Sports Picks & Predictions

3-unit Play Take #9 New York Rangers (+120) over Tampa Bay Lightning (7:05pm EST) We picked on the Tampa Bay Lightning last night and cashed a ticket with the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 in a shootout. We'll look to turn the trick once again, this time with the New York Rangers. The Lightning caught fire before the long Christmas break, but we predicted their momentum would come to a halt with nearly a full week off. That seemed to be the case last night as they weren't nearly as sharp. I expect them to be a little worn out after playing some extra hockey in yesterday, while the Rangers come in rested. The Rangers are primed for a good second half of the season and this is a good spot for them as an underdog. New York has won eight of their last 11 road games and they should be able to get there again today.

3-unit Play Take #11 Carolina Hurricanes (+120) over Toronto Maple Leafs (7:05pm EST) The Carolina Hurricanes are finally getting healthy and they are now a dangerous team in the Eastern Conference. They managed to stay afloat with a handful of their best players on the injured list, but now they're close to 100% and should have much more firepower. They'll face off against an overrated Toronto Maple Leafs team that has been fortunate to stay in the race. Both teams have been slumping lately, but I have the Canes rated much higher than the Leafs at the moment. Carolina has also taken five of the last six meetings overall and I think they grab the victory once again.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #3 New York Rangers over Washington Capitals (7:05pm EST) The NHL season is approaching the midway point and this is where teams can start to really separate themselves. One team that has definitely underachieved so far is the New York Rangers. This is one of the most talented teams in the league, but they scuffled in the beginning of the season. Most of their struggles were related to injuries and a brutal travel schedule in the first month. They have shown some signs of getting things going, but haven't put it all together yet. I think the few days off during the Christmas break will help them focus and get back on track. They are just too talented to stay around .500 for the rest of the season. They'll play the Washington Capitals today - a team they've played really well against for the last couple of seasons. The Caps are a hard team to read due to their inconsistency, and I hate them in the favorite role against anyone with a pulse. We're taking the Rangers here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #73 Winnipeg Jets (+105) over Edmonton Oilers (9:35pm EST) The Edmonton Oilers might have taken over the reigns as the worst team in the NHL. They have dropped six straight and are now a putrid 11-24-3 on the season. This is a young team and I think their confidence is really down at the moment. The Jets have been playing well and should be able to take advantage here.

3-unit Play Take #64 Philadelphia Flyers (-120) over Minnesota Wild (7:35pm EST) Tonight's game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota Wild features two teams seemingly going in different directions. The Flyers have looked really good over the last 10 days or so. They've won three of those games and should have won four as they let one slip away against the Caps. It took new head coach Craig Berube a while to get his system and style in place, but I like where he has this team headed. The Wild have dropped five of eight and are falling fast in the Western Conference playoff race. The Flyers have won eight straight at home and I like their chances to extend that run tonight.

4-unit Play Take #65 Tampa Bay Lightning (+100) over Florida Panthers (7:35pm EST) The Florida Panthers have been getting a lot of attention lately as they put together a nice run, but Tampa Bay has been playing even better. The Lightning have won four straight and really dominated the puck possession in each game. They are the underdogs here, which doesn't surprise me based on how well Florida has been playing but I still think it's an overreaction to a short-term pop for Florida. Tampa Bay is the better squad and they should be comfortable within the state of Florida for this one. Take Tampa.

5-unit Play Take #58 New York Rangers (-135) over Toronto Maple Leafs (7:05pm EST) I've stated it several times this season, but the Toronto Maple Leafs are the most overrated team in the league for several reasons. They've enjoyed an above average shooting percentage and a very high save percentage throughout the season, which has masked some really poor skating. The Leafs have been dominated in many of their games, but have managed to escape with lots of close wins. It's finally starting to catch up with them as they've dropped six of eight games overall and seem to be falling apart. They're hanging onto the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but I don't expect that to last long. This isn't a playoff team when it's all said and done. The New York Rangers definitely haven't played to their potential this season, but I expect them to make a big run at any time. They dealt with quite a few injuries to start the season and got off to a bad start with a long road trip at the beginning of the season. This is a great chance for the Rangers to gain some ground on Toronto, and they should do so in our 5-unit Game of the Week.

3-unit Play Take #51 Anaheim Ducks (-115) over Washington Capitals (7:05pm EST) The Anaheim Ducks have won eight straight games and are playing better hockey than anyone in the NHL at the moment. They have the most points in the league at 57 and head into D.C. to try and complete a perfect 4-0 road trip. The Capitals are a team that has burned up cash for bettors over the last few seasons as they generally have the talent but can seemingly never put it all together. Anaheim, meanwhile, has exceeded expectations over the last few years and have made bettors some serious cash. This season is no exception. The Ducks are the far superior team in this one and I'm surprised that they laying this low of a price during their streak. We also love the West vs. East angle that's paid off greatly this season.

3-unit Play Take #69 Anaheim Ducks (-150) over New York Islanders (7:05pm EST) This one is quite simple. The Anaheim Ducks are the much better squad in this one and they are playing absolutely great hockey at the moment. The Ducks have won seven in a row and haven't allowed more than two goals in any of those games. Great goaltender, great defense and plenty of timely goals have this team really clicking. The New York Islanders, on the other hand, have dropped 13 of 15 games overall. They've been bad in every phase of the game and I just don't see how they can hang in there with the red hot Ducks tonight. Take Anaheim in what should be an easy winner.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #61 New Jersey Devils (+135) over Washington Capitals (7:05pm EST) I really like what the New Jersey Devils have been doing recently. They're just 3-3 in their last six games, but all three of those losses have been by a single goal and they've looked impressive for large portions of each game. The offense is finally coming alive after really struggling early on this year. They are averaging 3.5 goals per game in those six contests and have had several guys step up on the offensive end. Washington has been an inconsistent team for what has felt like decades. This season is no different and this is a team that has been horrible as a favorite over the last few years. I have these teams rated very similarly, so the Devils at +135 screams of value.

7-unit Play Take #67 Vancouver Canucks (-110) over Dallas Stars (8:35pm EST) The Vancouver Canucks head into today's matchup versus the Dallas Stars on a nice roll. The Canucks have won seven out of eight games and their defense has been dominant during that stretch. They're allowing less than 1.4 goals per contest during their run and goaltender Roberto Luongo has a lot to do with that. He's stopping over 96% of all shots and looks like his old self from a couple of years back. Vancouver dropped a tough game in Minnesota on Tuesday, where they lost a late lead and eventually were beaten 3-2 in a shootout. The Canucks controlled that game so they should be extra motivated to get that point back against the Stars tonight. Meanwhile, Dallas earned a late victory against the Avalanche on Tuesday in a game that they trailed in most of the way. This will be the third game in four nights for Dallas and they haven't looked particularly good the last couple of weeks. They are just 5-14 in their last 19 games against a team with a winning record and the Canucks are on top of their game at the moment. The Canucks have also won five of their last seven in Dallas and are looking to avenge a 2-1 defeat to the Stars in Vancouver last month. All signs point to a Vancouver win tonight and we're confident enough to proclaim them our 7-unit Western Conference Game of the Year.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #4 New York Rangers over Pittsburgh Penguins (8:05pm EST) The New York Rangers are looking to get back on track after dropping four of five games, and they have a good opportunity to do just that tonight. They'll go up against a beaten up Pittsburgh squad that is nursing a slew of injuries at the moment. The Penguins have won nine of 10 overall, but it's about time those injuries start to take a toll. This will be the fourth game in six nights for the Pens and they have to travel for this one. The Rangers will be playing their sixth straight home game and they've had two full days of rest to prepare for the fast-paced attack of Pittsburgh. I love the Rangers in this one and don't think that it will be close.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

2-unit Play Take #73 Edmonton Oilers over Los Angeles Kings (10:35pm EST) The Los Angeles Kings are the much better team, but at this price a small play on the Edmonton Oilers is certainly worth a shot. The Kings did not look in their last game against the Hawks and they're returning home after a tough four-game road trip. I like fading teams coming back home from a trip as the first game at home still has the feel of a road game with the travel. That should negate some of their home ice advantage in what usually is a significant edge for the Kings. Edmonton and Los Angeles have built up a nice rivalry and you can bet that the Oilers will give their best effort tonight as a result. That hasn't been the case all season with them, but they've played a lot better recently after a slow start this year. They're 7-6-1 in their last 14 games after starting out 4-15-2 in their first 21 games. This one should be an intense matchup and I think the Oilers hang in there. Take Edmonton as a live dog here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #60 Philadelphia Flyers over Washington Capitals (7:35pm EST) These two teams met up two days ago in Washington D.C. and the Flyers simply gave one away. Philadelphia led Washington 4-1 with nine minutes remaining in the game, only two give up three straight goals to push the game into overtime. The Caps pulled it out in the shootout to complete the amazing comeback. Beating a team twice in a row in a home-and-home type scenario is very difficult. But after a game that like, it's going to be even tougher for the Capitals. The Flyers outplayed the Caps in the last game and they know it. They won't let it happen again today at home, so we're on the Flyers here in our 5-unit Game.

4-unit Play Take #1 Winnipeg Jets (+115) over Columbus Blue Jackets (7:05pm EST) The Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets have nearly identical records on the season. But make no mistake, the Jets are the better squad right now. First off, Winnipeg plays in the much tougher Western Conference so their schedule strength is much better. In fact, they play in the best division in all of hockey - the Central which includes the Hawks, Blues and Avalanche at the top. The Jackets are banged up right now, so they're not playing with a full deck. Their top two goaltenders are on the injured list and they're without two of their best weapons on offense - Nathan Horton and Marion Gaborik. Defenseman James Wisniewski is also doubtful for this one. The Jets have some guys out as well, but nothing to the extent that Columbus is dealing with. Not sure why Winnipeg is the underdog here, but we'll pounce on this great price.

3-unit Play Take #51 New Jersey Devils (+165) over Pittsburgh Penguins (7:05pm EST) Two contrasting styles match up tonight in Pittsburgh where the Penguins host the Devils. New Jersey likes to slow it down and take quality shots while limiting the shots of their opponent. The Penguins prefer to get up and down the ice as quickly as possible to take advantage of their supreme speed and skill. It works for both teams, but New Jersey has had the Penguins' number over the last couple of seasons. The Devils have taken four of the last five meetings and have looked good doing it. Pittsburgh hasn't quite cracked the Devils defense, scoring a total of eight goals in those five meetings. Look for more of the same tonight in what feels like it should be a tight game. New Jersey is a big underdog in this one and there's where the value lies.

3-unit Play Take #22 San Jose Sharks over Minnesota Wild (10:35pm EST) Tonight is a great situational spot for the San Jose Sharks as they go up against the Minnesota Wild. First off, the Sharks are reeling a bit with four consecutive losses. This is one of the best teams in hockey, and you generally get a very focused effort from good teams during a losing streak as they don't want it to spiral out of control. San Jose actually has looked pretty good recently despite the losing streak. They won the previous six games and didn't look all that bad in the four losses. They completely dominated the last two games, but just ended up on the wrong end of the scoreboard. One of those was against the Wild in Minnesota, so they'll definitely be looking to avenge that defeat with a short turnaround time. The Sharks outshot Minnesota 38-13 in that game, but somehow managed to lose 3-1. If we see similar domination in San Jose, the Sharks won't find a way to lose at home. The Sharks are 10-1-3 at home this season and Minnesota is not a good road team. This price is a little high, but still plenty of value to be had with a wager on the Sharks.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #56 Anaheim Ducks (-130) over Minnesota Wild (10:35pm EST) Until the Anaheim Ducks lose a home game in regulation, it's going to be hard not to back them in the Honda Center. The Ducks are 11-0-2 there this season and last season they were 16-7-1 at home. Clearly they have a big advantage in front of their home fans and part of it is the distance teams have to travel and the time zone difference. The Minnesota Wild will experience that tonight as they come in from a home game the other day against the Sharks. They won that game 3-1 but really didn't look that good overall. They were badly outshot and were lucky to hold on with a late empty netter that made for a deceiving final score. That could give them a false sense of security in this one and the Ducks should easily be able to take advantage. Anaheim has scored five goals in each of their last two contests and they have owned Minnesota over the last couple of seasons. The Ducks have taken five straight in this series and I think they will make it six in this one.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #1 Los Angeles Kings (+105) over Montreal Canadiens (7:05pm EST) The Los Angeles Kings have a tall task on the road today. They're taking on a Canadiens team that has won five straight games and nine of 10 overall. However, they haven't dominated during that stretch as most of the games were very tight until the end. Six of the wins were by a single goal and they were outshot and outplayed in several of those. They are probably due for some regression as fortunate as they've been. The Kings have been steady all year long and have feasted on Eastern Conference opponents. Through their first 13 games against foes in the other conference, Los Angeles sports a 9-2-2 record. Compare that with just a 6-6-1 record for Montreal against the West and you can see the difference between a good team in the West versus a good team in the East. The Kings are a much better team overall and the wrong team is being favored here. Take Los Angeles.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

2-unit Play Take Florida Panthers/Chicago Blackhawks UNDER (7:05pm EST) The Chicago Blackhawks are mired in a bit of a slump losing three straight hockey games. It's their longest losing streak of the season, so you can bet they'll be focused at home today versus the Florida Panthers. The problems recently have been on the defensive end, as they've allowed 11 goals in the last three contests. However, they haven't been giving up tons of shots on goal. In fact, they've allowed an average of a little over 22 SOG per game in those three - a more than acceptable mark. As a result, you have to look at the goaltender play. Corey Crawford is one of the best in the business, so he knows that he needs to get better. I expect a huge game from him today against an inferior opponent as he looks to get back on track. The Panthers don't have the firepower to hang with the Hawks, so they'll likely try to slow this game down and try to win a low scoring affair. The last six meetings between these clubs have gone under the total and I like this game to go that way as well. Play Under 5.5
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #68 St. Louis Blues over Anaheim Ducks (8:05pm EST) Tough spot tonight for the Anaheim Ducks as they head into St. Louis to take on the Blues. Last night the Ducks battled the Blackhawks, eventually coming out on top 3-2 in a shootout. That game took a lot out of the team, so I have a feeling they won't be working with a full tank of gas in this one. St. Louis plays a tough, physical style and they should be able to wear down Anaheim throughout the game. Take the Blues.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #59 Nashville Predators over Washington Capitals (7:05pm EST) Two mediocre hockey teams meet up tonight in Washington D.C. as the Capitals host the Nashville Predators. I don't like what I've seen from either one of these teams of late, so it's very tough to pick a winner in this game. However, one thing for sure is that this line is way too high. These teams have roughly the same record. But if the Predators played in the Eastern Conference, I'm certain they would have a much better mark than the Caps. I made this line around +115 for the Preds, so plenty of value here.

4-unit Play Take #58 Ottawa Senators over Toronto Maple Leafs (7:05pm EST) We've done well picking our spots against the Toronto Maple Leafs this season. They are an overrated team that has been fortunate to stay in the playoff hunt despite getting dominated in a majority of their games so far. It's started to finally catchup up with as they've dropped five of six games and have looked horrible on the defensive end. They'll take on an Ottawa team that returns home after spending most of the last two weeks on the road. Getting back home and facing an overrated Leafs team should be just what the Senators need to get back on track. Take Ottawa here.

3-unit Play Take #54 Boston Bruins over Pittsburgh Penguins (7:05pm EST) Two of the best in the East battle tonight in Boston as the Bruins host the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Bruins come in winning six of nine while the Penguins have won eight of 10. These teams know each other well so there won't be any secrets out on the ice. The big knock against Pittsburgh is that they've played soft against Boston as the Bruins have taken advantage of their size and strength. The Pens tried to address that in the offseason, but they still need to prove that they can play the Bruins tough. Pittsburgh is without Evgeni Malkin for this one, which is a huge loss offensively and on the power play. They're also dealing with several other guys on the injured list and their depth is definitely being tested. The Pens are also off a big 5-1 win against San Jose, so tonight's game could be a small let down spot. I still don't think Pittsburgh matches up well and their very thin at the moment. Boston at home looks like the logical play in this game.

3-unit Play Take #70 Edmonton Oilers (+120) over Colorado Avalanche (9:35pm EST) Big game here for the Edmonton Oilers as they host the Colorado Avalanche for the first time this year. Edmonton is playing their best hockey of the season right now, winning five of their last eight. Their offense has been the catalyst during their run and they should be able to get going tonight in front of a crowd that should be full of energy. Colorado has had an amazing season at 19-6-0 through its first 25 games, but they haven't looked as good lately despite putting victories on the board. The Avalanche were outshot in each of their last three games and six of their last eight overall. The impact of new head coach Patrick Roy may be wearing off a bit as there was no way that this team could keep playing at such a high level. The home team was won seven of the last 10 in this series and I think we see more of the same tonight. Take Edmonton as the home dog in this one.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #66 Nashville Predators (-135) over Carolina Hurricanes (8:05pm EST) The handicap on this game is quite simple. Nashville and Carolina are separated by just two points on the season, but Nashville plays in the tougher conference. As a result, I have Nashville power rated much higher. Add in the fact that Carolina is without their most talented player in Alexander Semin and this one becomes a complete no brainer. Take the Preds at home at this reasonable price.

3-unit Play Take #53 San Jose Sharks (+105) over Pittsburgh Penguins (7:05pm EST) One of the best in the Western Conference matches up with one of the best in the Eastern Conference in this one. This is the first meeting between the Sharks and Penguins since November 2011 and it should be a dandy. The Sharks come in on fire, winning six straight and nine of their last 10 outings overall. They are just one point behind the Blackhawks for most in the NHL and have the best goal differential in the league at +34. If I had to pick one team to win the Cup right now, it would be San Jose. They move the puck effortlessly on offense and have one of the top goaltenders in Antti Niemi - who never gets enough credit. Pittsburgh is having a solid season as well atop the Metro Division, but one thing to keep in mind is that they play a much easier schedule in the East. There aren't near as many quality teams in their conference and some of their numbers get inflated as a result. Put the Penguins in the West, and their probably only the 5th or 6th best team. This game, however, is lined like these teams are very close to even. We'll gladly take the Sharks at this price.

4-unit Play Take #5 Phoenix Coyotes over Calgary Flames (10:05pm EST) They never get much attention or credit, but the Phoenix Coyotes find themselves right in the middle of the playoff hunt once again this season. With 36 points, they currently would get the final spot in the Western Conference if the postseason started today. That's not bad for a team that was predicted to have a down year by most. The Coyotes have been struggling a bit lately, losing five of their last eight. They did come up big last night against the Oilers and they get just what the doctor ordered today in a trip to Calgary against the Flames. This young Calgary team got off to a hot start this season, but have since went 3-9 since, with two of those wins in overtime. Their problem has clearly been on defense, as they've allowed 3.54 goals per game - the worst in the NHL. They don't have a legitimate NHL-caliber goaltender on their roster and that doesn't help the confidence of a young team trying to earn some respect. This team lacks discipline and makes tons of mistakes on both ends of the ice. That is the exact opposite of this well-coached and veteran Phoenix team. I expect the Coyotes to take full advantage of those mistakes tonight as they look to start a run. Take Phoenix.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #2 New Jersey Devils over Montreal Canadiens (7:05pm EST) The New Jersey Devils meet up with the Montreal Canadiens on a backend of a home-and-home tonight. The Canadiens won 3-2 in Montreal on Monday, but that game really could have gone either way as it was tied in the middle of the third period. The Devils actually outshot the Canadiens 30-17 in that game and dominated the puck possession for most of the night. If they bring a similar effort at home tonight, the Devils should come out on top. New Jersey is a home underdog and this is a good spot for them to exact some revenge with Monday's defeat fresh on their minds.

3-unit Play Take #68 Anaheim Ducks over Los Angeles Kings (10:05pm EST) Tough spot here for the Los Angeles Kings, as they come off of a 3-2 win against a physical Blues team last night in LA. Now they face a well-rested Anaheim Ducks team that is happy to be home. The Ducks have dropped five of their last six on the road and have struggled away from the Honda Center all season long. However, they have yet to lose in regulation at home this season (10-0-1). This is the first meeting of the season between these division rivals, so a statement will definitely want to be made by both teams. I just like the Ducks' chances of making that statement in their home arena against a tired Kings team.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #51 San Jose Sharks over Toronto Maple Leafs (7:05pm EST) The San Jose Sharks head into Toronto to take on a struggling Maple Leafs team. Toronto has dropped four straight games as they are no longer catching all of the breaks that they got earlier in the season. Their defense has been a mess recently, allowing 19 goals over the last four contests. San Jose has some of the best firepower in the league so that could be a huge problem tonight. The Sharks have won five straight and eight of nine games overall. They are one of the streakiest teams in the NHL, but when they're going good they are nearly unbeatable. This is a huge mismatch here, so we're on the Sharks.

3-unit Play Take #6 Minnesota Wild over Philadelphia Flyers (8:05pm EST) The Minnesota Wild have been struggling a bit of, dropping four straight decisions and putting only four goals in the back of the opponents net in those games. But this is a good team just in a bit of a funk as they're 15-8-5 on the season with 35 points. Those four losses were all to very good Western Conference teams and nothing to be ashamed of. They should be able to get things back on track taking on a much easier opponent from the Eastern Conference today - the Philadelphia Flyers. It's been a tumultuous season for Philly, but they seemingly have things pointed in the right direction winning five of seven. If you stack up these two teams on paper, the numbers aren't too far apart with a small edge to Minnesota. However, when you consider that the Wild play in the difficult Western Conference and the Flyers in the East, that gap widens considerably. The Western teams have dominated the East this season and it's not really much of a surprise. That's the way it's been for the last few seasons, so getting a good Western team at home versus a subpar East team is a good spot in this price range. The Wild should be focused on turning things around today to break their losing streak while the Flyers might be a fat and happy. Take Minnesota here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

2-unit Play Take Vancouver Canucks/Carolina Hurricanes UNDER 5 (1:05pm EST) Early start for the Vancouver Canucks and Carolina Hurricanes today, dropping the puck at 1pm EST. NHL teams aren't accustomed to getting geared up for a game this early in the day, so I expect both teams to come out a bit slower than normal. Vancouver should be extra focused on the defensive end of the ice after giving up five goals to the Rangers yesterday in MSG. Carolina also gave up five goals in its last game to the Devils of all teams, so expect a similar level of intensity in their own zone. These two teams also haven't played on another since 2011, so there will definitely be a period where they're trying to feel one another out which should help the defenses a bit. This game has a 2-1 final written all over it, so we're on the Under here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #4 Montreal Canadiens over Toronto Maple Leafs (7:05pm EST) Arch rivals square off in Montreal as the Canadiens host the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight. These two teams have identical records heading into tonight's tilt - 14-9-3 for both squads. Records are deceiving however, as the Canadiens clearly are the better team at the moment. The Leafs have been very fortunate this season as far as their shooting percentages are concerned on offense and defense. They have been outplayed in most of their games this season, but have managed to win games with far fewer shots and less puck possession time. Sooner or later that catches up with a team, as you can't win too many hockey games when your opponent is dominating play. The Canadiens are playing their best hockey of the season right now, winning four straight contests with three against playoff teams. Montreal was pretty banged up earlier this season, but they're healthier now so I expect them to continue playing well. They also are out for revenge in this game as the Leafs won in Toronto in the season opener in early October in a game that featured several fights. These two teams don't like one another, so you can be sure that the Canadiens didn't forget that game and will play their best in this one. Montreal is the better team in every way and I think this line is too short given the circumstances.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #74 Dallas Stars over Chicago Blackhawks (8:35pm EST) It's tough going against the Chicago Blackhawks in any game, but the Dallas Stars find themselves in a nice situational spot tonight at home. The Hawks are on the sixth leg of a seven game road trip and they haven't had much rest between games. They have to be getting a bit gassed at this point and a trip to Dallas from Calgary two days ago isn't a short one. Chicago is 4-1 so far on the trip and I wouldn't be surprised to see their focus a little off in this one. The Stars have had a full two days rest to prepare for the defending champs and are coming off a very nice win against the Ducks 6-3. Dallas has won seven of 10 overall and are playing their best hockey of the season right now. This is a good home underdog opportunity, so we're on the Stars.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #55 Pittsburgh Penguins over Tampa Bay Lightning (4:05pm EST) The Pittsburgh Penguins invade Tampa Bay to take on the Lightning tonight. These teams have similar records on the season, but that's no indication of the relative strength of these two squads at the moment. The Penguins have been fairly consistent all season long and is clearly still one of the best teams in the NHL. They still have their high-powered offense intact, but have made some nice strides on defense this season in an effort to be better prepared for the playoffs down the road. The Lightning were off to a fantastic start this season after a miserable one last year. However, their leader Steven Stamkos went down a couple of weeks ago, and the team hasn't been the same since. They've dropped four of six and their once dominant power play has really struggled. In fact, they are just 1-for-14 on the man advantage over their last four games. Pittsburgh has dominated the recent history between these clubs, taking seven straight. In those seven games, the Penguins are averaging an unreal 5.4 goals per game. Tampa's defense has improved this season, but I still don't think they can keep up with Pittsburgh without Stamkos. Take the Pens as our 7-unit Game of the Week selection.

3-unit Play Take #3 Edmonton Oilers (+125) over Nashville Predators (8:05pm EST) It took nearly two months, but the Edmonton Oilers are finally playing like a hockey team. They've won three out of four games and have had great chemistry on the ice. Their offense has looked particularly good and the power play has been clicking. They've converted 5-of-12 power play chances over their last three games, while allowing just one power play on the other side. The Nashville Predators are on the second leg of a back-to-back, coming off a 4-0 win in Columbus last night. With the travel last night and the holiday, I have a feeling Nashville might not be as focused as they usually are. It will be much easier for the Oilers to concentrate on the task at hand being away from home. Take Edmonton tonight.

3-unit Play Take #1 Vancouver Canucks (-125) over Ottawa Senators (7:35pm EST) The Vancouver Canucks have lost seven of eight games heading into today's contest in Ottawa. But it's not like they've been playing terribly, as five of those seven losses were decided by a single goal (three were in overtime). The concerning part was that six of those games were at home. But a change of scenery on the road might just be the best thing for the Canucks as they look to turn things around. The Senators played yesterday and beat the Capitals 6-4 in a back and forth affair that surely expended a lot of energy. Now they'll have to travel back for this game with some additional distractions with the holiday. The Sens have had some problems of their own lately, dropping four of six. I think these teams are fairly equal in terms of talent, but this is a much better spot for Vancouver. Take the Canucks.

3-unit Play Take #76 San Jose Sharks over Los Angeles Kings (10:35pm EST) The handicap on tonight's game between the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings is very simple. The home team has dominated this series going back the last four seasons. Home teams are 21-6 during that span including a current streak of 10 straight. Both teams possess a great home ice advantage overall, so this isn't a big surprise. The Kings beat the Sharks in the playoffs last season and also took care of business in the first meeting of the 2013-14 season. That should give the Sharks even more motivation tonight. Take San Jose to win this game.

5-unit Play Take #68 Detroit Red Wings (+110) over Boston Bruins (7:35pm EST) The Detroit Red Wings have certainly been struggling recently, but you're not going to find them as a home underdog often. The Wings have won just one of their last 10 home games, but that is a misleading fact. Seven of those losses were in overtime or a shootout - games that could have easily gone either way. Detroit is still in playoff position at the moment and would qualify if the season ended today as the #7 seed. That's actually the same spot they finished last season, so this team isn't performing all that much differently than what they're accustomed to. The Boston Bruins have been pretty consistent all season long, but they're coming off of an emotional overtime win against the Penguins 4-3. I'm not sure they'll be as focused for this one, so we'll take Detroit as a home underdog tonight.

3-unit Play Take #65 Philadelphia Flyers (+105) over Tampa Bay Lightning (7:35pm EST) The Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning are going in opposite directions right now. The Flyers come as winners in six of their last eight games and feeling good under head coach Craig Berube. The season didn't start that way as Philadelphia let go of mainstay Peter Laviolette just a few games in, but the team has certainly responded after getting comfortable in Berube's system. The Lightning are without their superstar Steven Stamkos and it has affected them. Tampa has dropped four of five and has had problems putting the puck in the net. They are just one for their last 16 power play chances. I expected the Flyers to be slight favorites here, so there's definitely some value with them at this price.

3-unit Play Take #53 Ottawa Senators (+125) over Washington Capitals (7:05pm EST) The Ottawa Senators haven't quite gotten their act together yet this season, but tonight is a good opportunity to turn things around. The Sens go up against a Capitals team that has dropped three straight games, and Ottawa has had their number in the recent meetings. The Caps have dropped four straight to the Senators and were outscored 16-7 collectively in those games. Before the season started, many experts projected Ottawa to be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Injuries have played a part in their struggles, but I still think this team has it in them to be one of the better squads in the NHL. They have one of the best goalie tandems in the league and lots of grit and determination - all things that the Capitals lack. They're the better team between these two and we'll take Ottawa at a nice underdog price.

3-unit Play Take #61 Phoenix Coyotes over Nashville Predators (8:05pm EST) They don't get much attention because they play in Phoenix, but the Coyotes are having a great season. They enter tonight 14-5-4 and have been their offense to thank. They're averaging 3.22 goals per game (4th in the NHL) and haven't been shut out all season long. They've dropped three out of four games, so we should see a focused effort tonight as they look to get back on track. Their opponent is the Nashville Predators. The Preds have had a difficult season, as they haven't been able to put the puck in the net. They are just 24th in the league with 2.26 goals per game, which was their biggest problem last season as well. Phoenix has won five of the last six meetings and I expect that to continue tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #59 New York Rangers over Tampa Bay Lightning (7:35pm EST) The New York Rangers are finally playing to their potential. After a difficult nine-game road trip to start the season, New York is 9-4-0 in their last 13 games. Their defense and goaltending have both been outstanding recently. Over their last five games, the Rangers have allowed a total of just five goals. This is the third game of their current road trip and New York captured the first two against the Stars and Predators. Today they get a Tampa Lightning team that has dropped four straight. The Lightning are without superstar Steven Stamkos and it's been difficult to score without him in the lineup. Tampa has scored just six goals over their last four contests. The Rangers are playing much better right now and I'm surprised to see them as underdogs here.

3-unit Play Take #1 Ottawa Senators over Carolina Hurricanes (5:05pm EST) The Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes hook up on Sunday afternoon. These teams are separated by just one point in the standings and both enter today's game with three-game losing streaks. However, the similarities end there. The Sens have a much more talent than the Hurricanes do and the numbers prove it out. Ottawa has a -6 goal differential this season while Carolina is at -21. The Canes are also without arguably their best player in Alexander Semin today. The linesmakers have this game basically at even, which isn't surprising based on the records. But Ottawa should be a clear favorite here and we'll take them in this spot.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #72 Los Angeles Kings (-150) over Colorado Avalanche (10:35pm EST) The Colorado Avalanche were the top story in the NHL for the first month or so of the season, but they're cooling off a bit now. They've dropped three out of five and didn't look good in a win last time out versus Phoenix. Hockey is definitely a momentum sport and when you have it, you are a tough team to beat. The Avalanche clearly had great chemistry and everything was going their way early on. But now they are faced with a bit of adversity and I'm not sure that the young team will respond well. They play a very tough Kings team tonight in Los Angeles. The Kings are coming off a tough 2-1 loss to the Devils in overtime. The Kings outshot New Jersey 35-15 in the game, but just couldn't put the puck in the net against Cory Schneider. If they play that way again tonight, they should easily come out on top. Los Angeles has won four of five and they pick up the win tonight.

1-unit Play Take #10 Vancouver over Columbus Blue Jackets (10:05pm EST) The Vancouver Canucks come in with a five-game losing streak, but they have a great chance of breaking through tonight. All but one of those five losses was very close and came down to the very end. But the last loss was particularly embarrassing, as they were beaten by the lowly Panthers 3-2 in a shootout. Those are the kinds of losses that usually wake a team up, and especially one as good as the Canucks are. They get the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight. The Jackets have really struggled in their transition to the Eastern Conference this season. They have just 19 points on the season, which is tied for last place in the division. This is the fourth game on a five-game road trip and they already have two wins. It's also their third game in four nights, and those are very tough spots on the road. I think Columbus is content that they picked up a couple of wins on the trip already, and we might see a pretty sluggish squad out there in this one. Vancouver is really fired up after being embarrassed, so this is a perfect situation for them to turn the tide. Take the Canucks.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #8 Anaheim Ducks over Tampa Bay Lightning (10:05pm EST) The Anaheim Ducks are one of just two teams who have yet to lose at home in regulation (8-0-1) and I don't expect that to change tonight. The Ducks are putting any talk of a fluke last season to rest as they currently sit atop the Pacific Division and have the most points in the NHL. They've been dealing with some injuries lately, and that has led to a current five-game losing streak. However, they're healthier now and back at home after a tough road trip. They'll face a Tampa Bay Lightning team that is without their best player Steven Stamkos. Stamkos is the heart and soul of this team and one of the best players in the NHL. The team has been playing alright without him, but not having his presence in the lineup is slowly taking its toll. Anaheim gets the job done and extends their nice run at home.

4-unit Play Take #3 Montreal Canadiens over Washington Capitals (7:05pm EST) The Montreal Canadiens head to D.C. to take on the Washington Capitals tonight. It was a slow start to the 2013-14 campaign for the Habs but they're playing much better hockey of late. Injuries plagued this team for the first month of the season, but they've been slowly getting guys back on the ice and it's making a big difference. The Canadiens have won three out of five and both of their losses were by one goal to very good teams (Tampa Bay and NY Rangers). They scored six goals in their last game against Minnesota, two of which were on their power play. Over the last couple of weeks their power play unit has been playing very well, so we can expect that to continue into tonight against a suspect Washington defense. The Capitals were blitzed 4-0 against the Penguins last time out and didn't look sharp in a win against the Blues the game before. This is one of the most inconsistent teams in hockey and you never quite know what you're going to get from them. The Canadiens are quite the opposite and I expect them to come out on top in this one.

5-unit Play Take #51 St. Louis Blues over Boston Bruins (7:05pm EST) The game of the night is between the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins in Beantown. These teams could easily meet in the Stanley Cup Final this summer and they clash tonight for the first time since February 2012. Neither team has disappointed its fans this season as Boston has the most points in the Eastern Conference and St. Louis is one point shy of leading the way in the Western Conference. However, the teams in the West have dominated the East this season overall. As a result, it's probably fair to say that St. Louis is the better team based on the fact that they are playing better teams on a nightly basis. Both teams play great fundamental hockey and there shouldn't be any cheap goals with two top flight goaltenders manning each net. I don't like the way the Bruins looked in their last game against the Rangers, where they were doubled up 44-22 on shots on goal but got the win 2-1. They were clearly outplayed and may have a sense of false confidence entering tonight's game. They are also coming home after a three-game road trip, so they might not be quite as rested as normal. The Blues are the better team and we'll take a shot on them at this underdog price.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Pittsburgh Penguins /Washington Capitals UNDER (8:05pm EST) The first meeting of the season between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals goes tonight in DC. This is a battle for first place as these teams are first and second in the Metropolitan and separated by a single point. Big games like this are usually played a little tighter to the vest as no one wants to make any big mistakes to cost themselves a goal. That should help keep the premium scoring chances to a minimum. The Under is also 4-0-1 in the Penguins last five games. In the last 11 meetings between these teams, the Under has connected on eight occasions. All signs point to a lower scoring game, so we'll play Under the total here tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #62 New York Rangers (-115) over Boston Bruins (7:35pm EST) After a slow start to the season due to a long road trip, the New York Rangers are now playing like everyone expected. They are 7-3 over their last 10 games and have played excellent on defense during that stretch. They haven't allowed more than three goals in any of those game and their opponents have averaged just 1.50 goals per game. Henrik Lundqvist deserves much of the credit, but he has some great help in front of him as well. Today they'll have their hands full with the Boston Bruins, but they do catch a nice break. The Bruins played last night in Carolina, so they flew in last night and don't get any rest for this one. That's important as both of these teams are physical, so extra rest will come in handy in this one. The Rangers are playing better right now and are at home. That's good enough for me to back them at this relatively short price.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #58 Detroit Red Wings (-155) over Nashville Predators (7:35pm EST) The Detroit Red Wings have lost seven straight home games, which is completely insane. That hasn't happened in 20 years and this Wings teams isn't all that bad. I don't like saying teams are ever due for a win, but in this case Detroit certainly is. Tonight is a good spot to get it done against a Nashville team that has lost four of five and may be a bit tired tonight. The Preds recently finished off a long seven-game road trip and then came back for one game at home versus the Blackhawks. Now they're back on the road again for two more, starting with tonight's contest. It's a goofy scheduling situation and one that the Wings should take advantage of tonight to break their bad run at home. Of Detroit's seven straight home losses, six of those were in overtime or a shootout. That's unfathomable considering the talent Detroit has in a shootout scenario. Tonight they change their fortunes.

3-unit Play Take #51 New York Islanders (+120) over Toronto Maple Leafs (7:05pm EST) We get a rare spot in today's game between the New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs where the wrong team is favored. The Leafs have been extremely fortunate to get to 12-7-1 on the season. They have been outshot and outplayed in the majority of their games and have managed to somehow win most of them. Their luck is starting to catch up with them however, as they have dropped four of six games. They also didn't look good in their home-and-home series with Buffalo, who is clearly the worst team in the NHL at the moment. The Islanders, on the other hand, looked fantastic in their last game against the Red Wings. They outshout Detroit 41-23 and ended up winning 5-4 in a shootout. The Isles have won three of the last four in this series and I like them to get the victory today. We'll gladly take them as an underdog.

4-unit Play Take #1 Boston Bruins over Carolina Hurricanes (7:05pm EST) The Carolina Hurricanes are hurting. They are hurting badly. They've been without their top two goaltenders for the last few weeks and are suffering with a host of other skaters who are banged up. Jeff Skinner, Tim Gleason and Joni Pitkanen are officially out while Alexander Semin, Kevin Westgarth and Radek Dvorak are all questionable. All of these guys make significant contributions to the Hurricanes and takes this team from mediocre to atrocious in terms of the remaining talent. Goalie Cam Ward could come back for this game, but it's not likely. Even if he does, he's surely going to be rusty and probably doesn't want his first action against a team like the Boston Bruins. The Bruins are healthy and have won four of five games overall. They are coming off of a loss to the Senators, so they will be fired up tonight. The line on this one seems very low given the injuries to Carolina, so we're all over Boston in this one.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Edmonton Oilers/Calgary Flames OVER (10:05pm EST) Two teams that don't play a whole lot of defense go at it tonight. The Calgary Flames have given up 22 goals in their last five games and that's really not a horrible stretch for them. They've been bad all season long as they take their lumps with the youngsters in their lineup. It also doesn't help that they have two goaltenders that don't belong in the NHL. Not a good combination. Moving onto the Edmonton Oilers, they've allowed 24 goals in their last six games. They also have a bunch of young guys that are more concerned with their offensive statistics than playing defense. The chemistry has been awful on the ice and there's been trade rumors swirling. All in all, it hasn't been a good season for these young clubs and you can blame the defenses. When these two get together it's a goal frenzy and nothing should change tonight. Take the Over here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take Chicago Blackhawks/Nashville Predators OVER (8:05pm EST) Nikolai Khabibulin is in net for the Chicago Blackhawks and that is good news for the Predators. The 40-year old veteran is a big drop off from starting goalie Corey Crawford and that means we should see an aggressive Nashville squad. The last time Khabibulin was manning the goal, the Hawks lost 6-5 to the Lightning. The Hawks know they have to put goals on the scoreboard when he's in there, and that should be a bit easier tonight with Nashville's backup goalie in there as well. Starter Pekka Rinne is injured right now, so Carter Hutton gets the opportunity once again. He has not been good so far, giving up 3.39 goals per game and owning a horrendous .891 save percentage. Those numbers probably won't improve against the Hawks, especially with the Preds playing on the second leg of a back-to-back. The last two meetings between these teams yielded eight goals and nine goals respectively. We probably won't get quite that high in this one, but we should have enough to go Over the total.

6-unit Play Take #62 Detroit Red Wings over Washington Capitals (7:35pm EST) The Detroit Red Wings have lost an amazing six games in a row at home. It's hard to believe. The Wings haven't lost that many in a row on their own ice since 1997. This Detroit team is a bit lost at the moment, but they are not this bad. They've lost several close contests and have had some bad puck luck along the way, but this is a playoff team. Of their six straight losses at home, a ridiculous five of those losses were in overtime or a shootout. They've had a couple of days to regroup for tonight's game at home versus the Washington Capitals and I expect a huge effort. The Capitals are playing decent hockey winning four of six, but most of those were against weaker opponents and they barely squeaked by in a couple of those. They haven't played well on the road this season either. In their last game against the Jets, Detroit held the shots advantage 43-21 and completely dominated. Expect that kind of effort again tonight with a much better result. Play Detroit as our 6-unit Game.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #1 Los Angeles Kings over New York Islanders (7:05pm EST) The Los Angeles Kings just lost their starting goaltender Jonathan Quick. They are also without centerman Jeff Carter and defenseman Matt Greene. The New York Islanders have defensemen Brian Streit and Lubomir Visnovsky on the injured list. Forwards John Tavares and Thomas Vanek are also nursing injuries and may not play. With both teams coming into this matchup pretty banged up, the smart way to look is to the deeper team. And that is the Kings. All of their lines play tough, physical hockey and have guys that can score. I almost think this team could be even better in the short-term with these injuries as they have several guys who want to show that they have the ability to raise their game - guys that could play bigger roles on lesser teams. The Kings are coming off of an ugly loss to the Sabres and most certainly will want to bounce back after being embarrassed. The Islanders have lost four of five and appear to be heading in the wrong direction. I like the Kings to dominate this affair.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #56 Edmonton Oilers over Dallas Stars (7:05pm EST) The Edmonton Oilers have lost eight of their last nine games and their only win was in a shootout against the lowly Florida Panthers. But today is a new day and a good spot for them to turn around their fortunes. They've had a couple of days off to prepare for the Dallas Stars, a team that still doesn't look very comfortable on the ice. They're 8-7-2 on the season, but half of their wins were in overtime/shootout. Dallas made a lot of changes in the offseason and I'm still not convinced that all of the parts fit together exactly like they had hoped. Edmonton had been dealing with some injury issues this season, but this is about as healthy as they have been all season. I feel a big effort from the Oilers today and that should translate into a victory.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #20 St. Louis Blues over Phoenix Coyotes (8:05pm EST) Call it puck luck or just plain good fortune, but whatever it is the Phoenix Coyotes have it. The Coyotes have won six of seven games, but there last four wins have all been in a shootout. Those are basically just coin flip situations, so they've obviously made out well. There's a good chance their luck runs out tonight though, as they take on another team that has won six out of seven. The St. Louis Blues haven't gotten much attention in the Central Division with the Avalanche and Hawks grabbing most of the headlines. But St. Louis is 11-2-2 this season and have played very consistent hockey. They're 7-1-1 at home and are coming off of an impressive win over the Penguins 2-1. Not many teams can shut down that offense, but St. Louis definitely has the arsenal on defense to get it done. The Blues have dominated this series in recent years and they should keep that trend going tonight at home.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #5 Columbus Blue Jackets over Washington Capitals (7:05pm EST) Two underachieving clubs face off tonight in Washington. The Columbus Blue Jackets enter tonight's contest just 6-10-0 on the season after nearly qualifying for the playoffs last year. It's been really difficult adjusting to a new conference and playing teams that they aren't used to on a daily basis (Detroit is finding that out the hard way as well). But they're coming off of an impressive 5-2 win against the Islanders after dropping five straight, and sometimes that's all a team really needs to turn it around. Columbus is actually 9-3 following a win dating back to the end of last season, so there you go. The Capitals have lost two straight and are 9-8-1 this year. For some reason this team doesn't seem to have it all together on the ice. Coach Adam Oates did a really good job with the team in his first season at the helm last year, but something is amiss in year two. This has always been an inconsistent team going back years, and it's the same story this season. For that reason, it's always worth a look at the underdog when Washington is favored. I have the line about 20 cents lower, so we're taking Columbus here.

3-unit Play Take #52 Boston Bruins over Tampa Bay Lightning (1:05pm EST) I'm still not believing in the Tampa Bay Lightning at this point. Yes they are 12-4-0 on the season, and yes they are vastly improved over last season. But there are still some issues here, especially defensively. They've gotten very good goaltender play by Ben Bishop to cover up for some of their mistakes, but he can't do it alone. This team will regress and it could start today against a tough opponent. The Boston Bruins are having a solid season at 10-5-1 and they always welcome the Lightning. The Bruins have won six straight against Tampa, including a 5-0 throttling earlier this season. This is an early game, which generally favors the home team a bit more with the change in schedule. The Bruins really don't need any extra advantages in this one, but it's nice to have. Take Boston today.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #65 Chicago Blackhawks over Dallas Stars (8:05pm EST) The Chicago Blackhawks are quietly going about their way as they enter today 10-2-4 on the season. This is still one of the best teams in hockey, if not the best overall. But we've been seeing some decent prices on them this season and tonight is one of those cases. Chicago heads to Dallas to take on a Stars team that has been pretty fortunate to be where they are. Dallas is coming off three straight wins, all of which were in overtime or a shootout. Considering that those games are generally coin flips, they've been lucky. Dallas only has two wins this season that have been by more than one goal. And despite a winning record, they've been outscored by the opposition this season. The Hawks have won the last four meetings between these two and they should get the job done again tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #58 Detroit Red Wings over Tampa Bay Lightning (7:05pm EST) The Tampa Bay Lightning come into tonight's matchup at 11-4-0 on the young season, but they don't impress me much. They've had one of the easiest schedules in the NHL so far, with nine of their 15 games at home and they've played the two worst teams in the league twice each (Buffalo and Florida). They're certainly improved over last season, but they still have holes on the defensive end and aren't the most disciplined team. They catch Detroit at a bad time, as the Red Wings have dropped two straight overall and four straight at home. The Wings haven't lost five straight at home since 1986. Detroit has a great history in this series as they are 14-3-1 in the last 18 meetings. Part of the reason is that the Wings play great fundamental hockey while the Lightning like to take chances and get it up and down the ice. Detroit should be able to take advantage of some mistakes once again and I think they get the win at home tonight.

5-unit Play Take Calgary Flames/Colorado Avalanche OVER (7:05pm EST) The Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche know how to put the puck in the net. The Flames are #12 in the NHL at 2.87 goals per game while the Avalanche are #5 at 3.29 goals per game. Throw in two mediocre goalies in the net tonight, and we should see plenty of good scoring chances. Reto Barra is in net for Calgary and he has a 3.46 goals against average and a .897 save percentage. Those aren't NHL caliber type of numbers and he probably shouldn't have this opportunity. Jean-Sebastian Giguere starts tonight for Colorado. He's had a fantastic season in his four games, but you can't let that fool you. The 36-year old Giguere was not good last season, when he only had a .908 save percentage and allowed 2.84 goals per contest. These teams hooked up four times last season and three of them went easily Over the total. In fact, two of the games featured nine goals and the other one seven. More of the same tonight as these teams haven't changed their styles one bit. Play the Over as our 5-unit game.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #59 New York Islanders over Carolina Hurricanes (7:05pm EST) The New York Islanders aren't quite there yet as one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference, but they're getting closer. After qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in six years last season, this team has some confidence and they made a big move when they acquired Thomas Vanek from the Sabres last week. He's still getting comfortable in an Islanders sweater, but his impact has already been felt. Today they go up against a battered and bruised Carolina Hurricanes squad. They've dropped five of six games and are missing some key pieces. Not only is their top goaltender Cam Ward on the shelf, but so is his backup Anton Khudobin. The Hurricanes are also without a few key skaters including Jeff Skinner, Radek Dvorak, Tim Gleason and Joni Pitkanen. Carolina wasn't a particularly deep team to begin with, so these losses are devastating. They've only scored a total of seven goals over their last six games and their defense hasn't been much better. This is just too tall of a task for the Hurricanes tonight and I like New York's chances to pick up the win.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #53 Montreal Canadiens (+100) over Ottawa Senators (7:05pm EST) Two struggling teams meet tonight and something has to give. The Montreal Canadiens have lost three straight games coming into this game while the Ottawa Senators have dropped five of six overall. Both squads are underperforming expectations so far this season as well, but both have decent excuses. The Canadiens have dealt with quite a few injuries to start the year and they're starting to get guys back one by one. The Senators made some wholesale changes in the offseason and have been slow to jell as a team. But amidst the adversity faced by these teams, the Canadiens have dealt with it better as they enter tonight 8-7-1 and have a +9 goal differential. The Sens check in at only 5-6-4 and have been outscored on the season by two goals. I do think the Senators will be the better team by season's end, but that's not the case at the moment. Clearly Montreal has kept things together a little bit better and I like their chances to break their losing streak tonight. Play Montreal here.

10 -unit Play Take #2 New York Rangers over Pittsburgh Penguins (7:35pm EST) Coming into the 2013-14 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers were touted as two of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference. They were rated very similarly as both teams have loads of talent and have the pieces to win the Cup. However, the Rangers come into today's matchup an underdog at home versus the Pens. How did we get here? Well, for starters, New York started the season on a 9-game road trip that lasted nearly the entire month of October. They went just 3-6-0 on the trip, including several games where they were completely destroyed. The Rangers also struggled with quite a few injuries early on. But maybe the biggest factor was breaking in a new head coach in Alain Vigneault, who has a completely different style and system than his predecessor John Tortorella. Add it all up and you can see why the Rangers were slow out of the gate. But things are turning fast, as New York has been victorious in three of four games and are playing with more confidence. They are healthier than they've been all season and finally get to enjoy some games on their own ice. They also have finally adapted to Vigneault's system as everyone knows their role. So in summary, this is finally the team that everyone expected and we should see some good results from the Rangers on the ice. They should be fired up for a big game against Pittsburgh tonight, and we'll happily jump on the underdog price with New York.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #65 Vancouver Canucks over Phoenix Coyotes (9:05pm EST) Two surging teams face off tonight in Phoenix. The Coyotes have won four straight and six of seven games overall. Their opponent, the Vancouver Canucks, have won five of six contests. Just one point separates these teams in the standings and they both are at +5 in goal differential on the season. While it can't get much closer than that, it doesn't necessarily mean that the line on this game should be even (after factoring in home ice). First off, the Canucks have much more talent than the Coyotes do across the board, including a better goaltender. Secondly, the Canucks have been working on adjusting to a new playing style under head coach John Tortorella. He's not an easy coach to play for and that probably cost them a few games early on as they got up to speed. As a result, this team is even better now than what the numbers tell you. We're less than 20% of the way into the season and you can't put too much weight on the results quite yet. The Canucks may trail the Coyotes by a point in the standings, but rest assured by season's end that Vancouver will be ahead. Take them here at an underdog price.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #53 New York Islanders over Washington Capitals (7:05pm EST) The New York Islanders made a big move a week ago when they acquired Thomas Vanek from the Sabres. But adding one of the premier scorers in the league didn't pay immediate dividends as they lost their first game with him in the lineup to the Rangers (Vanek had no points). But it didn't take him long to get acclimated as he pitched in with an assist in the next game (a 5-4 win against the Senators) and a goal and assist in the game after (a 3-1 win against the Bruins). There's no question that this Islanders team is more dangerous now and they're certainly playing with more confidence as a result. They run into a Capitals team that has two straight wins - one of which was impressive and the other definitely not. They beat the Flyers 7-0 a few days ago and then followed that up with a 3-2 shootout win against the hapless Panthers - a game they should have lost. That kind of sums up of who Washington is. The Caps have played inconsistent hockey for the last couple of seasons and this year is no exception. They do welcome back Alex Ovechkin tonight, who has missed some time recently with an upper body injury. That will give them a boost, but I like the Islanders in this price range. They are the better team right now and this line should be around even.

10-unit Play Take #3 Detroit Red Wings over Winnipeg Jets (8:05pm EST) A little over a week ago the Detroit Red Wings were coming off a loss to the New York Rangers 3-2. That defeat marked the third straight home loss for the Wings - a rare occurrence for one of the most successful franchises in the NHL over the last couple of decades. It certainly woke them up, as Detroit responded with three straight road victories against the Canucks, Flames and Oilers in succession. Tonight they'll look to sweep the Canada trip with a win against the Winnipeg Jets. Playing in the MTS Centre is a difficult task, but the Wings have dominated this entire road trip outscoring their opponents by a combined 11-4 score. They've also killed all 11 penalties and Jimmy Howard has looked smooth in the net. The Jets have lost six out of seven games with their only win coming in a shootout against the Stars. They've had a difficult time scoring the puck, averaging just 2.0 goals per game during this stretch. Detroit is a better team across the board and they'd like nothing better than to sweep this road trip and head back home carrying this momentum. My money says they will do it. Take Detroit tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #53 Calgary Flames over Chicago Blackhawks (7:35pm EST) The Calgary Flames are not a good hockey team, but they've started the season much better than most expected. They are 5-6-2 and have notched some impressive wins so far. They are very young and inexperienced and that has helped them compete against teams that they shouldn't beat. They don't get caught up in the mental side of things and just play. Today's game against the Chicago Blackhawks presents another opportunity to just get out there and play. The Hawks are on the second leg of a back-to-back after beating up in Winnipeg 5-1 yesterday afternoon. However, Chicago hasn't looked very good over the last couple of weeks despite picking up more wins than losses. There was a game against Ottawa that they trailed most of the way and gave up five goals but were able to win 6-5. They also barely got by the Panthers in a shootout and dropped games to the Wild and Lightning. This is the same Hawks team that won the Cup last season, but I'm not sure how focused they are at the moment. Let's take a shot at a young Calgary team here at a humongous price.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #51 Dallas Stars over Ottawa Senators (1:05pm EST) Today's game between the Dallas Stars and Ottawa Senators features two teams that are still trying to get some traction early on in the season. Both squads experienced quite a bit of turnover in the offseason and that's probably why both teams come in with subpar records right now. The Stars are starting to get things together despite some disappointing results lately. Their last three losses have all been by one goal to pretty good teams in the Avalanche, Canadiens and Jets (two of those were in overtime/shootout). Their defense has really started to jell lately as they've significantly cut down on the amount of shots allowed in their last few contests. This is the start of a three-game roadie and they'll look to get things started on the right foot. The Sens have been really disappointing with the amount of talent that they have on the ice and have dropped four straight contests. In those four games they have surrendered a total of 18 goals - an average of 4.5 per game. For the season they are allowing a robust 38.5 shots on goal, which is dead last in the NHL. That's going to have to improve, but when that happens is anybody's guess. Something just doesn't feel right with this team and we think this game is a complete toss-up. In that case, we'll take the underdog Dallas.

3-unit Play Take #13 Florida Panthers (+160) over Washington Capitals (7:05pm EST) We've made a habit of looking to bet against the Florida Panthers so far this season, but tonight the tables have turned as we see some value with them. Both the Panthers and Washington Capitals are coming off a game last night in addition to traveling afterwards. Those are tough situations and we usually see some sloppy hockey as a result. For the Caps, it will be easy to overlook a weak Florida team after ripping Philadelphia 7-0 last night. The Panthers lost 4-0 to the Blues, so they will be fired up tonight after getting embarrassed. It's a bet that's really hard to pull the trigger on given those results, but the bets that are the hardest to make are often times of the best ones. Florida shouldn't be this big of an underdog to a Washington team that is under .500 - especially when they are without star Alex Ovechkin. Take Florida tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #18 Vancouver Canucks (-150) over Toronto Maple Leafs (7:05pm EST) The season is young, but one team has stood out as being the luckiest thus far and that's the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs are leading the Eastern Conference with a 10-4 record and 20 points, but they aren't even playing like a playoff team at the moment. They have been extremely lucky in pull out victories in games that they were outplayed. For instance, in their last game against the Flames they were outshot 43-22 but still pulled out a 4-2 win that included an empty net goal. As a team, they are shooting over 12% on their shots on goal this season, which is tops in the league. Once that number normalizes in the 8-9% range, their goals are going to come down and their results won't be as good. The Canucks are finally playing the hockey that John Tortorella and they've won four of five games overall, with their only lost a 2-1 decision against the Red Wings. I expected this team to get better as the season evolved and it's happened a little earlier for them. The Canucks have dominated this series over the years, winning 10 of the last 11 meetings. The Leafs are better than they were in past years, but I still think Vancouver is a much better team and they notch the win at home today.

10-unit Play Take #58 Ottawa Senators over New York Islanders (7:35pm EST) Coming into this season, the Ottawa Senators were picked to be one of the top threats in the Eastern Conference. They've gotten off to a slow start at 4-6-2, but that's a bit understandable given some of the roster shuffling they did in the offseason. They hung tough with the Blackhawks in their last game, but eventually fell 6-5 after leading most of the way. It was their third straight loss and now the team needs to regroup to stop the bleeding. Good teams bounce back and avoid long losing streaks, so I'm counting on the Sens to step up huge tonight at home against a mediocre New York Islanders team. The Isles are still young and still a year or two away from making some noise. They just added Thomas Vanek in a trade with Buffalo, which is a nice addition to add some offense. However, it will probably take a little bit of time to get him on the same page with his teammates and the team could suffer in the short-term. Ottawa has won five of the last six in this series and I like their chances to extend that run tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #55 Tampa Bay Lightning over Carolina Hurricanes (7:05pm EST) The Tampa Bay Lightning may not be as good as their 8-4-0 record indicates, but they are certainly playing well. Their offense has always been one of the tops in the league and now they're showing some signs of getting their defense in order. They've cut down their opponents shots on goal by nearly three per game from last season and have shaved a bit off their goals against average in the process. They still have some holes, but I like what I've seen. They'll go up against a Carolina Hurricanes team that is dealing with a ton of injuries at the moment. Not only are the Canes dealing with the loss of their starting goaltender Cam Ward, but they are also without their backup Anton Khudobin. There are also six or seven skaters who are likely out today. Carolina has dropped three straight and the injuries have definitely been a part of the problem. Tampa Bay has won four of the last five in this series and none of their wins have been close. I expect more of the same today as the Lightning should pick up a win.

5-unit Play Take #52 Philadelphia Flyers over Washington Capitals (7:05pm EST) Two underachieving teams go at it tonight in Philadelphia as the Flyers host the Washington Capitals. The Flyers come in 3-8-0 on the season while the Caps are only 5-7-0. It's unusual for these two squads to face off both with losing records, but there's no question that these records are well-deserved. Neither team is playing well this season, but there are some positives for one team. The Flyers were atrocious in their first few games this season, which led to the firing of their head coach Peter Laviolette. It's taken some time since then, but they have started to look more cohesive on the ice lately. Philadelphia has won two of its last three games and those were against playoff teams. Their defense is starting to look better and the team is finally showing some confidence for the first time this season. The Capitals are on the final game of a five-game road trip and they are starting to feel the effects. In their last game against the Canucks, the Caps were outshot 41-19 in a 3-2 loss, and that was on the heels of a game where they were blasted 5-2 by the Flames. They are just 1-for-15 on the power play during this trip and that's normally one of the strengths of this team. Washington is also without star Alex Ovechkin for this game and that is a huge loss. Philadelphia has won five of the last six meetings in this series and they should notch another win tonight.

2-unit Play Take #4 New York Rangers over Buffalo Sabres (7:05pm EST) We're going to continue betting against the Buffalo Sabres quite a bit until they act like they are a hockey team. The 2-11-1 Sabres have shown nothing this season. No chemistry, no desire and no offense. And things just got a little worse as they traded away their best player in Thomas Vanek. If it wasn't clear already, this is certainly the worst team in the NHL right now. The New York Rangers really haven't looked to hot this season either, but at least they have an excuse. They were on the road for nearly the entire month and this is only their second home game of the entire season. They are 4-7-0 on the season but are loaded with plenty of talent. It's taking them a while to get into the rhythm with new head coach Alain Vigneault's system, but things are looking up. The Rangers are coming off of a 3-2 win against the Islanders and beat the Red Wings 3-2 a few days before that. This is a Stanley Cup contender and I have a feeling we're going to start seeing that on the ice more often. New York should skate away with the win today.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #56 Vancouver Canucks over Detroit Red Wings (10:35pm EST) Two teams going in opposite directions meet in Vancouver tonight as the Canucks host the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings have lost four games in a row, including their last three at home. That doesn't happen often. A couple of those losses were not pretty as they were torched 6-1 against the Senators and lost 5-2 to the Coyotes. That also doesn't happen often. Clearly the Wings aren't on top of their game right now and that doesn't bode well for them as they go up against a Canucks team gaining steam. Vancouver has won four straight games under the direction of new head coach John Tortorella. It took a while for things to click, but this team has their swagger back now. They're moving the puck around well and getting plenty of premium scoring chances. This is one of those games where the linesmakers can't make the line high enough due to the reputation of the teams. The Canucks are playing great hockey and should take this one.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #52 Pittsburgh Penguins over Boston Bruins (8:05pm EST) The Pittsburgh Penguins were embarrassed at how last season ended. They Boston Bruins swept the Penguins in the Eastern Conference Finals and held them to just two goals in the entire series. That's two goals for the highest scoring team in the regular season - a team that averaged 3.38 goals per game. Certainly Pittsburgh hasn't forgotten and this game has been circled on the calendar for quite some time. I'm not huge on revenge spots in general, but this game is about as big as it gets. As for this season, the Penguins come in 8-4-0 while the Bruins are 7-3-0. These are still two of the best teams in the league and they could easily meet again in the playoffs to decide the East. Under normal circumstances, this line seems about right. But this spot definitely calls for the Penguins, and we've tabbed it as our 5-unit Game.

1-unit Play Take #12 St. Louis Blues (-210) over Winnipeg Jets (8:05pm EST) Every once in a while you find a game where everything lines up perfectly and tonight we have one of those opportunities. First off, the St. Louis Blues catch the Winnipeg Jets in a great situational spot tonight. Winnipeg is playing their third road game in four nights, which is not easy on any team. But it's especially difficult when you're going up against a team as physical and fundamentally sound as the Blues. You have to play almost perfectly to beat the Blues on their ice. Add to it that this is the final game of the trip for the Jets, so they may not be as focused as they look to get back home. The Blues are also looking for revenge after the Jets beat the Blues in a come from behind game 10 days ago in Winnipeg. St. Louis had a 3-1 lead with just a couple of minutes remaining and gave up two late goals to push the game into overtime. The Jets then won it in a long shootout, stealing two points in a game they had no business winning. There's no doubt that is fresh in the minds of St. Louis tonight. The Blues are also on two full days of rest for this one and are off a 6-1 thrashing of Nashville. The price is steeper than we generally get involved with, but this game sets up very well for St. Louis and we have to pull the trigger here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #57 Chicago Blackhawks over Minnesota Wild (8:05pm EST) The Chicago Blackhawks aren't playing great hockey right now. They've dropped their last two games and didn't look good in a couple of their wins before that. But one thing we know about the Hawks is that they have a lot of pride and don't like looking bad on the ice. As a result, they've been able to avoid long losing streaks over the last few seasons by fighting hard when things get tough. And they'll be fighting even harder than usual tonight as they go up against the Minnesota Wild for the second straight game. The Wild beat the Hawks 5-3 in Chicago two days ago in a game that Minnesota controlled throughout. The Hawks put plenty of shots on goal, but their defense was suspect and goalie Corey Crawford just didn't have it. But now Chicago will get a chance to redeem themselves against the Wild and return the favor in Minnesota. This line seems awfully low given the talent disparity on these teams and the situation. Take the Hawks here.

4-unit Play Take #56 New York Rangers over Montreal Canadiens (7:35pm EST) The New York Rangers are finally home and that's cause for celebration. Due to renovations at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers started the season on the road for nine consecutive games. They didn't play well going 3-6-0, but not many teams would after being on the road for nearly a full month dating back to the preseason. The Rangers are also still adjusting to the style of new head coach Alain Vigneault, who is quite the opposite of former coach John Tortorella. They certainly looked good in their last game in Detroit, where they defeated the Red Wings 3-2. They'll square off against a Montreal Canadiens team that is pretty beat up right now. Montreal has nearly one-third of its regular skaters on the injured list, and they aren't a deep team. The Rangers have a few injuries as well, but their biggest one is no longer an issue as Henrik Lundqvist is back in net. He's one of the best in the game but had missed the last two contests with an undisclosed injury. From a talent perspective the Rangers are the better team, and we'll gladly take a flyer on them as a home underdog in their home opener.

3-unit Play Take #51 Dallas Stars over Buffalo Sabres (7:05pm EST) It hasn't been a good season for the Buffalo Sabres so far, and things just got worse. The Sabres are 2-10-1 on the season and they just traded away their best player Thomas Vanek in an effort to build for the future. The move makes sense long-term and many saw it coming, but it certainly can't be good for the morale of a team that has already been down. For some teams this could provide a spark and maybe the team would draw closer, but I just don't see it with the Sabres. They aren't even close to being competitive in most of their games and their on ice chemistry has been atrocious. Buffalo is also dealing with a host of injuries and suspensions to some key players, making matters even worse. They'll get a Dallas Stars team that has dropped three of four and could really use a win. They hung tight with a pretty good Winnipeg team last time out but lost 2-1 in a shootout. Dallas had quite a bit of shakeup in the offseason, so they've been a bit slow out of the gate. But I see some positive signs from them and they're going to improve as the season goes on. Tonight shouldn't pose much of a challenge and I think the Stars will take advantage.

3-unit Play Take #1 San Jose Sharks over Ottawa Senators (5:05pm EST) We've been riding the San Jose Sharks early on this season and it's paid off. No team has dominated like they have so far, as they've outscored their opponents 43-18 en route to a 9-1-1 record. They were missing a few key guys in last night's game, but they didn't miss a beat in their 2-0 victory in Montreal. When you're going good, you can do no wrong and that's certainly the mantra for the Sharks right now. They'll face a talented Ottawa Senators team today, but one that isn't quite clicking yet at 4-4-2 on the season. The Sens made some big changes in the offseason and they're still trying to build that team chemistry. We get a very good price since this is San Jose's third game in four nights on the road. That is usually a very difficult spot for most teams, but as good as the Sharks are playing right now they don't ever want to get off of the ice. Take the Sharks here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #55 San Jose Sharks over Montreal Canadiens (7:05pm EST) The best team in hockey takes the ice again tonight as they head into Montreal. The San Jose Sharks are simply dominating their competition this season - including when they lose. Two days ago, they lost 2-1 to the Bruins but completely controlled the entire game. Sometimes you run up against a good goalie like Tuukka Rask and it just doesn't work out. But that was the first regulation loss of the season for the Sharks and they have still outscored their opponents 41-18 this season. They'll go up against a really banged up Canadiens team that has roughly one-third of its normal skaters on the injured list. They also aren't particularly deep, so it's definitely going to be a problem against better teams like the Sharks who can score on every line. I have the line on this game nearly 30-cents higher and don't see how the Sharks can lose this one unless Carey Price has the best game of his season. Take San Jose at the bargain price here.

4-unit Play Take #63 Pittsburgh Penguins over Toronto Maple Leafs (7:05pm EST) The Pittsburgh Penguins come to Toronto with their tail between their legs after giving the game away last night versus the Islanders. They led most of the way, but gave up three goals in the last eight minutes to fall 4-3. It was an embarrassing loss and that was on the heels of the game before when they were shutout at home 1-0 against the Avalanche. In both of those games the Penguins outshot their opponents by a wide margin. If there was ever a game to be fired up for, this is one. The Maple Leafs are coming off a loss to Columbus last night and haven't looked good at all this season. Yes they are 7-4-0, but they've been fortunate to pick up some close wins and also steal a couple of games where they were outplayed. All in all, I just don't like this Leafs team right now and think they are probably the most overrated team in the NHL. Take the Penguins tonight as they look to bounce back after their mini losing streak.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #4 Columbus Blue Jackets over Toronto Maple Leafs (7:05pm EST) Most teams are about 10 games into their season right now and we've got a decent sample to start grouping teams into the overvalued or undervalued buckets. One of the first teams that would be thrown into the overvalued bucket at this point is the Toronto Maple Leafs. They enter today's contest 7-3-0 on the season, but they're not playing like a first place team. They've lacked chemistry on the ice for most of the season and have had plenty of defensive breakdowns. Their opponents are outshooting them by a healthy margin on the season and I just don't see anything too encouraging in Toronto. David Clarkson is coming back tonight for his first game back from a 10-game suspension. While that's a good thing in the long-term, their chemistry is going to be even more out of kilter with the shakeup in the lineups today. Columbus is coming on strong with two straight impressive wins against the Canucks and Devils, by a combined 7-2 score. They have some holes for sure, but they are tough at home and have one of the best goalies in the league in Sergei Bobrovsky. The price on this game doesn't scream value off the cuff, but I really think Toronto is going to stumble as they can't keep getting outplayed and win. Take the Blue Jackets tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #59 Chicago Blackhawks over Tampa Bay Lightning (7:35pm EST) The Chicago Blackhawks finish up their Florida trip tonight as they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. These teams played in Chicago almost three weeks ago and the Hawks dominated the game every which way except for the final score. In that game, the Hawks led the entire way and outshot the Lightning 39-16 overall. However, Tampa ended up winning 3-2 in a shootout and that certainly has to be on the Hawks' minds tonight as they take on the Lightning for the final time in the 2013-14 regular season. The Hawks have looked great so far this season, only dropping one game in regulation and outshooting their opponents in every game but one so far. Tampa hasn't been bad either at 5-3, but they were just bombed by the Bruins 5-0 in their last game and are probably bringing back memories from last season when they started off strong and hit a wall. This one just comes down to one team being better than the other and the line being a little bit short. Take Chicago here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #57 Anaheim Ducks over Montreal Canadiens (7:35pm EST) The Montreal Canadiens enter tonight's game as an absolute mash unit. Nobody has endured as many significant injuries as the Canadiens have, as they are without seven players in their regular lineup - four forwards and three defensemen. Montreal isn't a particularly deep unit and they've dropped their last two contests as the injuries have been mounting. Tonight they'll go up against an aggressive Anaheim Ducks team. The Ducks are off to another good start this season at 7-2 through their first nine contests, and they have a better goal margin than all but one team in the Western Conference. They have tons of weapons and I just can't see a beleaguered Canadiens teams keeping up on the offensive or defensive end. Take the Ducks in this game.

4-unit Play Take #62 Minnesota Wild over Nashville Predators (8:05pm EST) I didn't think much of the Minnesota Wild last season after so much was made of their acquisitions of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise. Many tabbed them as title contenders immediately and they were an overvalued team in the betting markets. But after expectations have been tempered a bit and now that this team is building some good chemistry, I actually think they're flying under the radar a bit. They've been in every game this season and could easily have one of the best records in the league with just a few breaks. They've lost all three games that they've went to overtime in, and they've had several games where they dominated the opposition but came up on the wrong end of the final score. They get the Nashville Predators today - a team that's improved but still in search of an offense. The Preds are averaging just 2.11 goals per game this season, good enough for just 25th in the NHL. They don't have many playmakers and rely on their defense to create good opportunities. This will be the third and final game of their road trip and they've played three in four nights. Those travel situations are often difficult, especially for a team like Nashville that plays a physical brand of hockey. The Wild are the better team overall and are in a good situational spot to earn two points in the standings tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #55 New Jersey Devils over Columbus Blue Jackets (7:05pm EST) The New Jersey Devils aren't a good hockey team, but we look for value and they present some today. Many hockey analysts have thrown the Devils in with the three or four worst teams in the NHL - comparing them with the likes of the Calgary Flames or Florida Panthers. However, they are not in the same class as those teams and this team actually has a legitimate chance to compete for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference if they can stay healthy. They're off to a slow start at 1-4-3 on the season, but they've played six of their first eight games on the road and have lost several close games. In fact, they lost three in a row in overtime earlier this season and four straight games by a single goal. With a couple of pucks bouncing their way, this team could easily be better than .500 right now. They are struggling to score goals and that could be an issue for the entire season, but their defense and goaltending is excellent and should keep them in most games. Goalie Cory Schneider gets the start tonight and he is definitely the better netminder for New Jersey will all due respect to Martin Brodeur. They'll face a Columbus Blue Jackets team that has gotten out of the gates a little slow this season as well. The Jackets looked to be on the rise after nearly qualifying for the postseason last year, but their defense has looked atrocious of late. They've give up an average of over 35 shots per game during their last five contests. They have a good goalie in Sergei Bobrovsky, but no one is good enough to ward off that many chances on a nightly basis. New Jersey plays a unique style and that should favor them tonight as these teams haven't played in nearly two full years. That's going to be one of the difficulties for the Jackets as they adjust to a new conference and unfamiliar teams. Every night will be a challenge for them. Take the Devils at an attractive underdog price today.

3-unit Play Take #1 San Jose Sharks over Detroit Red Wings (7:35pm EST) Nobody is playing better hockey right now than the San Jose Sharks are. They are 7-0-1 and have outscored their opponents by a whopping margin of 39-16 collectively. Their offense has been amazing putting over 40 shots on goal per game while finding the back of the net nearly five times per game. These guys have played together for quite some time and clearly have a chemistry that is hard to match. Throw a 19-year old phenom in Tomas Hertl into that mix and it's hard to imagine anyone shutting them down without a superb goaltending effort. Their defense also has been solid, allowing under 24 shots per game (2nd in the NHL). That's made life easier on goalie Antti Niemi, who really doesn't need much help considering his amazing skills in net. The Sharks draw a tough opponent in the Red Wings tonight, especially in Detroit. However, I don't like what I've seen from the Wings so far in 2013-14. They are dealing with several injuries right now and haven't looked as cohesive on the ice as we're accustomed to seeing. They are far too reliant on Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg to score their goals, and that will eventually catch up with them. Detroit is off to a 6-3 start to the season, but they've only outscored their opponents by one goal all season. They're not playing their best hockey and San Jose definitely is. We're on the Sharks in this one.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #51 Vancouver Canucks over Columbus Blue Jackets (2:05pm EST) The Vancouver Canucks take on the Columbus Blue Jackets this evening in what will feel like a road game for both teams. The Canucks are on the fourth game of their seven-game road trip, while the Jackets are returning home after a three-game trip. Vancouver is finally playing solid hockey after taking a few games to adjust to the new style of head coach John Tortorella. They beat the Flyers and Sabres to start the trip and outplayed the Penguins yesterday and lost in a shootout. Columbus has lost four in a row and hasn't looked good doing it. Their defense is allowing 36 shots per game during that stretch and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky hasn't been able to keep up. Vancouver has won 13 of the last 16 in this series and is the better team overall. We'll play them here at virtually an even price.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #11 Minnesota Wild over Florida Panthers (7:05pm EST) Once again we'll pick on the Florida Panthers, as this squad just doesn't look like a team yet. They are still trying to develop some chemistry between a group of younger guys and some over the hill veterans that they picked up recently. It's an odd group and one that is going to struggle to score goals all season long for sure. They do finally have a respectable goaltender in the net in Tim Thomas, but he may not be in the net tonight. The Minnesota Wild are 3-3-2 this season and are making strides in the right direction. This is the final game of their four-game road trip and they have performed well despite dropping two of the first three. They were tied with the Lightning 1-1 in their last game up until the final minutes when they gave up two goals. They lost 4-1 to the Maple Leafs in a game that they won the shots on goal 37-14. That's right, they gave up four goals in 14 shots. This team is playing well and they're certainly much better than the Panthers. The line is a little steep on the road, but this Panthers team just can't be priced high enough right now. Take Minnesota here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

7-unit Play Take #7 Nashville Predators over Montreal Canadiens (7:05pm EST) The Nashville Predators had a miserable 2012-13 season with the third fewest points in the entire NHL. Everything that could have went wrong did and head coach Barry Trotz vowed to wipe the slate clean and get back to playing like the Preds team that everyone is accustomed to seeing. And so far, he is right. Nashville is just 3-3-1 on the season thus far, but they are back to playing their rugged, physical style and making it hard on opposing offenses. They are 7th best in shots allowed per game and have went up against lots of offensive-minded opponents. They'll get another team that likes to get up and down the ice in the Montreal Canadiens tonight. The Habs have scored three or more goals in all but one of their games this season and are currently on a four-game winning streak. But they have played teams that they match up well against on the ice like the Jets, Canucks, Oilers, Flames and Maple Leafs. They haven't faced a team that gets in your face like the Predators do and that will pose a challenge for them tonight. Montreal is one of the smallest teams in the NHL and they are also dealing with some injuries to some of their bigger bodies. That's going to finally catch up with them tonight as I expect Nashville to throw them off their game and notch their first road win.

5-unit Play Take #3 Edmonton Oilers) over Ottawa Senators (2:05pm EST) We see some good value with the Edmonton Oilers right now as they are playing much better than their 1-6-1 record indicates. Edmonton has played a difficult schedule that's included six teams that made the playoffs last season and five of those games were on the road. They have also lost three one-goal games and have dealt with some injuries to start the season. Tonight is the fifth game on their six-game road trip and they have yet to record a victory. They know they are too talented of a team to go winless on this trip so they should be focused in this one against the Ottawa Senators. The Sens come in off of a 5-2 victory at home versus the Devils, but they didn't play as well as the score indicates. They only registered 23 shots on goal and their defense was sloppy but luckily bailed out by goalie Craig Anderson. Ottawa is also still trying to get comfortable playing with one another after quite a bit of shakeup on their roster in the offseason. This line is just too high given the talent on the Oilers and I think Edmonton can steal one here.

10-unit Play Take #52 Winnipeg Jets over St. Louis Blues (8:05pm EST) The St. Louis Blues head to Winnipeg to take on the Jets in what is an extremely difficult spot tonight. Winnipeg is a tough venue to play in due to the size of the arena, the noise and the travel distance. But it's even more overwhelming on the second leg of a back-to-back after playing a tough game against the defending champion Blackhawks which went to a shootout. The Blues will definitely have their work cut out for themselves here. The Jets have been at home for an entire week and have had two days off to fully prepare for this one. They've dropped four of five games, but there were some encouraging signs in their last few games. They outshot their opponents by double digits in each of their last three games, but could only find the back of the net four times in 115 shots on goal. We'll call that a little bit of bad puck luck as nobody can shoot under 4% for an extended period of time. Expect more goals from the Jets and a tired Blues team to show up in Winnipeg tonight. The Jets are the right side here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports