a winning % below .400. We just don't see where goals will come from in this spot, and we like the fact that the total sits at an even 6 instead of 5.5. Take a shot with the under here.

4-Unit Play. #079. Take Under in Tampa Bay vs Vancouver (Tuesday, December 18 at 10:05p.m.).

As per your selection on the Under 6.5 goals, you have two teams that have been playing to the over in their most recent games. However, this high line and the fact that we will see two excellent goalies between the pipes tonight tells me that this line is extremely inflated and the under is the play. Look, Tampa is known for scoring goals. But they are also known for their excellent defensive work and their ability to minimize the opposing team's chances. Now that they have their No.1 goalie back between the pipes in Vasilevsky, the Lightning will have the goaltending advantage on most nights. The Canucks, however, will counter with Markstrom and he is no joke either. He has a GAA of just 3, with a save percentage of just over .900. Over his last 4 games, Markstrom has given up just 6 goals against, which tells me that the team s playing well infant of him and he is started to round into form. These two teams are in great spots to play to the under tonight as the Lightning are 7-2-2 to the Under in their last 11 after allowing 5 or more goals in their previous game, and they are 5-2 to the under in their last 7 vs the Pacific. The Canucks are 5-1 to the Under in their last 6 Tuesday games, and 4-1 to the under in their last 5 vs the East. Two good goalies, with a high line - give me the under.

7-Unit Play. #032. Take Under in New Jersey vs Nashville (Saturday, December 15 at 8:05 p.m.).

As per your selection on the Under, it almost feels like Christmas came a week early. You have two teams that generally play to the ?over?, which is they the line is 6.5, but it almost feels like the line hasn't accounted for the Devils playing on back-to-back nights or the fact that the Predators are still banged up offensively, and are among the best teams in the league defensively. Look, I get the fact that these two teams are coming off 5-4 and 4-3 games respectively, but the situation tonight makes me believe this will be more like a 3-1 style of game. The Under has hit in the Preds last 5 games vs the Eastern Conference, and it has also hit in 8 of the Preds last 10 games when their opponent scores 5 or more goals in their previous game. The Predators know what it takes to shut down the opposing team's top line and we believe Taylor Hall is still out again through illness, so it'll make their job a hell of a lot easier, not having to contain the reigning Hart Trophy winner. Take the Under in this spot and enjoy a nice winner.

7-Unit Play. #019. Take Under 6 - Nashville vs Calgary (Saturday, December 8, 10:05 p.m.)

As per this selection on the ?Under?, now is a great time to ride the hot hand of Calgary goalie Mike Smith. Smith has won his last 5 starts after being just brutal in the opening month and a bit of the season, and he's going to need to be great again tonight to give Calgary a real chance at two points. However, Calgary is missing three key cogs of their lineup and after an emotional win last time out against Minny (2-0), it'll be tough for them to replicate that emotion and give it their all here in this spot. They will be without their Captain Giordano and one of their offensive stars in Backlund. But Nashville will not feel sorry for them. They too are without four stars in their lineup, with Forsberg, Turris, Subban, and Arvidsson all out for lengthy periods of time. Nashville gave up 5 goals last time out to Vancouver, and we expect a team as battle-tested as the Preds to bounce back in a big way and focus all their efforts on the defensive side of the puck. If we take away that 5 goal outburst by Vancouver, Pekka Rinne had given up just 3 goals in his previous two starts. We believe Rinne and Smith will steal the show tonight and this will be another low scoring, slug it out type matchup. The Under is 14-3-1 in the Preds last 18 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game, while the Under is also 12-5 in the Flames last 15 when their opponent allows 5 or more goals.

4-Unit Play. #071. Take Over in Calgary vs Los Angeles (Saturday, November 10 @ 10:05p.m.)

