Sports Picks & Predictions

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

3-unit Play Take New York Rangers/Washington Capitals UNDER (7:35pm EST) Don't expect many goals in Game 3 tonight between the Rangers and Capitals. These teams battled to a 2-1 decision in Game 1 after the Caps scored with one second remaining on the clock. In Game 2, the Rangers got two early goals and were able to hold on 3-2 despite a ferocious attack by Washington. This series is going to get more physical as it evolves and I think both teams are comfortable just waiting for their spots on offense. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a 1-0 or 2-1 game tonight, so we're definitely playing the UNDER here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take Minnesota Wild/Chicago Blackhawks OVER (8:35pm EST) The Minnesota Wild prefer to play fast and the Blackhawks don't mind that kind of style. The two teams combined for 68 shots on goal in Game 1 and were able to get seven of those past the respective goaltenders. Neither goaltender is that elite category and I don't see either of them being able to shut down the fast-paced offensive attacks. The first game went OVER the total very early in the second period and I wouldn't be surprised if this one cashes early on as well. The betting markets haven't made much of an adjustment, so we're on the OVER once again.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-Unit Play. Take #53 Minnesota over Chicago (9:35 p.m., Thursday, April. 30)

This will be the third consecutive year the Wild and Blackhawks face each other in the Playoffs. Minnesota hopes that this third time they will be the victor and move on. The Wild just played a great series and beat maybe the best team in the West in the St. Louis Blues. While the Blackhawks eliminated the higher-seeded Predators. Both series went 6 games. While the Blackhawks haven't changed much over the last year the Wild have. The Wild now have Devan Dubnyk, a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, who already shut out the Blackhawks on Feb. 3 and allowed only one goal on April 7. He holds a 1.78 GAA and is playing at a championship level. I also like how this Wild team plays on the road. They are 17-4 in their last 21 games away from home. The addition of Thomas Vanek has been crucial in their success and I believe he and Dubnyk are the difference makers this time around. This series is going to be close but I am going to give the edge to Minnesota with their new additions. Crawford has been awful in his last two appearances and trust Dubnyk over him right now. Crawford holds a 2.27 GAA and has given up 8 goals in his last two starts. Look for the Wild to take game one in Chicago. 

3-unit Play Take #55 Washington Capitals over New York Rangers (7:35pm EST) For the fourth time in five years the Washington Capitals will meet the New York Rangers in the playoffs. And the last two times they met, the series went seven games with the Rangers winning both times. So it's safe to say that these teams know each other quite well - especially considering there hasn't been very much roster turnover for either squad. One thing to consider for Game 1 is that the Rangers haven't played in nearly a week after dusting off the Penguins in just five games. There's going to be some rust, and I think the Capitals can take advantage of that. New York also comes in a tad overrated after knocking off a really banged up Pittsburgh team that wasn't anywhere near 100%. The Capitals were tested in their series versus the Islanders and that should serve them well as they enter this series. This is going to be a hotly contested series and I see Washington having a great chance to grab Game 1. Take the underdog Caps here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take Tampa Bay Lightning/Detroit Red Wings UNDER 5 (+110) (7:05pm EST) There's only one way to play Game 7 of the Lightning and Red Wings tonight, and that's to go UNDER the total. Over the last five postseasons, there have been 24 series that went to a Game 7. In only seven of those 24 did the game go over the total. Nobody wants to make a big mistake and give up an easy goal in such an important game, so both teams generally slow it down and play conservatively. Most of the intensity on the ice is also directed towards the defensive end. This series has seen just two of the first six games go over the total. Game 6 was a 5-2 Lightning win, but the teams combined for just 51 shots on goal for the game. If we see a similar effort tonight, I expect the goalies to perform better. This one feels like a 3-1 final, so we're going with the UNDER at a plus price.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #19 Tampa Bay Lightning over Detroit Red Wings (7:05pm EST) We cashed a ticket on the Lightning in stunning fashion in Game 4, and we like them again tonight for many of the same reasons. The Lightning has been the better team all season long and they've played better than the final scores indicate during this series. Tampa is coming off an embarrassing 4-0 loss at home and I see a big bounce back performance in Game 6. Take the Lightning to extend this series to a Game 7.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #11 St. Louis Blues over Minnesota Wild (3:05pm EST) Game 6 gets underway in Minneapolis on Sunday afternoon as the Wild hosts the Blues. This series has been a true back-and-forth momentum shifting series. The Wild grabbed Game 1 and the teams have alternated wins since then. I usually wouldn't put too much stock into a short-term trend like that, but the scores in these games have not been close. These two teams have just taken turns dominating the other. St. Louis was the slightly better team during the regular season, and I think they find a way to even up this series and force Game 7. Take the underdog price with the Blues here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #8 Calgary Flames over Vancouver Canucks (9:05pm EST) It hasn't been a pretty series on any level but somebody has to win it. The Flames and Canucks play Game 6 tonight in Calgary. The Flames have the 3-2 lead and they've been the better team by virtue of how poorly the Canucks have played so far. There have been missed assignments on defense, poor passing and an overall lack of aggressiveness by Vancouver. The Flames have had their share of mistakes as well, but I have more confidence in them finding a way to get the job done. That's what they've done all year. The Flames win ugly despite what the stat sheet says at the end of the game. I expect we'll see more of the same tonight and the Flames move on to the next round of the playoffs. Take Calgary.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take Pittsburgh Penguins/New York Rangers UNDER 5 (-125) (7:05pm EST) It's Game 5 of the series and three of the first four games have ended in a 2-1 score. The Rangers have been great at slowing down a potent Pittsburgh offense and keeping the shots to a minimum. In fact, the Pens haven't exceeded 25 shots on goal in any of the first four contests. With the goalies playing well on both sides, this one is destined for another 2-1 type of final. Play the under with confidence.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #73 Tampa Bay Lightning over Detroit Red Wings (7:05pm EST) It's not quite a must-win for the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight, but it's certainly close. They find themselves behind 2-1 in a series where they have been the better team in two of the three games. Game 3 was easily won by the Wings, while Game 2 was all Lightning. But in Game 1, the Lightning dominated play from beginning to end but fell short of a victory 3-2. I'm not a huge believer in must-win games or motivation in the playoffs, as both teams certainly want to win this game just as badly as the other. However, Tampa Bay has proven in this series, and throughout the 82-game regular season, that they are the superior squad. During the regular season, they were 37 goals better than the Wings and won three of the four meetings. So far the Lightning has outshot the Red Wings 98-59, and I expect to see more of that domination tonight. Take Tampa as our Game of the Week.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #62 Chicago Blackhawks over Nashville Predators (9:35pm EST) If you want to find the turning point in this series, look no further than the first period of Game 1. That's when coach Joel Quenneville pulled goalie Corey Crawford in favor of Scott Darling. Darling would go on to make saves on all 34 shots he saw that game in a double overtime winner for the Hawks. Crawford was given another chance in Game 2 and the Hawks were subsequently blown out. That made it an easy choice to go back to the guy who looked unbeatable in Game 1, and Darling was magnificent again in Game 3. So here are in Game 4 as Chicago now has the guy they want in net from here on out. The Predators, on the other hand, are reeling after losing star defenseman Shea Weber to a foot injury. Center Mike Fisher could also miss this game. The Preds don't have the firepower that the Hawks do, and I think Chicago rolls at home once again.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #56 Winnipeg Jets over Anaheim Ducks (9:05pm EST) It's been a thrilling series between the Anaheim Ducks and Winnipeg Jets thus far. The Jets took one-goal leads heading into the third period in both games, but the Ducks were able to fight back and win both games late. Things are going to be different this time around however. The series shifts to Winnipeg, which is one of the most hostile environments for opponents to play in. These teams are extremely evenly-matched, so home ice may be the difference in most of the games in this series. I like what I've seen from Winnipeg, and if they can cut down on the penalties they have a shot to come back and win the series. You figure they'll get a couple of calls there way at home, so I think the Jets win this one.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #36 Chicago Blackhawks over Nashville Predators (3:05pm EST) The series heads back to Chicago tied at one a piece between the Blackhawks and Predators. Nashville has been the better team overall thus far. They lead 3-0 in Game 1 until they blew the lead and lost in double overtime. They cruised 6-2 in Game 2 and were clearly the more aggressive club. But there's a big difference heading into tonight's game and that's in the goal. The Hawks have made the switch to goaltender Scott Darling after two straight horrible performances by Corey Crawford. Darling was the savior in the first game in a relief role in net. He stopped all 34 shots he saw and allowed the Hawks to get back into the game and eventually win it. Chicago has been here before and they should have lots of confidence with a hot Darling backing them up. Take the Hawks this afternoon.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #28 Tampa Bay Lightning over Detroit Red Wings (3:05pm EST) No team dominated in Game 1 of the playoffs like the Tampa Bay Lightning did the other night. They controlled the entire game against the Red Wings and outshot them 46-14. They executed their gameplan nearly flawlessly and showed why they are one of the Stanley Cup favorites. The only problem - they didn't win Game 1. The Wings beat them 3-2. If we see anywhere near the same effort by the Lightning in Game 2, they should coast to an easy win. Take Tampa Bay to even up the series tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

7-unit Play Take #24 Vancouver Canucks over Calgary Flames (10:05pm EST) The Vancouver Canucks look to even up the series in Game 2 against the Calgary Flames on Friday night. The Canucks really gave one way in Game 1, as they led 1-0 heading into the third period before surrendering two goals in the final 12 minutes of the game to lose 2-1. Vancouver was the better team in that game and they also played better down the final stretch of the regular season. They finished the regular season on a 12-5-1 run behind strong defensive play and some great efforts by goaltender Eddie Lack. The Flames were one of the most fortunate teams in the NHL this season. Despite having some of the worst puck possession statistics, Calgary was able to seemingly always find a way to score a late goal to win a game. It's hard to consistently play bad the first two periods and rely on a third period comeback. I think the Canucks grab an early lead in Game 2, and this time they hold it. Take Vancouver as our Game of the Month.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #14 St. Louis Blues (-140) over Minnesota Wild (9:35pm EST) See our analysis of the series below. The Blues have more playoff experience and I think they get the series started with a winner in Game 1.

3-unit Play Take #6 Nashville Predators over Chicago Blackhawks (8:35pm EST) The Stanley Cup Playoffs have arrived and we have a couple of great opening series matchups. One of those is in the Central division where the Nashville Predators go up against the Chicago Blackhawks. These teams were separated by just two points this season and both have struggled a bit down the stretch. One of the reasons that Chicago hasn't played as well was the loss of Patrick Kane. He's one of the igniters on offense and the Hawks struggled to score without him. He's coming back for Game 1 tonight, but I think it may take him a game to get his legs underneath him and get into the flow of the offense. Playoff series often come down to goaltenders, and I have a lot more confidence in Pekka Rinne than I do Corey Crawford. Both have been off their game of late, but Rinne had a lot better season overall and is capable of shutting down even the best offenses. The Preds are at home for this first game and I expect them to grab the win.

10-unit Play Take #66 Carolina Hurricanes over Detroit Red Wings (7:05pm EST) The Detroit Red Wings don't have much to play for today. They are in the playoffs. But they have several key guys banged up, so it would be silly if the team risked putting them out there for this one. Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Jurco are all listed as questionable. If they do play it will be limited minutes just to get out there and see how they feel. The Carolina Hurricanes have long been out of the playoff picture, but they have been playing hard down the stretch. They are 4-4-1 in their last nine games and three of the losses were be a lone goal. After starting the season a disastrous 0-6-2, the Canes haven't been nearly as bad as their final last place showing. This game doesn't matter, but with Detroit banged up I think Carolina gets the job done.

5-unit Play Take #51 Ottawa Senators over New York Rangers (7:05pm EST) The Ottawa Senators have been fighting for their playoff lives over the last few weeks. And they've been doing a very good job fighting. The Sens are 19-4-3 in their last 26 games, after everyone has written them off for dead. They have played a ton of close games during that stretch, but someone has stepped up huge each night to score a big goal or make a great defensively play. Good teams play well under pressure, and Ottawa is proving they belong in the postseason. Tonight they go up against a New York Rangers team that has everything locked up and is resting some guys. The Rangers will be the top seed in the Eastern Conference no matter what happens over the next two games. Rick Nash and Marc Staal will sit this one out to get some rest, and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist will get the start in goal. Goaltender Cam Talbot is definitely the hotter goalie, but he's taken a back seat since Lundqvist returned from his injury. The move had to be made, but it could throw off the chemistry this team built up over the last couple of months. Ottawa is desperate for another win today, and I think they get it against a Rangers team that doesn't care. Take the Senators as our Game of the Week.

4-unit Play Take #52 New Jersey Devils over New York Rangers (7:05pm EST) Not much motivation here for either team. The New York Rangers have had the Metropolitan Division wrapped up for some time, while the Devils haven't been in the playoff race. These teams played a few days back in New York and the Rangers came out on top 5-1. This is good rivalry and I expect New Jersey to come out with a huge effort after getting embarrassed. The Rangers played a game last night and it went into overtime. The Devils are well-rested and it should be easier for them to make adjustments for this one after just playing the Rangers. We'll take the home underdog tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #7 Los Angeles Kings over Vancouver Canucks (10:05pm EST) The defending champion Los Angeles Kings are in a must-win situation and no one should bet against them getting it done. No team in the entire league has risen to the occasion like the Kings have over the last years when they really needed a win. Whether it was in the playoffs are down the stretch in the regular season, the Kings have always played big when they needed it most. Part of the reason is big-game goaltender Jonathan Quick, who has been a rock in the net for Los Angeles. He's put together a strong effort in back-to-back games (one goal allowed in each) and I have all the confidence that he does it again in Vancouver tonight. The Canucks are currently three points ahead of the Kings and beat them a couple of weeks back in Los Angeles 4-1. It was a terribly flat game for the Kings and there's no way they let that happen again. Coach Daryl Suter will have his team focused and get the win here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #6 Winnipeg Jets (-135) over Vancouver Canucks (3:05pm EST) Big game this afternoon for the Winnipeg Jets as they are currently on the outside looking in as far as the Western Conference playoff picture goes. However, they are tied for the final spot (lose the tiebreaker with the Kings currently) and a strong finish should get them in. They have five games remaining and they'll get the Vancouver Canucks in this one. Vancouver hasn't clinched a playoff spot just yet, but one more win probably does the trick. I like the fact that the Jets have had three full days to prepare for this important game. Coach Paul Maurice echoed those sentiments stating, ?We need the rest. We have a long list of things that will get cleaned up over two or three days.? The Canucks, on the other hand, are playing their fourth game in six nights and will no doubt be a bit winded this late in the season. The Jets have been good at home the last couple of years and have won 9 of 13 there heading into this one. I expect a huge effort from Winnipeg and a victory as a result.

2-unit Play Take #56 Dallas Stars over St. Louis Blues (8:35pm EST) The Dallas Stars aren't going to the Stanley Cup playoffs this year. But they haven't given up on the season either. The Stars are 8-2-1 in their last 11 games and are playing their best hockey of the entire season. They host a St. Louis Blues team that has already clinched a playoff spot and is a bit banged up. Star winger Vladimir Tarasenko is out with a lower body injury and center Vladimir Steen is questionable as well. The Blues are not looking very good on the ice of late, dropping five of seven. Scoring goals has been a struggle during their swoon, as St. Louis has averaged only 2.1 goals per game. Dallas has won six of the last eight meetings and I like them again today at the low price.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Toronto Maple Leafs/Buffalo Sabres OVER 5.5 (+110) (7:35pm EST) Two of the worst clubs in the NHL go at it tonight in Buffalo as the Sabres host the Maple Leafs. Teams out of playoff contention generally don't have the same intensity on defense, and neither one of these teams has a good defense to begin with. The Sabres have been really aggressive on offense lately as they've scored at least three goals in four straight contests. Toronto's defense has been especially poor over the last few weeks, so I expect a lot of chances on that end. These teams have went Over in four of their last five meetings, so this game should be no different. Take the Over 5.5 in this one.

3-unit Play Take #10 Detroit Red  Wings over Ottawa Senators (7:35pm EST) It will be a playoff-like atmosphere in Detroit as the Red Wings host the Ottawa Senators tonight. Neither team has been playing particularly well of late however. The Wings have dropped five of seven and the Sens have lost three straight. With so much on the line, I just trust Detroit much more than I do Ottawa. The Red Wings have been in this position so many times over the years, and they've always played well down the stretch to qualify for the playoffs. In fact, they've made the postseason in an unprecedented 23 straight seasons. If you take a look at their recent play, the Wings have been playing better than the results indicate. They have gotten quite a few scoring chances while letting up some easy goals to their opponents at the same time. I expect goalie Jimmy Howard to step up big for this one and get the win.

3-unit Play Take #8 Carolina Hurricanes (+120) over Boston Bruins (8:05pm EST) The Carolina Hurricanes are playing good hockey, but it's simply not being recognized. That's because they've had more than their share of bad luck and the final scores haven't really been indicative of their effort. We mentioned yesterday that the Canes have outshot their opponents in 20 of their last 23 games. Last night they did it once again as they cruised against the Devils 3-1. Carolina is now a respectable 11-10-3 in their last 24 games and clearly hasn't thrown in the towel on an otherwise disappointing season. They'll get an overrated Bruins team today. Boston has dropped six of seven contests and looks completely lost on the ice of late. They are hanging onto the last spot in the playoffs at the moment, but I'm not sure they are going to be able to keep it. For the season, they've only outscored their opponents by four goals. This isn't a Bruins team that we're accustomed to seeing, so we get a nice value on Carolina based on reputations alone. Take the Canes as home underdogs today.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #66 Carolina Hurricanes (-130) over New Jersey Devils (7:05pm EST) They're not making any headlines with their play, but the Carolina Hurricanes haven't given up despite being out of playoff contention. The final scores have been quite deceiving, but a closer look shows that the Canes are playing good hockey. In their 23 games dating all the way back to February 5th, Carolina has outshot their opponents in 20 of those contests. They are only 10-10-3 in those games, but that's still markedly better than they played earlier in the season. Tonight they're at home versus the New Jersey Devils and I think the line on this one is at least 10 cents too low. Take Carolina at a reasonable price.

4-unit Play Take #4 Carolina Hurricanes (+160) over Chicago Blackhawks (7:05pm EST) This isn't the same Chicago Blackhawks club that we've become accustomed to seeing the last few years. That's because their dynamic forward Patrick Kane has been out of the lineup for the last few weeks. Chicago has been in a tailspin offensively ever since, and I'm not sure how they get out of this funk. They're averaging just 2.30 goals per game since Kane's absence, and have been shut out three times in 10 games (including their last contests versus Dallas). Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes have been out of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference for quite some time. But that hasn't impacted their level of effort on a nightly basis. This team has been playing hard in every game despite not seeing the end game results. They've dropped six of seven, but three of those losses were in overtime/shootout. Carolina has outshot their opponents in an amazing 21 of their last 22 games. That doesn't happen by accident and it's simply because they've been trailing in many games. The Canes are a better team right now than they've been all season. I can't make much sense of the line on this game. Carolina is a very live underdog and we'll gladly take them as a big home underdog.

5-unit Play Take #11 New York Islanders (-145) over New Jersey Devils (7:05pm EST) Great spot tonight for the New York Islanders as they take on the New Jersey Devils. The Islanders have dropped four straight games and have scored just one goal in each of their defeats. And during that downfall they've been passed up in the standings by their rival the Rangers, and now the Penguins and Capitals are just two points behind. With just a few weeks left in the regular season, the Isles can't afford to keep dropping games. Luckily for them they have a good chance to turn things around against a terrible Devils team. We're getting a very good line in this one due to the streaks that these two teams are on. The Isles, as we mentioned are riding a four-game losing streak, while the Devils are on a three-game winning streak. But don't be fooled by the results. The Islanders haven't looked awful in their losses and the Devils were fortunate to come away with a couple of their wins. You have to look past final scores sometimes, and this game is a perfect example. Under normal circumstances, the Islanders are a solid -170 or -180 favorite in this game. So we'll gladly take the discount for our Game of the Week.

3-unit Play Take New Jersey Devils/Buffalo Sabres UNDER 5 (-120) (7:05pm EST) This isn't a game that's going to be pretty to watch, but the Devils and Sabres present a pretty good betting opportunity tonight. Neither one of these teams has been able to muster much offense this season, and it's only gotten worse as the season has worn on. New Jersey is 28th in the NHL at just 2.23 goals per game, while Buffalo is dead last at 1.80 per contest. With two teams out of contention, I'd usually look towards and Over. But with these two squads, I don't think they have enough firepower to take advantage of defenses that might not be giving a full effort. The time these two met, the Devils won 2-1 in a shootout. And in the last 54 meetings between these clubs, the Under is 31-14-9. Expect more of the same tonight. Play Under the total.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play  Take #6 Florida Panthers (-105) over Montreal Canadiens (7:35pm EST) We still don't believe much in the Montreal Canadiens this season. They rely far too heavily on goaltender Carey Price and without him they are a below average squad. This is the second game of a back-to-back for Montreal, so Price is likely going to sit this one out. That means backup Dustin Tokarski gets the start, and that's a significant downgrade in net. Since shaking up the roster at the trade deadline, the Canadiens have been severely outplayed in nearly every game. They are 2-6 in their last eight contests and have managed to score only 1.63 goals per game during that stretch. They'll need to do better than that today in Florida, but I like the Panthers right now. Dan Ellis has taken over in goal due to injuries, and the team has responded in a big way. They've won three of four and are playing really good hockey. Give me the home underdog in this one.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #54 Tampa Bay Lightning over Montreal Canadiens (7:35pm EST) The two top teams in the Atlantic Division will face off once again as the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Montreal Canadiens. The Lightning trail the Habs by two points heading into tonight's matchup, so this one should have a playoff type atmosphere. These teams hooked up last week and the Lightning won 1-0 in overtime. They were certainly the better team in that matchup as they outshot the Canadiens 36-19 overall. With tonight's game in Tampa, it's hard to envision the outcome being any different. Montreal has been struggling since shaking up their roster at the trade deadline. They've dropped five of seven games and have really struggled putting the puck in the back of the net. Over that span, they have averaged just 1.57 goals per game. They have one of the best goaltenders in the world, so they're in every game. But I don't think they'll have enough to get the job done today. Take Tampa here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

2-unit Play Take #1 Dallas Stars (+165) over Washington Capitals (7:05pm EST) The Dallas Stars haven't quite given up on a chance at the postseason. They've won four out of five games and are currently seven points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. They head into Washington tonight to take on the Capitals in a big game for both teams. The Caps are hanging on to the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but they aren't playing very well at the moment. They are just 3-5-0 in their last eight contests and have had some huge defensive lapses over the last couple of weeks. The Stars have owned the Metropolitan division this season, going 10-3-1 in their 14 meetings. They are the better team right now and I'm surprised to see such a big underdog price tag on Dallas. We'll look to take advantage tonight with the Stars.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3 Unit Play. #562 Take Old Dominion -6.5 over Middle Tennessee State (3:30 pm) The Monarchs are on the bubble and need to take care of business in the early rounds of the 2015 Conference USA Basketball Tournament. The Blue Raiders beat the Monarchs in overtime in the only match-up this season but Old Dominion has been playing great down the stretch winning six straight games. MTSU is 3-8 ATS (1 push) in their last 12 neutral site games. Old Dominion has covered the spread in their last 6 victories.

Best of Luck – Doc’s Sports

4-unit Play Take #5 Anaheim Ducks over Calgary Flames (9:35pm EST) Don't be fooled by the Calgary Flames and their 36-25-5 record this season. They aren't that team right now and never really were. Despite that solid record, the Flames have been thoroughly outplayed in a majority of their games this season. They are similar to what the Colorado Avalanche was last season when they won the Central division despite some horrible numbers on paper. All you have to do it look at the last four games for Calgary and you can see how phony they really are. They've been dominated in each of those contests games by Philadelphia, Boston, Detroit and Ottawa and somehow came away with a 3-0-1 record. They were outshot by a combined 23 shots in those games and looked completely lost on the ice at various times in each contest. Eventually that catches up with you and we'll continue to look for opportunities to bet against Calgary. The Anaheim Ducks are also an overrated team, but I like the moves they made at the trade deadline and they are playing good hockey right now. Take Anaheim in what should be an easy winner.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #53 New York Rangers (+100) over New York Islanders (7:05pm EST) Nobody is playing better hockey right now than the New York Rangers. They are 10-1-2 over their last 13 games and are coming off an impressive defensive effort at Chicago. Now they'll play their arch rival the Islanders in a big showdown in the Metropolitan division. These teams are separated by just three points for first place, with the Isles on top. The Rangers can close that gap to just one point with a win today and I like their chances to do it. They are on the road, but there isn't much of a home ice advantage when these two teams hook up. In fact, the road team has won 10 of the last 12 games in their series. The Rangers have also been great inside the Metropolitan division, going 35-16 in their last 51 games. With the roll they are on, they should be the favorite in this contest so we'll gladly pull the trigger on the Rangers tonight.

4-unit Play Take #8 San Jose Sharks (+100) over Pittsburgh Penguins (10:05pm EST) The Pittsburgh Penguins head into San Jose in the midst of a brutal West coast road trip. This will be their fourth game in six nights on the trip after heading to Denver, Anaheim and Los Angeles. They've won two of the three games on the trip, but it's tough to say how much steam they'll have left at this point in the season. The Sharks aren't an easy team to go up against without your legs. It's been a difficult season for San Jose, as they continue to battle to get back into the playoff race. But after 10 consecutive trips to the postseason, I'm not counting them out to make a strong run down the stretch. They have a veteran-laden team that knows how to pace itself and when to kick it into high gear. They should be pumped up for tonight's matchup and I expect a big effort from the Sharks. Take San Jose as a home underdog tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #61 New York Rangers (+125) over Chicago Blackhawks (7:35pm EST) Marquee matchup tonight in Chicago as the Blackhawks host the New York Rangers. The Rangers definitely come in as the hotter of the two clubs, going 9-1-2 over their last 12 contests. The offense has really been clicking for New York over that stretch as they have averaged 3.75 goals per game during that span. The Hawks, on the other hand, have been searching for offense since they lost star forward Patrick Kane to injury. They've managed just 2.5 goals per game since missing him. I expect them to continue to struggle a bit on that end as Kane is a huge igniter for the offense. The Rangers have been road warriors over the last couple of years and have won 28 of their last 38 away from Madison Square Garden. I feel like this line should be closer to a pick based on how these two teams have been playing lately. So we'll take the Rangers at a nice plus price today.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #18 San Jose Sharks (-160) over Vancouver Canucks (10:05pm EST) The Vancouver Canucks are currently sitting in second place in the Pacific division, but their playoff hopes are tenuous. They are only two points away from being on the outside looking in, and they haven't looked good on the ice over the last month or so. They are just 10-9-1 over their last 20 games and have outscored their opponents by just eight goals on the entire season. I also wasn't impressed with what they did at the trade deadline. With an aging roster and concerns on both sides of the ice, it's just a matter of time before we see the Canucks fade out of the playoff picture. For San Jose, they are currently out of the playoffs and four points behind Vancouver. This is a huge game for them, as was their last one - a 6-2 win in Vancouver against these same Canucks. The Sharks dominated that game and I expect more of the same tonight in San Jose. I expect the Sharks to fight their way into the playoff picture and tonight they make another statement.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #61 Pittsburgh Penguins (+100) over  Anaheim Ducks (10:05pm EST) The Pittsburgh Penguins make their lone trip to Anaheim to take on the Ducks tonight. Both of these teams made some good moves at the trading deadline to improve their already strong rosters. But Anaheim has more new faces than anyone, and this is almost like a completely new team with so much turnover. They should be better in the long run, but I expect the Ducks to struggle over their next few games with lack of chemistry. The Pens have won four of their last five games as they look to secure a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. We've documented it before, bu the Ducks have been one of the luckiest teams in the NHL this season. In one goal games, they are an amazing 26-0-7 this season. That fact alone has Anaheim a bit overrated as far as power ratings go. Pittsburgh is the better team overall and we like them to come away with the road win tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #12 Nashville Predators over New York Islanders (8:05pm EST) Great matchup here as we get one of the best teams in the East versus one of the top dogs in the West. Couple of reasons we look towards the home team Predators here in this one. First off, the West has dominated the East over the last few seasons. So when we get a matchup that appears fairly even on paper when looking at records, points, etc., the West always gets the nod due to the tougher competition in their conference (not unlike the NBA). In addition, the Islanders made a few moves at the trading deadline that may affect team chemistry in the short-term. I don't like the way the Isles looked in Dallas in their last game - a 3-2 loss in overtime. I think they were the right moves for the team long-term, but I expect them to struggle in the early going. The Predators have been one of the most consistent teams all season long, but they are in the middle of their longest losing streak of the season - four games. They are a resilient bunch and I don't see them letting this losing streak affecting them negatively. In fact, I think it motivates them even more and we should see a really good effort tonight versus a tough opponent. Pekka Rinne got a much needed day off in the last game as well, so I think he'll have a good effort after struggling a bit recently. Take the Predators tonight in Nashville.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #55 Pittsburgh Penguins over Colorado Avalanche (10:05pm EST) The Pittsburgh Penguins make their first and only trip to Denver tonight to take on the Colorado Avalanche. These two teams are coming into this matchup with two completely different attitudes after the trade deadline. The Penguins made a couple of really nice additions to their defense in Ben Lovejoy and Ian Cole on Monday. For the Avalanche, they unloaded more talent than they brought in as they look to the future. It wasn't really a surprise to see the direction these clubs went at the deadline, but it doesn't always hit home for the players until they start to see the locker room shaken up. The Avalanche have endured a miserable season after winning the Central division last year. They are currently in the basement and I don't anticipate head coach Patrick Roy can do anything else to motivate his team to play its best. For the Pens, it's all about playoff positioning. They are currently in third place in the Metropolitan division, but are only three points behind the Rangers for second and just four points behind the Islanders for first place. That's a huge difference when it comes down to hosting a series and getting a much easier opponent in the first round. Pittsburgh is playing really good hockey at the moment with four straight victories. They've outscored their opponents 18-9 collectively in those games and seem to playing with a lot of confidence. Pittsburgh should cruise in this matchup, so we'll take them as our Game of the Week.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

2-unit Play Take #61 Toronto Maple Leafs over Montreal Canadiens (7:05pm EST) There's no question who the better team is in tonight's matchup between the Maple Leafs and Canadiens. The Leafs' season has been over for a while as they are near the cellar. The Canadiens are sitting atop the Eastern Conference with 85 points. But this is a heated rivalry, and I expect an intense back-and-forth kind of game between these two. The Leafs are coming off two straight wins against the Jets and Flyers, which has their confidence starting to build. They had previously lost five straight games, but all of them were by a lone goal and they easily could have one a couple of them. Included in that bunch was a 2-1 shootout loss to the Canadiens in Montreal. Now two weeks later they meet again in the same city. This line is just a bit too high given the circumstances, so we'll take a shot with the big underdog here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #3 Boston Bruins over New Jersey Devils (7:05pm EST) The line on tonight's Bruins/Devils game probably would have been about right if these teams played two nights ago. But that was before the Devils traded away veteran Jaromir Jagr to the Panthers. While Jagr isn't exactly posting world-class numbers anymore, he is still was one of the leaders in New Jersey. A lot of the players on the team looked up to him and there will definitely be some sadness to see him leave. The Devils have been out of contention for quite some time, but they had been playing well with four straight victories before a loss on Wednesday versus the Flames. But I think the Jagr loss is going to take the wind out of their sails, making things easier on Boston in this one. The Bruins find themselves actually fighting for a playoff spot in the East for the first time in years. They've dropped seven of eight games heading into tonight's action, but they know they need to get back on track quickly to make a run at the Cup. Boston wins this one going away.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #57 Chicago Blackhawks over Florida Panthers (7:35pm EST) We liked the Blackhawks quite a bit in this game before certain events took place on Tuesday, and now we like them even more tonight against the Panthers. These two teams squared off in Chicago a couple of days ago with the Hawks winning 3-2 in a shootout. But that was just a side note to the big news coming from that contest. Chicago forward Patrick Kane was cross-checked by Panthers defensemen Alex Petrovic and injured his left shoulder in the process. Kane is one of the most dynamic players in the sport and surely will be missed as he might miss the rest of the season. But I like backing teams in their first game without a star, as many of the other players rally together and step up to fill the void right away. On top of that, the Hawks should be extra fired up considering the circumstances of how Kane went down. Florida has dropped three straight and have managed to score just a total of four goals in those games. This is their first game back home after a five-game road trip, so it won't feel like a true home game since they've been traveling so much. Chicago is the much better team, has the motivation and should get the money today. Take the Hawks as our 5-unit Game of the Week.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #62 St. Louis Blues over Montreal Canadiens (8:05pm EST) Two clubs near the top of their respective conferences square off in St. Louis as the Blues host the Canadiens. Both teams have been playing pretty well of late and are in a good spot as we head down the stretch run in the regular season. The line on this game seems pretty reasonable at first glance based on the won/loss records on the respective squads (Montreal has 81 points and Blues have 80). But there are a plenty of areas where St. Louis has the edge tonight. First off, by simply looking at goal differential you can see that the Blues are at +40 and the Canadiens at +26. That doesn't seem like a huge difference, but it's pretty sizable - especially considering the difference in schedule strength. The Blues have played a much tougher schedule this season than Montreal has by virtue of being the Western Conference. The West has been a superior conference for the last several years, and has dominated interleague competition as a result. The Blues also fare much better in advanced statistics such as puck possession and some of the shooting percentage metrics. The Canadiens do have the edge in goal, but that is generally an overrated aspect of hockey handicapping. This will be a measuring stick type of game for both teams, and I just envision St. Louis coming out on top. The Blues have won five of the last six meetings between these two and tonight should be no different.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take Vancouver Canucks/New York Islanders OVER 5.5 (-105) (6:05pm EST) Two tired teams go at it on Sunday evening as the New York Islanders host the Vancouver Canucks. The Islanders will be playing a rare fifth game in seven nights on the ice tonight. Most teams will only endure a stretch like that once in season because it's so grueling. To make matters worse, they played and overtime and shootout round in their last game at Washington - a 3-2 loss. The Canucks will be playing their third game in four nights - all on the road. So why do we point out the fact that these teams will be a bit tired for this one? Its' because tired teams tend to relax a bit on the defensive end. That leads to premium scoring chances for opponents and makes for a high-scoring game quite often. In addition, the Canucks haven't seen a game go under the total in their last 12 contests. All 12 have either gone over or been a push. That trend should continue tonight in a game that has 4-3 written all over it.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #7 Winnipeg Jets over Toronto Maple Leafs (7:05pm EST) We're at the point in the season where certain teams have come to the realization that they won't be playing playoff hockey. The Toronto Maple Leafs are definitely in that boat. They are sitting at 23-31-5 with 51 points and are 14 behind Boston for the final playoff spot. In these situations, some teams continue to fight hard to until the end while others start losing interest down the stretch. It appears the Leafs are the latter, as they have lost 17 of 18 games and have looked lost on the ice at times. Their last five losses have all been by a single goal, which just adds to the frustration. They've tried shaking things up here and there, but nothing seems to be working for them. They get a motivated Winnipeg Jets team tonight. The Jets are sitting in one of the final playoff spots in the Western Conference right now, but there are several teams on their heels. I like how Winnipeg has overcome a ton of injuries this season as it has allowed lots of lesser known guys to step up. It's made the team closer and that should bode well down the stretch. If Winnipeg was in another division, they'd probably stand out a lot more this season. But they've played an extremely difficult schedule and aren't drawing much fanfare behind the Predators, Blues and Blackhawks in the Central division. The Jets should win this one going away in Toronto.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #4 New York Rangers over Vancouver Canucks (7:05pm EST) Head coach Alain Vigneault goes up against his former team the Vancouver Canucks tonight in New York. Since taking over the Rangers, these two teams have headed in opposite directions. The Canucks have gone from a team you could count on for the playoffs to one that is barely hanging on in the playoff race. Age has a lot to do with the decline, but losing Vigneault was an underrated reason as well. He has the Rangers in second place in the Metropolitan division as they look to defend their Eastern Conference crown. The Rangers have won four straight and have been a juggernaut on the offensive end of the ice. They've scored at least five goals in each of those four wins. The offense was asked to step up when goaltender Henrik Lundqvist went on the injured list, and so far so good. Backup goalie Cam Talbot has looked shaky at times, but if the offense keeps playing like this it won't matter. I like the Rangers to get the win tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #52 Ottawa Senators over Montreal Canadiens (7:05pm EST) It's hard not to be impressed with what the Montreal Canadiens have done this season. At 37-15-4 with 78 points, they currently lead the way in the Eastern Conference. There's also no question who the MVP of this team is - Carey Price. The 27-year old goaltender is having his best season ever with an absurd .935 save percentage and 1.93 goals against average. It's difficult to quantify exactly how much he's worth to his team, but we'll get a glimpse of that tonight as Price gets a rare day off. That means backup Dustin Tokarski will man the net versus the Ottawa Senators. Tokarski's numbers aren't awful, but they are still a huge step down from Price's. Without Price, this becomes a mediocre team that is very beatable - especially on the road. The Senators are still holding out hope that they can get back into the playoff hunt with nearly 30 games still remaining. They've had trouble stringing together victories, but tonight we just need to get one for us to cash a ticket. Ottawa was hammered 6-3 in their last game versus the Hurricanes, but the good news is that they have responded well following those types of losses. They are 6-1 in their last seven games following a home loss of three or more goals, and are 4-0 in their last four games after allowing five goals or more in their previous game. I like the home underdog tonight versus the backup goaltender.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #12 Nashville Predators (-160) over San Jose Sharks (8:05pm EST) Before the season started, it would be hard to envision a line this high in tonight's matchup between the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators. If anything, you could have maybe seen San Jose as the favorite in this price range, but the tables have definitely turned. The Preds come in with one of the best records in the NHL and are looking like a serious Stanley Cup candidate. One of the reasons that I like them in this matchup is because both teams have strong home ice advantages. In fact, Nashville is an amazing 24-3-1 at home this season so far. Coach Peter Laviolette has really transformed this Nashville team into a well-balance club that plays both sides of the ice aggressively. It also doesn't hurt that he has one of the best goaltenders in the world in Pekka Rinne. The Sharks, meanwhile, are on the decline and barely holding onto the last playoff spot in the Western Conference right now. They have a -1 goal differential on the season and I fear that their window of opportunity is closing fast. This price is high, but I think Nashville notches yet another win tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #52 New York Islanders over New York Rangers (7:05pm EST) The line on tonight's New York matchup between the Islanders and Rangers appears about right on first glance. But in a huge game in the Metropolitan Division, I give the Islanders a slight advantage for two reasons. First off, Henrik Lundqvist is out for the Rangers. Cam Talbot has done a really good job in his absence, but in a game like this you want the best and Lundqvist is still on the injured list. The Islanders have also been really good at home this season at 20-6-0. They are also 22-4 in their last 26 divisional games, which is a pretty amazing statistic. They clearly play their best hockey against the teams they are most familiar with, and tonight they play their arch rival. This one should be nip and tuck, but I think the Islanders come away with the win.

4-unit Play Take #9 Tampa Bay Lightning over San Jose Sharks (8:05pm EST) The San Jose Sharks have consistently been near the top of the standings in the Western Conference for nearly a decade. This season they find themselves in second place in the Pacific and on their way to their 11th straight playoff appearance. But make no mistake, this team isn't as good as the former editions. The enter today's game with only a +2 goal differential on the season. But even more revealing, they've played one of the weakest schedules in the league so far. The Sharks are an aging team and their window for winning a championship is closing fast. However, they're still getting tons of respect in the betting markets. The Lightning come into town today and is a much stronger team overall. They have the second best goal differential in the Eastern Conference at +30 and are more balanced than ever. They have the top offense in the NHL at 3.19 goals per game and their defense has improved markedly from prior seasons. Usually I would look toward the West in an inter-conference matchup like this, but the Sharks are a bit overrated based on their prior success. We'll take Tampa Bay at a fair price.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Winnipeg Jets/Detroit Red Wings OVER 5.5 (+120) (7:05pm EST) We'll go to the well with another Winnipeg Over tonight versus the Red Wings.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #1 Philadelphia Flyers (+110) over Columbus Blue Jackets (7:05pm EST) Tonight's game between the Flyers and Blue Jackets could be an ugly one. But that doesn't mean we can't find some value and cash a ticket. We like the Flyers in this one for a couple of reasons. First off, Philadelphia is playing much better at the moment and hockey is a game of momentum. They've won five of their last seven contests with both losses coming in overtime/shootout. I've been really impressed with the Flyers' defense lately. They are allowing just 1.86 goals against over their run and that has included games from both goaltenders. The Blue Jackets have dropped five of their last seven at home and are without their starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Both teams are a little banged up for this one to be fair, but the Flyers have a little bit better depth and can withstand injuries better. This one should be a close but I like the Flyers as underdogs here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10 unit Play Take #52 Carolina Hurricanes over Anaheim Ducks (7:05pm EST) Nice matchup tonight between an overrated team and an underrated one. The Anaheim Ducks fit the mold of the overrated team very well. Anaheim is an unreal 23-0-7 in games decided by a single goal this season. That's hard to fathom, but the Ducks have managed to squeak by nearly every close game. They can't sustain that rate of winning close games, so regression is definitely in order. This is a middle-of-the-road team masquerading as an elite one. The Carolina Hurricanes, on the other hand, are better than their last place 19-26-7 record indicates. They show up well in most of the advanced statistics and suffered through a lot of injuries early on. They're healthy now and I expect them to finish the season much better than they started it. The Ducks are dealing with injuries right now that are fairly significant - Jakob Silfverberg and Hampus Lindholm. Take the Hurricanes tonight as a home underdog.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #2 Chicago Blackhawks over Vancouver Canucks (8:05pm EST) We don't usually venture into the territory of large favorites, but when we do it's because we see extreme value. Tonight we've found an opportunity that  fits the criteria and it's the Chicago Blackhawks against the Vancouver Canucks. A couple of things line up nicely for a play on the Hawks tonight, and it starts with the fact that Chicago is coming off of a tough loss to the Coyotes. This has been a resilient team over the last few years and they usually come with focused efforts after losing a game - especially with how the last game went down. Chicago thought they had won the game in overtime versus the Coyotes when a puck appeared to cross the line, but was ruled a no goal after review much to the dismay of head coach Joel Quenneville. Tonight they get a Vancouver team that is 6-21 in their last 27 road games against teams that have a home winning percentage of .600 or higher. The Canucks also haven't exactly been playing inspired hockey of late as they're just 8-11-0 in their last 19 games. They're currently holding onto the 8th playoff spot in the Western Conference, but I would be shocked if they don't get passed by the Kings in the coming weeks (currently have a 3-pt lead in the standings). The Hawks are looking to avenge a 4-1 loss to Vancouver earlier this season and I think they get the job done tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #66 Nashville Predators over Tampa Bay Lightning (8:05pm EST) The Nashville Predators host the Tampa Bay Lightning in a game featuring the top two teams in each respective conference. The Preds lead the Western Conference with 76 points, while the Lightning lead the East with 73 points. On paper, it seems like this is a fairly even matchup as both teams carry a +34 goal differential on the season. But that's until you start taking a closer look at the schedules that these teams have played so far. Nashville, residing in the West, has played the 8th toughest schedule in the NHL. But Tampa Bay, playing the majority of its games against weaker Eastern Conference foes, has played the 3rd easiest schedule this season. That's a big difference and enough to give the edge to the Preds as far as the better team. Moving on, the Preds have also been a freight train at home this season. In their 25 contests for the 2014-15 season, they are an impressive 21-3-1. In contrast, Tampa Bay has struggled on the road this season at 12-11-4. Another big edge to the Preds. Finally, Nashville has won four of the last five meetings between these two. We'll take Nashville to get the job done here.

4-unit Play Take Chicago Blackhawks/Winnipeg Jets OVER 5.5 (+100) (8:05pm EST) Once again we go to the well and play an Over in a Winnipeg Jets game. That trend is now 19-5-3 over the Jets' last 27 games. Tonight they are home against the Chicago Blackhawks. These teams hooked up about three weeks ago and the Jets won it 4-2 in Chicago. Before that they met in December and the Jets came away victorious once again 5-1. I have a feeling the Hawks will come a little more prepared for this contest, but we shouldn't have a problem getting to six goals or more. The Over has hit in four of the last five games for Chicago. In games against Western Conference foes, the Over is 11-5 in the Hawks last 16 games. No reason to back down from these strong trends. Take the Over here again.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #10 Nashville Predators over Anaheim Ducks (8:05pm EST) You won't find a much better matchup between a team that is vastly underrated versus one that is highly overrated. The Nashville Predators are tied for the most points in the entire NHL and enter today's contest at 33-11-6. But they're still not regarded as one of the elite teams in the league. Most expect them to flounder down the stretch or in the playoffs, but I just don't see it. Their puck possession and goal differential strongly support continued success, and they may have the best goaltender in the world as well. Pekka Rinne returns to action tonight after missing some time with an injury. The Preds will face the team they are tied with for the most points in the NHL tonight - the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks have had a fantastic season, but there aren't many numbers that support continued success. Anaheim had a mediocre +11 goal differential, doesn't possess the puck a ton, and don't have an elite goaltender. So how is it that they are tied for the most points in the NHL? Well, it's actually quite a bit of luck. Anaheim is an unreal 23-0-6 in games decided by a single goal this season. That's hard to fathom, but the Ducks have managed to squeak by nearly every close game. They can't sustain that rate of winning close games, so regression is definitely in order. This is more like a middle-of-the-pack kind of team, while the Preds are truly elite. This line is about 20 cents too short, so we'll take the small home favorite here. Go Preds!

4-unit Play Take Winnipeg Jets/Vancouver Canucks OVER 5 -130 (10:05pm EST) We sound like a broken record, but once again we'll go with the Over in a Winnipeg Jets game since it's been so good to us over the last six weeks or so. Jets' games are now an unbelievable 19-5-2 to the Over in their last 26 games. And the best news of it all is that the betting markets haven't adjusted for it yet. Winnipeg has been forced to play a new style with multiple injuries to their defense, and it requires them to play more aggressively on offense. Now they're healthy, but I think the team prefers this new brand of hockey and the results are certainly confirming it. They'll play Vancouver on the road tonight, which is the second leg of a back-to-back for them. They might not have their legs in this one, which usually means more mistakes on defense and some premium scoring chances for the Canucks. Go with the over once again.

4-unit Play Take Winnipeg Jets/Calgary Flames OVER 5 -135 (9:05pm EST) Once again we'll back the strongest trend going in the NHL right now - Overs in Winnipeg Jets' games. The Over is now 18-6-2 in the last 26 Jets' games, and we've been on plenty of them. Winnipeg has been banged for quite some time with multiple defensemen out of action. They're starting to get healthier, but I think this team has really liked playing the up-and-down high scoring style for the last couple of months. Calgary doesn't mind playing this style either, so I expect to get another total over tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #5 Nashville Predators (+145) over Pittsburgh Penguins (2:05pm EST) Great spot tonight to back an under-appreciated team against one that always get a little bit too much respect. The Nashville Predators are having a brilliant season at 31-11-6, leading the Central Division with 68 points. But many expect the Preds to come back to the pack down the stretch. And with the recent loss of sensational goaltender Pekka Rinne, even more have given up on the notion that this team is elite. Losing Rinne is obviously a huge, but this is still one of the best teams in the NHL. They have the best goal differential in 5-on-5 situations, have played one of the toughest schedules this season, and have been one of the most consistent squads in the league this season. In fact, Nashville has yet to endure a three-game losing streak this entire season. They are coming off of two straight losses heading into Pittsburgh, so they'll need a win to keep that streak intact. The Penguins have been really banged up of late, including a bad case of the mumps that was going around. They're still not 100% as they're without Evgeni Malkin and several other regulars. Pittsburgh has dropped five of their last seven contests, and nearly went down in New Jersey last time out (won 2-1 in overtime). The Predators aren't playing great at the moment either, but this line is just way too big given the matchup. Take Nashville in this one.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

8-unit Play Take #7 Chicago Blackhawks (-110) over Anaheim Ducks (10:05pm EST) On the surface, tonight's game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks looks like a fairly evenly-matched affair. The Hawks come in at 30-16-2 with 62 points, while the Ducks are 32-10-6 with 70 points. You'd probably even give Anaheim the leg up considering they have the better record, have won six straight games overall, and the fact that they're 18-5-3 at home. But a closer look into the numbers tells a different story. First off, Chicago has a +39 goal differential this season while Anaheim checks in at just +19. The Ducks are an amazing 22-0-6 in 28 games decided by one goal this season, which has contributed significantly to their success. Some teams are better in tight games, but there's no question that no team can sustain that kind of record in one-goal contests. They've been fortunate to say the least. Chicago has also played the much tougher schedule this season, which skews the overall records of these teams. Chicago's schedule is rated as 5th toughest in the NHL, while Anaheim's is only 22nd. Finally, Chicago has dealt with more injuries than Anaheim this season. The Hawks are still missing some guys, but the key pieces are healthy now. Add it all up, and Anaheim is fortunate to be where they are. Winning close games, playing an easy schedule and staying healthy are the main reasons why the Ducks have a better record than Chicago. But make no mistake; the Blackhawks are the better squad overall despite the records. Anaheim will also be playing on the second leg of a back-to-back tonight, so Chicago will be the more rested squad. Take Chicago as our 8-unit Western Conference Game of the Year.

4-unit Play Take #52 New York Islanders (-125) over Boston Bruins (7:05pm EST) The New York Islanders are having a great season at 32-14-1. They are sitting atop the Metropolitan division and are tied with the Red Wings for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. However, I still don't think the Islanders are getting their due respect in the betting markets. I think it's because they've been so bad for so long that it's hard for everyone to believe they can maintain their dominance. But I'm here to tell you, that all of the numbers point to the Isles being a very strong team. They draw the Boston Bruins tonight - a team that is probably getting a little too much respect right now. Boston is struggling just to stay in a playoff spot and currently would be the last team to make it in the East. Injuries have been a big part of Boston's slide, but they are also an aging team that is due for some regression. The Islanders have certainly passed them up, but the line on today's game indicates the teams are close to even when you factor in the home ice advantage. That's just not the case. In addition, the Bruins haven't played in seven days, since before the All-Star break. The Islanders played the other night, and that's a big advantage as we should expect Boston to be a bit rusty early on. All signs point to the Islanders here tonight.

3-unit Play Take #6 Winnipeg Jets over Columbus Blue Jackets (9:05pm EST) The Winnipeg Jets are having a very good year at 25-14-8. But the amazing part is how they are doing it. No one expected much from the Jets and they've experienced a ton of injuries this season. They even went several weeks with four of their top defensemen out, and still were able to record more wins than losses. They're still missing several key players, but their depth has proven to be solid and the team chemistry has grown stronger because of it. Winnipeg is riding a four-game winning streak and has outscored their opponents by a combined 18-8 score. Included in that run are back-to-back wins in Dallas and Chicago, which were extremely impressive. They'll now take on a Columbus team that has been extremely inconsistent this season. The Blue Jackets are playing their seventh road game in their last 10 games and could be a little more weary than usual. This is also the last game before a long All-Star break, so I wouldn't be surprised if Columbus sort of mails this one in given that they aren't really in contention. This line is about 15 cents lower than it should be, so we'll take the Jets.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take Nashville Predators/Montreal Canadiens OVER (7:35pm EST) The Nashville Predators aren't the same team without their stud goaltender Pekka Rinne. He went on the injured list a few days ago and has been sorely missed by the Preds in their first two games without him. They allowed a total of eight goals against the Capitals and Red Wings. Rinne is one of the best goalies in the game and is allowing just 1.96 goals against this season. His back up, Carter Hutton, is one of the worst in the game with a 3.04 goals against average this season. So the gameplan has changed for Nashville now. Instead of relying heavily on their goaltender to win them games, they are looking to outscore their opponents. Their last two games went soaring over the total, and we see tonight's game going the same way. They get the Montreal Canadiens in this one - a team they aren't very familiar with playing in separate conferences. That usually leads to more scoring chances as the teams aren't as adept at taking away the strengths of their opponents. Montreal is also coming off a 6-4 win against the Islanders, so their offense has to be feeling pretty good. If they get some good looks tonight, there's a good chance they can get a few past Hutton. This game could go over early on, so that's where we'll look.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #3 Carolina Hurricanes over Toronto Maple Leafs (7:35pm EST) It's not always easy pulling the trigger on a team with as bad of a record as the Carolina Hurricanes have. They are just 15-25-5 entering tonight's game in Toronto. But it's often the case that the hardest bets to make are the best bets. Carolina is much better than their record indicates, and all it takes is a quick look into the advanced statistics to see it. The Canes are 12th in the league in Corsi percentage, which is one of the best indicators of puck possession. They've also been extremely unlucky with the lowest PDO factor - a statistic that adds together the shooting percentage and save percentage of a team. Those numbers tend to regress towards a mean of 100, but the Canes are at just 96.8. That will inevitably increase when the team gets some pucks to bounce their way on both ends of the ice. And when it does, we'll see more victories in Carolina. They're currently the second worst team in the Eastern Conference based on record alone, but I have them rated ahead of four other teams in the East including Toronto. For the Maple Leafs, it's been an up and down season but they are currently in the middle of a huge down. The Leafs have lost seven of their last eight games and have scored a total of one goal in their last four games combined. It doesn't get much worse than that, so it's surprising to see them as a -150 favorite in this game. We'll take the underrated Hurricanes tonight.

4-unit Play Take #24 Los Angeles Kings (-145) over Anaheim Ducks (10:05pm EST)

4-unit Play Take #14 Detroit Red Wings (-140) over Nashville Predators (7:05pm EST)

5-unit Play Take #56 Carolina Hurricanes at Vancouver Canucks (7:05pm EST) Nice matchup here on Friday night as we have two teams headed in opposite directions. The Carolina Hurricanes are 4-1-1 in their last six contests and are playing their best hockey of the season thus far. They are fully healthy for the first time all season and have gained some confidence against some pretty good teams of late. Goaltender Cam Ward is enjoying a very nice season and the once struggling offense is starting to click a little bit. The Vancouver Canucks have dropped three of four and have looked awful in those defeats. They scored a total of two goals in three games against the Panthers, Flames and Predators. This team is aging fast and their window to play competitive hockey is quickly closing. The Sedin twins aren't what they once were and they've had a really tough team generating consistent offense. The only reason the line on this game is so low is due to the reputations of these two teams. But that is changing. The Canes are the right side in this one and we'll play them as our Game.

10-unit Play Take #10 Florida Panthers at Colorado Avalanche (7:35pm EST) It's pretty clear that the Colorado Avalanche aren't a very good hockey team. At 18-17-9 they are on the outside looking in right now as far as the playoffs are concerned. However, most expect this team to make some sort of run in the second half of the season based on what they did last year. But that's not going to happen as the Avs are even worse than the betting markets rate them. From an analytics standpoint they are terrible at possessing the puck and getting shots. And all of those intangibles that led them to victories last season are seemingly gone. Head coach Patrick Roy was great at motivating his squad in his first season last year, but his message has worn thin. The team just doesn't seem to have any identity and their chemistry on the ice is lacking. The Florida Panthers are slowly becoming a very respectable hockey team at 20-12-9. They've had trouble scoring but their defense has been solid on most nights to keep them in games. Tonight is a big test for Florida as they are coming off an 8-2 beat down in Winnipeg a couple of days ago. In the past the Panthers would have responded poorly in a situation like this, but I think they come up big against a weak Avs team tonight. Take Florida.

4-unit Play Take #8 Carolina Hurricanes (-125) at Colorado Avalanche (7:05pm EST) The Colorado Avalanche have won five of their last seven games, but don't be fooled by the results. This Avs team hasn't played good hockey all season and nothing has really changed of late. The difference is that they've gotten some bounces to go their way and goaltender Semyon Varlamov has come up with some big performances. Puck possession has still been a huge concern in Colorado and that hasn't improved at all in the last couple of weeks. They face an underrated Carolina Hurricanes squad on Tuesday night and it's the second leg of a back-to-back for the Avs. Carolina doesn't boast a very good record, but all of their advanced statistics point to a team that should be in the middle of the pack at the least. I like the way they played in their last five games going 3-1-1 with two close losses to Nashville and St. Louis. There's no question in my mind the Hurricanes are the better team right now and with home ice advantage this line is a bit short. Take Carolina.

3-unit Play Take #51 Tampa Bay Lightning (-140) at Philadelphia Flyers (7:05pm EST) The Tampa Bay Lightning have worked their way up to the top spot in the Eastern Conference and are playing some great hockey right now. They've won seven of their last eight contests and look the part on both offense and defense. Defending their zone has been a weak link for this squad in year's past, but they have really turned a corner this year on that front. Tampa Bay is currently holding their opponents to the fewest amount of shots on goal per game in the entire NHL at just 26.7. That's unbelievable considering where they've been over the last few seasons, and the defense is improving as the season wears on. Philadelphia is getting a lot more respect in the betting markets recently than I would expect from a team isn't anywhere near playoff contention in a weak Eastern Conference. They are only better than three teams in the East with 39 points, and New Jersey is just a point behind them. Part of the reason is that they have the talent and most expect them to figure things out eventually. But I just don't see it happening this season and think they need to make some major moves to shake things up before they can move forward. I'd expect to see some guys moved in the coming weeks and that has to have the team a little bit on edge as well. Tampa Bay is the clear cut better team and I just don't think this line is quite high enough. Go with the Lightning.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

7-unit Play Take #63 Pittsburgh Penguins over Montreal Canadiens (7:05pm EST) The Pittsburgh Penguins were recently affected by the mumps as badly as any other team in the league. Nearly a third of their roster was on the injured list and the team couldn't keep their lines consistent for weeks. But that has all passed and the Penguins are starting to get their legs underneath them. They've dropped their last two games but couldn't have looked much better in defeat. They had tons of scoring chances a couple of games go against the Canadiens, but were unable to cash in against goaltender Carey Price. In their last game they outshout the Bruins 39-24 and came up on the short end of a 3-2 overtime game. But the important thing is that they looked like the old Penguins in those contests and that bodes well going forward. Montreal just had a six-game winning streak snapped in their last game against the Lightning. The Habs were playing inspired hockey, but teams generally have a bit of an intensity letdown after a winning streak is halted. Montreal has been a fortunate team this season as they have the 8th best shooting percentage in the league. In addition, Price is having one of his best seasons in the net with a stellar .919 save percentage. I'd be surprised if Montreal can maintain their shooting percentage on offense and if Price can maintain that save percentage. The Penguins are the much better team here and I like them to grab the win here.

2-unit Play  Take #7 Florida Panthers (+130) over Calgary Flames (9:05pm EST) Today's matchup in Calgary features and underrated Florida Panthers team against an overrated Flames squad. The Panthers have been playing solid hockey all season long and come into tonight's matchup at 18-11-9. They've played a lot of close games this season and haven't been blown away all that often. I really like their young core and the mix of veterans they have around them. The Flames have been a hot and cold team this season, but nobody's caught more breaks than they have. They've caught a ton of teams on back-to-back situations on their schedule and have pulled out a lot of games that they were seemingly out of down the stretch. Reality has hit Calgary, but I still don't think this team is being priced correctly. Florida is the better overall team, so this price is too high. We'll ride with the Panthers.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take Winnipeg Jets/Arizona Coyotes OVER 5 (9:05pm EST) Playing the over in Winnipeg games has been a huge moneymaker of late, and there's absolutely no reason to lay off now. The Jets are still missing four of their top defenseman and they've been trying to hold things together in their own zone. Their offense has helped pick up the slack and that's helped the over go 5-0-2 in the Jets' last seven contests. The Coyotes haven't had trouble going over the total lately either, as four straight have went that way for them and seven of the last eight. It's also going to help that Ondrej Pavelec is in the net for Winnipeg tonight. He's the weaker of the Jets' two goaltenders. The total is set low at just 5 for this one, so we'll play the over once again. The trends should continue so we can cash another ticket.

10-unit Play Take #1 Washington Capitals over Toronto Maple Leafs (7:05pm EST) Two teams going in opposite directions square off tonight as the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Washington Capitals. Things are a mess in Toronto at the moment. They've dropped seven of their last nine games and just fired long-time head coach Randy Carlyle. The GM stressed that the team needs to play more consistent hockey and expect this firing to send a direct message. It's obviously easier said than done and I think this team needs to do some housecleaning on the roster before it competes again. On the other side, the Capitals are playing their best hockey in a couple of years. They are 10-1-3 in their last 14 contests under new head coach Barry Trotz. The Caps struggled early on as they learned Trotz's system, but they are flourishing under it now. The last time these teams met, at the end of November, the Leafs won easily 6-2 in Toronto. But these are two completely different squads than they were back then. The Caps are the much stronger unit and should skate away with a victory here.

3-unit Play Take #69 New York Islanders (+100) over Vancouver Canucks (10:05pm EST)

4-unit Play Take #64 Dallas Stars (-170) over Columbus Blue Jackets (8:35pm EST) The Columbus Blue Jackets enter tonight's game against the Dallas Stars in a very difficult spot. They're playing their third game in four nights after traveling to Arizona and Colorado - two very tough places to play with the high altitudes. Now they travel into Dallas to take on a Stars team that is playing extremely well. Dallas is 8-1-1 in its last 10 games and has outscored the opposition 24-11 in its last five contests. The Blue Jackets have struggled to stay healthy all season long and still have six regulars on the injured list. They've been playing better of late, but nowhere near the level of the Stars. Dallas has also played a lot tougher schedule than Columbus this season and still has a better record overall. The price is a bit higher than we usually go after, but Dallas is rolling and Columbus is beaten up and may have no legs for this one. Take the Stars.

4-unit Play Take San Jose Sharks/Winnipeg Jets OVER 5 (8:05pm EST) We picked up on a nice trend a couple of weeks back and it has paid big dividends for us. The Winnipeg Jets have been playing some high scoring games since four of their top defensemen went down with injuries. In fact, in their last six games the over is 5-0-1. All four are still on the injured list, so we'll look to cash in once again tonight as they take on the Sharks. San Jose has enough firepower to take advantage of the Jets' injuries and the Jets have actually been able to pick up the scoring pace of late to keep them in games. Not much else to this handicap, just simply following a trend that has been a gold mine lately and hasn't let us down yet. It also doesn't appear as if the betting markets have been adjusting for the injuries, so we still have good value. Take the Over in this one.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #51 Tampa Bay Lightning over Pittsburgh Penguins (7:05pm EST) The Tampa Bay Lightning have won four straight games and head to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins on Friday night. These two teams played last week in Tampa and the Lightning were able to pick up the win 4-3. But that final score was deceiving as the Lightning controlled the whole game and was ahead 4-0 in the second period. The Penguins are a complete mess right now, as they have been hit hard by the mumps that is currently going around the league. They have eight guys on injured reserve and their offense has sputtered as a result. They've only scored a total of three goals in their last three contests and have dropped four of five games overall. The Lightning are healthier now than they have been all year and are playing great hockey. They should be the favorites in this one, but we'll gladly grab the underdog price. The play is Tampa Bay.

4-unit Play Take Chicago Blackhawks/Washington Capitals UNDER 5.5 (1:05pm EST) The annual Winter Classic is in Washington D.C. this season as the Washington Capitals face the Chicago Blackhawks. This is the seventh edition of the Winter Classic and we've seen five of the first six with five goals or less. One of the reasons is obviously the weather conditions outside, which can make it tough for players to pick up the puck. There are some concerns about a possible sun glare on the ice for this one, and that could really slow down the action all around. It will also make it tougher on the goalies, but I just don't think we'll see as many shots in this game. With history on our side, we'll play this one to the under.

3-unit Play Take #51 New York Islanders over Winnipeg Jets (5:05pm EST) The Winnipeg Jets have been playing good hockey of late despite a myriad of injuries. They are 4-1-1 in their last six contests without the services of four of their top defensemen. But it doesn't get any easier as one of their top goal producers Evander Kane is now out with a foot injury. I like how a lot of the backend guys have stepped up for Winnipeg of late, but there's just no way that they can sustain this type of effort night in and night out. They get a good New York Islanders team this evening and I think they're going to struggle to keep up. The Islanders have a balanced scoring attack that is ranked fifth in the entire NHL. Without Kane to help generate offense, I don't think the Jets can get into a shootout. But with the injuries to their defensemen, they could easily fall behind early. Tough spot for the Jets, so we'll take the Islanders at a bargain price here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #8 San Jose Sharks (-135) over Vancouver Canucks (10:05pm EST) Two Pacific Division rivals hit the ice on Tuesday as the San Jose Sharks host the Vancouver Canucks. Both teams enter today's contest with 43 points on the season and a +7 goal differential. But with a deeper look into each teams' numbers, the Sharks are the much stronger team overall. They have strong puck possession numbers and a lethal power play that is ranked second in the NHL. I also rate their goaltenders higher and have more confidence in their head coach. The Sharks also have one of the better home ice advantages in the sport and are 10-4-2 in SAP Center this season. Last season they checked in at 29-7-5 at home. The line on this game isn't too far off from where it should be, but there's some value on San Jose. Take the Sharks.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Minnesota Wild/Winnipeg Jets OVER 5 (8:05pm EST) We will continue to ride the over streak in Winnipeg Jets games as it continues to cash tickets for us. The Jets are without four key defensemen and they've been giving up lots of premium scoring chances as a result. But it's actually their offense that has more than picked up the slack of late. They've scored 19 goals in their last five games and saw four of those games get over the total. But as much as we've seen the overs connect with the Jets recently, Minnesota has an even longer streak. The over is 5-0-1 in the last six Wild games, including a 4-3 game between these same two teams last time out. No reason to believe anything is going to change here tonight, so we'll play the over once again.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #2 Florida Panthers (-110) over Toronto Maple Leafs (5:05pm EST)

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take Winnipeg Jets/Minnesota Wild OVER 5 (7:05pm EST) The Winnipeg Jets are short-handed once again tonight with four key defensemen on the injured list. Most teams find it tough to cover their own end when they're down a man or two on defense. With four out, you really have are leaning on some guys you'd rather not have on the ice. Somehow the Jets have managed to keep their opponents at bay over the last week or so while they wait for their guys to get healthy. But sooner or later someone is going to explode against them. The Minnesota Wild certainly has the firepower to do just that, and they've been involved in some shootouts lately. The over is 4-0-1 in their last five games overall and their games have averaged 7.6 goals during that span. Winnipeg games have gone over the total in seven of nine overall. This one should see a nice pace throughout and plenty of good scoring chances. Neither goalie is anything special either, so I fully expect plenty of goals to make their way to the back of the net. Take the over.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

7-unit Play Take Winnipeg Jets/Chicago Blackhawks OVER 5 (7:05pm EST) The Winnipeg Jets head into Chicago to take on the Blackhawks in a game that has plenty of goals written all over it. The Jets are wounded warriors with four of their top defensemen out of the lineup for today's contest. With all of the firepower that the Hawks bring to the table, the Jets are going to have a very difficult time shutting them down with second and third tier defensemen. Winnipeg allowed four goals to the Flyers last time out and five against the Sabres in a game last week. Chicago should have no problem exploiting this situation, and the Jets' offense is capable of keeping them in the game as well. We only need five goals just to get us to a push today, and I think we see that number early on. Play the over as our 7-unit Total.

4-unit Play Take #56 Florida Panthers over Pittsburgh Penguins (7:35pm EST) It doesn't always look pretty, but the Florida Panthers have stayed in the hunt this year. They enter today's game at 14-9-8 and are just two points off the playoff pace in the Eastern Conference. They're a scrappy team that plays a gritty game and has a goalie that can steal games from time to time. Florida also has a nice young core that is improving by the day, and should keep getting better throughout the season. Tonight they face the Pittsburgh Penguins in Florida after losing to them in Pittsburgh 3-1 a couple of days ago. The Panthers played really well in that game, as they put 46 shots on goal and moved the puck nicely. Unfortunately they ran up against a great goaltending performance by Marc-Andre Fleury. If Florida can bring a similar effort here at home, I think we'll see a better result. Pittsburgh is still trying to get everyone healthy on their team and could slip up here. I like Florida at the nice underdog price.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Philadelphia Flyers/Winnipeg Jets OVER 5 (9:05pm EST) We don't focus too much on totals, but tonight's game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Winnipeg Jets is a great situation to look at the over. Philadelphia is coming off of a game last night where they won 7-4 and the game went over in the first period against the Maple Leafs. Tonight they get the Jets, who are missing five defensemen including both of their starting pairs. This one could be broke open early, and the Jets can play a faster style if they need to. The Flyers definitely don't mind, and actually prefer it. There will be lots of premium scoring chances here today, so we're on the over.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #9 Dallas Stars over Calgary Flames (9:05pm EST) The Calgary Flames have finally come back down to earth, and the fall has been hard. They've lost six straight games and have lost the confidence that had them playing above their heads for the better part of the season. Now they run into a Dallas Stars team that is starting to get into a nice rhythm. The Stars have won three of four, including a very impressive 2-0 win in Vancouver on Wednesday. Not many teams have more talent than Dallas does, so when this team is clicking they are a team I'm going to support. This should be a tight game, but I like Dallas in the underdog role here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

6-unit Play Take #62 Los Angeles Kings (-135) over St. Louis Blues (10:35pm EST) Excellent spot for the Los Angeles Kings tonight against the St. Louis Blues. These two teams played on Tuesday in St. Louis as the Blues skated to a 5-2 victory. But that was an extremely deceiving final score as Los Angeles led 2-1 heading into the third period of play. They were easily the better team in the first two periods and had a 22-15 shots advantage at that point. Then St. Louis scored four goals inside the final nine minutes of play to blow the game wide open. I don't want to call it a complete fluke, but St. Louis did catch some big breaks towards the end. Now the teams fly all the way to the West Coast, and I think the Kings will play with some inspiration after letting that one slip away. They also will catch a huge break with Martin Brodeur in the net for the Blues. He's just a shell of his former self and is amongst the worst backup goaltenders in the league. The Kings have actually won seven of the last nine meetings overall and match up well against St. Louis. Have a feeling the Kings pounce early and hold onto the win this time around. Play the Kings as our 6-unit Game of the Month.

4-unit Play Take #71 New York Rangers over Calgary Flames (9:05pm EST) The Calgary Flames opened the season red hot at 17-8-2. The fans, media and hockey enthusiasts were starting to become believers that the Flames were finally a competitive hockey team after years of rebuilding. But many disregarded the fact that the Flames rated poorly in puck possession and were winning a lot of the close games. But regression was certainly in order and its hit hard over the last couple of weeks. Calgary has dropped five straight games and hasn't been able to score that late clutch goal they relied on all season long. Tonight they return home after a winless road trip and take on the New York Rangers. It's been an up and down season for the Rangers, but they enter today's game with a three game winning streak that included wins over the Penguins and Canucks. New York has faced the third toughest schedule in the league this season, but things get significantly easier for them in the next couple of weeks. As a result, I expect a big run for the Rangers as they look to work their way up the standings in the Eastern Conference. They're the better team in tonight's matchup and are playing much better than Calgary as well. Take New York here.

3-unit Play Take #5 Ottawa Senators over Buffalo Sabres (7:05pm EST) Two of the NHL's worst go at it on Monday as the Senators take on the Sabres. Both teams come into today's matchup playing better of late, but I still believe strongly that Buffalo is the worst team in the sport. They are getting dominated in every single game, but have somehow managed to squeak out undeserving wins. Part of it is stellar goaltending play, and some of it is just fortunate bounces. But I fully expect the bottom to drop out in Buffalo very soon. The team is gearing up for some trades soon as part of their rebuilding efforts, and that has to weigh on the minds of several of the veterans on the team. Sabres GM Tim Murray has been up front and honest about the need to make some deals. 10 of Buffalo's 12 wins this season have been by a single goal, while they have only five one goal losses. A quick look at the goal differentials for these teams tells a better story. The Senators have only been outscored by five goals the entire season, while the Sabres have been outscored by 35 goals. Ottawa is the much better squad and they get a win here tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #3 Carolina Hurricanes (+140) over Philadelphia Flyers (1:05pm EST) The Carolina Hurricanes have the fewest points in the NHL with just 19 in 28 games played. But that doesn't mean that they are the worst team in hockey. In fact, they are far from it right now. The Canes got off to a rough 0-6-2 start to the 2014-15 season, but since then they've been in the middle of the pack amongst Eastern teams. They've had some problems scoring over the last week or so, but Carolina has been in every game they've played over the last six weeks. They are just 3-12 in games decided by one goal this season. As a result, I expect to see more W's in the win column once the puck bounces their way. Tonight they get an opponent they can handle - the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers haven't had any chemistry on the ice this season and head coach Craig Berube is on the hot seat. I think it's going to take change for Philadelphia to make any kind of improvement. So until that happens, we'll continue to see them slide. Carolina is a better overall team right now, so we'll play them here as a nice-sized underdog.

3-unit Play Take #58 Edmonton Oilers (+150) over Anaheim Ducks (9:35pm EST) The Oilers and Ducks will complete the second leg of a home-and-home tonight in Edmonton. Anaheim took the first game at home by a 2-1 score in a tightly-contested matchup. There is quite a bit of distance between these teams in the standings, but the gap won't be as big as it appears tonight, as the Ducks are suffering from several key injuries. Corey Perry is the biggest loss, as he's the igniter on offense and everything goes through him. The Ducks have managed to squeak by while they've been banged up, but it hasn't been pretty. Anaheim hasn't won a game by more than a single goal in almost seven weeks. That's hard to believe for a team that leads the NHL with 43 points. The Oilers have obviously been in quite a tailspin, dropping 13 of 14 overall. They have the fewest points in the league, but I don't think this is the worst team in the sport. Edmonton has been unfortunate in close games, with a 4-10 mark in contests decided by one goal. They haven't been blown away too many times this season, and their puck possession statistics aren't awful. The goaltending situation is the biggest problem for them, with both of their options struggling to stop shots. Goalie performances do ebb and flow quite a bit, so I expect the Oilers to get better here. Quite honestly, they cannot get much worse. All in all, Anaheim is the better team and should win this game more times than not. But I think the Oilers keep it close and at this price I think we have some nice value.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #15 Winnipeg Jets (-105) over Colorado Avalanche (9:05pm EST) The Colorado Avalanche have been a great team to bet against in the early going, and tonight we're confident that trend will continue. The Avs are just 9-13-6 on the season, but the betting markets continue pricing them like a team that will eventually get it going. I just don't see it happening for them however. They are near the very bottom in puck possession, goalie Semyon Varlamov looks lost out there right now, and head coach Patrick Roy isn't inspiring his team like he did in his first season a year ago. I see Colorado getting even worse as their problems have just escalated as the season has progressed. The Winnipeg Jets have been one of the pleasant surprises of the season thus far at 15-9-5. I'm not sure most hockey fans believe that the Jets are for real, but there is plenty of evidence to support their rise when you look into the advanced statistics. They're dealing with a couple of big injuries right now, but I really liked their effort last time out versus the Stars. There are just a lot of different guys stepping up on a nightly basis and no one guy is carrying them. That's the sign of a good balanced team, and one that should continue to play good hockey going forward. Take Winnipeg tonight.

4-unit Play Take #52 Detroit Red Wings over Toronto Maple Leafs (8:05pm EST) Great situation tonight in Detroit as the Red Wings take on the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Wings are playing some inspired hockey of late and I don't think many are appreciating just how good this squad is. Detroit has won seven of eight games and their offense has been clicking on all cylinders. They suffered some injuries early on, but once they got healthy Detroit has been playing as good as anyone else in the league. Pavel Datsyuk has been the catalyst and what a difference in makes when he's in the lineup. The Red Wings have average 4.13 goals per game during their recent run, and they should get some great shots against a tired Leafs team tonight. Toronto comes in on the second leg of a back-to-back as these teams start a home-and-home matchup. The Leafs have been playing some good hockey of late as well, but I didn't like what I saw in last night's game versus the Flames. Calgary dominated the play for most of the game, but just couldn't get more than one against Jonathan Bernier. Toronto got the win 4-1, but two of those goals were in the final minute to make this a very deceiving finals score. This spot screams Red Wings and we'll go there with this selection.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports