Sports Picks & Predictions

4-unit Play Take #18 Chicago Blackhawks over St. Louis Blues (8:05pm EST) The Chicago Blackhawks look to get even as they host the St. Louis Blues tonight in the United Center. Last week the Blues won 3-2 after scoring a tiebreaking goal with just 22 seconds left. It was a hard fought battle and a well-played game between two division rivals that know each other well. But it didn't sit well with Chicago. There's no doubt the Hawks will be looking for revenge in this spot. The Blues will be playing their first road game of the season, and this isn't the kind of environment you want to start your first road trip in. The Hawks have been recognized as a team that has a real shot at repeating as Stanley Cup champions - a feat that hasn't been accomplished in 15 years. Their first goal is just to win the Central, and the Blues are their biggest competition with all due respect to the Avalanche and their hot start. The Hawks will bounce back today and get a victory at home.

3-unit Play Take #1 Carolina Hurricanes over Toronto Maple Leafs (7:05pm EST) The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Carolina Hurricanes in a game where the line is way over-inflated. The Hurricanes are a much better squad than last season and have been competitive in every game this year despite playing a tough schedule. They fell to the defending champion Blackhawks 3-2 in a shootout last time out, but I love the fact that they didn't give up after quickly trailing 2-0 in the first period. They've also dropped games to the Kings and Red Wings in extra time and those could have easily been wins. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs are being overrated right now due to a hot 6-1 start to the season. They are definitely a solid team that will compete for a playoff spot, but they're not much better than the Hurricanes. They haven't played a daunting schedule and have been lucky to escape with wins in some of their games. In their last contest versus Minnesota, the Leafs were outshout 37-14 and somehow managed to put four goals in the net and get a victory. That's not going to cut it on a nightly basis and I see them going in the wrong direction right now. We get a nice plus price on the Hurricanes and will take our chances on a game that could go either way tonight.

10-unit Play Take #52 Washington Capitals over New York Rangers (8:05pm EST) The New York Rangers are a complete disaster right now and the rest of the NHL is taking advantage while they can. The Rangers have a lot of talent and should be a playoff team by season's end, but they have a lot going against them right now. First off, they are trying to adjust to the system of new head coach Alain Vigneault. He's the antithesis of former coach John Tortorella and the team seems to be having a difficult time getting acclimated. It also doesn't help that this team has been on the road for weeks dating back to the preseason. This will be their sixth regular season game in a row away from home as their stadium is being renovated. Traveling takes its toll and especially early on in the season when the guys aren't exactly in game shape just yet. Lastly, New York has dealt with several key injuries already this season and are currently without wingers Rick Nash and Carl Hagelin. They'll go up against a motivated Washington Capitals team tonight in D.C. The Rangers knocked the Caps out of the playoffs last season, coming from behind after a 3-2 series deficit. Rest assured that the Washington players have had this game circled on their calendars for quite some time. And with all of the issues the Rangers are going through right now, I don't think they're going to be able to fight off the Capitals here. Take Washington in a great spot.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #15 San Jose Sharks over St. Louis Blues (8:05pm EST) Two the three remaining unbeaten teams in the NHL square off today in St. Louis. The Sharks and Blues area combined 9-0-0 this season, but one team has still looked far and away better so far. And that team is the Sharks. In their five games, the Sharks have outscored opponents by a whopping 24-7 margin! The shot margin is even more ridiculous at 212-114 - nearly twice as many! And it's not like they are playing poor opponents in these games. San Jose has gone up against the Senators, Rangers, Coyotes and the Canucks twice. Those teams will probably all be in the playoffs when it's all said and done. They've been energized by the outstanding play of rookie Tomas Hertl. The 19-year old Czech sensation has not only been the best rookie on the ice this season, but has been one of the best players period. He's scored seven goals in five games, including four in one contest against the Rangers. The Blues have played well but will have their hands full tonight. All of their games have been at home so far and they haven't played as tough of a schedule overall. I have a feeling they're not going to know what hit them when the Sharks arrive tonight. This price is way too good to pass on as we get the better team at an underdog price. Play San Jose.

3-unit Play Take #18 Nashville Predators over Florida Panthers (8:05pm EST) We're going to be picking on this Florida Panthers team quite often early on this season. They have a crazy mix of undeveloped youngsters and over the hill veterans, and they're trying to put it all together and call it a hockey team. It's not going to work. Team management has admitted that they are in full rebuilding mode and nobody expects this to be a competitive team. However, not only are they not going to be competitive but I think we have the league's worst team right here. They've played alright hockey so far, but they're not going to be able to hang with teams that are prepared for them. And today's opponent today, the Nashville Predators, is always well-prepared and is one of the best coached teams in hockey. Rest assured Barry Trotz will have his team ready to play as the Preds look to get to .500 on the season with a win today. The Preds also catch a break with Florida goalie Tim Thomas banged up right now with a lower body injury. He may not play at all today, and if he does he's not going to be 100%. Nashville takes this game with ease.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #9 Chicago Blackhawks over Carolina Hurricanes (7:05pm EST) The defending champion Chicago Blackhawks head on the road to take on the Carolina Hurricanes tonight. This will only be the second game away from home for Chicago this season. They dropped their first road game in St. Louis 3-2 to the Blues in a thrilling contest that could have gone either way. The Hawks take a lot of pride in playing well on the road and they should be eager to notch that first away victory here. Last season, the Blackhawks were an amazing 18-4-2 on the road - the best mark in the league. When they won the Cup three years ago they were 23-14-4 on the road. Carolina is a decent team that may be a bit under the radar this season, but they have already shown that their not ready to step up against good competition. They've won two games against the Capitals and Flyers, but have lost the rest against the Kings, Coyotes, Penguins and Red Wings. They'll have to learn how to win those tough games if they want to be a playoff team, but they are not there yet. The Blackhawks record their first road win today in Carolina.

10-unit Play Take #55 Minnesota Wild over Buffalo Sabres (7:35pm EST) It's still early on in the 2013-14 season, but it's clear that no one has played worse hockey than the Buffalo Sabres thus far. They enter today's game 0-5-1 in their first six games and have scored a total of just six goals so far. That's an average of just one goal per game, which is far and away the worst in the league. Goalie Ryan Miller has actually played very well for them, but he has to be very frustrated at this point and he's facing a ton of shots every time out. The Sabres have allowed at least 33 shots in every contest and have been outshot in every game. That's pretty rare for a team that has been trailing for the vast majority of the minutes on the ice. Generally the team behind is able to get more chances as the team in the lead plays it safe, but that hasn't been the case in Buffalo. They are just that bad. Today they'll go up against a Minnesota Wild team that is skating really well right now. The Wild are coming off a 5-1 win against Dallas where they outshot them 36-19. The game before they beat Winnipeg 2-1 and had a 30-15 shot advantage. That's great puck possession and pure domination against two decent teams. They've also outshout their opponents in every game this season. Huge mismatch today with one team looking great and another the worst in the league. Take Minnesota here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #8 Anaheim Ducks over Ottawa Senators (8:05pm EST) The Anaheim Ducks are off to fast start for the second consecutive season. They've won three of their first four contests, with their only loss to the undefeated Avalanche. Today they are in an excellent situational spot versus the Ottawa Senators. The Sens are playing the second leg of a back-to-back tonight (lost to Sharks 3-2 last night), and this is their fifth straight road game to open the season. Travelling can take its toll, especially early on in the season and as the players get into full game shape. The Sens also have played into overtime in two of their last three games, so they've spent lots of extra time on the ice. Anaheim has been sitting at home waiting for this game and has had two full days of rest. Ottawa is probably the better team between these two, but the Ducks are the right play for tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

2-unit Play Take #3 Los Angeles Kings over Florida Panthers (3:05pm EST) The Los Angeles Kings are a great puck possession team and they generally dominate teams that play sloppy hockey. That's bad news for the Florida Panthers, who aren't the smoothest customers on the ice as a team. The Kings also catch the Panthers at a good time. Florida is coming off of an emotional 6-3 win against the Penguins on Friday, so there's a chance of a letdown here as it's difficult to get up for a big opponent two games in a row. Starting goalie Tim Thomas is also a bit banged up with a lower body injury and may not even play in this game. Either way, he's not going to be 100% and that gives Los Angeles an extra advantage that they probably didn't need in the first place. The Panthers might be the worst team in hockey the Kings are definitely in the top five in the NHL. The line on this contest feels about 15-20 cents short, so we'll take LA here.

3-unit Play Take #64 St. Louis Blues over New York Rangers (8:05pm EST) The New York Rangers are a complete disaster right now and it doesn't get any easier for them tonight in St. Louis. The Rangers are in the middle of long nine-game road trip and they haven't been able to get things going under new head coach Alain Vigneault. They were blasted 6-0 by the Ducks their last time out and 9-2 by the Sharks the game before. They've only had one day off since and that's probably not enough time to recover from the shell shock of those defeats - especially against a very good Blues team. St. Louis hasn't traveled at all this season as they are playing their fourth straight home game. They have won each of their first three games, notching victories over the Hawks, Panthers and Predators. The Rangers will eventually start clicking under Vigneault, but it may not happen on this road trip and not against a good team like the Blues. Take St. Louis here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #64 St. Louis Blues over New York Rangers (8:05pm EST) The New York Rangers are a complete disaster right now and it doesn't get any easier for them tonight in St. Louis. The Rangers are in the middle of long nine-game road trip and they haven't been able to get things going under new head coach Alain Vigneault. They were blasted 6-0 by the Ducks their last time out and 9-2 by the Sharks the game before. They've only had one day off since and that's probably not enough time to recover from the shell shock of those defeats - especially against a very good Blues team. St. Louis hasn't traveled at all this season as they are playing their fourth straight home game. They have won each of their first three games, notching victories over the Hawks, Panthers and Predators. The Rangers will eventually start clicking under Vigneault, but it may not happen on this road trip and not against a good team like the Blues. Take St. Louis here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #8 Chicago Blackhawks over New York Islanders (8:05pm EST) The Chicago Blackhawks didn't lose very often last season. They only dropped seven games in regulation and five in overtime throughout the 48-game schedule. Now they're coming off a two-game losing streak and you can expect a maximum effort tonight as they look to avoid a third straight disappointment. They didn't lose three straight games in the regular season at all last year. To avoid doing it tonight, they'll have to beat the New York Islanders. The Isles are 2-0-1 on the young season and are coming off of an impressive 6-1 win over the Coyotes on Tuesday. So this matchup sets up nicely as we have one team that is pissed off in the Blackhawks against a team that might be feeling a little bit too good about themselves in the Islanders. The Hawks also go with veteran Nikolai Khabibulin in the net tonight. This will be his first start since rejoining the team, so he should be locked in and ready to make a good first impression. He's 40-years of age but can still move well in the net and brings lots of experience with him. This one should be an easy win for Chicago.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #1 Phoenix Coyotes over Philadelphia Flyers (7:05pm EST) The Philadelphia Flyers were such a disaster on the ice the first three games of the season, that their head coach Peter Laviolette was let go. Some saw it as a knee jerk reaction, but he was already on the hot seat and the Flyers looked completely discombobulated at various times on the ice early on. New coach Craig Berube took over before the last game and team responded well with an emotional 2-1 win over the Panthers. However, it was just the lowly Panthers and there are still plenty of problems with this team. The first line has really struggled and nobody has been able to put the puck in the net. They aren't getting enough shots overall and haven't looked in synch playing with one another. The biggest potential problem really hasn't even surfaced yet, and that's the goaltending situation. Neither one of their goalies has a proven track record and they are both going to have some games that make you scratch your head. Today they get a Phoenix Coyotes team that looked really good in knocking off the Red Wings in Detroit last night. It's not easy to win in Joe Louis Arena, but they got the job done 4-2. They are a well-coached team and always get more out of their players than you would expect. They should have no problem taking advantage of a team that is still trying to figure out the answers to their problems with a new coach. Take Phoenix as the underdog in this one.

4-unit Play Take Montreal Canadiens/Edmonton Oilers OVER 5.5 (9:35pm EST) The Montreal Canadiens play the second leg of a back-to-back tonight in Edmonton and it's not going to be easy on them. They are dealing with some major injuries right now and that's put their depth to the test, especially on the blue line. Montreal isn't the most physical team and playing against an Edmonton Oilers team that gets up and down the ice quickly is going to pose some problems. Without having the size to push the Oilers around and dealing with the injuries that they have, the Canadiens are likely going to have to try to outscore them on the offensive end. We should see plenty of shots on goal and neither goalie has been impressive so far. This one should go way Over the total tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #64 Minnesota Wild over Winnipeg Jets (8:05pm EST) The Minnesota Wild are winless in 2013 thus far and they're not happy about it. The team came into this season with high expectations after a disappointing campaign last year. After signing Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, the team was expected to do big things, but it didn't happen as they were ousted in the first round of the playoffs. But now they've had a year to acclimate themselves and this team should be much improved. They actually didn't play all that poorly in their first three games, despite coming up on the short end in each. All were one goal losses, including two in overtime/shootout. They are at home for this one against a Jets team that hasn't played very well on the road over the last couple of years. I expect maximum effort from the Wild and a victory to show for it this time around. Play Minnesota as our Game.

4-unit Play Take #4 Calgary Flames over Montreal Canadiens (8:05pm EST) The Calgary Flames aren't a very good hockey team overall. However, they catch the Montreal Canadiens in a good spot tonight. The Canadiens are dealing with several key injuries right now, including three defensemen who are out. Montreal doesn't have a ton of depth on the blue line, so they will be scrambling to keep the puck out of the net against a Flames team that has some firepower. Calgary has scored four goals in all three of their games thus far - and all of those were against quality competition (Washington, Columbus and Vancouver). They earned at least a point in the standings in each of those games and have a great shot to earn a couple more today. The Flames have been a much better team at home than on the road over the last few seasons. They have passionate hockey fans and I rate their home ice advantage as one of the best in the league. This one could turn into a shootout, but I like the home underdog to get it done today against an injury plagued opponent

3-unit Play Take #61 Minnesota over Nashville Predators (8:05pm EST) The Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators battle tonight as both teams look for their first win of the young season. The Wild lost two close contests to the Kings and Ducks at home. They played very well against the Ducks and should have won that game, but were beaten with just a few seconds left in the overtime period. The Wild disappointed fans last year when they barely qualified for the playoffs after acquiring big name free agents Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. Depth was a big issue for the team last year, and I still think that it is. However, after playing together during last season, I feel like this team has better chemistry than they did a year ago and should be improved. The Predators are a difficult team to read in 2013-14. You know they are going to play stingy defense and limit opponent scoring chances, but can they score? They really didn't make any big moves in the offseason, so I don't see them being much different than a year ago. They are a smart team, but Minnesota is much more talented. I think the wrong team is favored here, so we're on the Wild.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #52 Toronto Maple Leafs over Colorado Avalanche (7:05pm EST) We have a big early season showdown between two teams that are off to fast starts. The Colorado Avalanche have won their first two contests in convincing fashion for new head coach Patrick Roy. He's brought a new attitude to this team and injected some life into a franchise that has been suffering over the last few seasons. However, they've really struggled on the road the last couple of years and they'll have to prove their good enough to do that before they make believers out of me. Last season they were a league worst 4-16-4 away from home. The Toronto Maple Leafs are 3-0 this season with impressive wins against the Canadiens, Flyers and Senators. They made huge strides last season in finally making the playoffs and nearly knocking off the eventual Eastern Conference champion Bruins. They made some really nice offseason additions and seem to have a well-balanced squad now. They are the better team overall and I like their chances against a poor road team here.

4-unit Play Take #4 Los Angeles Kings over New York Rangers (10:35pm EST) Due to some renovations in their arena, the New York Rangers are on the road for the first three weeks of the regular season. It's a nine-game trip in all, which will be tough on a team that is trying to adjust to a new head coach in Alain Vigneault. They also were all over the place during the preseason, so it must feel like eternity since they've been able to relax a little. Tonight they are in Los Angeles to take on a very good Kings team. To make matters worse, the Rangers have been shuffling their lineup quite a bit due to some injuries and a holdout. Carl Hagelin is out and Ryan Callahan will be making his debut tonight after missing the preseason and the first game with a shoulder injury. Derek Stepan also missed the entire preseason after holding out for a new contract. As a result, this team is still trying to get its bearings and learn a new system at the same time. The Kings basically have the same team as they did the last two seasons. They have a good chemistry and that is a big advantage early on in the season. They should be well prepared for this game and have a leg up on the Rangers. Take the Kings here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #54 Winnipeg Jets over Anaheim Ducks (8:05pm EST) The first week of the NHL season is wrapping up and we've found a great situation for tonight. Sunday night games are generally difficult for away teams and playing in a hostile environment like Winnipeg is even tougher. It's well-documented that MTS Centre is one the loudest stadiums in hockey and the Jets have one of the stronger home ice advantages as a result. That's what the Anaheim Ducks will be up against tonight. And this is the second of a back-to-back situation for them - one night after they played a full overtime period against the Wild. So they'll likely be a bit fatigued with it being so early in the season and traveling for two consecutive nights. The Jets have also looked pretty impressive in their first two contests. They beat the Oilers in a nice come from behind win on the road and then took care of a difficult opponent in the Kings at home the other night. They should have no problems tonight in a great situational spot for them. Take the Jets here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #1 Philadelphia Flyers at Montreal Canadiens (7:05pm EST) The Montreal Canadiens come into today's matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers a complete disaster. Not only did they lose to their rival the Maple Leafs in their opener, but they also lost enforcer George Parros. He endured a concussion after falling to the ice during a fight and is now out indefinitely. That adds to a list of several other key players missing from the lineup, including three defensemen. Montreal is not a particularly deep squad, so missing four guys is significant and should wear on them as the game goes on. The Flyers are coming off a loss to the Maple Leafs as well. However, the Flyers outplayed them in that contest but just couldn't find the back of the net. They're on the road in this game, but Philadelphia should be favored here. They are much healthier and looked a lot better in their first game. Take the Flyers as our Game.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #57 Detroit Red Wings over Carolina Hurricanes (7:05pm EST) The Carolina Hurricanes had a miserable finish to their season last year. They dropped 19 of 23 down the stretch and finished well below expectations. One of the biggest reasons for their struggles was the vast amount of injuries that they had to endure. While that's no excuse, the Hurricanes aren't a particularly deep team so it hit them hard. Now we're onto the 2013-14 season and guess what - the Hurricanes have injury problems again. Tuomo Ruutu, Joni Pitkanen and Tim Gleason are all out for today's game. Those are all key pieces to this team and it will certainly affect their performance to start the season. Alexander Semin is also a bit banged up but should play. They'll host the Detroit Red Wings in their home opener. The Wings played the other night and dominated the Sabres in a game that looked a lot closer than the 2-1 final indicates. Given that they have already played their first game, I expect Detroit to have a leg up early on in this battle. Detroit is the much better team as is, and given that extra edge against a banged up team I think they will notch the victory here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take New York Islanders/New Jersey Devils UNDER (7:05pm EST) In watching the New Jersey Devils 3-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins last night, it's clear what their strategy is. They're trying to slow things down to a snail's pace and limit the total amount of shots in the game. The fast-paced Penguins only managed a total of 21 shots on goal. That's always been the Devils' forte, but this year they're probably going to take it to another level. That's because they lost superstar Ilya Kovalchuk, who decided to play in the KHL instead of the NHL. They also lost David Clarkson to the Maple Leafs in the offseason, and are a year removed from losing Zach Parise to the Wild. That's a lot of firepower. Since they know they're not going to be able to score four or five goals a game, the Devils are going to try and win games 2-1. And as a result, we should see plenty of Unders in their games this season. Don't expect to see too many 5.5's being posted for them, but we'll take advantage today when they play the New York Islanders. Being a division rival, they know the Islanders well and should be able to execute their defensive strategy effectively. Martin Brodeur will also be in the net for the Devils - his first game since losing his father last week. I expect a big emotional performance from him tonight in the net. We'll go Under the total and hope for that 2-1 result that New Jersey is aiming for.

3-unit Play Take Florida Panthers/Dallas Stars OVER 5.5 (8:35pm EST) The Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars begin their respective seasons in what figures to be a sloppy affair. Both teams made wholesale changes in the offseason and look completely different than they did a year ago. The Panthers went with some of their younger players to see what kind of talent they have and then signed some veterans towards the tail end of camp to fill out the roster. It will be interesting to see how it all meshes together, but for now we can just call it a mess. As for the Stars, they cut ties with four of their top nine players in terms of time on ice. They did bring in some talented players like Tyler Seguin, Shawn Horcoff and Sergei Gonchar. But once again, it will take time to build up some chemistry so they will likely be a mess on the ice for the first few games. All in all, it's safe to say that there will be a lot of learning going on tonight in the first real game. Expect to see some defensive lapses, breakaway scoring chances and even some rusty goaltender play (especially from Tim Thomas who hasn't played in two years). All signs point to plenty of goals so we're on the Over.

3-unit Play Take #9 Los Angeles Kings (-105) over Minnesota Wild (8:05pm EST) They are no longer the defending Stanley Cup champions, but the Los Angeles Kings are still one of the elite teams in the NHL. They have nearly their entire team coming back once again and that is huge in these early season contests where other teams are still trying to jell. One guy that I expect to have a huge bounce back year is goaltender Jonathan Quick. He struggled during the regular season last year, only to regain his magic from two years ago in last year's postseason. The Blackhawks were too strong for them in the Western Conference Finals, but this was clearly the second best team in the Western Conference and they should be better this season. The Minnesota Wild had a disappointing season in 2012-2013 as they barely qualified for the playoffs and were bounced in five games by the Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs. Many fans were thinking Stanley Cup when this team added Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, but they never really got it going and their lack of depth really held them back. I don't see much changing this season. They made a few minor changes but will likely run into the same problems, and I'm not crazy about their goalie situation. Take the Kings tonight.

2-unit Play Take #5 Tampa Bay Lightning (+170) over Boston Bruins (7:05pm EST) The Boston Bruins have been great over the last few years and they should be great again this season. However, one of the reasons that they've been so successful is that they've kept virtually the same roster intact for several seasons in a row. This offseason, however, there was plenty of shakeup. Gone are Tyler Seguin, Nathan Horton, Rich Peverley and Andrew Ference. The new additions are Jarome Iginla and Loui Eriksson. Overall the moves weren't bad and Boston shouldn't taper off much. But early on in the season they will probably take some time forming the kind of chemistry that they had over the last few years. As a result, the Tampa Bay Lightning are catching them at the right time. They certainly have the firepower match the Bruins and just need a solid game in net to stay with them. Underdogs have historically been very profitable in the first month of the season and we think this is a live dog today.

3-unit Play Take #56 Colorado Avalanche over Anaheim Ducks (9:35pm EST) It's a new era in Colorado as the Avalanche hired legend Patrick Roy to take over as the head man on the bench. He certainly is adored in Denver and many think he can turn a mediocre Avalanche team into playoff contenders. I'm not as convinced, but one thing for sure is that there will be a lot of energy in the Pepsi Center tonight. The team is excited and Roy is will certainly inject a new attitude into a team that has had a rough time of it the last few seasons. They'll go up against an Anaheim Ducks team that overachieved in the lockout shortened season last year. Aided by an unsustainable shooting percentage and a 14-2-6 record in one goal games, the Ducks were the second best team in the Western Conference. That won't happen again and I expect this team to struggle to get into the playoffs playing in a very tough division. They have some question marks on defense, lost one of their top playmakers in Bobby Ryan and lack a stud goaltender. The Ducks are a better team than Colorado, but on their opening night I think the Avalanche will have a huge home ice advantage and their energy will carry them to a win in Roy's debut.

3-unit Play Take Washington Capitals /Chicago Blackhawks OVER 5.5 (8:05pm EST) We outlined above how it might be a difficult spot for the Chicago Blackhawks tonight when they raise the championship banner on Opening Night. However, that shouldn't change their style of play. The Hawks have some of the best skill position players in the league and they make no secret about the fact that they like to play fast when they can. The Washington Capitals don't mind getting up and down the ice as well, so expect plenty of shots on goal in this one. Despite Corey Crawford's sensational season last year, I don't rate him much better than an average goaltender. Caps' goalie Braden Holtby still has to prove himself in this league and may not be starter material. Given the pace and number of shots today, I expect to see some struggles from both netminders. That's enough put us Over the total in this one.

3-unit Play Take #3 Washington Capitals over Chicago Blackhawks (8:05pm EST) The defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks host the Washington Capitals on opening night of the 2013-14 NHL season. It was a record-setting season for the Hawks last year as they ripped through the league in the lockout-shortened 48-game season. They finished the regular season 36-7-5 and then went on to beat the Boston Bruins in a dramatic 6-game series to take home the Cup. It's extremely difficult to win back-to-back championships in the NHL, and it hasn't been done since 1998. However, the Hawks kept most of their core in place and have a decent shot to do just that. But tonight is a difficult game because of the emotion that comes from raising the banner. Historically, defending champions have come out flat for these games and it's certainly understandable given the elaborate pre-game ceremonies. The Capitals got off to a slow start last season under new head coach Adam Oates. But after he was able to do some shuffling of the lineup and put his system in place, the Caps played very well. They finished the regular season 17-4-2 to get into the playoffs, where they were eliminated by the New York Rangers. Washington should be able to get off to a good start in Oates' second season and tonight is a great situation for them to get things going. Take the Caps here as a decent-sized underdog.

Take #62 Boston Bruins over Chicago Blackhawks (8:20pm ET) The Stanley Cup Final shifts back to Boston as the Bruins look to stay alive against the Chicago Blackhawks. This has been one heck of a series as every game has been closely contested and we

10-unit Play Take Boston Bruins/Chicago Blackhawks UNDER 5 (8:20pm ET) Pivotal Game 5 goes tonight in Chicago as the Blackhawks host the Boston Bruins in a 2-2 series. Coming off the heels of a 6-5 score in the last game, many will look to play this game Over the total. But don't forget that there were only 12 goals scored in the first three games combined and that included four extra overtime periods. The last game wasn't a complete fluke, but besides the last contest the goalies in this series have been magnificent and I expect them to bounce back in tonight's game. They were the top two goalies throughout the entire playoffs and both of these defenses have also done a good job blocking shots and make life difficult on goal scorers. Both defenses also have to be a bit embarrassed about their performance in Game 4, so I expect them to step it up. Take the Under 5 in tonight's game.

10 Unit Play. Take #58 Boston over Chicago (8:05 p.m., Wednesday June 19) The Boston Bruins will look to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals over the Chicago Blackhawks when the two teams meet tonight at the TD Garden in Boston in Game #4. The Bruins dropped a heart-breaker in Game 1 of the series, blowing a two goal third period lead before losing in triple overtime but rebounded nicely in Game 2, dominating Chicago from the start of the third period, eventually winning in overtime. They then took it to the Hawks from the drop of the puck in Game 3, dominating all areas of the game in a 2-0 victory. Tuukka Rask, who has been excellent throughout the playoffs will once again get the call between the pipes for the Bruins. He has posted a 14-5 record with a 1.64 GAA, .946 save % and 3 shut-outs in his 19 playoff starts. Rask will be opposed by Corey Crawford, who has been equally as good in his 20 games, going 13-7 with a nearly identical 1.73 GAA and .936 save %. The Bruins, who seem to have a bit more offensive firepower that the Blackhawks have been excellent in the spot they are in here tonight at home. They have won 7 straight games at the TD Garden and have posted a 7-1 record when their opponent scored 2 goals or less in their previous game. They have also been lights out on Wednesday night games for whatever reason, going 36-15 in their last 51 Wednesday night contests. The Hawks, who had the best record in the league during the regular season have actually struggled a bit historically when they have to go on the road against Boston, winning in just 2 of their last 8 trips to Beantown. They have also had their issues with teams who have a winning % of .600 or greater on home ice, going 1-4 in their last 5 games. Pair that with the fact that the Bruins have won 8 of the last 11 head to head meetings between these two teams and we'll lay the small price with Boston at home to get the win and take a 3-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals.

5-unit Play Take Chicago Blackhawks/Boston Bruins UNDER (8:05pm ET) What a series it's already been between the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final. With four overtime periods in two games and plenty of drama, it already feels like we should be playing Game 5. Instead it's only Game 3 as the series shifts back to Boston tied up 1-1. There are a couple of things we know from watching these teams go at it for so long already. First, these goaltenders are absolutely amazing. Both teams have had their fair share of scoring chances in both games, but these goalies have put up ridiculous numbers. There have been a total of 179 shots combined in the series and only 10 of made their way to the back of the net. That's an amazing .944 save percentage, especially given the quality of shots we've been witnessing. In addition we've seen that the two coaches, Joel Quenneville and Claude Julien, are great at matching up. Neither coach has been shy about shuffling up the lineups and getting the matchups that they want on the ice. This tactical game of chess will go on the entire series and will make it even tougher to score in my opinion. Given that we've only seen 10 goals in 10 periods of hockey so far, we have to look for another low scoring game tonight. The goalies are just playing too well and the coaches are doing a great job on matchups. Play the Under tonight.

4-unit Play Take #53 Boston Bruins over Chicago Blackhawks (8:05pm ET) They're back at it again after one of the longest games in NHL history in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. That game could have easily gone either way as both teams had many chances in the extra periods, but Chicago was able to get the job done 4-3 in triple overtime. That game was also a testament to just how evenly-matched these two squads really are, and is why we're looking to the underdog here. The Bruins are a resilient team that is not going to let the last game affect them. They've been here before and have always stepped up in big spots. In fact, they were down by two goals with a minute left in Game 7 against Toronto this postseason and were able to come back and win. That's performing under pressure. Today's game shouldn't require a comeback effort like that, but there's no doubt that Boston needs this one. People forget that the Bruins were in control in Game 1, leading 3-1 in the latter part of the third period. They were the better team for most of the game, but just couldn't hold on. I expect Game 2 to be played very similarly, but this time Boston will be able to hold on. Take the Bruins as the dog here.

10-unit Play Take #51 Boston Bruins over Chicago Blackhawks Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final gets underway tonight in Chicago as the Blackhawks host the Boston Bruins. As we discussed in the series selection below, we like the Bruins for several reasons. They are physically tougher, have the better goaltender and have been playing better than the Blackhawks throughout the playoffs. Those advantages will certainly apply to Game 1 as these teams get comfortable with one another. The Bruins have had five days to prepare for this one, while the Blackhawks had just three. We like the Bruins for the series (see write-up below) and will also take them in Game 1 tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

0.5-Unit Play. #15.Take Chicago Blackhawks Over Los Angeles (Saturday @ 8:05 pm est.) The defending Stanley Cup champions are on the brink of elimination after a (3-2) loss to the Blackhawks in Game 4 at Staples Center. The Chicago Blackhawks managed to do what no other team had done in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs or in (15) straight games dating to the regular season: They won a game at Staples Center to take a (3-1) series lead. The Los Angeles Kings may have surprised even themselves last spring by becoming the lowest-seeded team in history to win the Stanley Cup. Kings coach Darryl Sutter vs. Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville coupled with the ?Men Between the Pipes?, Jonathan Quick vs. Corey Crawford, has us believing goals will beat a premium as these teams play some ?Old School? hockey action filled with nasty and physical play, outstanding goaltending and great defense. With the Kings just (3-9) in the last (12) meetings in Chicago and (7-20) in their last (27) road games, we expect the Blackhawks to improve on their (11-3) in their last (14) Saturday games. The Blackhawks amassed (77) points in (48) games to win the Presidents' Trophy, then ousted the Minnesota Wild in in five games on the conference quarterfinals and rallied to beat Detroit before winning three of the first four games against the Kings. The Blackhawks have won four straight at "The Madhouse on Madison Street" and have plenty of motivation to do it again in Game 5. They don't want to fly all the way back to Los Angeles for Game 6 and give the defending Stanley Cup champions life.

4-unit Play Take #16 Boston Bruins over Pittsburgh Penguins (8:05pm ET) It's close out time in Boston as the Bruins look for the sweep against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Boston is playing their best hockey of the season right and now and we've seen no indication that the Penguins are going to win a game in this series. Boston has outscored them 11-2 overall in the first three games. Pittsburgh just hasn't been able to get into a rhythm on offense and they don't play particularly good defense, which makes for a bad combination. After dropping Game 3 in double overtime, the Penguins have to be pretty deflated. That was their chance to get back into this series, and now they're faced with a nearly impossible challenge. If the Bruins can just get an early goal in Game 4, they should coast the rest of the way. Take the Bruins to wrap things up tonight and move onto the Stanley Cup Final.

3-unit Play Take #12 Boston Bruins over Pittsburgh Penguins (8:05pm ET) If you watched the first two games of the series, you saw nothing but domination by the Boston Bruins over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Despite playing in Pittsburgh, the Bruins won the first two games by a combined 9-1 score in two games that weren't even close. The Bruins match up great against Pittsburgh because they have the kind of defenders who can limit the premium scoring chances that the Penguins are accustomed to getting. They play the passing lanes well and have the ability to take advantage of turnovers and start a nice break the other way every once in a while. If Boston can get on the board first in Game 3, I think they can really get inside the heads of this Pittsburgh team and essentially put this series away with a 3-0 advantage in the series. Boston is the better-rounded team, they play much better defense and they have a better goaltender. That's a recipe for success in the playoffs and I expect the Bruins to pick up another win with it today with the series shifting back to Boston. Take the Bruins at a bargain basement price here.

10-unit Play Take #10 Los Angeles Kings over Chicago Blackhawks (9:05pm ET) Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals goes tonight as the series shifts to Los Angeles. The Kings are in a 0-2 hole and desperately need this game to climb back into the series. They are in the right place tonight to do that as they've been one of the best home teams in the NHL all year long. The Kings were 19-4-1 on their home ice during the regular season and they are a perfect 7-0 during the Stanley Cup playoffs. That's a very impressive 84% win rate at home combined. This team was clearly gassed in their last game in Chicago on a back-to-back after a grueling series with the Sharks. Going home should give them the extra energy they need to perform at a high level again. I also expect a huge bounce back performance from Jonathan Quick, who was pulled from the last game after allowing four goals in less than half of a game. He's one of the best in the business and I'd be surprised if we see him allowing any bad goals. Take the Kings in this one.

10-unit Play Take Los Angeles Kings/Chicago Blackhawks UNDER 5 (8:05pm ET) The Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks go at it again tonight in the United Center for Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. The Hawks got off to a fast start in the first game and dominated the first period with a 17-2 shots on goal advantage. However, they found themselves down 1-0 at the end of the period and promptly put in two goals in the second period to take the lead for good. The Kings know they can't let the Blackhawks start that fast again and get that many good scoring chances. As a result, I think they'll buckle down defensively right from the beginning in Game 2. Jonathan Quick was very good in yesterday's game as he stopped over 94% of the shots that came his way. He's been doing that in the playoffs for two straight years, so there's no reason to believe anything is going to change in that regard. We also have a rare back-to-back situation in the playoffs for this one. That could slow the game down a bit as these teams are used to have a day or two off between contests. All in all, we have many signs pointing to another tight low scoring affair. Take the Under as our 10-unit Game selection.

4-unit Play Take #1 Boston Bruins over Pittsburgh Penguins (8:05pm ET) The Eastern Conference Finals get started as the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Boston Bruins on Saturday night. These were the two best teams in the conference in my eyes, so this should be a heck of a series. The Penguins were the top scoring team in the NHL, while the Bruins utilized more of a balanced approach on both sides of the ice. The Bruins are also the more physical team and that is generally a plus in the playoffs as there are less penalties and rougher play allowed. These teams have had a week off since wrapping up their last series, and I think that favors an underdog since both teams should be a bit rusty. Game 1's are generally a good game to steal for the road team, and I think that's exactly what happens today. Take the Bruins here at a solid price.

10-unit Play Take #66 Los Angeles Kings over San Jose Sharks (9:00pm ET) This is what the Stanley Cup Playoffs are all about. It's Game 7 between the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings tonight at Staples Center. This has been a back and forth series in which the home team has won every game. In fact, the home team has won 11 straight games between these two teams dating back to early 2012. During the regular season, these were also two of the best home teams in the NHL. The Kings were 19-4-1 at home while the Sharks were 17-2-5. These two squads are very evenly matched and home ice advantage has been enough to give each team an edge. There's absolutely no reason to believe anything will change tonight. I have the Kings rated slightly higher than the Sharks right now, but add in that home ice and this is a definite play. Take Los Angeles to move on to the Western Conference Finals.

4-unit Play Take Chicago Blackhawks/Detroit Red Wings UNDER 5 (8:05pm ET) It's Game 6 between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings tonight in Joe Louis Arena. The Wings lead the series 3-2 after the Hawks stayed alive with a 4-1 win in Game 5 in Chicago. As a series goes deeper and deeper, the teams generally get more physical and tighten up the defense even more as they become more familiar with their opponent. These teams already knew each other very well, so I expect the effect to be even greater today. Premium scoring chances will be hard to come by and that means we should see a low scoring affair, especially since these goalies have been locked in. None of the first five games have gone over the total, so we'll bet that trend continues tonight. Take the Under in this one.

10-unit Play Take #60 San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings (8:05pm ET) Game 6 of the back-and-forth series between the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings goes tonight in San Jose. Both of these teams were dominant at home during the regular season as the Kings were 19-4-1 and the Sharks were 17-2-5. That trend has continued into the playoffs and as the home team has won every game in this series. In fact, the home team has won 10 straight games between these two teams dating back to early 2012. That's a very strong trend and there just hasn't been a big enough adjustment in the betting lines for it. The Sharks are only -120 tonight and we'll take them as our 10-unit Game selection.

10-unit Play Take #54 Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers (5:35pm ET) The New York Rangers saved face in Game 4 in New York to avoid the series sweep. But now that they've dodged the embarrassment, it's time for the Bruins to close this thing out in Boston. The Bruins have outplayed the Rangers in every game this series and have been the better team for the entire 2013 season. Henrik Lundqvist doesn't look right in goal and many have speculated that he's nursing an injury. The Rangers just haven't been able to get into a good rhythm during this series and the frustration has clearly shown via the post-game press conferences with head coach John Tortorella. The Bruins were 16-5-3 at home during the regular season and they will wrap up the series at home here today. Play Boston today.

4-unit Play Take Ottawa Senators/Pittsburgh Penguins OVER (7:35pm ET) The Ottawa Senators tried to keep the Pittsburgh Penguins at bay in this series, but they finally exploded in Game 4 scoring seven goals. I think the floodgates are open now and there's just no way to keep the pucks out of the back of the net today. The series moves back to Pittsburgh where 12 goals were scored in the first two games of the series. With the Penguins in control 3-1 and at home, I expect them to dictate the pace and attack the zone at will. Craig Anderson is a great goalie, but even he can't stop 40 quality shots each game. Take the Over in this one.

10-unit Play Take #34 Los Angeles Kings over San Jose Sharks (10:35pm ET) The Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks have played a very entertaining series thus far. This series is destined to go seven games because I don't think that either team can win away from home. Not only has the home team prevailed in each of the first four games in this series, but these were two of the best teams at home during the regular season. The Kings were 19-4-1 at home in the regular season, while the Sharks were 17-2-5. Away from home both teams were well below .500, so there's absolutely no reason to expect anything but a home team winner today in Los Angeles. In fact, the home team has won the last nine times these teams have played one another! Take the Kings here today as the trend should continue.

4-unit Play Take Boston Bruins/New York Rangers UNDER (7:35pm ET) Game 3 goes tonight between the Bruins and Rangers as the series shifts to New York. The Bruins looked impressive in the first two games and it's not desperation time for the Rangers. If it wasn't apparent before the series, the fact that the Rangers can't fly up and down the ice with the Bruins is now a fact. The Rangers stand a much better chance by slowing it down and limiting the quality scoring chances from the Bruins even if it means sacrificing some chances on their end. They've given up a whopping 80 shots in the first two games and allowed eight goals. That is just too much to overcome and I expect the game to be played totally differently in Game 3. This one smells like a 2-1 type game and we like the Under.

6-unit Play Take #21 Chicago Blackhawks over Detroit Red Wings (7:35pm ET) The pucks drops on Game 3 tonight between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings. This is a big one as the series heads back to Detroit tied up at 1-1. The Blackhawks were prohibitive favorites at the outset of the series and you can't let one game change your mind too much. Detroit beat the Hawks 4-1 in Game 2, but it was their first win against Chicago in nine previous tries. The Blackhawks have been the best team in hockey all season long and they've responded whenever they needed to. This is the biggest game of the year thus far and I expect them to come through once again. Take Chicago here as our 6-unit Game.

3-unit Play Take #18 Boston Bruins over New York Rangers (3:05pm ET) The Boston Bruins host the New York Rangers tonight in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. The Bruins won the first game in overtime 3-2 and put 48 shots on goal in the process. They clearly were the better team and came out much sharper than people expected after an emotional Game 7 win against Toronto in their last series. The Bruins are simply a better team than the Rangers are, and have been all year. Boston was also 16-5-3 at home this season, while the Rangers were only 10-12-2 on the road. Many experts chose the Rangers to win this series at the outset, pointing to how the Bruins struggled down the stretch of the regular season. I don't think that matters once you get into the playoffs. Boston won the Stanley Cup two years ago and has the same group of guys on the ice as they did then. They know how to win and we are getting an excellent price at home on them today. Lay the favored Bruins here.

3-unit Play Take Detroit Red Wings/Chicago Blackhawks OVER 5 (1:05pm ET) Game 2 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals goes today in Chicago as the Blackhawks look to go up 2-0 on the Detroit Red Wings. The Hawks put the pressure on often in the first game, blasting 42 shots on goal in a 4-1 win. The Red Wings know that they have to slow the game down and limit Chicago's scoring chances, but I just don't think they can do it. The Blackhawks have dominated the Wings over the last couple of seasons winning the last eight matchups overall. They have too much firepower and Detroit won't be able to dictate the pace away from home unless they can get out to an early lead. The Hawks are the best team in hockey right now and they will play their up and down style and help get this game Over the total today.

10-unit Play Take #10 Los Angeles Kings over San Jose Sharks (10:05pm ET) Here they go again. The Los Angeles Kings have won five straight playoff games and are starting to strike a strong resemblance to the team that won the Stanley Cup last season. They are limiting quality shots by their opponents, getting timely goals when they need them and most importantly goaltender Jonathan Quick has stepped up his game for playoff hockey. In seven playoff games thus far, Quick has a 1.43 goals against average and a sparkling .953 save percentage. Nobody is going to beat the Kings in a series if he keeps that up, which is exactly what he did during the Kings' playoff run last season. San Jose is a good team and they're playing good hockey right now coming off of a sweep against Vancouver in the First Round. But they didn't look as sharp in Game 1 of this series and they don't play nearly as well on the road. They were just 8-14-2 away from home during the regular season, which was tied for the fewest road wins amongst playoff qualifiers. The Kings are simply a better team and I expect them to get up two games in the series tonight at home.

4-unit Play Take Ottawa Senators/Pittsburgh Penguins OVER (7:35pm ET) Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals goes in Pittsburgh tonight as the Penguins host the Ottawa Senators. Neither one of these teams is shy about getting up and down the ice and I think we'll see a decent tempo here at the outset of the series as the teams feel one another out. These teams were the two highest scoring teams in the NHL this season as the Penguins average 4.17 goals per game and the Sens 4.0 per game. In the last eight meetings, six of them have gone Over the total including a couple of contests that featured 10+ goals. The playoffs are generally lower scoring affairs, but I don't think either one of these teams wants to change their style much. They play best when they play fast and that should lead to plenty of pucks in the back of the respective nets. Let's go Over the total here in Game 1 tonight.

10-unit Play Take New York Rangers/Washington Capitals UNDER (8:05pm ET) The New York Rangers and Washington Capitals go at it in Game 7 of their hard fought series tonight. The Rangers stayed alive in Game 6 by playing excellent defense and limiting the premium scoring chances. Lundqvist was also very sharp and stopped everything that came his way as New York prevailed 1-0. Between both teams there were only 55 shots on goal. I expect Game 7 to be played very similarly as no one will want to make any big mistakes to cost their team a chance to advance. Four of the first six games have stayed Under the total and none of those were even close to going Over. In fact, the two games that went Over in this series were played in New York. The three games in Washington in this series are 3-0 to the Under. No reason to believe that anything is going to change in a crucial Game 7. Play the Under tonight.

4-unit Play Take Detroit Red Wings/Anaheim Ducks UNDER (10:05pm ET) The decisive Game 7 goes tonight in Anaheim as the Detroit Red Wings take on the Ducks. This has been an extremely competitive and evenly matched series as four of the first six games have gone to overtime. Nothing should change tonight, except that no one will want to make any big mistakes in a game that decides who advances. So we definitely won't expect to see many power plays or odd man rushes in this one. Only two of the first six games have gone Over the total in this series. The Under is generally a good bet in Game 7's over the last few seasons, so we'll bet that the trend continues here. Take Under the total of 5 here.

10-unit Play Take #56 Detroit Red Wings over Anaheim Ducks (8:05pm ET) The Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks have played an extremely competitive series so far. Four of the give games were up for grabs down to the last minute and three of them went to overtime. In addition, no team has won two games in a row in this series as the zig-zag theory is holding to form. I liked the Red Wings a little bit better than the Ducks coming into this series, and I still like them despite the fact that they're down 3-2 heading into Game 6. They are healthier than they've been all year and they have tons of playoff experience. The Ducks won the last game in overtime and I expect the zig-zag trend to continue. This series is destined for seven games, as I think Detroit gets the job done here at home tonight.

1-unit Play Take #33 Ottawa Senators over Montreal Canadiens (7:05pm ET) It end

1-unit Play Take Los Angeles Kings /St. Louis Blues UNDER (9:00pm ET) The puck drops on pivotal Game 5 tonight between the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues. The Blues took the first two games at home, and the Kings fired back with two victories on their home ice. Despite what happened in Game 4, goals have been hard to come by in this series. There have been a total of only 14 goals between these teams in four games, for an average of only 3.50 per contest. The intensity in Game 5 will be huge as the winner of this game gets an enormous upper hand in the series. That generally leads to safer hockey with less scoring chances and tighter defense all around. Add in the fact that these teams should know each other very well by now, and you have a strong case for another Under in this one. The bookmakers have adjusted this total downward from 5 earlier in the series, but I still think we get Under the 4.5 total today.

10-unit Play Take #18 Ottawa Senators over Montreal Canadiens (7:05pm ET) The Ottawa Senators host the Montreal Canadiens in Game 4 of their First Round series this evening. The Senators lead 2-1 and have been the better team throughout the series. They've outscored Montreal 11-6 collectively and have been sparked by the return of their big guns that missed most of the season. Erik Karlsson and Craig Anderson are the two best players on this team, and they were still able to nab the #7 seed without them for a huge chunk of the season. They are a -140 favorite in this game against a #2 seeded team, and that tells you something. Ottawa is a scary team right now and no one wants to play them. The Canadiens unfortunately already are, and I don't think they have much of a chance today. Take the Senators to win Game 4 tonight at home.

4-unit Play Take St. Louis Blues/Los Angeles Kings UNDER 4.5 (10:05pm ET) Sometimes you just have to stick with what's working. And so far in this series between the St. Louis Blues and Los Angeles Kings, goals have been hard to come by. In the first three games of the series, there have been a total of only seven goals scored and one of the games went to overtime. These teams both stress shot prevention and are two of the best in the league at it. Throw in a couple of goalies who have looked impressive, and all of a sudden the Under looks like another great play. We cashed twice on the Under in this series and today we'll look to do it again. I expect another 2-1 type battle here tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #8 San Jose Sharks over Vancouver Canucks (10:05pm ET) The San Jose Sharks head back home with a 2-0 lead in the series and they look to deliver a knockout punch tonight against the Vancouver Canucks. The first two games were tight, but the Sharks were clearly the better team on the ice in both games and their confidence is riding high at the moment. San Jose was 17-2-5 at home this season, which was the fewest regulation losses in the NHL. Vancouver struggled on the road going just 11-9-4, so it's going to be an uphill battle for them to get back into this series. I haven't liked the attitude of this Canucks team all season long, and I just don't see them responding with their backs up against the proverbial wall. Take the Sharks to win at home today.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #84 Detroit Red Wings over Anaheim Ducks (7:35pm ET) Game 3 of the First Round series between the Ducks and Red Wings goes tonight as the series shifts back to Detroit. The Wings did what they needed to do on Thursday, getting a game on the road to flip home ice in their advantage. I really like the grit that this veteran Wings team showed down the stretch of the regular season. They had to win their last four games of the regular season to qualify for the playoffs, and they did it. It was a struggle early on in the season, but this team regrouped and did what they needed to when it mattered most and that's how the playoffs are. Detroit wasn't the same team earlier in the season when they were battered with injuries on a weekly basis. They're finally pretty healthy so this is a much better team than what their record indicates. Anaheim, on the other hand, dominated early on in the regular season and seemingly coasted down the stretch. Their focus doesn't seem nearly as good as it was and I'm not convinced that their style can win in the playoffs. While Anaheim is the #2 seed and Detroit the #7, I honestly think the Wings are the better team overall. Take Detroit here to win Game 3.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take Minnesota Wild/Chicago Blackhawks OVER (7:05pm ET) It's Game 2 in Chicago and the Blackhawks weren't too pleased with the way they played in the first game despite winning 2-1 in overtime. The Hawks seemed out of sync for parts of the game and didn't get up and down the ice at the pace that they usually do. This is a smart team and they'll make the proper adjustments to ensure that they don't get roped into playing a tight, low scoring game once again. Josh Harding will also be in the goal again for the Minnesota Wild and he's a downgrade from Niklas Backstrom despite his efforts last time out. We should see the lamp being lit up more than the last game, so we're on the Over here for our 10-unit Game.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take Los Angeles Kings/St. Louis Blues UNDER (9:35pm ET) We played Under the total in Game 1 of this series between the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues, and cashed an easy winner as the Blues won 2-1 in overtime. There's no reason to believe that this game will be much different as these teams are all about shot prevention. The first game was actually a bit sloppier than expected for both teams and we should expect to see them tighten things up as they've had a game to feel each other out. I loved the way both goalies played the last time out and they seemed to find a good rhythm right off the bat. We called the 2-1 score in the last game, and this one seems like it should be similar so we'll say a 3-1 winner. Play the Under once again.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #63 Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens (7:05pm ET) The NHL playoffs are about timing and getting hot at the right time. And for the Montreal Canadiens, that is bad news. The Canadiens come into the postseason playing their worst hockey of the season. They are just 4-6 in their last 10 games and their wins weren't exactly against impressive opponents. They are allowing 3.50 goals per game in their last 10 and have had numerous defensive lapses that they didn't experience earlier in the year. They'll face a team in the Ottawa Senators that is playing with house money as no one expected them to make the playoffs with all of their devastating injuries. At one point during the season, the Senators were without their four best players, but they're much healthier now. They have superstar Erik Karlsson back as well as stud goaltender Craig Anderson. The rest of the team played admirably without them and now they can try to shock the world once again with a first round upset of the Canadiens. The teams split the season series, but the Senators outscored the Canadiens 11-8 during the four games. Game Ones are easier to steal on the road than any other, and I like the chances for Ottawa to do just that today.

3-unit Play Take #61 San Jose Sharks over Vancouver Canucks (10:35pm ET) The San Jose Sharks are playing their best hockey of the season at the right time. The Sharks improved via addition by subtraction at the trade deadline by unloaded Douglas Murray and Ryan Clowe. After the moves, they reshuffled their lines and have been able to play faster with a deeper overall team. Over their last 18 games, the Sharks are 12-6 including a win versus Vancouver. They Sharks were 3-0 against their First Round opponent the Canucks this season. The Canucks were up and down throughout the season, dealing with a host of injuries and inconsistent play by some of their top players. Something was missing from this team but it's hard to put a finger on it. Maybe it's their old age catching up with them, but they didn't have the killer instinct that they've had in the past few seasons. The Sharks are clicking on all cylinders and I like their chances to steal Game 1 in Vancouver tonight.

3-unit Play Take Los Angeles Kings/St. Louis Blues UNDER 5 (8:05pm ET) The NHL playoffs have finally arrived as the defending champion Los Angeles Kings head to St. Louis to take on the Blues. These are two of the league's stingiest teams in terms of shots allowed. The Blues were 2nd in the NHL with only 24.2 shots per game allowed and the Kings were right behind them in 3rd at 25.0. Playing tight defense and not allowing premium scoring chances is how these teams have won, and that will be even more the case in the playoffs. These teams were already ratcheting up the defense down the stretch of the regular season. The Kings only played one game over the total in their last eight contests, while the Blues only had one over in their last 10 games. Expect more of the same today as this has all the makings of a 2-1 game. The Under is the play here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #18 St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks (8:05pm ET) The Chicago Blackhawks have clinched the President's Cup Trophy with the best record in the NHL. It's been a great season for the Hawks and they're definitely the team to beat when the playoffs begin. However, as far as tonight's game they probably won't be as focused as they usually are and you can expect less minutes from some of the stars. The Hawks played last night so they surely don't want to wear anyone down in a meaningless game for them. The St. Louis Blues, on the other hand, really need this game for a couple of reasons. They are fighting for home ice during the first round of the playoffs first and foremost. But they also want to win tonight's game to build some confidence and prove that they can beat a top notch team like the Hawks. It hasn't been a great second half for St. Louis, so winning this game could go a long way mentally. St. Louis will play their normal slow-it-down style and I think they do enough to come out on top today at home.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take New York Islanders/Philadelphia Flyers OVER (7:05pm ET) The New York Islanders just clinched a playoff spot. The Philadelphia Flyers have been eliminated for quite some time. Neither one of these teams has anything meaningful to play for tonight. As a result, I don't think we'll see a real intense effort from either squad. That generally leads to more scoring chances as the defenses relax a bit. These teams have met three times this season and a total of 19 goals have been scored. Four straight games have gone Over the total for the Islanders while the Flyers have played Over in four of their last five contests. No reason to believe that tonight will be any different, so we'll look to the Over here again.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #6 New York Islanders at Carolina Hurricanes (7:05pm ET) The Carolina Hurricanes have won just three of their last 20 games. It's hard to pinpoint one reason why they've fallen flat on their faces this season, but losing their goaltender Cam Ward was big and they didn't have an able back up to fill in. Over their last 20 games, the Hurricanes have allowed a horrible 3.80 goals per game. There are only three games left in the season for Carolina, but they've quit for a while. They go up against a New York Islanders team today that has been playing outstanding hockey down the stretch. They've also beat up on bad teams lately going 12-1 in their last 13 games versus teams with losing records. The road team has also taken five of the last seven games in this series and I look for that trend to continue tonight. Take the Islanders in this one.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take Carolina Hurricanes/Tampa Bay Lightning OVER (6:05pm ET) When the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning go toe-to-toe, the puck finds the back of the net often. The Over is 13-3-1 in their last 17 meetings and seven of the last eight have gone Over in Tampa. Throw in the fact that the season has been over for these teams for quite some time, and I think they'll care even less about playing defense. It will just be another opportunity for everyone to pad their stats a little more today. Carolina has been allowing goals at an alarming rate lately. In their last 10 contests, their goals against average is 4.2 per game. And Tampa Bay isn't a whole lot better at 3.5 over their last 10 games. This one should be a shootout and I expect to see 70+ shots on the net, and with these weak goaltenders we project at least 10 percent of those shots to get past them. That will be enough to get us above the number here for our 5-unit.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take New York Islanders/Winnipeg Jets UNDER (7:05pm ET) Tonight's game between the New York Islanders and Winnipeg Jets will certainly have a playoff atmosphere. And with the playoffs comes lower scoring games. The Islanders have also been playing great defense lately, allowing only 1.69 goals per game over their last 13 contests. They've won seven of nine contests and their defense has certainly been the key. The Jets have come in winners of five straight games and they kept the puck out of the net as well. We should see lots of intensity in this game and I think both sides will play it relatively straight with how much is at stake. Take the Under here as I think goals will be hard to come by in this one.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #62 Winnipeg Jets over Carolina Hurricanes (8:05pm ET) There are still roughly two weeks left in the NHL season, but the Carolina Hurricanes have given up for quite some time. They've lost 15 of their last 17 contests and only three of those losses were decided by one goal. The biggest problem has been on the defensive end. During those last 17 games, the Hurricanes are allowing an atrocious 3.82 goals per game. It also doesn't help that they're working with two of their backup goaltenders with Cam Ward out for the season. They'll face the Winnipeg Jets tonight, who need to keep winning to have a shot at the playoffs. They're currently tied with the Rangers for the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference. Winnipeg is a very good team at home and they need this one. Against a disinterested Hurricanes team, I like the Jets to win this one rather easily.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Columbus Blue Jackets/Anaheim Ducks UNDER (10:05pm ET) We like another Under between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks tonight. The Jackets are currently tied for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference and they've been playing really good hockey of late. Their recipe for success has been limiting shots and playing tighter low scoring games. Over their last eight games they've allowed a total of only 14 goals and their goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been one of the best in the league this season. He currently has a 2.03 goals against average and a .931 save percentage in 33 games. On the other side, the Ducks have been playing lower scoring games lately as the Under is 8-2 in their last 10 games. Take the Under in this spot.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take Montreal Canadiens/Pittsburgh Penguins UNDER (7:05pm ET) Unders have been hitting at a wild rate in the NHL over the last week or so as teams try to position themselves for the playoffs. Lots of these games are featuring playoff-type atmospheres, which is conducive to lower scoring affairs as teams buckle down on the defensive end. The Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins will definitely be taking part in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs as they're #1 and #2 in the Eastern Conference. If Montreal can take today's game, they have a chance to catch Pittsburgh for that #1 seed. As a result, I expect a playoff-type atmosphere in this game and goals should be hard to come by. The Canadiens also surrendered seven goals in their last game to Philadelphia, so I'm expecting a big effort from them on the defensive end tonight. The Penguins are also without Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, so their playmaking ability will be limited. All signs point to an Under here.

4-unit Play Take Vancouver Canucks/St. Louis Blue UNDER (8:05pm ET) There have been quite a few Unders in the NHL recently with things heating up in the playoff races. Today's game between the Vancouver Canucks and St. Louis Blues fits that criteria as neither team has clinched a spot just yet. The Canucks have been playing really well defensively lately. In their last six games, they have allowed a total of only nine goals for a 1.50 average. St. Louis has been even better lately as they've allowed only 11 goals in their last eight games for a 1.4 average per game. This is how these teams are successful and it's no surprise that nine of the last 10 meetings between these teams have featured five goals or less with 8 unders, 1 over and 1 push in that span. Today's game should be no different, so take the Under here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #14 Colorado Avalanche over Columbus Blue Jackets (9:05pm ET) The Columbus Blue Jackets have come a long way this season. But to be a favorite on the road against anyone in the NHL is a bit too much respect. The Jackets are still very likely going to miss the playoffs this season and they've been awful away from home. They're just 6-11-2 on the road, while their opponent the Colorado Avalanche is 11-7-2 at home this season. Colorado is currently at the bottom of the Western Conference, but they are a lot better squad than earlier in the year when they were without Gabriel Landeskog and Ryan O'Reilly. This will be the third game in four nights for Columbus and that's huge at this point in the season. Most guys are pretty banged up and not playing at 100%, so lack of rest equates to poor play on the ice. We'll take the Avalanche as a home underdog against the Jackets tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #6 New York Islanders over New York Rangers (7:05pm ET) The New York Islanders and New York Rangers get together for their final meeting of the season tonight, and it's huge. Both of these squads are fighting for their playoff lives with only two weeks left in the regular season. The Islanders are in the 7th spot in the Eastern Conference, while the Rangers are just two points behind in the 8th position. There's no question that this game will carry a playoff-like intensity. The two main determinants in winning this game are which team is playing better hockey right now and who wants it more. And the answer to that question would be the New York Islanders. The Isles are playing their best hockey of the entire season and have gone 8-1-1 over their last 10 games. Their defense and goaltending has been amazing during that stretch allowing only 1.60 goals per game. The Rangers have never really put together a solid streak this season, taking two steps forward and two steps back on a recurring basis. And every time you think that this team has needed to step up in a big game, they've come out flat. The Islanders haven't been to the playoffs since 2007, so they have been playing their hearts out to get there. Their young kids are growing up fast and they are desperate to win, and I just don't get that same impression from watching the Rangers play lately. The Islanders are just playing too well right now and this game is their chance to prove that they belong. Take the Islanders as our 10-unit Eastern Conference Game.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #12 Detroit Red Wings over San Jose Sharks (7:35pm ET) The Detroit Red Wings host the San Jose Sharks in a game that has big implications for the playoff race in the Western Conference. Detroit has been playing fairly inconsistent for most of the season, but they've found a way to get enough points to place themselves in the 8th spot in the conference. They've been playing better of late, winning seven of 12 games in a period of time where they were on the road for most of it. Now they are back at home where they've been one of the best teams in the NHL in recent years. Their opponent, the San Jose Sharks, have had a good season but they are not very good on the road. They're 6-11-2 in 19 games and most of those losses haven't even been close. This is a big game for the Wings and I like them to pick up the victory here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #54 New Jersey Devils over Boston Bruins (7:35pm ET) The New Jersey Devils have lost seven straight hockey games and are starting to drift out of the playoff picture as we enter the final stretch of the season. But this is a solid hockey team that plays the game the right way and gets everything out of their players. They've been extremely unfortunate in close games recently and that has caused things to seemingly get out of control. I still think this team has some fight left in it as they try to make a final playoff push. I can't remember a game all season where they were this big of an underdog at home, even know they are playing the Boston Bruins. Boston is fighting for the Northeast Division crown, but they haven't looked as crisp as they were earlier in the season. They made some moves at the trade deadline and it always takes a while for the new lines to jell with the changing personnel. Don't write off this Devils team just yet. They're a good bet tonight at this price.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #17 Los Angeles Kings over Dallas Stars (8:35pm ET) The Dallas Stars had been in contention for a playoff spot for the entire season, rotating between the 6th and 10th spots in the Western Conference. They are still tied for 10th at the moment, but the team has all but conceded the fact that this team is building for the future. At the trade deadline last week, the Stars parted ways with forwards Jaromir Jagr, Derek Roy and Brenden Morrow. Those were three of their biggest scoring weapons so it certainly took the wind out of the sails of the players. They've pulled off a couple of big upsets in their last two contests in San Jose and Anaheim, but make no mistake - this team is now up against it. The Los Angeles Kings on the other hand are one of the best teams in hockey that isn't getting much attention. Despite winning the Cup last year, this team is flying under the radar and I think they have a very good chance to repeat. They've been getting great goaltender play, are limiting their opponents to only 24.4 shots per game (1st in the league) and always seem to be able to score that timely goal when needed. The talent gap in today's matchup is huge, so we'll take the Kings in this one.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #4 New York Islanders over Philadelphia Flyers (7:05pm ET) This is the year. This is the year that the New York Islanders break through and get into the playoffs. The Islanders are hanging onto the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference with 42 points and there are only nine games remaining in the regular season. The team is playing its best hockey of the season right now and is 6-1-1 in their last eight games - and five of those games were on the road against good competition. Yes, the talent is finally maturing so get used to seeing the Isles in the thick of things for years to come. Their opponent is the Philadelphia Flyers who are a mess at the moment. They are technically still in playoff contention, but there are a lot of teams ahead of them and the odds are certainly against them. They are a mash unit right now as well, with 10 guys on their injured list. With so many guys out and the hope of playoffs virtually gone, I don't think we'll see a top notch effort from the Flyers tonight. Take the Islanders at home in this one.

4-unit Play Take #51 New York Rangers over Toronto Maple Leafs (7:05pm ET) The regular season is in the final stretch and today's game versus the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs definitely has some playoff implications. The Leafs are currently sitting in the #5 spot in the East while the Rangers are holding on in the #7 slot. The Rangers have been more focused lately in beating the Jets, taking three out of four points in a home-and-home with the Penguins and following that up with a win in Carolina on Saturday. They've been taking care of business on the defensive end especially, allowing a total of only six goals in their last four games. The Maple Leafs have been solid all season, but they're not a great home team over the last few season and actually have a better record on the road this season. The Rangers have won the last four times in Toronto and have beat the Maple Leafs in seven of the last 10 overall. This is a bigger game for the Rangers than it is for the Leafs and I like them to prevail here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #12 Washington Capitals over Tampa Bay Lightning (7:05pm ET) There aren't too many hockey teams playing better than the Washington Capitals right now. The Caps are 7-1-1 in their last nine contests and have positioned themselves atop the Southeast Division with only 10 games remaining. It's been quite a turnaround from earlier this season when the team looked dead in the water. But head coach Adam Oates has finally gotten through to his team and they are peaking at the right time. One team that is dead in the water is the Tampa Bay Lightning. After firing their head coach Guy Boucher, the Lightning played well for a couple of games to impress the new coach. But that has worn off now and this team is ready for the season to end. They've been saying all the right things like they still have a chance at this, but based on their effort last night in New York I just don't see it. These two teams are pretty fierce rivals, so I expect Tampa Bay to come out strong in the beginning. But once they fall behind, they'll put it on cruise control and the Capitals should prevail. Take Washington.

5-unit Play Take #61 Boston Bruins over Montreal Canadiens (7:05pm ET) Huge game in Montreal tonight between the Boston Bruins and the Canadiens. Just one point separates the two teams in the race for first place in the Northeast Division. Whenever we get a big time matchup between two great teams, I generally look towards the more veteran team that's been there before. That is the Boston Bruins, who won the Stanley Cup just two seasons ago with virtually this same roster. The Bruins also added Jaromir Jagr just before the trade deadline last week, and I think his presence on and off the ice will be huge to give this team even more firepower. The Bruins took leads into the third period in their two previous games against the Canadiens, only to see it slip away and take losses in both. They won't let that happen again. This will be a fun game to watch, but I like the Bruins here for our 5-unit Game.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #58 New York Islanders over Tampa Bay Lightning (7:05pm ET) Both the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders have been playing great hockey lately. Since firing head coach Guy Boucher, Tampa Bay has gone 3-0-1 including a huge 5-0 shutout in their last game against Carolina. Even more impressive is that new coach Jon Cooper has them playing good defense and focusing on limiting shots by the opponent. That's a first for them this season. But as impressive as the Lightning have been, what the Islanders have done recently is even more impressive. The Isles are 5-1-1 in their last seven, and five of those games were on the road in some very tough places to play including New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Washington twice. This team has positioned themselves to make the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons. They are currently in 7th place in the Eastern Conference with just 10 games remaining. This is a big one for the Islanders and I expect them to keep the momentum going and pick up another victory.

4-unit Play Take #5 Ottawa Senators over Buffalo Sabres (7:05pm ET) If you didn't think that the Buffalo Sabres were dead before the trade deadline, you are believing it now. Sitting in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, the Sabres had all but given up on their season and it had showed on the ice. The team had lost 10 of their last 15 games and it was time to look ahead to the future. That's why Buffalo parted ways with forward Jason Pominville and defenseman Robyn Regehr. It was the right move and puts the final nail in the coffin on Buffalo's horrid 2013 campaign. On top of that, the team is still without star winger Thomas Vanek, who is out with an upper body injury. The Ottawa Senators have been hanging around despite a slew of big injuries this season. They find themselves in 6th place in the Eastern Conference and have a real shot at holding on as we are in the final quarter of the regular season. Nobody thought they could do it after losing Erik Karlsson, Jason Spezza, Milan Michalek and Craig Anderson, but the team has persevered and shown its true character. Ottawa has so much more to play for and is the right side in tonight's matchup.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

2-unit Play Take #68 Vancouver Canucks over Edmonton Oilers (10:35pm ET) The Edmonton Oilers embarrassed the Vancouver Canucks just one week ago in Edmonton. They scored four goals in the first eight minutes of the game and put it on cruise control after that winning by a final score of 4-0. The Canucks certainly haven't forgotten about that and will bring their A-game to the arena tonight. They also dropped their last game to San Jose, so they need to put in a good effort to turn things around as the season approaches the final quarter. The Oilers come in with a five-game winning streak, but they played last night and their energy level will probably be a bit down on the second leg of a back-to-back. Edmonton has won just two of their 10 contests in Vancouver. The price is a bit high on this game, but it's well warranted because this one should be all Canucks.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take #4 New York Rangers over Pittsburgh Penguins (7:35pm ET) The Pittsburgh Penguins had their amazing 15-game win streak finally broken last night at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres 4-1. It was a nice run, but was draining at the same time as the pressure mounted on them to capture the record. Teams that go on great runs like this usually lose their focus after the streak ends, and that's what I expect to this team. The Pens actually had some really bad games during the streak and deserved to lose at least three or four times. Tonight they get a New York Rangers team that is desperate for a win as we enter the final quarter of the regular season. The Rangers are currently in 9th place in the Eastern Conference, two points away from the last spot. They have been very solid at home, however, coming in with an 11-6-2 mark. This is just a tough game for the Penguins on the second leg of a back-to-back after losing on Tuesday night. The Rangers need this win and I think they get the job done.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Florida Panthers/Tampa Bay Lightning UNDER 5.5 (7:35pm ET) The scheme has changed for the Tampa Bay Lightning since last week. After firing head coach Guy Boucher, the team has started to pay more attention to defense and the fundamentals under new coach Jon Cooper. They won both games since hiring him, but more importantly only allowed a total of 39 shots in the two games. The Panthers have also been playing at a slower pace of late, going under the total in five of its last six games. These teams usually play at a higher scoring pace, but that's not been the case lately and I don't think that the oddsmakers have adjusted properly. Goals will be hard to come by here tonight and I envision a game with a score around 3-1. Take the Under in tonight's Panthers/Lightning matchup.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #2 New Jersey Devils over New York Islanders (7:05pm ET) The New York Islanders are definitely an improved team, but they're still not as good as the New Jersey Devils. The Islanders are on the final leg on a four-game road trip and are fresh off of a hard-fought loss to the Penguins on Saturday. It was a disappointing loss for New York as they outplayed the Penguins but just couldn't put the puck in the net. The Devils have had a tough go of it lately despite playing some really good hockey. They have lost three straight, but all were in a shootout or overtime and in two of those games they were leading with less than a minute left. Marty Brodeur is looking really good in the net and the Devils are looking to avenge a 5-1 loss to the Islanders the last time out. I like New Jersey to give off to a fast start and hold the lead this time. Take the Devils.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #52 Detroit Red Wings (-1.5 PL) over Chicago Blackhawks (12:35pm ET) The Detroit Red Wings aren't a better team than the Chicago Blackhawks, but the gap is closer than it appears. Since their historic start to the season, the Hawks have sputtered a bit at 4-5-0. It's not a coincidence that Chicago has struggled at the same time that key cogs Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa have been sidelined. Not only are they two of the Hawks best players, but they are also leaders on the ice. They will both be out again today versus the Wings. Detroit has experienced its fair share of injuries as well and has a few guys missing today's game. However, they are healthier than they were earlier on in the season. Chicago has taken the first two meetings this season, so Detroit should be fired up for this one. I like the Wings to win this one at home as the underdog.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take #54 Dallas Stars over Minnesota Wild (8:35pm ET) The Dallas Stars will get a second crack at the Minnesota Wild tonight at home. The Wild handed the Stars a 7-4 whipping on Monday night and the Stars have had a couple of days to rest and think about it. The Wild, meanwhile, played on Wednesday at beat the Coyotes 4-3 in overtime. This should be a huge advantage for the Stars, as the Wild had to leave Dallas to play Phoenix at home and now are coming back to Dallas for a rematch. I'm not big on revenge angles, but when the team just beat you on your home ice, you should be pretty motivated with a couple of days to mull it over. Besides that fact, the Stars are just as good of a team as the Wild and they should be a bigger favorite at home. Minnesota has been fortunate to win some of the games they've been winning lately, and it's going to catch up to them. Take Dallas in this spot as our 5-unit Game.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #51 New Jersey Devils over Tampa Bay Lightning (7:35pm ET) The Tampa Bay Lightning have mentally checked out for the 2013 season. Since the third week of the season they've been the worst team in the sport, and last week they fired their head coach Guy Boucher. They come into today's game in 13th place in the Eastern Conference and look lost on the ice. They picked up a win in new coach Jon Cooper's debut on Tuesday, but that was against a weak Buffalo team and the players didn't want to look bad in their first game under a new coach. I fully expect them to return to form against the New Jersey Devils tonight. The Devils have been playing good hockey lately and have outshot their opponents in an amazing 14 straight games. Unfortunately they've lost a lot of close games during that stretch and our only 5-6-3 in those contests. They have their starting goaltender Marty Brodeur back in net, who missed significant time recently and that has been a big boost. He's only allowed a total of four goals in his first three games back. New Jersey has won six straight against the Lightning and are 20-6 over their last 26 games against them. I fully expect this domination to continue in Tampa tonight.

4-unit Play Take #10 Florida Panthers over Buffalo Sabres (7:35pm ET) The Florida Panthers have endured a ton of injuries this season - more than any other team in the NHL in fact. But despite that fact, this team still fights hard and has a chance to win nearly every game. While they've posted the fewest points in the league at only 24, they're clearly not the worst team which gives us a little bit of value. In fact, I think they are better than their opponent the Buffalo Sabres, who have 30 points on the season. Florida has a group of guys who play hard and they pay attention to the little things. The Sabres, on the other hand, isn't playing like they care very much and fundamentally they are a mess. Florida actually has a much better shot differential on the season than Buffalo does and it's obviously not because the Sabres have the lead most of the time. Buffalo has lost six of its last eight on the road and I expect them to falter again tonight. Take the Hurricanes at a short price.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

6-unit Play Take #53 Phoenix Coyotes over Minnesota Wild (7:05pm ET) The Minnesota Wild have everyone fooled, including the linesmakers and betting markets. Minnesota comes in as winners of six straight games and is one of the hottest teams in the league. Fans are starting to talk about Stanley Cup possibilities, and when that starts to happen to a franchise like Minnesota then you know the market has overreacted. This Minnesota team is not deep and has been very fortunate to have the record that they do right now. They're barely outshooting their opponents on the season and don't have an elite goaltender. There's no way that Minnesota should be laying -150 in this game versus a team that made the playoffs last season and is in the hunt again this year. Two weeks ago, the line on this game would have been under -130. The Phoenix Coyotes are one of scrappiest teams in the league and never get much fanfare. They're just four points behind in the 8th spot in the Western Conference, and I think they have a legitimate shot to get there. They are deeper than the Wild, have better coaching and play better as a team. Great value with the Wild here tonight for our 6-unit Game.

4-unit Play Take #4 Carolina Hurricanes (-125) over Winnipeg Jets (7:05pm ET) Big game tonight for the Carolina Hurricanes as they host the Winnipeg Jets. Carolina can feel the division slipping away from them as they've dropped five straight contests coming into the matchup. Carolina is four points behind the Jets in the Southeast Division and has had four days to get ready for this big showdown. This was their longest rest of the season and the team definitely needed it at this point. They've had time to re-focus and more importantly put in a sound gameplan to beat the Jets. Winnipeg hasn't exactly been lighting it up lately either. They were dominated at home by the Washington Capitals in a pair of games where they were outscored 10-1 last week. They did pick up a 3-2 against the Lightning in their last game, but Tampa Bay has given up on the season. This game means a lot more to the Hurricanes and they'll have the fan support in a game everyone has had circled for awhile. Take Carolina in a great situational spot.

4-unit Play Take #60 Dallas Stars over Minnesota Wild (8:35pm ET) Tonight's game in Dallas features two teams playing some pretty good hockey. The Minnesota Wild have won five straight games, vaulting themselves into the third spot in the Western Conference with 38 points. Goal prevention has been the key, with credit going to the defense and goalie Niklas Backstrom. During the winning streak, the Wild is allowing only 2.00 goals per game. While the Minnesota fans are getting excited about a team that they feel has a decent shot at winning the cup, I still see too many holes on this team. They aren't deep at all and they also aren't getting as many shots as their opponents are - a sign that performance is likely to regress. The Stars have been a fairly consistent team all season long. They rely on a solid group of veterans and are built to win now. I think you'll see this team get better as the season progresses and I expect them to make an appearance in the playoffs. I have the Stars rated as a better team than the Wild, so laying only -110 at home has some good value. The play is Dallas here.

10-unit Play Take #5 Philadelphia Flyers (+180) over Pittsburgh Penguins (7:35pm ET) There's no question that the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins have built up a good rivalry over the last few years. It got even more intense when the Flyers knocked the favored Penguins out of the playoffs last year in six games. This season the teams have met three times, and all three games were hotly contested close games. The Penguins come in winners of 11 straight games overall, playing some inspired hockey. However, they really haven't looked as impressive as you would expect during the streak. They've won a lot of tight games and were definitely outplayed in several of those contests. I don't think that this Pens team is as good as last year's edition. They also might be without Evgeni Malkin today, who has missed the last several games. The Flyers have been up and down all year, but they've had five days off to regroup and get ready for a last season playoff push. Philadelphia has had quite a few injuries this season, so it was good to get some good practice time in with a full squad. I don't expect tonight's game to be anything but close and for that reason, the Flyers are a great play at this price.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

2-unit Play Take #67 St. Louis Blues over Edmonton Oilers (10:05pm ET) We've played against the Edmonton Oilers quite a bit this season, and it's paid off. Their team is freakishly talented and is primed to be the next big thing in hockey, but it's not their time yet. They're still learning the fundamentals and that's why their sitting in 13th place in the Western Conference standings. The St. Louis Blues have been in the thick of the playoff race ever since the start of the season, but they know they can play better. The good news for them is that they've beat up on the Oilers over the last few years winning seven of the last eight contests. The Blues have had three days off, which is a long period to regroup during this shortened season. As a result, I expect them to give maximum effort tonight as they look to cement themselves in the playoffs. Take St. Louis.