The Calgary Flames are coming off a loss to the Anaheim Ducks, but in reality, we knew and they knew they would lose that game considering they only have one win in Anaheim in 30 something tries. Now they must shift their focus to a Kings team that will be eager to get back in the win column after having their two-game winning streak snapped by Minnesota. Look, the reality of the matter is that these two teams are trending in the wrong direction once again this season. The Kings are3-8 in their last 11 games while the Flames had their four-game winning streak snapped. The Flames have played to the over twice in their last three games, while the Kings are 0-3 O/U in the same span. However, the Kings haven't played a team as offensively gifted as the Flames and as defensively careless as them as well. We expect this game to be a free-flowing hockey game. Both teams are rested and we will look to exploit the shaky goalie matchup between Mike Smith and Jack Campbell, both of whom constantly look shaky and look like their fighting the puck in the net. The flames are 6-2 to the over in their last 8 vs a team with a losing record and 5-0 in their last 5 games after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game. The Kings are 11-3-1 to the over in their last 15 Saturday games. It's slim pickings on the NHL card tonight, but we believe this is the best spot.

6-Unit Play. #053. Take Under 6 - Buffalo vs New York (Sunday November 4 @ 7:05p.m.)

When you look at the Sabres past results, you'll likely see that big fat 9-spot they posted last night against Ottawa and think this team is good offensively. Well, you're wrong. The Sabres are ranked 20th in goals per game, and that is aided by last night's 9 goal outburst. In their first 14 games this year, the Sabres have played in games that have scored 6 goals or less in 10 of them. Only 4 times have games gone over 6, and we are comfortable with taking the under in this spot for a few reasons. It's highly unlikely that the Sabres will continue to score at that pace. Typically when a team puts up a high number, they are held in check the following game, especially on back-to-backs. They will also be shooting against Lundqvist, who is better than Anderson and McKenna put together. Furthermore, the Rangers are returning home from a four-game road trip which they stayed under the total of 6 in twice. The first game home after a roadie is usually slow and sluggish, and in the eastern conference, these affairs are typically quite boring. The Rangers also struggle to score goals, averaging just 2.46 per game which is good enough for 28th. They don't have a very good power play, or shooting percentage as well, so this game will likely be a neutral-zone battle with very few chances and stoppages. Would I rather have the 6.5 Total? Sure, but I believe this game stays under 6, and we are looking at a 3-1 or 3-2 type game. The under is 5-1 in the Rangers last 6 home games and 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings between these two teams.

7-Unit Play. #055. Take Over in Philadelphia vs Boston (Thursday, October 25 @ 7:05p.m.) When you think of the Flyers the first thing that comes to mind is poor goaltending. They haven't had a legitimate No.1 since Ron Hextall protected the net and as is such, they haven't tasted much playoff success. In this spot, against the Bruins, the Flyers come into the game after mustering only 1 goal on 38 shots against Colorado. Most of that game was played in the Colorado zone, so when that happens a team loses 4-1 (with an empty net goal), the goaltending is the issue. And we do not see that issue getting fixed against one of the best teams in the league and arguably the best line in the NHL in Bergeron/Marchand/Pastrnak. Prior to last game, the Flyers had played three-straight to the over and we will bank on that trend continuing. The Bruins have the offensive firepower to score 5 on any given night, and as is such, they put 4 past Ottawa to get back in the win column to end a 4-game road trip, and will want to play well in front of their home crowd, where they are 3-0 and have scored a combined 18 goals. Goaltending wise, Tuukka Rask has been better of late, but he's still hovering at a GAA above 3, and a save % just a tick over .900. The Bruins have played to the over in 14 of their last 21 games after allowing 2 goals or less, and 14 of their last 22 home games. While the Flyers are 6-0-2 to the over in their last 8 road games and 3-0-1 after scoring 2 goals or less. The 5.5 total is simply too low for these two teams.

4-Unit Play. #005. Take Under in Tampa Bay vs Colorado (Wednesday, October 24 @ 9:35p.m.)

Nice bounce-back winner yesterday on Chicago to get the job done over Anaheim. We will keep the momentum going and get this hockey season turned around in a hurry.

Don't look now, but the Tampa Bay Lightning are 5-1-1. Has any team had a quieter 5-1-1 start than the Lightning? After playing one game and then resting for a week, Tampa has gotten into the swing of things, by reeling off 4 wins in their last 5 games, with their only loss coming in overtime to Minnesota. Over the last two games, the offense has found it's groove, scoring 10 times, but the defensive side of the puck has struggled, giving up 8. In this spot, against a Colorado team that is playing in their first home game after a lengthy (and successful) road trip, we believe the Lightning will clamp down and revert back to the defensive team we know them to be. Look, this game will feature two of the best goalies in the game, in Vasilevskiy and Varlamov. Both goalies are on fire right now, with Vasilevskiy posting a 2.16 GAA and a .933 save % and Varlamov posting a 1.64 GAA with a .953 save%. Those numbers may not be sustainable over the course of the season, but right now, they are the kind of numbers you want when taking the under. Look, Colorado has played well lately, winning three in a row, but the under has hit in the team's last two games. They played in Philly on Tuesday, now must travel home, get their things in order and take on a Tampa team that has been there waiting for them. This is the game Tampa gets the defense on track and Colorado won't have enough gas left in the tank to muster much. The under is 7-1-2 in TB's last 10 games following a win, while the Under has hit in 4 of the last 5 Avalanche home games.

4-Unit Play. #051. Take Under Goals Florida vs Washington (Friday, October 19 @ 7:05p.m.)

It's very hard to win road games in the NHL. The Panthers are learning that lesson pretty quickly. They outplayed and outshot Tampa in their opening game, and lost in a shootout, and in their latest road setback, they scored five goals and still managed to lose 6-5 in a shootout. There is a very low likelihood of the Panthers putting up another batch of goals on the road against a Washington team that has one of the better goalies in the league in Braden Holtby. Holtby is coming off a solid 29 save performance against the Rangers and he will be looking to improve on his stats and lower his GAA of 3.18 and improve his SV% of .898. Not to mention, Holtby is 10-2-1 with a 2.36 GAA and a .920 save percentage against the Panthers. We know what we are going to get with Washington from an offensive standpoint. Most things go through Alex Ovechkin and that's fine. Ovie potted a pair in the last game, so we don't see him doing the same tonight. From a defensive perspective from Florida, James Reimer will need to play better if the Panthers want to stay close to the teams above them while Luongo is out. Reimer has had success against Washington before, going 4-4-2 with a 2.16 GAA and a .937 save percentage. The Under is 6-0 in the Panthers last 6 games after giving up more than 5 goals and the Under is 6-1-1 in the Caps last 8 games when their opponent scores more than 5 goals in their previous game.

4-Unit Play. #051. Under in Dallas vs Ottawa (Monday, October 15 @ 7:35p.m.)

It's been a rather bizarre season for the Ottawa Senators so far. They were pegged to be one of the worst teams in the league and despite injuries, have gotten off to a 2-2-1 start, beating good teams like Toronto and LA. They've also scored and given up a lot of goals, which the goals for surprises me - the goals against not so much. Now they come into this game against a Dallas team who are playing their first road game of the season after opening the season 3-1 at home. Typically when you play your first road game, you tend to tense up a bit and play more cautiously and try not to give the opponent too much room to maneuver. That's why we believe the under is the play in this spot. Look, Dallas has given up 10 goals over their last two games. They have a defensive unit and goalie who are much better than that, and against a young Senator's squad, who is mired in injuries, we like this game to be a low scoring - quiet affair. The Sens also played well defensively last time out, limiting the Kings to just one goal. They could use that momentum in a positive way in this one. Look for this one to stay under the number - just like it has in four of the last 5 meetings between these two teams and 8 of the last 13 meetings in Ottawa (with two pushes).

4-Unit Play. #023. Take Under 6 (-110) Chicago vs Minnesota (Thursday, October 11 @ 8:05p.m.) Sooner or later the Blackhawks goal-scoring spree is going to end. The Blackhawks have scored 4, 5, and 6 goals in their first three games, winning two of those. It's like they think they are playing in the 80's. Well, I believe that stops tonight against a Wild team that has given up just 5 regulation goals in two games. The Wild are predicated on defense first and with a goalie in Devin Dubynk who is leading the league in save % and adjusted goals allowed, the Blackhawks may find their scoring ways hard to keep up. Not to mention, the Wild have only scored 2 goals in those two games, one of the lowest scoring teams in the league so far. With Chicago having extra time to prepare for this game (3 days off), the defensive zone coverage and assignments should be much crisper and they should be able to limit Minnesota to just a few quality chances. Historically speaking, when these two teams meet, they like to play to the under - which has hit in the last 4 meetings. Not to mention, the Under is 6-1 in the Wilds last 7 vs the Central and 4-0 when playing on 3 or more days rest. Also, the Blackhawks have gone under 7 times in their last 10 games after scoring 5 or moral goals in their previous game. The oddsmakers are adjusting this line based on all the scoring that's taken place so far this season, but we won't be fooled. Take the under.

7-Unit Play. #007. Take Under in Calgary vs Nashville (Tuesday, October 9 @ 8:00p.m.)

Nice 4-Unit winner last night. Let's keep the momentum going and cash another ticket.

It's been a wild ride to open the season for the Calgary Flames. They split two games against Vancouver, losing 5-2 and then winning 7-4. The Flames are what we expect them to be and that's just ?mediocre? on both ends of the ice. Now they must go to Nashville - a place where they are 6-1 SU in the last 7 games. However, this Nashville team is different. They are predicated on defense and may have the best defensive unit in the entire league. Not to mention one of the best goalies in the league in Pekka Rinne. This is also Nashville's home opener, so nothing is going to come easy for Calgary as Nashville will be hungry to get two points for their home fans and keep their unblemished record intact. Nashville has also played two games - posting a 1-1 record on the total. We expect a more physical game in this spot as both these two teams don't really like each other and that stems over from last year's season series. The Under is 3-1-1 in the Flames last 5 after scoring 5 or more goals in their previous game, while the under is 4-0 when their opponent scores at least 5 in their previous game. Nashville has been one of the better under teams in the NHL, so in this spot, we are expecting a low-scoring game.

3-Unit Play. #55. Take Over in Vegas vs Buffalo (Monday, October 8 @ 3:05p.m.)

The Buffalo Sabres got more than just a win last time out against the New York Rangers. They got the fans back on their side after getting booed off the ice in the season-opening period against Boston. Now the Sabres look to keep the momentum going and will be eager to put up another batch of goals against a Vegas team that is going to fatigued due to their travels. Vegas has a 1-1 O/U record, but against Philly a team with talent, they gave up 5 goals. We expect the Sabres to be able to take advantage of a this Vegas unit and put up at least 4 goals in this spot. However, the Sabres are still the Sabres defensively, so look for Vegas to counter with a couple of their own, thus giving us over 5.5 goals. The Golden Knights are 5-2 to the over in the last 7 vs the Eastern Conference while the Sabres are6-2 in their last 8 overall.

4-Unit Play. #001. Take Under 6 Goals New York vs Carolina (Sunday, October 7 @ 5:05p.m.)

It's a battle of backup goalies as the Rangers head to Carolina for a matchup with the Hurricanes. The Rangers have lost their first two games and have scored just 3 total goals. Coming into this year, the Rangers were facing rebuild of sorts, and we've seen the effects of it. Lack of firepower and lack of scoring kept each of the first two games under the total. The Hurricanes have also struggled to score goals, posting just 4 in their first two games. They've struggled for the last couple of seasons to score goals consistently and tonight against a backup goalie won't solve their problems. While backup goalies may not be the most reliable, they are still NHL quality tenders and the inflated line in this spot gives us value to the under. Not to mention, the Rangers are playing their second game in as many nights, so fatigue may play a factor. The under has hit in the Rangers last 4 overall and is 5-1 in their last 6 road games. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes have played to the under in 6 of their last 7 and 6 of their last 7 vs the East.

3-unit Play Take #6 Washington Capitals/Tampa Bay Lightning UNDER (7:15pm EST) Big Game 5 tonight in Tampa with the series tied at two games to a side. While it's felt like there have been a ton of goals in this series, only one game has went over the total. These teams are starting to learn each other's tendencies and I think we're going to see less premium scoring chances in today's game. I don't think this game will reach seven goals, so we're on the UNDER.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #53 Winnipeg Jets/Nashville Predators OVER 5.5 (+110) (8:05pm EST) This is what the Stanley Cup Playoffs are all about. Game 7 in Nashville between the Jets and Predators. Winner advances to the Western Conference Finals against Vegas and the loser goes home. This has been a fantastic series from a viewing standpoint. Part of the reason is the volume of scoring chances that each team has been able to create. We've seen an average of 67 shots on goal per game and plenty of high-danger scoring chances. The average goals per game has been 6.7 through the first six contests. I don't expect Game 7 to be any different. There's also a high likelihood of an empty net goal or two tonight. Teams are going to be aggressive in pulling their goalie out of the net if they're done late since this is an elimination game for both teams. Plenty of reasons to love the OVER in this one.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports