Sports Picks & Predictions

3-unit Play Take #59 Tampa Bay Lightning over New York Islanders (7:05pm EST) What a great comeback by the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 3 as they tied up the game with less than a minute remaining in regulation and won it in overtime 5-4. They probably didn't deserve it as the Islanders were the better team throughout most of the game. However, some teams are just better than others at finding ways to win. The Lightning has a lot of playmakers on their team and that's one of the big reasons why they represented the Eastern Conference in last year's Stanley Cup Final. As a whole, Tampa has been the better team in this series and has 27 more shots on goal than New York. I also give the Lightning a big check mark in goal, as Ben Bishop had a remarkable season. Thomas Greiss for the Islanders probably wouldn't even start on most NHL teams and he hasn't been all that good in the playoffs. This game should feature a lot of shots (last game there were 80 shots on goal overall), so the goaltending could be the difference. Take Tampa Bay at a nice price here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #55 Dallas Stars over St. Louis Blues (8:05pm EST) The Dallas Stars did not look good at all in Game 3, but this is a pretty good bounce back spot historically. Teams that get absolutely shelled in a playoff game tend to have some line value in the next contest. The Blues won 5-1 in Game 3, but don't forget that the Stars played much better in the first two games of the series. Dallas also won the Central Division during the regular season, beating out the Blues by two points. Yet most are still down on Dallas and aren't giving them much of a chance. That's usually a good time to jump in on a team, so we're grabbing Dallas at the nice plus price today.

10-unit Play Take #23 San Jose Sharks over Nashville Predators (9:05pm EST) The San Jose Sharks were -165 favorites in both Game 1 and Game 2 at home in this series. The Sharks ended up winning both of those games by the scores of 5-2 and 3-2, respectively. Now the scene shifts to Nashville for Game 3 and the Sharks are a surprising +105 underdog. That's a massive 70-cent line adjustment going from home to away for San Jose, especially when you consider how well the Sharks have been on the road this season. In fact, San Jose was the best team in the NHL on the road going 28-10-3 during the regular season. Nashville certainly stepped up their level of play in Game 2, but they still couldn't get past the Sharks. I don't think they can play any better today, while San Jose has another notch or two higher they can go to. The value is with San Jose in Game 3, so that's where we are going with this selection.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #18 Pittsburgh Penguins over Washington Capitals (8:05pm EST) If you watched the first two games of this series, there's simply no question who the better team is. The Pittsburgh Penguins dominated the action for the better part of both games, especially in Game 2. The Pens have outshot the Caps 80-59 overall in the series and have had way more high danger scoring chances so far. Yes, the series is tied and both were one-goal margins, but final scores are often deceiving. Now the series shifts to Pittsburgh, where you could potentially see things get even more one-sided. The Penguins were a strong 26-11-4 during the regular season at home. Evgeni Malkin missed some time down the stretch during the regular season, but he returned a couple of games ago and is finding his rhythm to make their offense even more potent. Braden Holtby was one of the best goaltenders in the league this season, but I don't think the Capitals can count on him to shut down the Pittsburgh offense by himself. There have just been way too many good shots fired so far in this series by the Pens. Washington is also a man down with defenseman Brooks Orpik suspended for the next three games for his vicious hit in Game 2. With Pittsburgh firing on all cylinders right now, it's hard to see the Capitals staying with them. Take the Penguins as our Playoff Game of the Year tonight as we look for our 10th winner in 11 selections.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #16 San Jose Sharks over Nashville Predators (8:05pm EST) We played the Sharks in Game 1 of this series, and there's absolutely no reason not to go there again in Game 2. San Jose was clearly the better team on the ice for the majority of Game 1. They got off to a bit of a slow start, but the Sharks still outshot the Predators 38-31 in a 5-2 victory. San Jose just has another notch that Nashville cannot get too, and I think we're going to see that throughout this series. Some wondered if Pekka Rinne could carry the Preds through another series, but he didn't look very good in the first game. We'll go back to the Sharks again here in an easy selection.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #10 Tampa Bay Lightning over New York Islanders (3:05pm EST) We went with Islanders in Game 1 of this series, but we're looking to the other side in Game 2. After watching the first contest, it's clear that Tampa Bay got the better looks at the net and was controlling the puck for the better part of the game. They also have a better goaltender in Ben Bishop. He didn't have a good effort that time out, but I'm confident in the veteran bouncing back this time around. It's important in handicapping that you are open-minded enough to change your opinion on teams and matchups in a moment's notice. That's exactly what we're doing here as the Lightning were the better team in the first game. Take Tampa Bay here to even up the series.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #8 San Jose Sharks over Nashville Predators (10:35pm EST) No team was more impressive than the San Jose Sharks were in their first round matchup against the Kings. The Sharks won in five games and outplayed Los Angeles in every single game. They were able to dictate pace and had far more premium scoring chances throughout. The Predators, meanwhile, were able to pull the upset to get past the Ducks in seven games. It was a very evenly-matched series and Nashville definitely earned plenty of respect in winning it. But with only one day of rest from the last series, I think the Preds could be a little worn out. The Sharks have been waiting and preparing, and that could make a difference in today's game. We'll go with the better team, playing at home in Game 1 with more rest. Go Sharks.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #2 Washington Capitals over Pittsburgh Penguins (8:05pm EST) No one is going to argue that the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins are the two best teams in the Eastern Conference. And tonight, they'll square off in Game 1 of their much anticipated series. The Penguins come in as the hottest team in the sport as they're clearly playing their best hockey of the season. The Pens finished the regular season on a 13-2-0 run and carried it forward into their first round matchup against the Rangers where they won in five games. Now they've got Evgeni Malkin back to give their squad another weapon that they missed for the last month or so.

The Caps had the best record in the sport, but many were disappointed with how they finished the regular season. Washington won just three of its last nine regular season games down the stretch. And in the first round versus the Flyers, the Capitals looked off for long stretches. For those reasons, most are siding with the Penguins in this series. However, I think we're likely to see the Capitals team from earlier this season that absolutely dominated the league. This team had no reason to keep their foot on the gas down the stretch, and now that they've had their wake up call versus the Flyers, the Capitals will be ready for a war against Pittsburgh. One of the biggest advantages for Washington in this series is in the goal, where Braden Holtby resides. He had a truly special season and has the confidence to fend off shots from the most dangerous offense in the league. Pittsburgh still isn't sure who will be their goalie throughout the series. Marc-Andre Fleury is close to returning, but he's been out of action for quite some time. Backup Matt Murray is solid but unspectacular minding the net. Washington was 29-8-4 at home this season and the Penguins really struggled on the road at times. Take the Caps to get Game 1 at home tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #3 New York Islanders over Tampa Bay Lightning (7:05pm EST) The Eastern Conference semis get underway on Wednesday night as the Lightning host the Islanders. Tampa Bay knocked off the Red Wings in five games in the first round, but it's safe to say that they were fairly lucky in doing so. Three of their wins were by a lone goal and Detroit put 22 more shots on goal than Tampa did over the course of the entire series. The Lightning also hasn't played in five days, so we can expect they will be a bit rusty for Game 1 tonight. The Islanders wrapped up their series on Sunday and were also a bit lucky in getting by the Panthers. All of their wins were close, including three wins in overtime. However, they played a better team in Florida than Tampa did, and had an additional road game adding to the degree of difficulty. If you're going to play an underdog during the series, Game 1 is usually one of the better spots as the teams are still feeling each other out in the early going. Take the Islanders tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #71 Chicago Blackhawks over St. Louis Blues (8:35pm EST) There aren't too many things better in sports than a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Tonight we get the first one of the postseason with the Blackhawks taking on the Blues. These teams have played about as even as you can play, with the teams either tied or separated by a lone goal for 95% of the series. Game 6 was the most lopsided score with the Hawks winning 6-3, but even that was a closer game than it appeared. But there's a huge reason to love the Blackhawks tonight and it has everything to do with their head coach and the team's track record. Under Joel Quenneville, Chicago is 33-8 in Games 5 thru 7 in a series. That's against some of the very best teams in the NHL in the most pressure-packed situations. Part of that is great coaching adjustments throughout a series and the rest is having clutch players that get the job done when the stakes are at their highest. There's absolutely no reason to expect tonight to be any different against the Blues. The Hawks have been a thorn in the side of the Blues over the last several years, and you know that they are inside their heads even more now after coming from behind 3-1 in the series to tie it up. St. Louis has certainly had their chances and now they finally face elimination. Take the Blackhawks to survive and advance once again in our Game of the Week.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #54 Chicago Blackhawks over St. Louis Blues (6:00pm EST) The Blackhawks won a thrilling Game 5 in double overtime to keep the series alive and now the teams are back in Chicago for Game 6. This entire series has been well-played and both teams have taken their turns dominating for various stretches throughout the series. In fact, the game has been either tied or a one-goal game for 97% of the series. That's amazing and Game 6 figures to be more of the same. But my money is on Chicago and it's mostly because of their excellent track record when they are deep into a series. The Hawks are 31-7 under Joel Quenneville in Games 5 thru 7 in the playoffs. That's unreal considering the level of competition that you face in the postseason. But it gives credit to where the credit is due - excellent advanced scouting and players that can deliver in the clutch. I don't expect that to change tonight as the Hawks face another elimination game, this time at home. Take Chicago in this one, as this series is going seven games.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #37 San Jose Sharks over Los Angeles Kings (10:35pm EST) If you've watched the first four games of this series between the Sharks and Kings, there's no question who the better team has been. San Jose has dictated the pace and dominated the ice for the better part of each game. The final scores were all pretty close but they were terribly deceiving. Take for instance the last game, where the Sharks led the entire way and built up a nice 3-0 lead. The Kings were able to score too goals midway through the third period, but they were really overmatched for the first 45 minutes of play. This is a veteran Kings team and you'd expect them to respond after being beaten down so badly, but they've had chances during this series and just couldn't do it. Tonight the series goes back to Los Angeles for Game 5, with the Kings needing to win to extend the series. While I think they'll put up a good fight, I don't see them getting the win here. San Jose has been tremendous on the road this season (28-10-3 during the regular season) and I think they notch another victory away from home tonight as they move on to the Western Semi-Finals. Play the Sharks at the nice underdog price.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #23 Pittsburgh Penguins over New York Rangers (7:05pm EST) No team in the NHL was clicking better than the Pittsburgh Penguins were at the end of the regular season. They finished on a 14-2 run down the stretch, with most of their wins in impressive fashion. I was a little bit worried with their injury situation heading into the postseason, but they're healthy now and I don't think this Rangers team can possibly stop them. They have that amazing run without the services of Evgeni Malkin, who is now back in the lineup and makes this team even more dangerous than before. We're not exactly sure who is going to be in the net tonight for the Pens, but it probably doesn't matter. It's like down to Marc-Andre Fleury or Matt Murray, with Jett Zatkoff on the bench where he belongs. The Rangers have been the better team for parts of this series, but in the end they just can't contain the firepower the Penguins bring for an entire 60 minutes. Henrik Lundqvist is one of the best goalies in the world, but if you get enough premium scoring chances against him, there's only so much he can do. Pittsburgh is the much better team and get a nice price on Game 4 tonight. Take the Penguins.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #17 Florida Panthers over New York Islanders (8:05pm EST) Game 4 goes tonight with the New York Islanders leading the series 2-1 over the Florida Panthers. This has been a tight series, but I really think Florida has been the better team despite the fact that they've dropped two of three. Both of their losses were by a single goal (one in overtime), and Florida just played better for long stretches in each contest. Their scoring chances were of a higher quality and they were obviously the better team during the regular season as well. Florida needs Game 4 to tie things up in the series, and I think they have a great chance to do so. This line is close to even and I think they is short-changing the better team. Take Florida to get the job done here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #8 Detroit Red Wings over Tampa Bay Lightning (7:05pm EST) The Detroit Red Wings trail their series against the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 as we head into Game 4. But the Wings absolutely dominated Game 3 in a 2-0 win at home. They outshot Tampa 30-16 and played one of their best games on the entire season. The Wings made a change in goal in the last game, putting in Peter Mrazek to relieve the struggling Jimmy Howard. The substitution paid off as Mrazek pitched a shutout, and we'll likely see him again in Game 4. Tampa is still missing their leader Steven Stamkos, who just had surgery to remove a rib to address blot clots. He's such an important piece to the offense that Tampa is going to struggle at times to generate premium scoring chances; especially on power plays. The Bolts are just 1-for-14 on power plays this series overall. Game 4 is going to be a battle, but I like Detroit to win this one at home to even up the series. Take the Wings as our Game of the Week.

3-unit Play Take #2 Philadelphia Flyers over Washington Capitals (7:05pm EST) The Philadelphia Flyers are down 2-0 in their first round series to the Washington Capitals, but they still have their heads high. That's because they know that they outplayed the Caps in Game 2, despite falling 4-1. Philadelphia outshot Washington 42-23 and spent much of the evening in the Caps' zone. The Flyers know how to use their physicality to gain advantages, and that's one of the reasons I think they're going to better as this series goes on. They will wear down Washington as the bumps and bruises accumulate, making the game more their style as we move along. The series now shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3, and we know the crowd will be a big factor. The Flyers will be in desperation mode as they cannot fall behind 3-0 in the series, and I think they grab an early lead and hold on today. Take Philadelphia.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #84 Detroit Red Wings (-120) over Tampa Bay Lightning (7:05pm EST) Game 3 of the first round series between the Red Wings and Lightning goes tonight as the setting changes to Detroit. Tampa Bay won the first two games at home, but the Wings played a lot better in those two contests than the final scores indicate. In fact, Detroit outshot Tampa in each game and was the much better team for long stretches of each contest. As a result, I don't think their confidence is shaken even know they are down 2-0 in the series. The Lightning is without their star Steven Stamkos for the rest of the playoffs and I think that could hurt them more away from home. Tampa struggled on the road this season, particularly offensively. Stamkos is the engine that makes his team go, especially on power plays. I think the Red Wings bounce back and pick up a win in Game 3 to get this series back on track. Play Detroit here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #70 Florida Panthers (-150) over New York Islanders (7:35pm EST) We went with the Florida Panthers last night and came up just a bit short. But if you watched this game as a Panthers fan, you were fairly happy with what you saw. Florida outshot the Islanders 46-26 yesterday and had a ton of premium scoring chances. Unfortunately Roberto Luongo wasn't sharp at all and he cost his team a Game 1 win. There's no reason not to go back to the Panthers here again. They are the better team, the healthier team, and they outplayed New York in Game 1. Go with Florida here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

7-unit Play Take #60 Florida Panthers over New York Islanders (8:05pm EST) The New York Islanders basically had a choice of who they wanted to play in the first round of the playoffs, and they chose the Florida Panthers. The Isles gave little effort in their last game of the regular season against the Flyers so they could avoid the Penguins. It was probably a smart choice overall, but it gives the Panthers a little extra motivation to open this series. Florida had a great year winning the Atlantic Division with 103 points, but they don't seem to be getting much respect with the line on this game. Florida was particularly good at home, with a 25-11-5 mark during the regular season. The Islanders were below .500 on the road and they don't rate very highly in a lot of the advanced metrics. One of the big edges for the Panthers in this series is going to be in the net. Veteran goalie Roberto Luongo has played in big playoff series before and this will be his 65th postseason contest. Meanwhile, Islanders starting goalie Jaroslav Halak is still injured so backup Thomas Greiss will be the man. He's never started a playoff game. The Panthers are the much better team and I expect them to go off to a great start in this series. Play Florida as our big 7-unit selection.

10-unit Play Take #53 New York Rangers over Pittsburgh Penguins (8:05pm EST) Two banged up teams meet in Pittsburgh tonight as the Stanley Cup Playoffs get underway. Evgeni Malkin is out for the Penguins and it's still not clear who their goaltender will be. Number one goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is working through a concussion and backup Matt Murray is suffering from a head injury. As of now, it looks like Fleury is going to try and give it a go even though he admitted that he wasn't sharp in practice this week. There's still rust there and that means he could give up an easy goal or two today.

The Rangers have some injury issues of their own with Ryan McDonagh listed as doubtful and several other question marks. However, I trust New York's depth a little more than Pittsburgh's at the moment. The Rangers have also been much more successful in the postseason over the last few years than Pittsburgh has. In fact, these two teams hooked up last season with the Rangers winning the series 4-1. It was close with every game decided by a single goal, which could be the case again. The Rangers veterans just seem to find a way to score that big goal when the pressure is on. It also doesn't hurt that the Rangers have one of the best goalies in world in net in Henrik Lundqvist. Take New York to win Game 1 as an underdog.

7-unit Play Take #1 Philadelphia Flyers (-105) over New York Islanders (7:00pm EST) The Philadelphia Flyers clinched the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference yesterday with a win over the Penguins 3-1. Now they wheel back for a make-up game against the New York Islanders on Sunday night. The Isles have already wrapped up a playoff spot as well, but this game is far from meaningless for them. They currently hold the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, which would pit them against the Florida Panthers. However, if they happen to win tonight's game, they move up a spot in the standings and would face the red hot Pittsburgh Penguins. Clearly the Panthers would be a much easier first round opponent and would make their path to the Stanley Cup Final much easier overall. As a result, we might not see New York's best effort in this contest. They have a handful of guys banged up and I doubt that most of them will see any time on the ice in this game. Philadelphia, on the other hand, is quite healthy and I expect them to try and keep the momentum going. Take the Flyers.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #74 Dallas Stars over Nashville Predators (8:05pm EST) The Central Division is on the line tonight as the Dallas Stars need a win tonight to take home the crown. They are currently tied with the Blues for first place with the regular season finale tonight (Dallas owns the tiebreaker). The bigger motivation might be the fact that the division winner will avoid the Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs and instead play Minnesota. So I expect a huge effort from the Stars tonight as they host the Predators. Dallas is 8-2-0 over their last 10 games and seems determined to capture the division title. Nashville has dropped four of six and doesn't have a ton of motivation in this game. Nashville is already locked into the wild card spot and a win or loss here doesn't change their situation at all. The Preds have really struggled away from home this season and have the second fewest road victories amongst playoff contenders. Nashville is also just 1-5 in their last six trips to Dallas, while the Stars have won five straight home games. Take Dallas to get the win and capture the division.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #69 St. Louis Blues over Chicago Blackhawks (8:35pm EST) Big game on Thursday night as the Blues and Blackhawks battle for playoff positioning. Both teams still have a shot at winning the Central division with just two games remaining in the regular season (although it's a much tougher road for the Hawks). St. Louis is playing very good hockey of late, winning seven of their last eight contests overall. In their seven wins, the Blues have outscored their opposition by a whopping 25-4 margin. If you want to go back even further, they are 13-3 over their last 16 games. Clearly the Blues are playing their best hockey of the season and their team confidence is sky high heading into the playoffs. The same can't be said of the Hawks of late. In fact, they are going through a really tough stretch despite the fact that they've notched three straight victories. Chicago is just 11-10-3 over their last 24 games and they haven't looked like their usual selves on the ice. Part of the problem has been a bevy of injuries that they've suffered, and some of it might be the fatigue following a long season after winning the Stanley Cup last year. In any case, the Hawks aren't hitting on all cylinders. This should be a competitive game, but I'm not sure I can count on the Hawks to get a big goal if they need it. Take the St. Louis Blues to get the win in our Game of the Week.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #55 Buffalo Sabres over New Jersey Devils (7:05pm EST) Two teams out of the playoff race face off tonight in New Jersey as the Devils host the Sabres. While neither squad is going to make the postseason, one team is still playing like they are and the other has seemingly given up. Buffalo is 6-2-2 in their last 10 contests and their opponents over that span include several playoff teams. They're coming off of an impressive 4-3 win in New York against the Rangers. The Devils have lost four of their last five games and have a pretty banged up squad at the moment. Once again scoring goals has been a huge challenge for them, as they rank dead last in goals per game at 2.20 per contest. With the way they're playing now, it's hard to fathom them being favored at all against anyone. They are just 7-19 over their last 26 games against Eastern Conference foes and I don't see them getting a win here. Take Buffalo in this matchup at a nice underdog price.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

2-unit Play Take #3 New York Rangers over Columbus Blue Jackets (7:05pm EST) Big game tonight for the New York Rangers as they look to sew up a playoff spot in Eastern Conference. They certainly haven't been playing their best hockey of the season as they come in off of three straight losses. However, all three of those games were decided by a single goal and if there's a team I'm going to trust in a spot where they absolutely need a win it's the Rangers. They've come up big over the last few seasons when they've needed it most. Columbus is just waiting for the offseason at this point, with a 3-8-0 mark in their last 11 games. The Rangers are 37-18 in their last 55 road games versus a team with a losing record, and they've won the last six meetings between these two clubs. Take New York to get the job done today.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #56 Winnipeg Jets (+125) over Minnesota Wild (8:05pm EST) The Winnipeg Jets are out of the playoff race, but they get the chance to play the spoiler role here with just a few games remaining in the regular season. Tonight they get the Minnesota Wild, who is vying for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference. Winnipeg hasn't been able to notch too many victories of late, but they've played their opponents very tough. They've lost four straight but all of those losses were by a single goal and two of them in overtime. That included a 5-4 loss to the Blackhawks last time out in a game that the Jets led very late in regulation. Minnesota is coming off of back-to-back 3-2 losses against the Senators and Red Wings. The Wild is also just 1-5 in their last six meetings against the Jets, including the last game in January where they couldn't manage a single goal. Take Winnipeg here as they relish the chance to be spoilers.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

8-unit Play Take #8 Carolina Hurricanes (-135) over Columbus Blue Jackets (7:05pm EST) The Carolina Hurricanes probably aren't going to be participating in the postseason this year. But don't tell them that. The Canes still have an outside shot at grabbing that last wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, as they are five points back with four games remaining. They'll need to win all four games and get a little bit of help, so it's certainly still a longshot. But Carolina is playing solid hockey of late, earning at least a point in the standing in each of their last five games (3-0-2). Their last game versus the Rangers was particularly impressive, as they were able to grab a 4-3 win despite trailing heading into the third period. It was a make or break game, and they came through against one of the toughest teams in the East. Tonight's challenge should be a bit easier as they take on the hapless Columbus Blue Jackets. Columbus is just 2-8 over their last 10 contests and is seemingly counting the days until season's end. In their last three games, the Jackets have been outscored 13-5 and outshot by a ridiculous 115-65 margin. Columbus will go with backup goaltender Joonas Korpisalo today. He has similar numbers to starter Sergei Bobrovsky, but make no mistake about who the better netminder is. Columbus is pretty banged up coming into this game, and the youngsters have been getting more time on the ice. That should help Carolina out and allow them to coast to an easier win. Columbus is 0-7 in their last seven road games and has lost four straight meetings in this series. Take Carolina in an excellent spot for our NHL Game of the Year.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

2-unit Play Take #55 Chicago Blackhawks (-145) over Winnipeg Jets (8:05pm EST) There's no question that the Chicago Blackhawks aren't playing their best hockey of the season right now. The Hawks are just 3-5-2 over their last 10 games and have several guys out of action. But with just five games remaining in the regular season, this team knows that they need to get their act together for the postseason. For most teams, I'd let them show me they've figured it out on the ice. But this is the defending champs, and I think Chicago makes the adjustments they need to get back on track. As bad as the Hawks have looked recently, their opponent the Winnipeg Jets have been a decent amount worse. The Jets are just 6-12-4 over their last 22 contests and seemingly can't wait for the season to end. They're at the bottom of the Central division and are focusing more on the future than the present. Bet on the Hawks to turn things around tonight and get a victory.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #5 Toronto Maple Leafs (+120) over Buffalo Sabres (7:05pm EST) The future is certainly much brighter than the present for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Buffalo Sabres. Neither team is sniffing the postseason this year, but it's clear that both squads are acquiring good young talent and are headed in the right direction. The Leafs have sustained quite a few injuries in the second half, and are playing a lot of their young guys in an effort to assess what they have. That strategy initially led to some lackluster results on the ice, but lately Toronto has really come together nicely. They've won six of nine games, including some fairly convincing victories. Last time out, the Leafs blasted the Panthers 5-2 as +220 underdogs on the road. Tonight they head to Buffalo to take on a Sabres team they disposed of 4-1 less than two weeks ago. That game was a complete domination by Toronto from start to finish, so I wouldn't expect things to change much tonight. The Sabres are coming off of a brutal loss in Pittsburgh, where they led 3-0 in the second period before falling 5-4 in a shootout. It was certainly a deflating loss to blow a big lead and have it all be for not against one of the best teams in the league. That may lead to a less than stellar effort tonight versus Toronto. Take the Maple Leafs as our Game of the Week.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #54 Philadelphia Flyers (-105) over Washington Capitals (8:05pm EST) Good spot for the Philadelphia Flyers tonight as they catch a Washington Capitals teams that has just wrapped up the top seed in the Eastern Conference. That means that the Caps really have nothing to play for, while the Flyers are fighting for their playoff lives. Philadelphia is currently tied with Detroit for the final wild card spot in the East, with just a couple of weeks remaining in the regular season. The Flyers are playing their best hockey of the season, with an 11-3-2 mark over their last 16 contests. Washington head coach Barry Trotz will likely manage the minutes of his stars in the final couple of weeks, so the Flyers should be able to win this one. They've been really good at home this season, with a 20-10-7 record at the Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers have also won seven of the last 10 meetings between these clubs overall. Take Philadelphia to get the job done here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit  Play Take #3 Boston Bruins (-150) over New Jersey Devils (7:05pm EST) The Boston Bruins are in the midst of a tough stretch on the road and so far the results haven't been very good. They've lost five of six games and are playing their sixth road game in less than two weeks tonight. However, the Bruins haven't been playing particularly poor hockey. Most of those games were against playoff teams and several were on the difficult Pacific coast trip. They showed well in the advanced metrics in those games but just couldn't get a goal when they really needed it. Boston is fighting to hold onto a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, with Philadelphia and Detroit just one point behind them. The Bruins need tonight's game against the Devils badly with just six games remaining in the regular season. New Jersey, on the other hand, is seven points back of the final wild card spot and has very little chance of getting there. Their fate was likely sealed with back-to-back losses against Washington and Carolina in games they really needed. I just don't think they'll be as focused in this one. Boston has one of the best road records in the NHL this season at 24-11-3 and I think they get the victory tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #63 Calgary Flames (+120) over Arizona Coyotes (10:05pm EST) Neither the Calgary Flames nor the Arizona Coyotes will be playing in the postseason this year. But that doesn't mean we can't find a winning wager in today's matchup. Despite trailing the Coyotes in the standings, we have the Flames rated slightly higher using our system. That's mainly because they measure up better using some of the advanced analytics such as puck possession, shooting percentages and strength of schedule. In a game where neither team is highly motivated to get a win, I also like to look towards the underdog. More times than not, that's where the value is. Take the Flames to get the job done at a nice price today.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #56 Colorado Avalanche over Minnesota Wild (3:05pm EST) The biggest game of the entire season for the Colorado Avalanche is tonight at the Pepsi Center. They take on the Minnesota Wild, a team they trail by three points in the standings for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference. With only eight games remaining in the regular season, this is undoubtedly a must-win game for the Avs. They've won five of their last seven games and appear to be peaking at the right time. Goaltender Semyon Varlamov has had some tremendous efforts of late and we've seen much better defense from Colorado overall. Minnesota comes in with four straight wins, but they weren't all of the impressive variety. Three of those wins were by a single goal (two in a shootout) and they were outshot in three of the four contests. The Wild got off to a fast start this season, but since the first month they've basically been a .500 team. Colorado has some big injuries, but in a way it's brought this team even close together. They are in good form and should be able to find a way to win at home in a game they must have. Take Colorado as our Game of the Week.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #59 Anaheim Ducks over Montreal Canadiens (7:35pm EST) We've done extremely well fading the Montreal Canadiens over the last couple of months, and there's no reason to stop now. Since the Carey Price injury in November, the Canadiens have been the worst team in the sport. And lately, it appears that the team is just mailing it in as the season draws close to a conclusion. They were dominated 4-1 in their last game versus the Flames, and 5-0 by the Senators in the game before that. Neither of those opponents is close to contending for a playoff spot. Over their last five contests, Montreal has been outscored 18-6 and outshot by a 180-133 combined mark. They clearly just want this season to end and today they get an Anaheim Ducks team that is playing really well. The Ducks are an amazing 28-7-3 since the end of December after struggling a bit the first couple of months of the season. This is the team that we saw reach the Western Conference Finals versus the Blackhawks last season. The defense has really been the key for this team as they have really locked down opponents the last couple of months. Over their last 12 games, Anaheim is allowing just 1.75 goals per contest. This is a mismatch of epic proportions and it's surprising this line isn't well over -200. Take Anaheim to pick up an easy win.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #3 Philadelphia Flyers (+115) over New York Islanders (7:35pm EST) There's no question that the Philadelphia Flyers are playing their best hockey of the season right now. They are 8-2-1 in their last 11 games and are fighting to get into the playoffs with only a dozen games remaining. One of the teams they probably need to pass to qualify for the postseason is the New York Islanders. The Flyers trail the Isles by five points and today they'll get a chance to close the gap to just three. New York has dropped three straight and have done a ton of traveling lately. This is their first game back home after being on road for a while, so this one might not quite have the home ice advantages it usually does. Philadelphia has dominated this series over the years, going 35-16 in the last 51 meetings. In a game they really need to stay in the postseason race, I think Philadelphia gets the job done.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit  Play Take #6 San Jose Sharks (-135) over New York Rangers (4:05pm EST) Extremely tough game coming up for the Rangers who finish off a brutal stretch of road games with a few home games sprinkled in. Today's game is the tenth road contest over their last 13 games overall - the last three of which will be on the unfamiliar Pacific coast. No doubt the Rangers are looking forward to finally getting back home after today's game, so I'm not sure how much focus they are going to have against the Sharks in this one. It doesn't help that the Rangers are playing their worst hockey of the entire season. New York has outshot their opponents amazingly just once in their last 12 games. San Jose meanwhile is coming off a bad road loss to the Coyotes on Thursday. However, they are on a nice 7-3-0 run that has them very close to wrapping up a playoff spot in the difficult Western Conference. The West has played extremely well versus the East overall the last few seasons. With these two teams going in opposite directions, that should hold true to form once again today. Take San Jose as our Game of the Week.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit  Play Take #54 Buffalo Sabres (-115) over Ottawa Senators (7:05pm EST) The Buffalo Sabres have made great strides this season after a disastrous 2014-15 campaign. At 28-33-10, they're not even close to playoff contention. But considering that they finished last year at 23-51-8, not many teams have made as big of a jump as the Sabres have. They just continue to get better and are seemingly in every game. Five of their last eight games have gone to overtime and they've looked really good in a couple of those losses. For instance, in their last contest versus Montreal, the Sabres outshot their opponent by a whopping 43-22 margin. Buffalo has actually outshot the opposition in five of their last seven games. They take on Ottawa today, who hasn't looked very good of late. The Senators have been outshot in six straight games and have basically played their way out of the playoffs with a recent drought. Ottawa has really struggled on the road, with a poor 6-16 mark in their last 22 games away from home. The home team has won seven of the last 10 games in this series, and that's where we are going today. Take Buffalo to get the win.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #12 Dallas Stars (-110) over Tampa Bay Lightning (8:35pm EST) Good West versus East matchup tonight as the Dallas Stars host the Tampa Bay Lightning. The West has the upper hand over the East over the last several years, as the top teams out West are just far superior to the cream of the crop in the East. Dallas is back at the top of the Central division, but they have been scuffling a bit of late. However, they've had several close losses recently in games that really could have gone either. In fact, they've had three overtime losses over the last two weeks and in each of them they outshot their opponent. I think the Stars finish strong down the stretch and find a way to win this division. Tampa has lost four of five overall and those games weren't necessarily against the best competition. They lost 4-1 to the Maple Leafs last time out and have dropped two games to the Flyers in the last week. The Stars have dominated the East this season, with an 18-9-3 record. I think they're the better team here and should get the job done tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit  Play Take #62 Anaheim Ducks (-145) over New York Rangers (10:35pm EST) Yes the Rangers are a lock to make the playoffs in the East, but they certainly aren't playing their best hockey of the season right now. New York has lost four of six and has been heavily outshot in five straight games. It's tough to pinpoint exactly why the Rangers are struggling, but until they figure it out they are fade material. The Ducks have been one of the best teams in the NHL in the second half of the season, going 26-6-3 over their last 35 contests. Anaheim has also been fantastic in the Honda Center this season, with a 22-8-5 mark. The Rangers only make the trip there once a year, so they certainly aren't familiar with the surroundings. This line is a little higher than we usually like to play, but Anaheim is just playing so much better and we see them coasting to a win in this one.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #11 Minnesota Wild over Ottawa Senators (7:35pm EST) There are a lot of factors pointing to the Minnesota Wild tonight in their matchup against the Ottawa Senators. First off, the Wild has won five of its last seven games and appear to be back on track under new head coach John Torchetti. He took over a few weeks ago and has ignited this team with his aggressive offensive approach. Minnesota is more confident on the ice and should be extremely focused in these final few weeks. That's because they are in a dead heat with Colorado for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Ottawa is fighting for a playoff spot as well, but are a distant seven points from the last spot in the East. They have a shot, but realistically they know it's a long shot. The Sens have dropped five of their last seven games, so the playoff chase certainly hasn't reinvigorated them. The Western Conference has done a nice job beating up on the East over the last few years, and there is sometimes some nice value playing the West because of it. Minnesota is playing much better hockey than the Senators right now, so Minnesota is our selection today.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #58 Calgary Flames over St. Louis Blues (9:05pm EST) There's no question that the St. Louis Blues are better than the Calgary Flames, but this one is all about value. The Blues are riding a six-game winning streak, which has inflated this line a little bit too much. Three of those six wins were in overtime or a shootout, and they were outshot in their last three games as well. From a seasonal perspective, St. Louis has outscored their opponents by a total of just 11 goals for the entire season. They've been really fortunate in close games and have had the puck bounce their way more than not. This hasn't been a good season for Calgary, but they've won more games at home than they have lost this season. I like their chances to keep this one extremely close, and with a nice plus price the Flames are worth playing today.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #71 Washington Capitals (-105) over San Jose Sharks (10:35pm EST) The Western Conference has dominated the Eastern Conference for several years. So when the Washington Capitals got off to their hot start, it was easy to dismiss them as the best team in the NHL because they play in the weaker conference. However, Washington has proven themselves against the difficult West this season with an impressive 14-4-3 mark. That includes a nice 3-2 win versus the Ducks a few days ago, which broke their amazing 12-game winning streak. They lost the next game in Los Angeles in overtime, but it was a great come from behind effort from the Caps. Now they travel to San Jose to play a Sharks team that hasn't looked very good recently. The Sharks suffered a bad 3-0 loss to the Devils in their last game, and they were unimpressive in two wins versus the Flames and Oilers before that. San Jose is one of the streakiest teams in the league, and when they aren't playing well they are a great fade candidate. The Capitals are the far better team here and they should have no problem with a Sharks team off of their game a bit. Play the Capitals as our Game of the Week.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #4 Tampa Bay Lightning over Philadelphia Flyers (7:35pm EST) It's payback time for the Tampa Bay Lightning, as they'll play the Philadelphia Flyers for the second time in their last three games. The Flyers ousted the Bolts 4-2 in Philadelphia on Monday, and now these squads go at it in Tampa this time around. The Flyers ended Tampa's nine-game winning streak - one which allowed the Lightning to momentarily grab first place in the Atlantic Division (they are in second one point behind Boston currently). Tampa has been a much better team at home this season, registering a 21-10-3 mark in 34 games at Amalie Arena. Philadelphia, meanwhile, has struggled on the road. They have won just 21 of their last 68 road games dating back to last season. The Flyers are also a dreadful 7-19 in their last 26 trips to Tampa. This one feels like another easy winner, so we're on Tampa Bay.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #56 Florida Panthers over Ottawa Senators (7:35pm EST) It's been a huge breakthrough season for the Florida Panthers, as they are firmly entrenched in a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They have a really nice young core that is accentuated with a strong veteran presence. Veteran goaltender Roberto Luongo has been great in the net this season, and gives the Panthers confidence that they don't need to score a ton to pick up a win. Florida is at home tonight versus the Senators. The Panthers have been great at home this season, entering tonight with a strong 20-9-5 mark. Ottawa is trying to stay in the playoff race in the Eastern Conference, but lately things have unraveled. The Sens have dropped four of five and just haven't been able to pick up a big goal when they've needed it. This will be their fourth game in six nights, three of which were road games. This late in the season, that's a big factor as nobody is playing at 100%. In fact, Ottawa has several key players banged up at the moment. Florida is the much better team and I like their chances to get the win today in front of the home crowd.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #2 Toronto Maple Leafs over New York Islanders (7:05pm EST) The Toronto Maple Leafs will fail to qualify for the postseason once again this year. But the season hasn't felt like the usual disappointment in Toronto. That's because the organization has a great management team in place, and head coach Mike Babcock has the team headed in the right direction. A lot of younger guys are getting a chance to play now, as the team looks towards the future. The Leafs are also a bit banged up right now, so different guys are getting a chance to step up. Toronto has lost 13 of 15, but they haven't given up in any of those games. In fact, eight of those losses were by a single goal and several others were close late in the third period. Babcock is getting maximum effort and that's important as we head down the final stretch of the regular season. That makes Toronto a live dog at home versus an Islanders team that hasn't played as well as it would have liked this season. This line is just a bit too high, so we'll take a shot with the Leafs tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

2-unit Play Take #56 Columbus Blue Jackets over Detroit Red Wings (7:05pm EST) The Columbus Blue Jackets won't be competing in the Stanley Cup playoffs this season, but that doesn't mean that they don't have pride. The Jackets were steamrolled 6-0 in Philadelphia last time out, and now they've had a couple of days to regroup before today's home game versus the Wings. NHL teams usually don't take kindly to getting beat down that badly, so I expect to see an inspired effort from Columbus today. They've been playing much better hockey of late, and are 10-4-3 in their last 17 games. Detroit, on the other hand, has dropped six of their last nine games and is in danger of playing their way out of a playoff spot. They are only two points ahead of the Flyers for that last spot in the Eastern Conference. Injuries and old age have taken t their toll on this Red Wings club at this late juncture in the season. They just don't seem fresh on the ice and it's costing them at the end of games. The Blue Jackets are playing really well right now and I think they grab the win here tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

2-unit Play Take Washington Capitals/Anaheim Ducks UNDER (+115) (10:05pm EST) Another huge game for the Anaheim Ducks tonight as they host the best team in the NHL - the Washington Capitals. Anaheim is on quite a roll, putting together 11 straight victories heading into tonight's game. Their defense has been very impressive during the run, as they've only allowed 1.91 goals per game. They'll be tested against the Caps, who are the highest scoring team in the NHL this season at 3.22 goals per contest. But Washington hasn't been as crisp offensively of late. They've haven't scored four goals in any of their last six contests, and they haven't touched five goals in a game since February 9th. Their defense has been getting the job done, however, so Washington has continued its winning ways. This game features two of the best in the NHL, and I think we'll see another playoff-type atmosphere. That is a good reason to look UNDER, and with how well these teams have played defensively of late, that's where we are going with today's selection. Take the UNDER 5 in today's Ducks-Caps game at a nice plus price.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Anaheim Ducks/Los Angeles Kings UNDER 5 (-110) (4:05pm EST) These two just played last week in Anaheim and now they meet again with first place on the line in the Pacific Division. The Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks both come in with 80 points with less than 20 games remaining in the regular season. The Ducks have won an amazing 10 straight, including a 4-2 win on Sunday night against these Kings. That game was extremely intense and there's no question that this one will be as well. It's going to have a playoff-type atmosphere, and we like to look towards the UNDER in those instances. Both squads have been playing great defensively of late, with the UNDER going 9-1-1 in the last 11 games for the Kings. When these two meet up, we've also seen quite a few games go UNDER the total. In fact, the UNDER is 12-4-2 over the last 18 meetings in Los Angeles between these clubs. It's safe to say that this is the biggest game of the season for these two, and I fully expect an all-out war on the ice. This feels like a 2-1 type of game so we're on the UNDER.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #11 Tampa Bay Lightning over Ottawa Senators (7:35pm EST) If you're a Tampa Bay Lightning fan, you have to like what you've seen lately. Earlier this season, Tampa looked like they were in jeopardy of possibly missing the playoffs just one season after going to the Stanley Cup Final. But they are starting to look more like the team that represented the Eastern Conference, and fans can breathe a sigh of relief. The Bolts have won seven straight games to catapult themselves into second place in the Atlantic Division (also are 19-7 over their last 26 contests). The combined score of those seven wins was 26-12, and five of the seven were on the road - mostly against quality competition. Their defense has been the key, including some stellar efforts from goaltender Ben Bishop. Today they head to Ottawa to take on the Senators. The Sens have been drifting out of the playoff race recently, so this is a big stretch for them. I don't think they have enough talent on this squad to pull it out, as they're now five points away from the last playoff spot. Tampa Bay took two of the three meetings this season and I think they get a relatively easy win here tonight. Take the red hot Lightning in our Game of the Week.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

2-unit  Play Take #53 Chicago Blackhawks (-115) over Detroit Red Wings (8:05pm EST) Old division rivals will have at it on Wednesday as the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. Both of these teams have had choppy results of late, but I trust the Hawks more to get things back on track down the stretch. They have the proven track record of positioning themselves well before the postseason begins. If you believe that teams can just flip the switch, Chicago is the best example of it in the NHL. They also made some really nice moves at the trade deadline that should improve their team, bringing in some more veteran presence. The Blackhawks know Joe Louis Arena well and will have plenty of their fans traveling to see them, so I don't see a huge home ice advantage for Detroit. The Wings are a talented team but they are a little bit banged up at the moment. This one should be fun to watch, but I think there is a little bit of value on Chicago.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #14 Nashville Predators (-135) over Dallas Stars (8:05pm EST) The Dallas Stars had the best record in the NHL at about the halfway point of the season. But they've really struggled since then, and it's gotten worse over the last couple of weeks. They have just one win in their last seven tries and it's clear that they lack cohesion on the ice. Nashville, meanwhile, has put together four straight victories and looks poised for a run. They haven't played their best hockey yet, and I expect a strong finish from a team that plays the game the right way. Dallas comes into this one with zero rest, and will be playing their third game in four nights. They are 0-5 in the third game of those situations in their last five. This is just a case of two teams going in the opposite direction, and I like the home team to get the job done.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #12 Anaheim Ducks (-135) over Los Angeles Kings (9:05pm EST) Huge game tonight in the Honda Center as the Anaheim Ducks host the Los Angeles Kings. These two squads are separated by just four points at the top of the Pacific Division, with the Kings in the lead. A few weeks back Los Angeles had a much more comfortable lead, but the Ducks have been surging in a big way to make up a ton of ground. Anaheim is a ridiculous 14-1-1 over its last 16 games, including a current run of seven straight victories. Even more impressive is that 10 of those contests were on the road. This is the Ducks team we saw nearly get to the Stanley Cup Final last season before falling in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals to the Blackhawks. Anaheim is extremely tough to beat at home, as they own a 19-8-4 record at the Honda Center this season. Last season they finished with an impressive 26-12-3 home record. The Kings played last night at home versus the Sabres, so they aren't going to be as well rested as Anaheim. That could be a huge factor in a game that is sure to be intense. We'll go with the red hot Ducks to get the victory tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #64 Colorado Avalanche (-105) over Detroit Red Wings (8:05pm EST) The Colorado Avalanche host the Detroit Red Wings outdoor at Coors Field on Saturday night. It's part of the NHL's successful Stadium Series that has roped in more casual fans to the game of hockey. These games tend to be a little more intense than usual, with the players and fans really embracing the event. Expect more of the same tonight as two bitter rivals face off here. These two teams hate one another and the records almost don't matter when they hook up. Colorado took the game in Detroit a couple of weeks ago 3-2 in overtime, and there's no reason why they can't get the job done again here. Colorado is arguably playing their best hockey of the season right now, going 5-2-0 over their last seven contests. They were particularly impressive last time out versus the Sharks, where they outshot San Jose 41-33 in a 4-3 win. Detroit has dropped four of five, with the only win last time out in a shootout versus the putrid Blue Jackets. This should be a fun game to watch and should carry a playoff type atmosphere from the minute the puck drops at center ice. Take the home team Colorado Avalanche to pick up a win tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #3 Tampa Bay Lightning over New Jersey Devils (7:05pm EST) Last year's Eastern Conference champion is starting to finally round back into form. After a very slow start to the campaign (11-11-3 thru the first 25 games), the Tampa Bay Lightning are showing us just how talented they are. They've won four straight and have been climbing up the standings for the last couple of months. Today they head to New Jersey to take on the Devils. New Jersey seems to be headed in the opposite direction with four losses in their last five contests. They're teetering on the edge of a playoff spot in the East, but I don't think they have enough firepower to make it happen. The Devils are dead last in goals per game at just 2.23 on the season. Yes their defense is phenomenal, but you have to be able to put the puck in the back of the net to win in this league. This is a great matchup of strength versus strength, with a high-powered offense going up against a shutdown defense. I think the offense wins out in this one, so we're on the Lightning.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

2-unit Play Take #60 St. Louis Blues over New York Rangers (8:05pm EST) Good battle tonight between one of the top teams in the East versus one of the top in the West. More times than not, the Western Conference comes out on top in these showdown, as they have proven to be the much better conference for the last five or six years. Nothing should change tonight as the Blues are on a very nice run. They've won five of their last six games, and all of them were against playoff-caliber competition. Their only loss during that stretch was their last one against the Sharks, when Jake Allen was in net. He let up six goals while shaking off some rust in his first start in over six weeks. Normal goaltender Brian Elliott should be back between the pipes tonight versus the Rangers, and he's had a sensational season for the Blues. He's been even better in February as he's 7-1-1 with a 1.94 goals against average and a .936 save percentage. New York has put together another solid season, but they have scuffled quite a bit on the road. The Rangers have won just 12 of 29 away from home, and St. Louis' Scottrade Center isn't an arena they are too familiar with. The Blues have done well against Eastern Conference foes, including five straight winners. That trend should continue today, so our selection is St. Louis.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #3 Pittsburgh Penguins over Boston Bruins (7:35pm EST) The Pittsburgh Penguins head to Boston to take on the Bruins on Wednesday night. On the surface these look like two fairly evenly-matched squads. They have very similar records this season and have consistently been near the top in the Eastern Conference for a better part of a decade. But a deeper dive into the advanced statistics shows that Pittsburgh in the much better team here. Puck possession metrics are a great proxy for how strong a team is, and the Pens are currently eighth in the NHL in Corsi for the season (number of shots attempted). The Bruins are sitting at just 19th in the league in Corsi. Generally, the more shots a team attempts the better chance they will have to win. Thus, we should see the Penguins overtake Boston in the standings if these teams continue to play the way they have thus. Boston has just been more fortunate in getting more pucks in the back of the net due to a higher shooting percentage. This is just one metric, but it's certainly a powerful indicator and a big reason why we see value on the Penguins today. Pittsburgh has also won nine of their last 13 games, so we'll count on them to get the job done here once again.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #58 Toronto Maple Leafs over Nashville Predators (7:35pm EST) The Toronto Maple Leafs aren't going to the postseason this year, but they also are no longer the push overs that they've been for the better part of a decade. After a rough start to the season, new head coach Mike Babcock has this team believing it can be competitive. The results have been choppy throughout the season, but Toronto has had their fair share of bad luck along the way. No team in the NHL has a worse shooting percentage in the league than the Leafs, and that's a stat that generally regresses towards the mean. I expected a strong finish from Toronto down the stretch as they start to believe in the direction that Babcock is taking them. Tonight we get a nice home underdog price tag versus the Nashville Predators. The Preds have really struggled to live up to expectations this season, and they're barely hanging on to a playoff spot in the difficult Western Conference. They're probably going to be a little gassed in this one, as this is the second leg of a back-to-back for them. This also will be their fourth game in six nights, and four of their last six games have gone to overtime (including last night's shootout win). Take Toronto to pull out the win today.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

2-unit Play Take #5 Vancouver Canucks (+115) over Arizona Coyotes (9:35pm EST) Two awful teams will take the ice tonight in Phoenix. I don't recommend tuning in to watch tonight's Canucks-Coyotes game (it will be quite ugly), but that doesn't mean we can't make some money from a betting standpoint. Arizona is one of the biggest frauds in the sport right now. At the moment they'd just miss qualifying for the Western Conference playoffs, but don't expect them to be anywhere close when the curtains are closed on the regular season. The Coyotes have been outscored by 23 goals this season - which is the second worst goal differential in the conference ahead of only the Oilers. Arizona is a scrappy bunch that can sometimes grind out wins, but recently they've hit a wall with eight losses over their last 10 games. The Canucks are no great shakes either, but they rate better statistically and have beaten up on bad teams this season. They are 10-2-4 in their last 16 contests against teams with losing records and have also played well lately against familiar foes. Vancouver is 5-0-2 in their last seven against Western Conference opponents. This line should be closer to even, so we'll take the value with Vancouver.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit  Play Take #57 Tampa Bay Lightning (-130) over Edmonton Oilers (9:05pm EST) Huge mismatch today in Edmonton as the Oilers host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Yes the Lightning are struggling this season at just 19-17-4, but this team is capable of so much more. They represented the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Final last year with the same roster they have today. Tampa is ninth in the entire NHL in puck possession, so it's only a matter of time before more of those pucks find the back of the net. There's just too much talent on offense to shoot this poorly. They'll take on Edmonton, who is finally showing improvement after some really dreadful seasons. They check in at 17-21-3 overall, as the young guns are building some nice cohesiveness. However, they still have a long way to go before they can be considered a competitive playoff team. Tampa has fared really well against teams from the Pacific, despite the long travel. They are 14-6 in their last 20 games against teams in that division. Play Tampa to get the win today.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #11 Detroit Red Wings (+105) over San Jose Sharks (10:35pm EST) The San Jose Sharks have been one of the streakiest teams in the NHL over the last several seasons. When they are hot, you can ride them almost blindly. And when they are cold, you have to immediately look to the other side. And right now, they just can't seem to stop opposing offenses. The Sharks have won just four of their last 14 games, and are drifting out of the playoff race more and more by the day. Over that span, they are allowing a robust 3.5 goals per contest. Today they get the Detroit Red Wings, who are coming off of back-to-back wins on the road. This is the third game of a six-game trip - the last four on the West Coast. Detroit is familiar with those trips out West, from the time they spent in that conference for years before switching to the East a few years back. The road team is actually 5-1 over the last six games in this series, and I think that trend continues. Detroit is the better team and is definitely playing better hockey at the moment. Take the Wings tonight to get the victory.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

2-unit Play Take #60 Vancouver Canucks (-145) over Arizona Coyotes (10:05pm EST) The scrappy Arizona Coyotes got off to a surprisingly strong start this season. But now we're starting to see the lack of talent on the ice. The Coyotes have won just five of their last 15 games and have had some major issues on the defensive end of the ice. They've given up at least four goals in 10 of those 15 contests, with several games of 5+ allowed. If they can't play solid fundamental defense, Arizona has no shot to be competitive. They just don't have the offensive weapons that their Western Conference counterparts do and they don't have an elite goaltender to shut down opponents either. Today they get the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks are a hard team to figure out, as they're trying to stay in the hunt but also know they have to rebuild soon. There are too many veterans on this team to just mail it in, so I expect Vancouver to continue to battle despite mediocre play overall. The Canucks are actually tied for the final playoff spot in the Pacific division at the moment. Vancouver has won four of the last five meetings and the home team is 9-3 in the last 12 overall. Take the Canucks to get the job done here today.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #4 Pittsburgh Penguins (-160) over Toronto Maple Leafs (7:05pm EST) Good spot here for the Pittsburgh Penguins as they face a Toronto Maple Leafs on the second leg of a back-to-back. Pittsburgh has finally shown some life under new head coach Mike Sullivan, winning two of their last three and coming very close in the other. They've outshot their opponents 97-78 over those three contests and the defense has really tightened up. The Leafs have improved from where they were earlier in the year, but they are still the dregs of the Eastern Conference. They were waxed 6-3 by the Islanders last night and will play their third game in four nights (three on the road) tonight. This one feels like it could get out of hand, so we're on the Penguins here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #5 Pittsburgh Penguins (-120) over Colorado Avalanche (10:05pm EST) This one is a really simple handicap. We're taking the much better team at a small price on the road. The Pittsburgh Penguins aren't having a great season at just 14-10-2 coming into this one. But we all know the talent they possess. There was quite a bit of turnover in the offseason for Pittsburgh, so admittedly the team knew it would struggle a bit early on. But guys are getting more familiar with their teammates by the day, and I expect the Pens to be playing at a new level very soon. The Avalanche are 12-15-1 entering today's action, but they aren't even as good as that record indicates. Their puck possession numbers are amongst the worst in the sport and there are signs that head coach Patrick Roy is losing his team. This line is a bit depressed because the Avs have played a little better of late. But make no mistake here, Pittsburgh is clearly the much better team in this one. They deserve to be bigger favorites, so we are on the Penguins today.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #53 Carolina Hurricanes (+170) over New York Rangers (7:05pm EST) A quick look at Carolina's record of 8-11-4 and this looks very similar to last year's lackluster team. However, a closer look points to plenty of positives going forward. First off, the Canes are controlling the puck better than anyone else in the NHL. They have the best shot differential (all shots) in the league as they've built their team around puck possession. It hasn't paid immediate dividends, but Carolina will get back into playoff contention if they continue dominating the puck. They just haven't seen enough of their shots finding the back of the net so far. Meanwhile, the New York Rangers are off to a strong 16-6-2 start. However, they've dropped three straight contests and looked pretty bad doing it. They were outscored 12-4 in the three games and two of the three were at home. It's clear that the Rangers are the better team here, but this price is unwarranted. The Canes have a good chance of knocking off the Rangers tonight, so we're all over the big underdog price.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #5 Chicago Blackhawks (-165) over Edmonton Oilers (9:35pm EST) The Chicago Blackhawks haven't gotten off to their usual fast start, but they have a pretty good excuse. They were missing two of their top defensemen the first few weeks in Duncan Keith and Michael Rozsival. The Patrick Kane allegations also weighed on the team early on, and they had to deal with the dreaded Stanley Cup hangover. Despite all of the issues, the Hawks are still 10-7-1 and most of that stuff is in the rear view mirror. Chicago looked impressive in their last two wins against the Blues and Flames, and now they travel to Edmonton to take on a struggling Oilers squad. Once again Edmonton is off to a slow start at 6-12-0. The young guns just can't all seem to get on the same page and the team has been bitten hard by the injury bug. Future superstar Connor McDavid is out for several months, and the flu is going around the locker room right now. The Blackhawks should pick up an easy win here tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

2-unit Play Take Toronto Maple Leafs/New York Rangers  OVER 5 (-135) (7:05pm EST) The Toronto Maple Leafs aren't going to be a playoff team in 2015-16, but they're heading in the right direction under the tutelage of head coach Mike Babcock. After beginning the season 2-8-4, the Leafs have won three straight games against quality Western Conference teams. One of the reasons is they're opening up the offense and getting more shots on goal. They put 40 on the net in their win last night against the Canucks and seemed to thrive in a faster-paced style. The Rangers have won 10 of 11 and have been finding the back of the net often during their run. With both teams playing the second leg of a back-to-back, I think we'll see some lackadaisical effort on the defensive end. Take the OVER here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take San Jose Sharks/Buffalo Sabres OVER 5 (-125) (7:05pm EST) This is a vastly different Buffalo Sabres team than the one we saw just last year. The Sabres literally tried to slow the game down to a standstill last season because they were not capable of putting the puck in the back of the net. It worked at times, as they grabbed a handful of 1-0 and 2-1 kind of victories, but it wasn't a good long-term strategy. But in the offseason, Buffalo added a ton of firepower including in the 2015 NHL draft. Now they're in the top 10 in shots on goal per game (they were dead last a season ago). The betting markets haven't adjusted for Buffalo's new style of play, as the totals on their games have been at 5 in nearly every game. Today they get the San Jose Sharks, a team that has struggled a bit offensively this season. However, Buffalo has been vulnerable defensively and they don't have anything remotely close to an elite goaltender in net. I see this as an up tempo type of game that could get over the total early on. Play the OVER in this one.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #4 Philadelphia Flyers over Colorado Avalanche (7:05pm EST) We're about a month into the 2015-16 season, which has given us a pretty good sample to start assessing the long-term prospects of each of the 30 NHL teams. One thing for certain is that the Colorado Avalanche are the worst team in the sport, and it's not particularly close. They're just 4-9-1 on the season, but even that isn't an accurate reflection of how bad they've been. The Avs have been absolutely dominated in puck possession time and just can't stop anyone defensively. There are also some signs that head coach Patrick Roy's intensity may be wearing on some guys in the locker room. They have just two wins in their last 10 games and today they travel to Philadelphia to take on the Flyers.

Philadelphia isn't exactly having a banner season either, but they've endured a pretty tough schedule thus far. They've been on the road for the last couple of weeks, and now they return home with a couple of days of rest. They were impressive in their last game in Winnipeg, getting a 3-0 victory in one of the toughest places to play in the league. I think the Flyers have a big edge in the net tonight. Michael Neuvirth is coming off of that shutout in Winnipeg and has easily been their top goaltender this season. He has a ridiculous .945 save percentage and a 1.81 goals against average. The Avalanche turns to backup goalie Reto Berra, who has been good this season but doesn't have a very good track record throughout his career. The Flyers are the better team overall and this line should be about 20 cents higher. Take Philadelphia as our Game of the Week.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #6 New York Islanders (-140) over Boston Bruins (5:05pm EST) It's going to be a few years before the Boston Bruins get back on track and become a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference once again. They just have too many aging veterans and not enough young stars on the rise. They come in at 6-6-1 thru 13 games, knowing that it's probably going to get worse before it gets better in Beantown. Today they have a tough spot against the New York Islanders. Boston played last night in Montreal where they dropped their third straight contest. Now they have to wheel back for an earlier Sunday game in New York against a well-rested Islanders team. New York has had two days off to prepare for this one, and they have the better talent. This line isn't too far off from where it should be, but there's some value to be had. Take the Isles.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #5 Dallas Stars (-120) over Carolina Hurricanes (7:05pm EST) The Dallas Stars are one of the forgotten teams in the loaded Western Conference. They haven't made much noise the last few seasons, but that's about to change this year. After making some really nice acquisitions in the offseason, the Stars have a roster capable of a deep playoff run. They're off to a quick 10-3-0 start and the betting markets haven't quite caught up yet. Today they take on a Carolina Hurricanes team that once again is off to a slow start. They're just two points away from the cellar in the Metropolitan division and have had a lot of problems putting the puck in the net. They've scored more than three goals in a game just once in their 12 contests. That puts a lot of pressure on goaltender Cam Ward, who is no longer one of the top goalies in the sport. His save percentage is far below the league average at just .907 this season. When you adjust for power ratings and the difference in leagues, the price on this game should be at least 20 cents higher. Take Dallas to pick up an easy win.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #16 Winnipeg Jets (-110) over Los Angeles Kings (8:05pm EST) The Kings have won five straight games, but something still doesn't look right in Los Angeles. In their eight games, the Kings have been outscored by a goal and have barely outshot their opponents overall. This is for a team that is usually near the top in puck possession and dominates the flow of the game. It's unclear if Daryl Suter just isn't getting through to his players, or if there is some bigger internal issue going on. Maybe this group of veterans is just pacing itself for the long season ahead. Whatever the case, the Kings are vulnerable right now and aren't to be fully trusted. They will have a tough matchup on Tuesday as they head into Winnipeg for their fourth game in six nights (three of which were on the road). The Jets have one of the top home ice advantages in the sport and are well rested on top of it. The Jets have been home for nearly two weeks and have looked good early on this season. They are 5-2-1 in their eight games and have a +7 goal differential - the second best mark in the Western Conference. This line should be at least 10-15 cents higher, so we're taking the value with Winnipeg.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #56 Chicago Blackhawks over Anaheim Ducks (8:35pm EST) Tonight we'll see a rematch of the Western Conference Finals where the Blackhawks beat the Ducks in seven games. That was a very even series that really could have gone either way, with three games being decided in overtime (two won by the Hawks). Something tells me that tonight's game won't be nearly as competitive, as we have two teams going in opposite directions early on in the season. The Anaheim Ducks have been an absolute mess so far with just one win in seven contests. They've been outscored 20-6 overall and just haven't been able to get anything going offensively. They lost 3-0 on Saturday night in Minnesota and were outshout 30-15 despite trailing for virtually the entire contest. At some point, Anaheim is going to figure it out as they're just too talented to struggle like this. But in the meantime, we can take advantage of a team that looks truly lost on the ice right now. Chicago has won three straight and have outshot their opponents in every game but one this season (in the lone exception they were outshot 36-35 by the Islanders).They're a little banged up without Duncan Keith and Michael Rozsival, but the other guys have stepped up on a deep Hawks squad. That's been the status quo in Chicago for years, as different guys can beat you on different nights and you never know where the goals will come from. Take Chicago against an Anaheim team that looks lifeless right now.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

2-unit Play Take #2 New York Rangers over San Jose Sharks (7:05pm EST) The San Jose Sharks are playing their fourth straight road game on the East Coast and are ready to head back home after this game. With five road games in their first six contests, it's likely we won't see a normal effort here from the Sharks. They were blown away 6-3 in their last game against the Islanders, in a game that was tied 3-3 and got away from them late possibly due to fatigue. San Jose is also without one of their top guys in Logan Couture, who was injured on the trip. He'll miss 4-6 weeks and is a huge loss for the team. The Rangers play their second game in two days, but yesterday's contest was a matinee and was also at home. As a result, we shouldn't see much of an effect. New York is still the class of the Eastern Conference and comes into this game completely healthy. The Rangers have also fared well against the Western Conference the last couple of years, especially versus Pacific division foes. I like New York to take this one at home.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #14 New York Islanders over San Jose Sharks (7:35pm EST) Great spot here for the New York Islanders as they host the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night. The Sharks come in on the second leg of a back-to-back, playing their third of four games on an East Coast road trip 2,000 miles away from home. Not only that, their game against the Devils last night went into a shootout where the Sharks won 2-1. They'll likely be a bit fatigued with all of the traveling so early in the season, and now playing in two straight nights after overtime the night before. To make matters even worse, they just lost one of their top players in Logan Couture for 4-6 weeks. The Islanders, meanwhile, last played on Thursday at home versus Nashville. They should be well-rested and ready to give the Sharks their first loss of the season. The Isles are 2-1-1 to start the season, against a pretty tough schedule (twice versus Chicago, Winnipeg and Nashville). The betting markets have clearly identified this as a nice spot for New York, but the line hasn't been bet up quite enough. Play the Islanders in this one.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #55 Columbus Blue Jackets over Buffalo Sabres (3:05pm EST) The Columbus Blue Jackets are still searching for a win after an 0-2-0 start to the season. But fear not, the Buffalo Sabres are next up on the schedule. Yes the Sabres are going to be much better than they were last season, but that's not saying much. Buffalo was dead last in the NHL with only 54 points in 2014-15. They have more firepower on offense, especially with rookie Jack Eichel on the ice. But it's still going to take time before Buffalo gets past the doormat stage. The Blue Jackets closed last season on a 15-1-1 run, and have a nice young core that should be able to get them into the playoffs this season. They had a tough opening to this season, facing the Rangers in a home-and-home, and weren't able to pick up any points. But there's no shame in losing to possibly the best team in the Eastern Conference. This is a fairly big price to lay on the road, but the value is still on Columbus.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #62 Dallas Stars over Pittsburgh Penguins (8:35pm EST) The Pittsburgh Penguins have long been one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference and nothing is going to change this season. The Pens made some nice moves in the offseason, including bringing in winger Phil Kessel from the Leafs. But Pittsburgh had a housecleaning of sorts, turning over close to half of the roster in terms of time on ice. The moves should pay off, but the question is how long will it take for the chemistry to form. I don't think it happens on Opening Night, so the Dallas Stars are in a good position to grab a win tonight. The Stars kept their roster mostly intact, but had a couple of key additions to try to get them over the hump. Patrick Sharp and Johnny Oduya bring their winning ways from the Blackhawks to the Stars for this season. Dallas clearly underachieved last year, but they are a veteran team that should bounce back. Take Dallas here.

3-unit Play Take #53 Winnipeg Jets over Boston Bruins (7:05pm EST) It's tough to imagine the Boston Bruins as a bad hockey team, as they haven't finished below .500 since the 2006-07 season. But after a season in which they didn't make the playoffs, and a roster that gets another year older, it looks like the Bruins are going to get worse before they get better. A new management team is in place and there figures to be some substantial changes to come. The rebuild is already in motion with Dougie Hamilton, Milan Lucic and Carl Soderberg moving on in the offseason. Coach Claude Julien is still here, but he has an extremely difficult job ahead of him in Boston. This team still wants to win now, but they have to keep one eye on the future. On paper, it looks like this team will undoubtedly take another step backward with their losses and several aging veterans. The Winnipeg Jets, meanwhile, seem to be trending in the other direction. They put together a fantastic 2014-15 season and were able to qualify for the playoffs in a difficult Western Conference. The Jets have a really nice core and have many players right in their prime. They'll be in the hunt for a postseason berth once again this season, and are the much better team in this matchup.

The Tampa Bay Lightning somehow find themselves trailing in a series where they have clearly been the better team overall. Every game has been tight and just about every game could have gone either way with a bounce here or bounce there. That makes the line on tonight's game very curious, as the Blackhawks are getting way too much respect. Yes they have been here before, but you can't play subpar hockey on the biggest stage and expect to continue winning. Tampa goaltender Ben Bishop looked great in net in Game 5 as many worried about his mysterious injury issue. If he plays like that once again, the Lightning will even up this series and force a Game 7. This line is just way too high for two teams that are so evenly matched. Take Tampa Bay at the big underdog price.

The Stanley Cup Final is tied 2-2, but it's clear that one team is playing much better than the other. The Tampa Bay Lightning has been the aggressor in this series and are outplaying the Blackhawks overall. They let one slip away in Game 1 after leading the whole way, and the Lightning could have easily tied it up in Game 4 down the stretch. In their wins, they played better and earned them. The one negative going for Tampa is that the Blackhawks do usually play better as a series evolves, but I think the Lightning can negate that disadvantage with how well they are playing. The line on this game should be about 10-15 cents higher, so we'll gladly take Tampa at home at the low price.

10-unit Play Take #5 Tampa Bay Lightning over Chicago Blackhawks (8:05pm EST) If you watched the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final, it wasn't hard to see that the Tampa Bay Lightning were the better team. They led for nearly the whole way in Game 1 before giving up two late goals to fall 2-1. In Game 2, Tampa trailed for less than two minutes and was able to hold on 4-3. Coming into the series I had the Lightning rated almost the exact same as the Hawks, so any line that got too high was going to force a play on the underdog. That's the situation tonight as Chicago is getting a little bit too much respect here. I've stated many times that their playoff experience and big time players always come up huge when they need it. But we're still early in this series and I feel like Tampa is playing so much better at the moment. Value is with the Lightning and that's where we'll go tonight in Game 3.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take Chicago Blackhawks/Tampa Bay Lightning OVER (8:05pm EST) We saw a fairly slow pace in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final and I expect that to change in Game 2. The Lightning prefers to get up and down the ice with some nice pace as they were the top scoring team in the NHL this season at 3.16 goals per game. The Hawks don't mind playing that way either with plenty of talented skaters on their roster. The first game was a bit slow as these teams were just feeling things out in the first game of the Stanley Cup Final. They only see each other twice a season and there are always some extra nerves on a stage as big of this. Game 2 won't see as much as that, so we should see plenty of more scoring chances. Neither goalie has been having a superb playoff run, and both have shown some major vulnerability at times. Don't be surprised if one of these guys gives up a couple of quick goals on Saturday night. Take the OVER in this one.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #2 Tampa Bay Lightning over Chicago Blackhawks (8:05pm EST) We won't reiterate all of the points from above, but the Lightning are a great wager in Game 1 for many of the same reasons as we have mentioned. In addition, the Blackhawks are a team that generally gets better as a series goes along. They've been a little slow out of the game to open a series over the last few years, so I think Tampa Bay can take advantage of that on their home ice. Speaking of home ice, Tampa was a league-best 32-8-1 at home during the regular season. Tampa gets the win in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

10-unit Play Take #77 Chicago Blackhawks over Anaheim Ducks (8:05pm EST) We were victorious with Tampa Bay in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals last night, and we'll look to do it again in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals tonight. We've mentioned it a couple of times throughout the series, but the Blackhawks are a team that has always gotten better as a playoff series has progressed. In fact, they are 17-1 under Joel Quenneville after a series is tied 2-2 (only loss was to Anaheim in Game 5). That's really impressive and I'm not sure if you give more credit to Quenneville for his adjustments or the players for stepping up when it matters most. It's probably a little bit of both, but either way the Hawks play their best when everything is on the line. The Ducks have probably outplayed Chicago overall this series, but that it's not enough to put a ton of stock into it. I feel like all of the pressure is on Anaheim tonight as they had the series lead 3-2 and are at home for Game 7. Chicago won't be intimidated and will find a way to win this game. Take Chicago as the underdog.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take New York Rangers/Tampa Bay Lightning OVER (8:05pm EST) It's Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final and the first contest that is an elimination game. The Lightning leads the series 3-2 after getting by the Rangers in the Game 5 by a 2-0 final score. While we anticipated a low-scoring affair in that one, we think tonight could see a return to the high-scoring ways from earlier this series. Games 2-4 yielded a total of 25 goals scored as both teams opened things up quite a bit. We probably won't see it quite that open again, but both of these teams are willing to take chances when they are down early. Given that this is an elimination game, we could also see a lot of action late in the third period. That would include a goalie coming out of the net with several minutes to go and an open net goal or two. Those are both big pluses for the OVER and we think the game can get over that five goal threshold.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #69 Chicago Blackhawks over Anaheim Ducks (9:05pm EST) Under Joel Quenneville, the Blackhawks are 16-0 after a series is tied 2-2. I'm not a huge trend guy, but this one speaks volumes about why Chicago seemingly always finds themselves in a deep playoff run. They get better as the series goes on. They have one of the best coaches in the league and a veteran group of guys that are extremely smart. Nobody does more on the analytics and scouting side than the Hawks do, and that serves them well in a long series. This series has been about as even as could be thus far, but you have to give the experienced Hawks the nod the rest of the way. There's no reason they should be this big of an underdog tonight. Take Chicago.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take Tampa Bay Lightning/New York Rangers UNDER 5 (-105) (8:05pm EST) We've seen plenty of good scoring chances and lots of goals scored in this series so far. Each of the last three games has gone soaring over the total, but that should change tonight. The series has gotten more physical as it has went along and the defenses will be better prepared to game plan after witnessing some gaping holes in their own end. I don't expect to see 60+ shots like we have in each of the last three contests. This game should play out more like Game 1 where there were a total of 54 shots on goal in a 2-1 Rangers win. As a result, we'll take a shot with the UNDER here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #66 Chicago Blackhawks over Anaheim Ducks (8:05pm EST) We missed with the Blackhawks in Game 3, but we've done extremely well in their games throughout the playoffs. Over the years the Hawks have risen to the occasion when they really need a win. And tonight they really need a win at home as they trail 2-1 in the series and will have to head back to Anaheim for Game 5. The last two games were extremely tight and could have easily been won by either team. But I expect Joel Quenneville to have his guys ready as he has been great following a loss throughout his tenure in Chicago. This one is about playoff experience and mental toughness - two areas where the Hawks have a significant edge. Take Chicago tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #62 Chicago Blackhawks over Anaheim Ducks (8:05pm EST) The Ducks and Blackhawks are coming off an epic Game 2 that went to triple overtime and was the longest game in Chicago's 90-year franchise history. The Hawks prevailed 3-2 and it's going to be very tough for Anaheim to turn around, head to Chicago, and put that loss behind them. Anaheim is a mentally tough team, but this is probably the ultimate challenge. Chicago probably didn't deserve that win as they were outplayed in the overtime periods overall. But now back home the Hawks have to be feeling great about the split in Anaheim. Chicago has yet to lose a postseason game at home this year and I don't see their first loss coming tonight. The Blackhawks are actually 27-9 in their last 36 home games against top echelon road teams (teams with .600+ road winning percentage). Playoff experience is a huge factor in this series and could ultimately be the difference. Chicago knows how to rise the occasion and play their best with all of the chips on the table. I like Chicago to take the series lead tonight in Game 3, and we're tabbing it as our May Game of the Week.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take New York Rangers/Tampa Bay Lightning OVER (8:05pm EST) We cashed the OVER in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final and there's no reason we shouldn't get there again on Wednesday night. Everyone knows that the Lightning like to play an up tempo style and get a lot of shots on net. They were tops in the NHL in scoring this season with 3.16 goals per game. But most people don't realize that the Rangers were right behind in third place with 3.02 goals per contest. They don't mind playing in a high-scoring affair with Tampa Bay. Game 2 was a 6-2 blowout by Tampa and the Rangers will definitely put more effort on the defensive end this time around. But they also know that they need to score more to win this series as they only have four goals in the two games. Getting plus money at a total of five definitely has some value. Play OVER the total in this one.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #57 Chicago Blackhawks over Anaheim Ducks (9:05pm EST) The Chicago Blackhawks dominated the early parts of Game 1 but just couldn't get the puck past Anaheim goaltender Frederik Andersen. The Hawks held a 16-7 shots on goal advantage in the first period but found themselves in a 2-0 hole early on in the second period. If they play the same way tonight, the Hawks should be able to get a win against the Ducks. Chicago has more playoff experience than just about any other team out there, so they know how to bounce back from tough losses. Head coach Joel Quenneville is also one of the better coaches at making adjustments throughout a series, so I expect Chicago to have some new wrinkles to keep Anaheim on their toes. Take the Blackhawks to even up this series tonight.

4-unit Play Take Tampa Bay Lightning/New York Rangers OVER (8:05pm EST) The Tampa Bay Lightning led the NHL in goals per game this season with 3.2 per contest. The New York Rangers checked in at 3.0 goals per game - good enough for third in the entire league. So it's a big surprising to see a total of 4.5 goals posted in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final. Yes the teams played to a 2-1 final in Game 1, but the first game of a new series is usually played at a slower pace as the teams feel one another out. The Lightning know they are going to have to push the pace and get a lot more scoring chances to win a game in New York. The Rangers don't mind getting up and down the ice either. I expect Game 2 to be a much more open game and we should see a lot more premium scoring chances as a result. Let's go OVER the total in this one.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #53 Tampa Bay Lightning over New York Rangers (1:05pm EST) The Eastern Conference Final gets underway in Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon. This should be a great series that could go the distance, but the Tampa Bay Lightning have a distinct advantage in Game 1. The New York Rangers just wrapped up a hard-fought series with the Capitals on Wednesday night. That series went the full seven games as the Rangers roared back after trailing 3-1. The amount of energy spent was enormous and they won't be as well rested as Tampa is. The Lightning finished their series against the Canadiens on Tuesday, giving them a full three days of rest to prepare. Tampa also took all three games against the Rangers during the regular season by a combined score of 15-7. Take the fresher legs of the Lightning in Game 1.

4-unit Play Take Washington Capitals/New York Rangers UNDER (7:35pm EST) It's Game 7 at Madison Square Garden of a hard-fought series between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers. Outside of an outlier in Game 6, goals have been extremely hard to come by in this series. That's because both Braden Holtby and Henrik Lundqvist have turned in extraordinary efforts throughout. We always see the defensive intensity rise in Game 7's, and there also aren't as many penalties called by officials historically. That accomplishes two things. First, it limits the amount of power plays throughout the game. Second, it lets the defenders get away with more to limit scoring chances. We've had three games end in a 2-1 final this series, and I think there's a great chance we see that kind of score again. Take the UNDER.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #145 Montreal Canadiens over Tampa Bay Lightning (7:05pm EST) The momentum has fully shifted in this series, as the Montreal Canadiens are the team that looks to be in control despite trailing 3-2. Montreal has outshot in the Lightning in every game this series and it's now at a 173-127 margin in the five games. Carey Price is one of the best goalies in the world and that's obviously a huge advantage for the Habs as well. It's quite surprising this line is so high given how this series has played out. Montreal has clearly been the better team overall and they have the momentum right now. Take the Canadiens at a really nice underdog price here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take New York Rangers/Washington Capitals UNDER (7:05pm EST) Both goaltenders have been on their game during the series between the Rangers and Capitals. Henrik Lundqvist has been unbelievable during the entire playoffs. In 10 games he has a 1.55 goals against average to go along with a ridiculous .942 save percentage. Braden Holtby has been equally as impressive with a 1.51 goals against average and a .951 save percentage. The scores of the first five games of the series have been 2-1, 3-2, 1-0, 2-1 and 2-1. There's no reason to expect tonight's Game 6 is going to be any different than the rest of the contests. If anything, things will tighten up even more and there will be less quality scoring chances than in previous games. That's what usually happens in a long series between teams that know each other well. The total is lower than usual, but we still like UNDER in this one.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #12 Montreal Canadiens over Tampa Bay Lightning (7:05pm EST) The tide is turning in this series as the Canadiens finally broke through in Game 4. But not only did they win the game, they dominated all 60 minutes in a 6-2 win. That's the kind of game that starts to put some doubt in your opponent, and I think the Canadiens can take advantage of that in Game 5 tonight. Tampa won the first three games of the series, but two of those contests could have easily gone to Montreal if they got a bounce here or there. These teams are very evenly matched and I think the Canadiens will prevail on their home carrying some momentum into Game 5. Take Montreal as our 10-unit Game of the Week.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #6 New York Rangers over Washington Capitals (7:05pm EST) It wasn't supposed to be this way, but the Rangers find themselves down 3-1 in their series against the Washington Capitals. Every game in this series has been extremely close and the Rangers could easily be the ones up 3-1 if a bounce or two goes their way in a couple of games. New York has been the better team for throughout the regular season and we can't lose sight of that. The Caps are playing good hockey, but so much of that has been riding on the shoulders of their goalie Braden Holtby. The Rangers have a lot of veterans on their team and has won many tough playoff games like this in recent years. The same can't be said of Washington, so I think they'll be a little bit uneasy for this one. Take the Rangers to win at home and extend the series.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #2 Tampa Bay Lightning over Montreal Canadiens (7:05pm EST) Very tough spot for the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. They trail the series 3-0 and have to come right back after losing a heartbreaker in Tampa last night. The game was tied 1-1 late when Tyler Johnson of the Lightning scored with just two second remaining in regulation to win it. The Canadiens have one of the best goaltenders in the world in Carey Price, but he's not enough to win against a great Lightning team. The Canadiens have scored a total of just four goals in the first three games of this series and that's not going to cut it. Take Tampa Bay to close out this series and advance.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take Montreal Canadiens/Tampa Bay Lightning UNDER (7:05pm EST) The Montreal Canadiens are in desperate need of a win after dropping the first two games of the series on their home ice. They were bombed 6-2 in Game 2 and know that they will to slow down the Tampa offense if they are going to have any chance in this series. The Lightning actually hasn't put a ton of shots on goal versus the Canadiens, but a lot of them have been quality chances. Goaltender Carey Price is one of the very best in the league and even he admits he'll need to play better for his team to have a chance. I expect Wednesday's game to be a tight, low scoring affair. It's the only way the Canadiens have a chance. I'm not sure if Montreal can win this game, but I think it's a 2-1 type of game. Take the UNDER in this one.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #70 Minnesota Wild over Chicago Blackhawks (8:05pm EST) Game 3 between the Blackhawks and Wild goes tonight as the series shifts to Minnesota. The Hawks were the better team in the first two games, but not by a very wide margin. Game was tied 3-3 before the Hawks got a late goal in the second period. Minnesota had several chances to tie it up in the third and was the better team for long periods of time early on. In Game 2, the Hawks won 4-1 but the final score wasn't indicative of how hotly contested the game was. One of the goals by the Hawks was an empty netter and Minnesota had their chances in the third period once again. Going to the Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota is going to have a dramatic impact on Game 3. The Wild has some of the craziest and loudest fans in the NHL and they'll be as fired up as they have been all season on Tuesday night. I don't usually put too much weight on home ice advantage in the NHL playoffs, but this is a big exception. The home team is 20-7 over the last 27 meetings between these two clubs, so obviously home ice has played a significant role in recent years. I expect the Wild to get off to a fast start and hold on for a win here. Play Minnesota as our 8-unit NHL Playoff Game of the Week.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports