I’m playing on the New York Rangers as a 9*.

The Rangers took Tampa Bay’s best shot – 39 of them actually – a stood their ground with a 5-2 victory in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final. New York now returns home with the series locked at 2-2 and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist appears to have found his form after a shaky two-game slide. Lundqvist gave up two goals on 39 shots in Game 4 and has a 2.11 GAA at home in the postseason. The same can’t be said for his counterpart Ben Bishop, who has allowed 10 total goals on 52 shots the past two contests. We see Tampa Bay having to change its plan of attack and spend more energy helping out Bishop on defense than pressing on offense. New York is just fine with that type of game. The Rangers love to strike early then sit on the puck and pack the blueline, not allowing their opponents clean looks at Lundqvist. New York’s offense has been equally as impressive as Tampa Bay’s the last two games and with the series swinging to MSG, we see the Blue Shirts taking the edge in this conference final.

I’m playing on New York as a 9* Sunday.

DUCKS at BLACKHAWKS 
I am playing on CHICAGO. The Blackhawks were 5-0 at home in the playoffs entering Game 3 where the Ducks pulled out a gritty 2-1 win. I really can't see Chicago losing two in a row at home and I believe the Blackhawks will be heading back to California with this series tied up. 
Corey Crawford has played like his pads are on fire in the net for Chicago and I think he'll continue to provide the stability Chicago needs to get the job done. The Blackhawks always seem to get different players to step up when they need them most and I won't be surprised if we see that happen tonight. 
Chicago could use some points from Patrick Sharp, who has been kept off the score sheet in four straight games and I'm expecting him to contribute tonight in what's as close to a must-win situation as you can get. Jonathan Toews also only has one point through three games in this series, which isn't the norm we see from him come playoff time. We always seem to see him elevate when it's needed most. 
I think we'll see a little more desperation on the Blackhawks side tonight and I believe they'll scrape out a win while throwing everything they have at the Ducks. 10* Main Event

ANAHEIM at CHICAGO  I am playing on CHICAGO. I see home ice being a huge factor in Game 3 after these teams went toe to toe in a triple overtime marathon in Game 2, which the Blackhawks pulled out 3-2.  They will need every ounce of energy they can muster and I think the fans in Chicago will give their team that edge with the conference finals heading back to the Windy City.  I also feel that Chicago has more depth overall in this series when it comes to high end talent. This is the kind of game where teams really need their best players to be their best players. I think that will be Chicago in Game 3 and I am expecting their top end talent like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith to shine through.  Chicago is 5-0 at home in these playoffs and I think they get their sixth win on Thursday. 10* Main Event

WASHINGTON at NEW YORK RANGERS 
I am playing on the RANGERS. I am siding with history in this one and taking New York to complete the comeback in this series and advance to the Eastern Conference finals. 
New York has won six straight Game 7s at Madison Square Garden and and is 9-0 in elimination games in Manhattan going back to 2008. This also just happens to have turned into a home series with the home side winning four of the last five meetings. 

That didn't stop Caps forward Alex Ovechkin from guaranteeing that Washington would win Game 7 but I think that just puts more pressure on his team where they otherwise would have been nothing more than the improbable road underdog. 
I'm going to fade Ovechkin's prediction and feel the man in the crease at the other end will prevail. Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist has won an NHL record five straight Game 7s and he has an incredible 1.00 GAA and a .965 save percentage in six Game 7s overall. 8*

I’m playing on the Tampa Bay Lightning as a 10* East-Conf. 2nd Rnd GAME OF THE YEAR.


The Lightning have watched two opportunities to end this Eastern Conference semifinal pass them by after winning the first three games of this series with the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs have hung tough but now the Bolts have home ice and can’t allow any more momentum to build behind Montreal. Tampa Bay did a much better job keeping shots off the net in Game 5 but couldn’t solve Canadiens netminder Carey Price, who has turned away 46 of 49 shots in the past two contests. The Lightning will look to test Price early and often in Game 6 Tuesday. They found the back of the net 10 times in the first three games, including a 6-2 victory inside the Bell Centre in Game 2. Tampa Bay has won eight of its last 10 meetings with the Habs inside Amalie Arena, and the pressure of a return trip to Montreal for Game 7 is more than enough motivation to give the home side some added moneyline value.


I’m playing on Tampa Bay as a 10* Tuesday.

I’m playing on the Anaheim Ducks as a 6*.

Anaheim has the Calgary Flames wobbling after taking a 4-2 victory in Game 4 of this Western Conference playoff series and can deliver the knockout punch at home, where they’ve dominated the Flames since 2006. The Ducks have gone 16-0-5 versus Calgary inside the Honda Center, including a pair of wins in this series – 6-1 in Game 1 and 3-0 in Game 2. Anaheim hasn’t given Calgary many opportunities to find the back of the net and when they aren’t shutting the door on the blueline, they’re blasting the Flames with 16 goals through the first four games. The Ducks can get a good break by snuffing out the Flames early and we expect this veteran squad to close out this series Sunday.

I’m playing on the Anaheim Ducks as a 6* Sunday.

I am playing on MONTREAL. I just can’t see the Lightning coming in and taking the first two games of this series in Montreal after coming off an exhausting 7-game series against the Red Wings in Round 1.

Tampa Bay needed double overtime to take Game 1 – a 2-1 squeaker in which Montreal goaltender Carey Price was at his normal ungenerous self. Price made 42 saves and continued to show why he’s the top netminder in world right now.

I think the Habs have Tampa Bay playing exactly the kind of game they want them to – a low-scoring, dump-and-chase contest where the team that outlasts the other and has the better goaltender will ultimately win the series. That’s the kind of game that plays into Montreal’s favor and I think we’ll see this series head back to Tampa all tied up

Montreal has lost two in a row at home now following the loss to Tampa Bay but the Habs haven’t lost three in a row at home all season. I think the crowd will be another factor that helps to lift them to victory in Game 2.

I’m playing on the New York Rangers as a 10*.

The Rangers have a bad taste in their mouths after a disastrous letup in Game 1 of this Round 2 Eastern Conference series. New York watched Washington find the back of the net with two seconds remaining in the third period, stealing a 2-1 win. The Blueshirts will be careful not to let home ice slip away entirely in Game 2, but the Rangers know they must be more aggressive on the offensive end. New York has played in six straight one-goal games to open this postseason which might not cut it against an offense like the Capitals. We expect New York to try and build a two-goal buffer and avoid another heart-wrenching finish to Game 2 of this series.

I’m playing on the New York Rangers as a 10* Saturday.

MINNESOTA at CHICAGO 
I am playing on CHICAGO. The Wild have to be groaning coming into this series and thinking "not again" when it comes to playing the Blackhawks. 
Minnesota has been ousted by Chicago in each of the last two playoffs and now they must try to convince themselves they can pull off what they haven't been able to in the last two seasons. The United Center was especially unkind to the Wild in the last two postseasons, where they went a combined 0-6. Knowing that, I am actually a little surprised Chicago wasn't laying a higher number here. 
The Blackhawks also happen to have started this year's playoffs 3-0 on home ice and I like the trend to continue tonight. I could go on for days about the Blackhawks' talent but you probably already know about it. Notably, Patrick Kane is getting stronger all the time in his return from a shoulder injury and he racked up seven points in first round against Nashville. 9* Personal Favorite

I am playing on ANAHEIM. There are a couple of stats that you just can't ignore as this series gets under way and for me, they are way too strong not to take the Ducks here. 
The Flames enter this series on a 20-game losing streak in Anaheim going back to 2004 - twenty games!! - which works out to 0-15-5. The Flames are also 2-26-3 in their last 31 games in Anaheim and trends in sports betting just don't get a whole lot stronger than that. 
The Ducks are coming off a four-game sweep of the Winnipeg Jets during which they blistered their way to a playoff-leading 4.00 goals per game, which is about a goal and a half more than the league average. 
Anaheim just kept sending its waves of talent on the ice, getting goals when it needed them most. The Ducks had eight players who tallied at least three points in the first round, which is a little stunning considering the series only went four games. 
I don't think Calgary can skate with that kind of depth and I think the Ducks jump out to an early series lead here Thursday night. The Flames had to rely on some incredible goaltending in Round 1 during which the Flames outshot Vancouver in just two of the six games. 7*

I am playing on the RANGERS. New York has the enviable position of facing a Capitals team coming off a physical, emotional series that went seven grueling games while being fully rested after dumping the Penguins in five games. 
The Capitals and Islanders just pulverized each other in a gritty series that featured a frantic pace and hard hits - they racked up 98 hits in one game alone. We often see letdowns after a team wins a Game 7 and I think that will especially be the case after Washington played in what could be the best series we see all playoffs. 
The Rangers, on the other hand, looked very comfortable playing a practically impenetrable defensive system where they held Sidney Crosby and the Pens to just one goal in four of the five games in the series. 
And it wasn't just that Pittsburgh couldn't score. New York was barely giving the Penguins a sniff by blocking shots and clogging the neutral zone. I think it's exactly the kind of game Washington would prefer not to play and it's not a huge surprise the Rangers have won four of the last five meetings. 
Washington may bounce back and give New York some trouble as this series wears on but I don't see the Caps winning Game 1. The Rangers don't mind playing with gaps between games and they are 6-1 playing on at least three days of rest this campaign. 7*  

I am playing on TAMPA BAY. You always have to take a hard look first at the home team when it comes to Game 7’s in the NHL. The home side historically wins at a 57.6 percent clip and we already saw the Capitals take advantage of home ice in a Game 7 in these playoffs. 
Tampa Bay was also the toughest team in the NHL to beat on home ice this season, where the Bolts lost just eight times in the regular season. I think we’ll see them come out flying behind an ear-splitting crowd after the Lightning fell 2-0 on home ice in Game 5. 
Detroit will be without its top defenseman, Niklas Kronwall, who was given a 1-game suspension after for a hit on Nikita Kucherov in Game 6. It’s a loss that’s tough to put into words  for Detroit and I feel it will be the biggest factor in this game. 
I think the Red Wings are a different team without Kronwall, who provides an intimidating presence on the blue line that can change the whole context of a game – both in the offensive and in the defensive ends. I think Tampa Bay will be a little bolder on the breakout and in the corners knowing they don’t have to deal with the Wings’ top blueliner. 
Tyler Johnson has also been the star who has stepped up for the Lightning with five points over the last three games. I expect him to shine again in Game 7 and lift Tampa Bay to the big series-clinching win. 7* Game 7 Main Event

I’m playing on the Washington Capitals as my 10* Game 7 Main Event.

Washington battles the New York Islanders in a Game 7 showdown at home Monday. The Capitals missed an opportunity to end this series in Game 6 after looking dominant in Games 4 and 5. With the series swinging back to DC, we see solid value with the home side Monday.

In the two previous home games, the Capitals netted a total nine goals and outshot New York 76-44 – almost doubling their offensive activity. In Game 6, Washington edged the Isles 39-38 in shots. We expect another one sided tally from the Caps, as they press to avoid a Game 7 collapse on home ice.

Washington goalie Braden Holtby has been excellent in goal. He has allowed only five goals on 139 shots faced in the past four games. Holtby was battling an illness earlier in the series but now that he’s over it, he looks like the kind of goaltender who could carry this team deep into the postseason if he keeps up his hot play. Holtby owns a 2.08 GAA and a .926 save percentage at home.

The Capitals’ offensive activity at home and Holtby holding down the crease are why I’m playing on Washington as my 10* Game 7 Main Event Monday.

I am playing on CHICAGO. Home ice has obviously been a major factor in this series with the home team winning the last four games and I see no reason for the trend to stop in Game 6 Saturday night. 
Chicago has won the last four meetings on home ice against Nashville and I can't fathom the Preds are feeling good about returning to the arena where they last lost their longest game in franchise history, a 3-2 triple overtime thriller in Game 4. 
This has been a fast, hard hitting, fun series to watch and I think the longer it goes, the more it plays into Chicago's favor. The Blackhawks have more depth and talent than just about anybody in the league and if you're going to beat them, you're better off not stretching it into a seven-game affair. 
Brad Richards, former Conn Smythe winner, was among the latest to come alive for Chicago in Game 5 when he had a goal and an assist. That was Richards' first multi-point game since January and now the Predators suddenly have one more player to worry about on the depth chart. 
The Predators' biggest handicap is they'll be without super-defenseman Shea Weber for the remainder of the series with a lower body injury. That's a blow that's hard to put into words and the Predators are 2-7-1 with him out of the lineup over the last two seasons. 
I think the Blackhawks get it done Saturday night with a little desperation in their step as they aim to avoid heading back to the Music City for a Game 7.  8*

I am playing on TAMPA BAY. The Lightning are heading back to Tampa Bay with this series tied 2-2 but in terms of momentum, the Bolts have to be feeling a little like they are leading the series. 
It looked to be the complete opposite with less than seven minutes to go in Game 4 and the Red Wings leading by two goals. Even though the Red Wings were out-shot in the game, they completely dominated the play and you had to think hard to remember the Lightning even getting a scoring chance all game. 
A few defensive breakdowns later and two goals and an assist from Tyler Johnson and the Bolts were skating off the ice in celebration while Detroit looked like they'd just heard the octopus species had become extinct. 
It's that kind of momentum that changes a whole series and I think we'll see a rejuvenated Tampa Bay squad in Game 5 back in Florida. Johnson has emerged as the team's leader while Steve Stamkos still searches for his game and maybe that's just what the sniper needs to get some confidence back. 
Tampa Bay is tough to beat on home ice at the best of times - no team had fewer home losses than the Lightning's eight this season. But it just got that much tougher with the wind knocked out of Detroit's sails. 
Pavel Datsyuk was a crushing minus-3 in Game 4 while Tomas Tatar was minus-2. You just can't have two of your top three players letting you down like that in crucial situations and I don't like how things are lining up for Detroit in Game 5. 8*

I am playing on VANCOUVER. After getting badly out-hit and handily out-played in Calgary, the Canucks couldn't be happier to be heading home and I think we'll see a much different Canucks squad tonight. 

 It was almost as if the Canucks sent a different team to Calgary than the one we saw through the first two games in Vancouver. Oddsmakers seem to agree because they have set the Canucks as bigger favorites than many would have predicted for Game 5.  After finishing pretty closely in the categories of blocked shots and hits in Vancouver, Calgary out-hit the Canucks 62-36 on home ice and out-scored them in blocked shots 59-28. Those two stats point to Vancouver withering away a little bit in their road jerseys.  I think we'll see a completely different effort with the Canucks back on home ice. They are well coached by Willie Dejardins even though he doesn’t have the NHL playoff experience of Scotty Bowman, but I fully expect him to have his team refocused and ready to roll for Game 5. I'll also be shocked if he doesn't start goaltender Ryan Miller in place of Eddie Lack.  Lack was a big letdown in Game 4 when he allowed three goals on seven shots in the first period and Miller came in to stop all 15 shots he faced. It's always easier for a team to play with confidence when your goaltender is feeling confident and I think that's what we'll see tonight. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on WINNIPEG. Despite the fact the Jets are down 3-0 in their series with Anaheim, they remain small favorites to win Game 4 and I think they’ll get the 'W'.  The reason is the incredible home crowd that will be in full 'whiteout' mode once again on Wednesday after nearly taking the building down with bone-rattling cheering in Game 3 on Monday. I think the Jets will give everything they have in hopes of giving their loyal home fans their first home playoff win in 19 years.  “Right at the start, I personally have never had anything like that before and we certainly fed off the energy,” said Jets winger Lee Stempniak about Monday's game. “We had a great start. We were all over them, forced some turnovers and icings. Yeah, it’s disappointing on a couple of levels to go down 3-0 in the series, and also not to deliver for our fans.” You could argue that Winnipeg could be just as easily up 3-0 in this series as it is down 3-0. The Jets took third period leads into all three games, only to them slip away and lose in heart-breaking fashion. Winnipeg outplayed the Ducks in every facet except the 5-4 score on Monday with more hits (61-44), more shots on net (35-31), more faceoffs won (43-41),  fewer giveaways (11 vs. 13) and more blocked shots (17-15).  Another reason I think the Jets will pull out Game 4 is the Ducks just aren’t as sharp defensively on the road, where they allowed a generous 2.79 goals against this season. They allowed four goals in Winnipeg, their most of the series, and also allowed the Jets to score their first power play goal of the series.  

You just can’t cross your fingers and hope to win like that consistently on the road in the playoffs and I think Winnipeg gets a big win for their fans on Wednesday. 9* NHL Personal Favorite 

I am playing on WINNIPEG. Home ice looks like it could be the biggest determining element in this series, which is why I like the Jets in Game 3 and why oddsmakers have them set as slight favorites. 
Anaheim took the first two games in California and I believe home ice played a huge role in helping to propel them to both wins. The Ducks trailed heading into the third period in both games but there was just a feeling to both games that suggested the lead was never safe. 
The Jets should now get that same benefit on home ice in front of what should be a completely insane atmosphere in Winnipeg. It's been 19 years since the Jets hosted a playoff game - known as a 'whiteout' for the crowd donned in all-white - and their loyal fan base should provide support that's loud enough to shake the building in the Game 3. 
“The playoffs with every team I was at were a tremendous experience, but that whiteout environment in Winnipeg was so unique that it was probably the one thing that would set it apart from all the others. It just created an unbelievable environment in that rink,” said former Jet Mike Eagles this week. 
I think Winnipeg gets out to lead and holds it this time with home support. I also love that goalie Ondrej Pavelec is coming off a fantastic game in Anaheim where he made 37 saves. I think it will be a big confidence boost for him and we'll see more strong play in the Jets' net. 9* Personal Favorite

I’m playing on the St. Louis Blues as my 9* Personal Favorite.

The Blues took one on the chin in Game 1 of this first-round series against the Minnesota Wild, losing 4-2 in front of the home faithful Thursday night. That loss will light a fire under St. Louis for Game 2, with memories of the last two postseasons getting drummed up. The Blues have exited in the first round of the playoffs the last two years and will be playing with added desperation Saturday.

Thursday’s result was much closer than the final score would indicate, with the Wild adding two empty net goals in the dying minutes of the third period. St. Louis fell behind quickly in Game 1 and knows it must get off to a better start Saturday to avoid having its back against the wall.

The Blues faced Minnesota in the regular season finale, winning 4-2, and got out to a 2-0 lead in the second period of that game. The Wild are just too good of a defensive team to let take a lead and then lock down the defensive end of the ice. We expect St. Louis to press early and often, hoping to get up on the scoreboard and force the Wild out of their comfort zone.

The Blues' postseason desperation and their early offensive attack are why I’m playing St. Louis as my 9* Personal Favorite.

I am playing on VANCOUVER. I felt the Canucks outplayed Calgary for most of Game 1 and were a little unlucky to come away with a loss. I don't see them dropping their first two games at home and I'm thankful oddsmakers aren't making them lay more chalk in Game 2. 
Jonas Hiller stood on his head a little for Calgary and was awarded the first star after giving up just one goal in the 2-1 win. I'm not sure how long he can keep that up against a Canucks team that ranks much higher than the Flames on shooting percentage this season. Vancouver ranked seventh in the league in that category this year compared to 27th for the Flames. 
Calgary scored the winning goal while Canucks goalie Eddie Lack was screened after Lack played a great game and was named as second star of the game. 
Another sign that the Canucks outplayed the Flames was they drew three penalties to Calgary's one. Vancouver went 0-for-3 on the power play but I don't expect that to continue. The Canucks had a blistering power play over the final three weeks of the season going 11-for-33 during that span and I think we'll see them find a way to score on the extra man attack in Game 2. 
All that said, I think home ice will still play the biggest factor in the second game of this series. I expect a very loud crowd in Vancouver and Calgary was wasn’t nearly as good on the road as it was at home this season. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on WASHINGTON. The Capitals looked a little like they forgot the playoffs had started from the drop of the first puck in Game 1 and I expect to see a much different team in Game 2. 
Nobody likes getting embarrassed like that on home ice, especially in the postseaon and I think Washington will play much smarter in Game 2. The home team won every game in the regular season series between these two and I think that trend gets back on track here. 
The Caps out-hit the Isles (46-36), were almost even in shots (27-25) and destroyed New York in faceoffs won (39-23). The one thing they forgot to do was take care of the puck and that sloppy play resulted in most of the damage the Islanders did. 
Washington committed 11 giveaways to the Isles' five and that was really the difference in the game. 
"I think the whole game was pretty sloppy," Capitals forward Curtis Glencross said. "That can happen with it being the playoffs. We'll definitely try to [be better] as the series going on." 
I'm counting on it. I think the errors were mostly mental and the Capitals somehow just didn't come into this game completely focused. I don't expect that to happen two games in a row. 
The Capitals were far better than the Isles in goals against this season (7th vs. 23rd in the league) and I think we’ll see a completely different Washington team in Game 2, one that’s much more careful with the puck. 8* Annihilator

I am playing on ST. LOUIS. The Blues enter the postseason as one of the league's hottest teams while the Wild come into Game 1 against St. Louis as one of the league's coldest. 
St. Louis has won five of its last six games - which includes a 4-2 win over Minnesota to end the season - while the Wild have lost four of their last six. 
It may be that Minnesota simply sputtered out of gas as the regular season came to a close. The Wild needed to have the best record in the NHL since Jan. 15 just to qualify for the playoffs. That's when they acquired goaltender Devan Dubnyk, who started 38 straight games for Minnesota. Perhaps the magic and the energy have run out for Dubnyk though after St. Louis chased him out of the next on Saturday with three goals on 14 shots. 
That's nothing to be ashamed of against this St. Louis squad. The Blues might have the best combination of talent and depth when it comes to their forwards where five players have at least 19 goals and 55 points for St. Louis. The Blues are just plain scary and there's almost no point in matching lines against them. Every one of their lines has speed and can score with the sickly talented Vladimir Tarasenko leading the way with 73 points and a +27 rating. 
The Blues are pretty deep on the blueline too and are the only team other than the President's Trophy-winning New York Rangers to rank in the top five in the NHL in goals for and goals against this season. They have a significantly better power play than the Wild too - fourth best in the NHL compared to fourth worst -  and I think Minnesota is in big trouble starting in Game 1 of this series. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on VANCOUVER. The Canucks have home ice on their side in their opening round matchup against the Flames and I think a combination of home ice, special teams and puck possession will help them take Game 1. 
The Flames have only won seven of the last 27 meetings in Vancouver, so it's not exactly Calgary's favorite place to play. Vancouver also comes into the playoffs on a three-game winning streak and had the comfort of playing all those games at home, so I think we’ll see them coming into Game 1 well rested and at full speed. 
The Canucks have 11 forwards who have scored at least 10 goals this season and they tend to keep coming at you in waves. I think that will be a bit of a problem for a Calgary squad that ranked 28th in puck possession this season where they controlled the puck just 44 percent of the time. 
Those numbers defy modern analytics where puck possession has become a huge part of NHL success and I feel the Flames' luck will run out here. Vancouver has more star power than Calgary with the Sedin twins in its lineup, who both finished with over 70 points this year and I feel they'll make Calgary pay throughout the run of this series. 
The Canucks own the second best power play in the league and haven't allowed a goal while shorthanded in the month of April. Calgary ranks 20th in that category and I think special teams is a spot we'll see the Flames get into trouble against Vancouver.  9*

I am playing on WASHINGTON. Home ice proved to be the biggest factor in this closely contested series this season and I think it will be key in Game 1 once again when the Islanders visit the Caps. 
The home team won all four meetings this campaign and I fully expect the crowd at the Verizon Center to make things uncomfortable for the Islanders over the first two games. 
Both teams match up pretty well when it comes to forwards with opposing stars Alex Ovechkin and John Tavares leading each squad. But I feel the Capitals have key advantages at two other spots which will help them win this series opener: defense and special teams. 
Defense matters most when it comes to the NHL playoffs and not only do I feel the Caps match up better on the blueline man-for-man, but statistically they are much better also. The Islanders are easily the worst defensive team that has qualified for the playoffs, allowing 2.73 goals per game, which ranks 23rd in the NHL this season. The Caps ranked seventh in that category this season with 2.43 goals against. 
That generosity on defense extended to the penalty kill for the Isles, where they ranked 26th in the league. That will be a key decider in this series in my opinion where Washington owns the most lethal power play in the NHL with a terrifying scoring percentage of 26.8. 

I think the Caps, like all home teams, will tend to get the whistles in Game 1 and that’s something you can’t afford to do against this Washington team. I believe we’ll see the home winning streak in this series continues. 9*

I am playing on MONTREAL. The discussion about Montreal's success will always begin with Carey Price and it's no wonder. He owned the best goals against average (1.96), save percentage (.933) and wins (44) in the NHL this season. He set a new Canadiens record with those victories and I think he'll help the Habs get out to an early lead in the series Wednesday.
Price is probably the one goalie that actually may be able to out-duel the Senators in the crease after the way the red-hot Andrew Hammond has played for them and I think Price will elevate his game to prove he's the premier goalie in the league these days. 
Home ice should definitely help Montreal. The Bell Center might just be the loudest arena in the NHL come playoff time and it won't be a friendly place for Ottawa to play. Only the Tampa Bay Lightning had fewer losses on home ice this season (eight to Montreal's nine) and the ear-splitting volume goes to a new level during the postseason. 
I also expect the Habs to use team speed and a versatile group of defenseman who can hurt you in transition to get the job done in Game 1. With top defenseman of P.K. Subban, Andrei Markov, Jeff Petry, Tom Gilbert and Nathan Beaulie, Montreal loves to turn the puck up ice and I think the Canadiens will be able to keep Ottawa on its heels.
Special teams might be the area that's of most concern for Montreal here but I like the fact the Habs have scored on the power play in each of their last three home meetings with Ottawa. I think we'll see the Habs find a way to score on the extra man attack now that the playoffs are here. 9*

I am playing on CHICAGO. The Blackhawks haven't lost four games in a row all season and I don't believe it will happen on the last day of the regular campaign. 
Chicago needs a win to secure third place in the Central Division heading into the playoffs with the Minnesota Wild chasing them just two points behind. Goaltender Corey Crawford is also just one victory away from his career best 33, so there are a couple of motivational factors for Chicago. 
The Blackhawks have only managed one goal in each of their last three but Crawford has given them a chance to win all three with some incredible play and the Hawks only lost each of those games 2-1. 
I believe we'll see Chicago snap out of the offensive funk tonight against a Colorado squad that isn't playing very well defensively lately. The Avs have been out-shot in their last six games and horribly out-shot by double digits in each of their last five games. They were blasted by at least 16 more shots for the opposition in each of their last three games and only by the grace of some amazing goaltending have they managed to scrape out three wins in their last four. 
I think the luck runs out tonight for the Avs. The road team has won all four meetings this season in this series and Colorado has absolutely nothing left to play for. 
A plethora of injuries are the biggest reason why Colorado is playing such poor team defense lately and defenseman Brad Stuart was the latest victim after hurting his leg last game. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Avs play a conservative game tonight in hopes of ending the year without any more casualties. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on NASHVILLE. I think we’ll see Nashville snap out of its four-game funk tonight and pull out a win against visiting Minnesota. 
The Predators haven’t won in four straight games but it’s not like they’re playing bad hockey. They’ve fired at last 36 shots at the net in each of their last three games, outshooting their opponents each time. They’ve also managed to get their power play going with three goals over their last three games and I think we’ll see that play a factor tonight. 
Nashville has plenty of incentive to come out with a big effort tonight also. The Preds sit just one point behind St. Louis for top spot in the Central Division and I’m sure they’d also take a little pride in stopping the Wild’s current road winning streak that has the NHL abuzz. The Wild need just one more win to tie Detroit’s record from 2005-06 of 12 straight road wins and after Minnesota won the last two meetings in Nashville, I’m sure the Preds would take pleasure in crushing that streak. 
Nashville owns the best home record in the Western Conference at 28-8-4 and I expect the Predators to play with a little more grit tonight after losing their last two games at home despite being tied at the end of regulation. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on DETROIT. The Red Wings can clinch a playoff spot Tuesday night with a win over Carolina and some help from the Penguins, whom Detroit also needs to beat Ottawa. I think Detroit will take care of its part with a home win over the third-worst team in the East.  The Red Wings haven't been playing their best hockey lately with just two wins in their last six games. But all of those games came against squads that would currently qualify for the playoffs with the exception of Ottawa, who remains on the bubble.  The Wings know the importance of this game I think the desperation and intensity levels will be at their highest Tuesday night with the Wings only having three games left to keep their 23-season playoff streak alive. This is Detroit's last home game of the year with the final two games coming at Montreal and at Carolina and I think the home crowd will play a big, big factor here.   The Hurricanes have only won four of their last 14 games and the road hasn't been their friend recently. They've given up at least four goals in each of their last three road outings, which the Canes lost by a combined 11 goals. Now they'll face a hot Red Wings power play that ranks second in the league and has scored in its last three games.  I think we'll see big games from veteran leaders Henrik Zetterberg, who has been too quiet lately, and Pavel Datsyuk, who has been in and out of the lineup lately due to injuries. I also like that Carolina has lost four of the last five meetings and are 1-6-1 in the last eight meetings in Detroit. 7* Blue Marlin

I am playing on WINNIPEG. The Jets will play four of their last five games without a big part of their lineup, Dustin Byfuglien, who was suspended for a cross check that will be shown on highlight reels for some time. 
Often the public looks to fade teams in spots like this but I think this actually gives the Jets more value as they continue to battle for a playoff spot. 
“It’s something we’ve dealt with the entire year,” Jets captain Andrew Ladd said. “I think we’re comfortable having a few guys out the lineup at this point, knowing we have (people) to step up and fill that void somehow. Sometimes it makes us play a closer team game and good things come of that.”
Winnipeg will have home ice and a little revenge motivation playing a factor Saturday night when they host Vancouver. The Jets lost the last two meetings with the Canucks this year but both of those games came on the last night of a three-games-in-four-nights stretch and I believe fatigue played a factor. 
Winnipeg is playing solid hockey right now despite losing the last two games. Those losses were against the Rangers, the top team in the NHL standings, and a very strong Blackhawks squad, both of which were by just one goal. Prior to those two losses, the Jets won six of seven games. 
Vancouver enters this game playing its fourth road contest in six days and I think fatigue will be on the other skate this time around. The Canucks have given up at least three goals in four of their last five games and I don't think that kind of play is going to be good enough to beat Winnipeg. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on CHICAGO. I like the Blackhawks here tonight for three main reasons: they are still trying to win the Central Division, they are trying to avoid a season sweep from rival Vancouver and their power play is hot. 
The Blackhawks are five points behind Nashville for top spot in the division but the good news for the Hawks is they have two games at hand. They haven't lost sight of that and have bounced back with two solid wins over Winnipeg and L.A. after suffering a pair of ugly losses to Columbus and Philly last week. 
Chicago should be extra motivated to avoid letting the Canucks sweep them this season so I like the revenge factor here also. Vancouver won both meetings this year and is a surprising 4-0-3 in the last seven meetings in Chicago. These two teams don't like each other a whole lot and I expect the Blackhawks to play with playoff intensity tonight. 
I expect the power play to help them earn the victory. Chicago has ripped off a power play goal in three of its last four games including one each in the two recent wins. The Canucks are coming off a game against Nashville where they allowed two power play goals, the second time in their last four games they've allowed multiple power play goals in a game. 
Jonathan Toews enters this game on a three-game point streak and that's always scary for opponents. Toews is one of the best in the league and hen he's playing well, it usually means Chicago is winning. 9* Personal Favorite 

I am playing on PITTSBURGH. The Penguins enter this game coming off two straight wins and I think they've turned things around after a rough patch where they won just one of seven games. 
The Penguins were having trouble finding the back of the net but have managed three goals in each of their last two games, including a shootout tally in a win over San Jose on Sunday. The Pens scored three power play goals combined in those games, which should be a big help tonight. The Flyers and Pens usually don't like each other much when they get together and the penalty box can be a bit of a revolving door at times.  
Penguins center and NHL leading scorer Sidney Crosby has 30 goals and 75 points in 50 games against the Flyers and I think he'll have a big night tonight. Pittsburgh hasn't had much luck against the Flyers lately after losing the last six meetings and I think Crosby will be motivated to turn that trend around. 
Pittsburgh is also trying to hold onto second place in the Metropolitan Division with one game at hand over the Islanders. Both teams are tied with 95 points and a win over the Flyers will help the Pens' cause tonight. 
The Penguins tend to be winning with solid defensive efforts this season, another reason I like them tonight. They sport a 2.42 goals against average, which ranks in a respectable tie for fifth in the NHL this year. They also own the second best penalty kill this season. 
Philly, meanwhile, has struggled on defense lately with a pile of injuries on defense and forward. The Flyers have allowed 17 goals in their last four games and I think Pittsburgh will be too much for them tonight. 6* Blue Marlin

I am playing on DETROIT. The Senators haven't exactly enjoyed playing the Red Wings lately and I think they might be running out of gas toward the tail end of their exhaustive run to make the playoffs. 
The Wings have won four of the last five meetings against the Sens and Ottawa enters this game on a three-game losing streak. The Senators have pulled to within six points of Detroit in the push for an automatic playoff berth after trailing by more than 15 points at the start of the month, but the Sens are starting to wear.   
"You can feel it in the room," said forward Clarke MacArthur, who just returned to the lineup three games ago. "These guys have been battling for their life for the last 15 games, so it's draining. You're watching the standings and seeing what's going on. It's hard." 
The Senators have given up 13 goals over their last three games and they gave up three goals in the third period to the Leafs Saturday night, which led to a 4-3 overtime loss. 
I think they are going to run into a very tough defensive Detroit team that will be committed to puck possession and taking care of its own end after allowing too many goals itself lately. 
The Red Wings are much better on home ice this season with just eight losses in regulation there. They have also looked much better their last two games since getting top centerman Pavel Datsyuk back from injury. They beat the Lighting 4-0 in their last home game on Saturday and suffered a tough 5-4 loss at the Islanders on Sunday afternoon after a quick turnaround. 
I expect the Red Wings to continue to play tough and I believe Jimmy Howard will be much sharper in goal tonight than we've seen from Detroit goalies lately. He stopped 15 of 16 shots in relief against the Islanders and said he is starting to see the puck much better than he has lately. 9* Personal Favorite 

I am playing on COLORADO. With the Avs in a revenge spot and their faint playoff fire still flickering, I think they'll be the far more motivated spot to take down the Oilers Monday night. 
Edmonton won 4-3 last Wednesday in a tough matchup where Colorado tied things up in the third period, only to falter in the end. The Avalanche didn't seem to like that loss too much because they ripped off two convincing wins in their subsequent games - one at Vancouver as a heavier underdog and one on home ice against the Sabres. 
Colorado remains eight points out of a wild card spot to make the playoffs, so they are essentially playing for pride. But this is a young team that's still trying to improve and coach Patrick Roy won't accept anything but a top effort from his players. 
The Avs have some players who are flying right now and I think they'll simply score too often for the Oilers to keep up. 
Ryan O'Reilly sails into this game on a seven-game point streak during which he has fired off four goals and racked up eight assists. Matt Duchene and Jarome Iginla are coming off three-point nights and defenseman Tyson Barrie has points in three straight games. Barrie is having a fantastic season with 49 points and is beginning to establish himself as one of the top offensive defenseman in the NHL.
The Avs have scored three or more goals in five of their last seven games and I think they'll be able to take advantage of a putrid Oilers penalty kill. The Oilers have allowed 11 power play goals in their last 10 games and they allowed at least one power play goal in eight of those. 
The Avs are also 4-1 in their last five games and the home team has won the last five games in this series - a couple more reasons I like Colorado tonight. 6* Blue Marlin 

I’m playing on the Pittsburgh Penguins as my 9* Personal Favorite Sunday.

The Penguins are playing hosts to the San Jose Sharks, who are a long way from home at the end of a seven-game Eastern Conference road trip. San Jose has split the first six games of this stretch and will be looking forward to getting back to sunny California Sunday night. We see great letdown value going against the Sharks, especially with Pittsburgh desperate for wins.

The Penguins have just three victories in their last 10 games and two of those have come to the lowly Arizona Coyotes. The other win came courtesy of the Edmonton Oilers, so needless to say Pittsburgh is desperate for a resume win to turn its fortunes around before the playoffs begin. In their last meeting with the Sharks, the Pens were edged 2-1 in a shootout in San Jose back on March 9, so Pittsburgh does have a strong revenge angle here as well.

Penguins star forward Sidney Crosby got his game going with a goal and two assists in Saturday’s win over Arizona. In those last seven losses, Pittsburgh has scored two or fewer goals but have picked up the win when netting three or more. San Jose’s defense has been shaky during this road trip, allowing a total of 19 goals in the first six stops – an average of 3.16 goals per game.

The Sharks looking forward to getting back home and the Penguins desperate for a win are why I’m playing Pittsburgh as my 9* Personal Favorite Sunday.

I am playing on DETROIT. Franchise pride and playoff contention are on the line for the Red Wings Saturday night and I believe they'll pull out a big effort and beat the Lightning. 
The Lightning have won all three meetings against Detroit this season and the veteran Red Wings aren't going to take being swept in a season series lightly. After allowing 11 goals in their past two games, I think we'll see a new level of intensity in the defensive end for Detroit and they are starting Petr Mrazek in goal ahead of Jimmy Howard. 
Mrazek has an impressive .936 save percentage in his three outings this month and to put that in perspective, Montreal's Carey Price leads the NHL with a .937 save percentage this season. 
As Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg said after losing to the Sharks the other night, this isn't just on the goalies. The Wings have been losing battles at both ends of the rink and I think it will help having Niklas Kronwall back in the lineup for his second game after being out due to an injury. He's the Wings' anchor on defense and is a physical presence for Detroit. 
The power play could be big for Detroit here also as they chase down a playoff spot, just five points ahead of the chasers in the Atlantic Division. 
The Red Wings own the best PP in the NHL and they've tallied a power play marker in 14 of their last 17 games so I think that will be a big key to a win for Detroit. Tampa Bay has given up a power play goal in four of its last six games heading into this one. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on CHICAGO. The Blackhawks are comfortably back at home after a four-game road trip and I think home ice will get them back to their top level. 
The Hawks went an atypical 2-2 on the trip and managed just four goals. Home ice has been much kinder lately where they have won four of their last five. The lone loss was an overtime defeat to the New York Rangers, the best team in the NHL right now. 
Chicago has actually won nine of its last 13 games (9-3-1) and like the other top teams in the NHL, the Blackhawks have moved into playoff mode. They are clamping down on defense and goals are not easy to come by against the Blackhawks these days. Only two of their last 10 opponents have managed more than two goals against Chicago and I think that continues against the Blue Jackets tonight. 
I expect Chicago to be playing with a bit of an edge tonight also. Not just because the playoffs loom and the Blackhawks aim to climb up the standings in hopes of home ice in the first round - but also because they likely want to avenge the last meeting with Columbus. 
The Blue Jackets beat the Blackhawks 3-2 back on Dec. 20 in a nine-round shootout, which ended a nine-game winning streak in the series for Chicago. 
I think the Blackhawks can beat up on a Columbus penalty kill that's been simply horrendous lately with 13 goals against over their last 10 games. The Blue Jackets allowed at least one PP goal against in nine of those outings and multiple PP goals against in three of those games. 6* Blue Marlin

I am playing on DETROIT. I believe the Red Wings should cruise past the Sharks Thursday night, but don't just take my word for it. 
"We're not good enough right now to compete against good teams in the NHL. It's disappointing," said Sharks center Logan Couture this week.
The Sharks have lost four of their last five games in lackluster fashion and it's not even that they're losing as much as how they are losing. San Jose just looks awful - like a team playing without heart. They're regularly losing puck battles in the defensive zone as we saw in a 5-2 loss to the Sens Monday night and this team, though not shy on offensive talent, just can't seem to score much lately. 
The Sharks have scored more than two goals just once in their last eight games and it almost feels like they are waiting for this season to be over. 
The Sharks are all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs and now they must try to muster something against a Detroit squad that is tied for the fewest regulation losses on home ice in the NHL this season (7) along with Nashville and Tampa Bay. 
The Red Wings have suffered some injuries lately, though they hope to have second leading scorer Pavel Datsyuk and top defenseman Niklas Kronwall back tonight (both listed as questionable). Another good sign is that the team's top goal scorer Tomas Tatar has three points in four games after slumping for four straight games with no points. 
Detroit still owns the top power play in the NHL at 24.9 percent and I think that could be a key element in this game against an unmotivated Sharks team that's on Game 5 of a grueling 7-game Eastern road swing. 8* Personal Favorite

I’m playing on the Nashville Predators as my 10* Personal Favorite Tuesday.

Nashville plays host to the Montreal Canadiens in a non-conference showdown between hockey heavyweights. The Predators, who sit second in the Central Division, need a big win to get back on track after some stale play in recent weeks and a challenge like the Habs is just what the doctor ordered to snap out of this funk.

Nashville picked up a bit of momentum with a win over the Buffalo Sabres Saturday, kick starting an offense that has had the plug pulled. The Predators netted three goals in the shutout win, just the second time they’ve scored more than twice in the past 10 contests, and carry that turnaround into Tuesday’s marquee matchup.

Goaltender Pekka Rinne stopped 24 shots in that clean sheet and has kept Nashville competitive during this slide. The Predators netminder has allowed just over two goals per game on the season, and missed the last meeting with Montreal – a 2-1 overtime loss with backup Carter Hutton between the pipes. Rinne is 3-1-1 with a 1.20 GAA in five career starts against the Habs.

With Montreal on a three-game tear and goalie Carey Price playing at such a high level, oddsmakers have no choice but to pump up the Canadiens' moneyline, opening up terrific value on the Predators at home. Rinne will give this hungry Nashville team a chance to pick up a big-name win and build momentum before the postseason.

The Predators finding their form on offense and Rinne’s solid work in the crease are why I’m playing on Nashville as my 10* Personal Favorite Tuesday.

I am playing on MONTREAL. The Canadiens are back on the rails after going through a rough stretch that saw them win just one of six games. Since then, they have won three of their last four and I believe they'll make it four of five when they take on the Sharks Saturday night. 
The rough stretch actually started with a 4-0 loss to San Jose back on March 2. Normally, that may not be enough on its own to spark a 'revenge' situation, but this time is a little different. The Sharks have actually shut out the Canadiens the last three times they've clashed in 4-0, 4-0 and 2-0 wins. I think there will be a bit of a redemption factor at play here when Montreal meets the Sharks on home ice. 
A big part of the turnaround in play is the Habs are scoring again with 12 goals over their past four games. They scored just eight goals during the six-game futility slide and I think they'll come out hungry to get a goal on the board early. 
Of course, you can't talk about Montreal without talking about Carey Price. He is simply the best goaltender in the world right now and he leads the league in goals against average (1.90) and save percentage (.937). 
Price is coming off a 4-0 shutout over the Carolina Hurricanes in which he made 31 saves and I think we'll see another strong performance with him tonight in hopes of earning a revenge win against the Sharks. 8* Personal Favorite

I am playing on the NEW YORK RANGERS. The Blueshirts are smoking hot right now after reeling off five straight wins and the streak started with a win over the Blackhawks. 
That was a 1-0 overtime victory on March 8 and the Rangers have been winning by squeezing the offense out of teams ever since. New York has surrendered only three goals during the winning tear.   Goaltender Cam Talbot has been an incredible surprise for the Rangers, posting a 13-2-3 record in the absence of the injured Henrik Lundqvist. He's expected to play again tonight and there's no reason to think his remarkable play won't continue. 
The Blackhawks are playing great hockey right now with seven wins in their last nine games but MSG is not their favorite place to play. The Rangers have won four of the last five meetings there and New York has also won the last three meetings overall. 
This is one of those matchups where the Rangers just seem to have the Blackhawks' number and it doesn't help Chicago any in a matchup like this that they won't have Patrick Kane in the lineup to provide a spark and break through the defense. 
I also can't say enough about what a huge addition Keith Yandle has been for the Rangers. Though he doesn't have a pile of points to show for it, New York is 6-1 since he was traded from Arizona and having one of the top handful of defenseman in the league has vaulted the Rangers to the top of the NHL standings. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on COLORADO. The Avs are a team that nobody wants to have to face right now. They are playing desperate hockey and despite a pile of injuries, they're one of the hottest clubs in the league right now.

The Avs have won nine of their last 14 games and I think they're set up well to keep their winning ways going against Calgary. After tonight, Colorado doesn't play a game for five more days so there's no reason we shouldn't see them pour everything they have into this game in front of a loud Saturday night home crowd with a nice rest period waiting for them afterwards.

The Avs are getting key contributions from a few players lately like Jarome Iginla, Matt Duschene, Brad Stuart and Semyon Varlamov. Iginla has five points in his last five games and now has 22 goals on the season. Duchene isn't always showing up in the box score but don't let that confuse you with him not playing well. Stuart is logging big minutes and anchoring the defense and Varlomov isn't always perfect, but he seems to be making a lot of saves at the right time and that's what you want out of your goaltender.

The Flames are playing well right now but what they're not doing is playing great defensive hockey. They've allowed 10 goals in their last three games and sooner or later that kind of sloppiness catches up to you in the NHL. I think it will tonight against the Avs.

The Flames penalty kill hasn't been the greatest lately either, giving up three goals over their last four games. The Avs have scored four power play goals over their last four games and they've only allowed one goal on the penalty kill, so I give them the special teams edge here too.

The Avs lost the first meeting of the season against Calgary but I think they get their revenge tonight. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on WASHINGTON. The Capitals face the Stars in a tough spot here Friday night and I feel they're worth laying the juice. 
An injury-riddled Stars squad takes the ice against Washington in the second night of a back-to-back situation which will also be the Stars' third game in four nights. That's a tough spot at any time but with seven players jotted on the injury report for Dallas, it makes it even worse. 
The Stars are a horrible 2-6-1 playing on no rest this season and throw in the fact this will be the final game of a five-game Eastern road trip and I'm really liking the Caps here. 
Washington is about the last team you want to face when you're tired and in need of some wins. The Caps are the biggest team in the NHL at an average of 209.9 pounds and they love to get physical.  
"It's not the Washington Capitals high-flying team that I was used to playing against all those years in the East," Minnesota's Zach Parise said after facing the Caps last week. "They play a really structured game, they know where to be defensively, they don't give you a lot of room in the neutral zone. They made us fight for all our chances and made us fight for zone time. They're a big team, they're physical." On top of all that, Washington has the hottest power play in the NHL right now. The Capitals have six PP goals in their last five games for an out-of-this world percentage of 54. I'll take the Caps all day here. 8* Personal Favorite

I am playing on MONTREAL. I love this bet on Carey Price and the Habs tonight and I think oddsmakers have set this juice way too low. 
For some reason the Senators sat their best goaltender on the bench the last two games after Andrew Hammond went on a 7-0-1 tear. It’s probably because Craig Anderson is their big-contract puck stopper and most owners aren’t fond of sitting their biggest money on the bench. 
I think that’s a mistake and we’ve seen Anderson give up seven goals in his first two games back between the pipes since January. 
Even if Hammond did suit up tonight, I’m not sure if anyone is going to out-duel Montreal’s Price in nets. He is simply the best netminder in hockey right now when he’s fresh and he’s allowed just three goals in his last two games and just two in regulation time. 
I like that the home team has also won the last three meetings in this series and I really like the fact that Ottawa has won the last two meetings in convincing fashion. I think the Canadiens come back with a little salt in their play with revenge on their minds – especially on home ice against a division rival. 
Montreal may also have a chance to get its power play rolling again versus the Sens. Ottawa has allowed a power play goal in each of its last two games. 8* Personal Favorite

I am playing on ANAHEIM.  There is an old adage in hockey betting that suggests you should play against a team in its first game back at home after coming off a tough road trip. 
I don’t have any mind-blowing statistics to back it up but the theory goes that the players take their foot off the gas for a little while and are faced with all the distractions of home after enjoying freedom on the road. 
I don’t always subscribe to this theory but I think there might be something to it here. That’s because the Flames are coming off not just their most grueling road trek of the season but one of the most grueling road treks of any team in the NHL this season. 
The Flames play their first game back home Wednesday following a seven-game, two-week Eastern road swing that featured some gritty battles against some stiff competition. They ended it with a heartbreaking 5-4 shootout loss in Ottawa after trailing 4-0 heading into the third period. 
I think Calgary is in for a prime letdown effort on Wednesday against the Ducks, who are actually the best road team in the NHL this season. Anaheim has won three of four meetings against Calgary this campaign and I think we are looking at an even stronger squad than the Flames saw the last time they faced the Ducks. 
That’s because the Ducks added defenseman James Wisniewski, who played his first outing with his new team last game. I think Wisniewski will help shore up Anaheim’s stalled power play and that’s bad news for the Flames on top of all the other factors working against them. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on TORONTO. These meetings aren’t the most difficult in the NHL to handicap. Unlike a lot of rivalries in the NHL, you don’t need to pick apart the numbers a whole lot deeper than to look at who the home team is. 
The home squad has won the last nine meetings in this series, which includes both meetings this season - both of which were four-goal victories by either squad. The numbers get even crazier when it comes to the home edge here where the home team is 22-5 in the last 27 meetings and the Sabres are 1-10 in their last 11 meetings in Toronto. 
So we love the home team when these fledgling squads suit up against one another. But I also like the fact that Buffalo’s injury list stretches longer than the red carpet that is brought out for the national anthems right now. 
The Sabres have lost four straight and 14 of their last 17 with a patchwork squad and they’ve been set as underdogs of higher plus-400 recently. They’re not quite as big dogs as that on Wednesday in Toronto, but I don’t think they’re going to fare much better. 
Though Toronto stinks, the Leafs could desperately use a win for the home crowd after dropping their last two at the ACC. And opportunities don’t come much better than hosting the worst team in the NHL. 6* Blue Marlin

I am playing on PHILADELPHIA. The Flyers couldn’t be facing a better opponent right now when they desperately need a win.  The Stars have been the Flyers’ favorite punching bag in recent seasons, as the Bullies have won eight of the last night meetings. I think we’ll see more of the same here with Philly on home ice against a Dallas squad that is stinking it up in dead last in the Central Division while Philadelphia sits seven points out of a playoff spot.  The Flyers have lost two in a row but I think all they need is a little home cooking. Philly has actually won four of its last five on home ice and they scored an average of three goals in those five outings. I think they’ll outscore the Stars tonight, who are giving away goals like they’re a tax write-off lately.  Dallas, in the midst of an Eastern road trip, has given up eight goals in its last two games and the club is giving up an average of 4.44 goals over its last nine. That’s just not good enough to win you too many in the NHL and it’s no surprise the Stars are just 2-7 in those nine games. Oh yeah - and they needed at least overtime to claim the two games they did win.  I don’t see the Stars bouncing back with a sudden showing of defensive prowess tonight against the Flyers and I think Philly picks up a much needed victory as it pushes for a playoff berth.  9* Personal Favorite

I am playing on the SENATORS. Don’t look now but the Senators are suddenly the hottest team in the NHL and you don’t have to look too far to see the biggest reason why.  Andrew ‘The Hamburglar” Hammond is the latest goalie to stun the hockey world in a late-season display of unforgiving stonewalling. The Sens are 6-0-1 over their last seven games, which just so happen to be Hammond’s first seven starts in the NHL. The B.C. native isn’t showing any signs of wanting to head back to the minors and I can’t help but really like Ottawa here.  Hammond sports a .957 save percentage through those seven games and he has yet to give up more than two goals in a game in regulation or overtime.  That works out to a measly 1.14 goals against average, which makes it pretty tough to beat the Sens these days.  Opponents are just 1-for-18 on the power play since the Hamburglar donned his mask and started terrorizing the league, which gives the Senators a huge edge on special teams.  I love the fact that Ottawa also catches a Flames squad that should be running out of gas right about now. The Flames are playing their seventh and final game of an Eastern road trip on Sunday.  When goals are this hard to come by, I don’t like the team that’s playing on tired legs. I’m surprised oddsmakers aren’t making the Sens lay more chalk here. 9* NHL Personal Favorite

I’m playing on the Nashville Predators as my 9* Personal Favorite Saturday.

The Predators are desperate for a victory after hitting the wall with a five-game losing skid heading into Saturday’s home date with the Winnipeg Jets. Nashville, which is still in first in the Central Division, lost a 4-3 heartbreak against the New York Islanders Thursday, but did snap its offense out of a slumber.

The Preds had netted just seven goals in the previous four games before that three-goal effort against the Isles. They look to build on that improvement against a Jets squad that has some serious issues keeping the puck out of the net.

Winnipeg has given up 29 total goals in its last nine outings – an average of 3.2 goals against per contest. On top of those woes, the Jets are without standout defenseman Dustin Byfuglien for a few weeks after he suffered an upper-body injury this week.

Slow starts have haunted Nashville during this skid, getting outscored 7-1 in the opening frame. However, Winnipeg has had similar issues keeping foes off the scoreboard in the first period this season. The Jets have allowed a total of 70 first-period goals – seventh most in the league.

Nashville took a 3-1 win against Winnipeg back on February 12 and has gone 8-3 in their last 11 matchups. The Predators have also won six of their last seven versus the Jets inside Bridgestone Arena.

A desperate Predators team and the Jets' defense reeling on the road are why I’m playing on Nashville as my 9* Personal Favorite Saturday.

I’m playing on the Boston Bruins as my 8* Breakfast Club Saturday.

The Bruins are trying to build momentum in the Eastern Conference standings, winning three of their last five and looking to put a 4-3 shootout loss to Carolina behind them Saturday, when the Philadelphia Flyers come to town.

This is massive game for the conference’s playoff picture, with the Flyers just four points behind the Bruins for the eighth and final postseason spot in the East. Boston won’t lie down, especially in front of its home fans. The Bruins have won four straight games versus the Flyers in TD Garden and are 21-8 in their last 29 head-to-head games - including a five-game winning run overall.

Philadelphia is playing some solid hockey with wins over St. Louis and the New York Rangers in the last three games, bookending an overtime loss to Carolina. However, that current form is just adding to the value on the home moneyline Saturday.

The Flyers are a rotten team on the road, with a dismal 9-17-4-2 record as visitors. Philly averages just 2.41 goals per road game while allowing host teams to find the back of the net an average of 3.19 times – fifth most in the NHL.

The Bruins' dominance over Philadelphia and the Flyers' road woes are why I’m playing on Boston as my 8* Breakfast Club.

I’m playing on the Nashville Predators as my 8* Personal Favorite Thursday.

The Predators take on the New York Islanders in a battle between divisional leaders – both of which are slumping coming into Thursday’s matchup. Nashville is anxious to snap a four-game losing skid and find its offense after netting just seven total games during this span.

The Islanders could be the perfect team to turn the Preds around. New York won’t be taken lightly, but is dealing with its own issues following back-to-back losses. The Isles fell to the Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars – two weak opponents – and allowed eight goals in that slump. In fact, New York has just two victories in its last six games, scoring two or fewer goals in four of those contests.

Nashville has been plagued by slow starts during this skid and can’t afford to get down on the scoreboard early versus the Islanders. Luckily, New York’s offense is floundering and its power play has been without punch, going 1 for 14 on the man-advantage over the last six games.

The Predators have dominated this series, winning eight of the past 11 meetings with the Islanders, including each of their last six games inside Bridgestone Arena. Nashville is one of the best home bets in hockey, going 37-17 in its last 54 home stands, and presents solid value – thanks in part to this losing skid and the Isles' resume in the East.

The Predators home-ice edge and the Islanders’ punchless offense are why I’m playing on Nashville as my 8* Personal Favorite Thursday.

I’m playing on the Winnipeg Jets as my 8* Personal Favorite Wednesday.

The Jets welcome the road weary Ottawa Senators to MTS Center, with Ottawa wrapping an extended five-game road swing in Winnipeg Wednesday. The Sens are traveling overnight to Manitoba after tangling with the Minnesota Wild Tuesday and will be looking ahead to sleeping in their own beds for the first time in a while.

The Jets are fighting to stay in the playoff picture in the Western Conference, currently sitting seventh and just six points up on the ninth and tenth placed teams. Winnipeg has been inconsistent in recent weeks, splitting wins and losses in its last four games and going just 2-3 in its last five. This is a very important game for Winnipeg, especially if it can build some momentum for the home stretch.

Winnipeg has been able to erupt for big nights of the scoreboard in recent weeks. It netted five goals in a win over the Los Angeles Kings – no easy task – and has totaled 24 goals in its last seven games for an average of almost 3.5 goals a night. The Jets have potted five goals in three of those contests.

The Senators blueline could be a little worse for wear when it runs into that Jets attack. Ottawa is depending on rookie goaltender Andrew Hammond to keep its momentum going. Hammond has been stellar during this road trip but will be undoubtedly drained, especially with this game being the second of back-to-back nights.

The Jets' offensive push toward the postseason and the Senators showing some road rashes are why I’m playing on Winnipeg as my 8* Personal Favorite Wednesday.

I’m playing on the Philadelphia Flyers as my 9* Personal Favorite Tuesday.


Philadelphia welcomes the Calgary Flames to Wells Fargo Arena, coming off a big rivalry win against the New York Rangers this weekend. The Flyers notched a 4-2 victory and have picked up wins in three straight home stands. In fact, Philly has gone 7-3 in its last 10 home games.


The Flames are starting to burn out after a strong push in early 2015. Calgary has just one win in its last five games, losing three of those in one-goal fashion. The offense is sputtering during this skid, netting just nine goals in that five-game span. On top of that, team captain and leading scorer Mark Giordano is out for the season with a torn biceps after injuring himself last Wednesday.


Philadelphia was active at the trade deadline and while they aren’t making a run to the Stanley Cup anytime soon, the Flyers are still very much in the playoff hunt. They’re currently 10th in the Eastern Conference and six points back of No. 8. The win over the Rangers and what should be an easy home victory against a reeling Flames team will get the ball rolling for the Flyers down the stretch.


The Flyers’ home dominance and the Flames’ burning out on offense are why I’m playing Philadelphia as my 9* Personal Favorite Tuesday.

I’m playing on the Chicago Blackhawks as my 6* Personal Favorite Monday.

Chicago returns home after splitting games on a brief two-game Florida road trip last week, edging the Panthers 3-0 then falling to the Lightning 4-0. The Blackhawks are looking for more consistency – and momentum – when they return to the Windy City to host the Carolina Hurricanes Monday.

There’s plenty of fight left in this Chicago squad, even with 4-6 record in their last 10 outings. The Blackhawks made some waves during the trade deadline, acquiring veterans Kimmo Timonen and Antoine Vermette. Chicago is ready to make a run up the Western Conference standings and we strongly feel we’re getting in on the ground floor of a big turnaround for the Blackhawks.

Carolina comes into this matchup with momentum, but runs the risk of a letdown spot after scoring an impressive road victory against the Islanders Saturday. The Hurricanes still sit at the bottom of the Metropolitan division and are 10-23 in their last 33 road tests. Carolina was a seller during the trade deadline, leaving many to question the Canes' motivation in the final stretch of the season.

Corey Crawford is expected to return between the pipes for the Blackhawks after taking the night off in the loss to Tampa Bay. He’s given up just four goals in his last two appearances and boasted a 1.93 GAA in two starts versus Carolina last season. The home team has owned this series in recent years with the host going 5-1 in the last six clashes between the Blackhawks and Hurricanes.

The Blackhawks ready to get rolling and the Hurricanes’ troubles away from home are why I’m playing on Chicago as my 6* Personal Favorite Monday.

I’m playing on the San Jose Sharks as my 8* Personal Favorite Saturday.

The Sharks take on the Ottawa Senators, who are a long way from home Saturday. The Senators are currently on a five-game road trip, taking victories over the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings in their first two stops of this stretch.

San Jose can catch Ottawa in letdown mode after coming away with hard-fought wins in those road openers and is presenting solid value as the host team Saturday night. The Sharks haven’t been their sharpest at home, losing two straight inside the SAP Center to Los Angeles and Detroit – both one-goal games. We see the opportunity for San Jose to bounce back in a big way, especially at this price.

Both teams are hungry for a win, trying to squeak into their respective conference’s playoff picture. San Jose has been dealt some heartbreakers in recent weeks and isn’t as bad as its current record would indicate. Four of its last seven defeats have come by one goal. The Sharks have dominated this series with the Senators, winning seven of their last eight head-to-head clashes.

San Jose still possesses one of the most lethal power-play units in the NHL, ranked sixth overall with a 20.6 power-play percentage. The Sharks have a power-play sniper in Joe Pavelski, who has netted 16 goals with the man advantage. Ottawa has trouble staying out of the box, tallying 365 penalty minutes this season – fifth most in the NHL. The Sharks will have plenty of opportunities to break this game open on special teams if the Sens can’t avoid the whistles.

The Senators bound for a letdown and a hungry Sharks team ready to attack on the power play are why I’m playing on San Jose as my 8* Personal Favorite.

I’m playing on the Tampa Bay Lightning as my 10* Personal Favorite Friday.

The Lightning open the doors of Amalie Arena to the Chicago Blackhawks Friday. Chicago is taking the ice for the second night of back-to-back contests and faces a frantic Tampa Bay attack, which averages 3.2 goals per game – tops in the NHL.

The Blackhawks snapped their three-game slide with two wins over the Florida Panthers in a home-and-home set, including a 3-0 victory Thursday night. Chicago was a mess before that short series, getting outscored 13-5 in those three defeats and needed a cupcake opponent to get back on track. Those two wins over the Panthers don’t hold much water and have only trimmed the odds on Tampa Bay, giving us even better value with the home team Friday.

The Bolts were 3-2 on their Western road trip, scoring a total of 19 goals during that span. Tampa Bay is back home, where it is a solid 22-6-0-1 and has had plenty of rest and preparation since losing 5-4 in Colorado last Sunday. The Lightning are 5-1 in their last six games played on three or more days of rest and will look to exploit a tired Blackhawks squad with that offense, especially since Chicago lost one of its top guns in Patrick Kane to a broken collarbone.

Tampa Bay has dominated Chicago in recent meetings. It owns a 5-1 record in their last six clashes overall and is 4-1 in its last five against the Blackhawks inside Amalie Arena.

The Lightning well rested and ready to pile on the points and the Blackhawks playing the second night of back-to-backs are why I’m playing on Tampa Bay as my 9* Personal Favorite Friday.

I’m playing on the Chicago Blackhawks as my 7* Blue Marlin Tuesday.

The Chicago Blackhawks’ three-game skid has opened up some value on one of the NHL’s elite teams as they host the Florida Panthers in the United Center Tuesday night. Chicago has been outscored 5-13 in losses to Boston, Colorado and Detroit – most recently a 6-2 defeat to the Bruins.

Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville is remaining calm but put his players through a tough physical practice leading into this matchup with the Panthers, trying to ignite some of that grit that the Blackhawks have shown in past postseason runs.

Quenneville wants light a fire under his players, namely forward Patrick Sharp who has had a tough time finding his role due to injuries. Sharp is expected to be on the second scoring line with Patrick Kane and Brad Richards, looking to generate some added chances and kick start an offense that hasn’t registered many quality shots on goal during this skid.

Florida could be the perfect opponent for Chicago to turn up the intensity against. The Panthers are in lookahead mode at the end of a five-game road trip that has them playing three games in fourth nights Tuesday. Florida looked lethargic in losses to Pittsburgh and Ottawa the last two games, getting outscored 9-2 in that span. The Blackhawks have won five in a row versus the Panthers and are hungry for a victory Tuesday.

The Blackhawks' desperation at home and the Panthers' letdown on the road are why I’m playing on Chicago as my 7* Blue Marlin Tuesday.

I’m playing on the New York Rangers as my 6* Blue Marlin Sunday.

The Rangers have won five of their last six games with the lone blemish in that span coming via an overtime loss to Vancouver. New York is making a run up the Metropolitan standings and takes plenty of momentum into this home stand against the Columbus Blue Jackets Sunday.

The Rangers are pouring on the points during this winning run, netting a total of 29 goals in those six game – an average of 4.8 goals a night. New York has turned up the intensity on offense since star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist went down with an injury and should be able to take advantage of a fatigued Blue Jackets team traveling overnight for the second stop of back-to-back outings.

Columbus was in Montreal Saturday and will hit the ice inside Madison Square Garden for its third game in four nights. The Blue Jackets rank among the bottom of the league in defense, allowing opponents to average 3.1 goals and pepper their net with 33.3 shots per game, and could be even slower to defend on short rest.

New York won the last meeting between these two clubs, 2-1 on January 16 in Nationwide Arena, avenging a loss to Columbus at the start of the season. The Rangers are back home after five of the last six on the road, posting an impressive 17-7-1-4 record at MSG.

The Rangers’ offensive explosion and the Blue Jackets' drained defense on the second night of back-to-backs are why I’m playing on New York as my 6* Blue Marlin Sunday.

I am taking the RANGERS. The Rangers are kind of on fire right now after going 10-3-2 in their last 15 games and 4-0-2 in their last six.

Perhaps the most impressive part is they’ve been doing it lately without King Henrik, who has missed the last eight games after taking a puck to the throat. New York has been winning lately with something that resembles more mass production than trimming the excess fat and they’ve averaged 4.3 goals over their last 10 games and average 5.0 goals over their last five.

The news gets worse for Buffalo here because Rick Nash is the hottest Ranger right now with 13 points in his last 10 games and he takes special pride in beating up on the Sabres. Nash has 11 goals and five helpers in 16 games against the Sabres.

Buffalo is the worst defensive team in the NHL with 3.36 goals against and also owns the worst penalty kill in the league by a significant margin at just 73.8 percent.

The Rangers have won the last five meetings with the Sabres and I think they’ll be a little on the angry side heading into tonight’s matchup. They dropped a 5-4 decision in a shootout to the Canucks last night and with the top of the East being such a tight battle for premium playoff position, they can’t afford to drop points to the worst team in the league. 

Buffalo has won just three of its last 22 games and even though one of those was a shootout win over Philly last night, the Sabres haven't won two in a row since mid-December. I don't think tonight is the night they turn that around and I'm surprised oddsmakers didn't set the chalk higher here. 7* Personal Favorite

I am playing on PITTSBURGH. The Penguins are coming off a rough and tumble loss to the Washington Capitals and I think the Blue Jackets will catch them in a bad mood on Thursday.

That is just one of the reasons I like the Pens here to bounce back with a win on home ice after dropping one to the rival Capitals at home on Tuesday. The Blue Jackets are just the right opponent for Pittsburgh as they enter with a pile of injuries and not much luck when it comes to playing the Pens.

Columbus is 1-5 in the last six meetings in Pittsburgh and 3-10 in the last 13 meetings overall.

The Jackets' biggest problem right now is they can't stop pucks from going in their net with an average of 3.00 goals against over their last 10 games with 15 goals against coming in their last four. The Jackets are getting plowed with shots on goal where they've been outshot in four of their last five and gave up a staggering 35 shots at least in each of those four games.

That's especially bad news for the Blue Jackets when you consider they're without their top goalie right now, Sergei Bobrovsky, who has been out since late January. The Jackets have been without him for 10 games now, which is about the time pucks started going in a lot more frequently.

Injuries on defense don't help Columbus either, especially against Sidney Crosby et al and especially with Pittsburgh on home ice. The Penguins are 18-9-1-2 at home this year. 6* Blue Marlin

I’m playing on the Pittsburgh Penguins as my 9* Personal Favorite Tuesday.

The Penguins rekindle one of the great rivalries in the NHL, hosting the Washington Capitals. While this matchup always shines the spot light on the Sidney Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin battle, it may be the Capitals' defense – or lack thereof – that makes the difference Tuesday night.

Washington has given up goals in bunches in recent outings, allowing a total of 13 goals in the last four games, including a 5-3 victory against the Anaheim Ducks Sunday. The Capitals have looked to their offense to bail out the bad work on the blueline, needing five-goal efforts in two of those four contests. Those goals could be hard to come by with the Penguins focusing on defense these days.

Pittsburgh has given up two or fewer goals in five of its last eight outings, including two shutouts, and sits seventh in the NHL in average goal against (2.4 per game). The Penguins were edged in a low-scoring 2-1 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks Sunday, with goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury turning away 31 of 32 shots.

Washington, which has struggled against Pittsburgh in the past, has put it on its Eastern rivals this season. The Capitals have shut the door in both of those victories, outscoring the Pens 7-0 this year. However, Pittsburgh has won eight of the previous 10 meetings, including a 5-1 run inside Consol Energy Arena and those two one-sided losses to the Caps are giving the host team some added value on the NHL moneyline Tuesday.

The Penguins' stingy defense and the Capitals' bad blueline are why I’m playing on Pittsburgh as my 9* Personal Favorite Tuesday.

I’m playing on the Colorado Avalanche as my 7* Personal Favorite Monday.

The Colorado Avalanche face the Arizona Coyotes in a battle of NHL basement teams Monday. The Avs snapped a four-game slide with a victory against Dallas Saturday, netting four goals versus the Stars.

Colorado hasn’t had much trouble finding the back of the net in recent games, totaling 10 goals in their last three outings. That’s a major improvement from the Avalanche’s season scoring average of 2.4 goals per game. They should have more chances to pile on the points versus the Coyotes, who have given up nine goals in their two most recent efforts.

Arizona was blasted in a 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers Saturday, following a 4-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks the night before. The Coyotes were seeing some improvements on the blueline over the past few weeks but we’re still talking about a team that allows 3.2 goals on 32 shots a night.

Arizona has been exposed on defense, especially when down a man, boasting the NHL’s 27th ranked penalty kill (78.1 percent). That weakness could spark even the Avs ice-cold power play, which is 0 for 32 in their last 11 games.

Despite its recent issues, Colorado is still a tough team to beat in the Pepsi Center, battling not only the Avs faithful but the altitude in the Mile High City - and Arizona playing its third game in four nights. The Avalanche have won five of their last seven at home and have taken four of the previous five head-to-head matchups with the Coyotes.

The Avalanche’s offensive uptick and home-ice edge as well as the Coyotes' busted blueline are why I’m playing on Colorado as my 7* Personal Favorite Monday.

I’m playing on the Chicago Blackhawks as my 9* Personal Favorite Sunday.

The Blackhawks found their defensive footing in a 3-1 win against the New Jersey Devils Friday. Chicago, which sits second in the NHL in goals allowed at 2.3 per game, had been blasted for eight total games in the two game prior. The Blackhawks will need that defensive toughness versus the Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday.

Pittsburgh has also been getting the job done with defense in recent outings but had to bring out the big guns to edge the Ottawa Senators 5-4 in their last outings. The Penguins can’t be so loose beyond the blueline against this explosive Chicago offense – especially with the way Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa is playing right now. Hossa has netted seven goals on his last 13 shots on net over the past four games. His hot stick could quickly turn this non-conference heavyweight bout into a high-scoring slugfest.

Chicago is one of the few teams in the league that can match Pittsburgh’s scoring depth. The Blackhawks average 2.9 goals per game – seventh in the NHL – and are the busiest offense in the land, firing an average of 34.7 shots on goal. They took a 3-2 shootout win over the Penguins back in January and are a solid 79-33 in their last 112 games inside the United Center. We’re getting great value with them at home this Sunday.

The Blackhawks' return to form on defense and their ability to counter the Penguins’ scoring depth is why I’m playing on Chicago as my 9* Personal Favorite Sunday.

I successfully recommended a play on the Kings Thursday night and I feel like I have a pretty strong read on this team right now after watching a few of their games lately. And with that in mind, I'm going to fade the Kings here on Saturday.

I think the Caps approached this current road trip with a new sense of determination after having not much success on Western trips in recent seasons. They had a great practice a day before hitting the road, their first in 10 days, and the two days they had off before flying to California were a bit of a Godsend.

Washington was simply running out of gas during a tough schedule stretch when it lost to Philadelphia on Feb. 8 and managed just 14 shots. After a couple of days to catch their breath, the Caps looked like a completely different squad in a 5-4 win over San Jose on Wednesday night.

I think they'll keep the momentum going Saturday against the Kings. The Caps are at their best when playing on one day of rest this season where they are 16-3-3 and their power play is just starting to heat up.

Washington has a power play goal in each of its last two games and the club owns the fourth best power play in the league. That's especially a big advantage for the Caps here because even though the Kings have won three in a row, goaltender Jonathan Quick has been far from his sharpest lately.

He was visibly frustrated against Calgary last game when he broke his stick over the cross bar after allowing a goal. In fact, Quick and the Kings are one of the shakiest defensive squads in the NHL right now.

They haven't held an opponent to fewer than two goals since Dec. 27 and every opponent has scored at least three goals on the Kings except for one (Tampa Bay) in their last eight games. Only two opponents have failed to score at least three goals on L.A. in the Kings' last 14 games and I love a high flying Alex Ovechkin to take advantage on Saturday. Ovechkin has seven points in his last five games. 9* Personal Favorite

I am playing on the SHARKS. The Sharks have been fighting lately, they just haven’t been getting the bounces it seems and I think their luck will change Friday night.

That’s partly because the visiting team seems to have all the fun in this series where the club wearing the road jersey has won the last five meetings. The road should be a welcome site for San Jose, who struggled on its recent home stand, earning just one out of a possible six points. Arizona is especially a nice location for the Sharks, where they’ve won five of the last six clashes between these two teams.

San Jose is having trouble with consistency but the good news - and a big reason why I like the Sharks Friday - is we saw their best game in a while Wednesday night against the Caps, even though they lost 5-4 in overtime.

The Sharks managed to score their first power play goal in three games and they showed grit when they needed to, potting the tying goal late in the third. I think they’ll carry that momentum into Arizona on Friday against a Coyotes team that has lost three of its last four games.

The Coyotes have been out-shot in their last five games and they’ve also struggled to score during that span, which is why the under has also cashed in five straight Arizona games. Zona has scored just nine goals (not including shootouts) in its last five outings, a good reason to take the visitors here who I fully expect to be starving for a win. 9* Personal Favorite

I am playing on the KINGS. I watched a bit of the last two Kings games and after seeing them claim two strong wins on the tail end of an Eastern road trip, L.A. is not a team I'd want to play right now.

L.A. seemed to dominate both the Lightning and the Blue Jackets in five-on-five play and I believe we are starting to see the team take shape that won the Stanley Cup last year. Jeff Carter, who needs to be a key performer for L.A., had one of his best games of the year against Columbus with a goal, an assist and five shots while he stood out as one of the best players on the ice.

I think it's a bit of an awakening for the Kings, who now find themselves needing a very strong finish to the season to ensure they make the playoffs.

Besides their solid recent play, there are three other reasons I like Los Angeles in this Thursday night matchup: home ice, revenge and Calgary distractions.

The Kings are just a much better hockey club on home ice this season, where they are 16-6-3-3 compared to 7-12-2-4 on the road. They have also lost all three meetings against the Flames this year and you know that can't be sitting well with them. I expect them to come out with a nasty edge for this game in search of some payback.

I think the Flames also might be a little distracted for what is the second of two games on their annual 'Dads' road trip. The Flames had a nice feel good win over the Sharks on Monday with their fathers watching from box level and they all celebrated with a pleasant round on the links on Tuesday. We often see teams have a letdown on these types of trips with all the distractions going on and I think the Flames could be in for one Thursday against an L.A. team that would like nothing more than to ruin the fun. 8* Personal Favorite

I am playing on SAN JOSE. I think scheduling is going to play a big part in this game, which is why I like the Sharks to take this contest after opening as slight favorites.

The Caps just generally don't like playing out West and they are 1-7 in their last seven meetings in San Jose. They are also 2-16 in the last 18 meetings and 1-5 in their last six road games.

I think Washington is going to run up against a very surly Sharks squad that is coming off its third straight home defeat and is fighting for a playoff spot. They'll happily welcome a Washington team that has showed major signs of weariness lately after playing seven games in 11 days.

The Capitals managed just 14 shots in a loss to the Flyers last game, their lowest shot total in almost four years. They needed 12 minutes just to get their first shot on net and I don't think a cross country trip three time zones away is going to help them find their legs.

Washington's penalty kill has struggled its last two games also allowing two goals on three kills and that could be a key edge for San Jose. The Sharks are scoring at a clip of 21.6 percent on the PP at home and I think they'll use special teams to help them earn a much-needed win on home ice on Wednesday. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on SAN JOSE. This is one of those games that, for the casual hockey observer, it might just look like another contest. But for the Sharks, the stakes are high Monday night and they know it.

Of the Sharks' 28 games remaining, only nine are against Pacific Division foes and this marks the last meeting of five meetings of the season against the Flames. In a division where the Sharks are in second place and Calgary is in fourth and only two points separate the two, that's big.

And seeing has how Calgary has won three of the four meetings this year, if the Flames end up winning four of five, it makes a significant impact on playoff positioning come season's end.

So home ice is a big reason I like the Sharks here Monday and I think the opponent will help them put out their best effort. Consistency has been perhaps the biggest problem for San Jose this season as we saw in the club's last so-so effort against Calgary just last week, a 3-1 defeat.

We've seen much better efforts from the Sharks since then after coach Todd McLellan said he spoke to his team after the loss to Calgary about getting a better effort from all 19 players. I think the Sharks just happened to run into a Hurricanes team Saturday night that's playing tough hockey right now when they suffered a tight 5-4 loss.

I believe we'll continue to see a strong effort from the Sharks on Monday and they'll grind out a ‘W’ however they need to. They have a better penalty kill and power play statistically than the Flames also, which should give a further edge on home ice. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on ST. LOUIS. The Blues are not a team you want to play at home at the best of times and this isn't exactly the best time for the Blackhawks on Sunday afternoon.

The Blues own the best home record in the Western Conference at 20-4-1-1 and only the Tampa Bay Lightning have more wins at home. Chicago must also face their Central Division rival in the final game of a grueling seven-game road trip that began on Jan. 21. It's often harder to get your legs going for an afternoon game after a tough trip like that and the game time of 11:30 a.m. Central Time won’t help the Hawks any.

Not only that, but the Blues are 6-1 in the last seven meetings at home against the Blackhawks and the home team has won nine of the last 10 clashes in this series. I know Chicago is a solid hockey club, but I was actually a bit surprised to see the Blues weren't set as bigger favorites when this line opened.

Another reason I love the Blues here is they possess the hottest line in the NHL right now. Alexander Steen, T.J. Oshie and David Backes are just dominating the competition on what is already a deep Blues squad. That line has 65 points in its last 17 games heading into this one and unbelievably that unit held the opponents' top line to just two goals during that stretch.

It's a bit mind blowing when you think about it. It's not often you can say the top lines of the Blackhawks may be out-gunned but on tired legs against this hot unit, I think that will be the case on Sunday.

Throw in the fact that Brian Elliott owns the league's best goals against average (2.02) and we have ourselves a nice play here. 9* Breakfast Club

I am playing on TORONTO. Even though the Leafs have lost 11 straight games, there is some good news. The 1966-67 Maple Leafs - the last team that won the Cup for the franchise - also suffered a 10-game losing streak that season.

I'm not saying the Leafs are about to win the Cup. But I do think a turnaround might be ahead and just like that '67 squad, it took a new coach to turn them around.

Back then it was Punch Imlach. Today it could be Peter Horachek. Horachek has been working on a couple of key things that he believes will have the Leafs winning more games as the season wears on and the games get tougher: better defensive play from his centers and crashing to the net to score goals.

It's left the Leafs in a bit of a discomfort zone but players are starting to buy in. The defensive commitment from the centers means less scoring - which has been the Leafs' biggest problem during the skid - but ultimately it's going to lead to more wins.

I think we'll see that first win that snaps the Leafs out of their funk Saturday night. The Oilers neither want to get into a defensive game nor a physical game, which are big reasons why they are the worst in the Western Conference.

The Oilers also rank 27th in five-on-five scoring (0.69 goals per game), 28th on the power play (13.2 per cent) and 23rd on the penalty kill (79.3 per cent). 8* Personal Favorite

I’m playing on the Vancouver Canucks as my 9* Personal Favorite Tuesday.

The Canucks hit home ice against the Winnipeg Jets Tuesday night. The Jets will be playing their second game of back-to-back outings after tangling with the Calgary Flames Monday evening. Vancouver, on the other hand, is hungry for a win after slow start left them behind on the scoreboard against the Minnesota Wild Sunday.

Vancouver fell behind 3-0 to the Wild before making things interesting with two goals in the third, eventually losing 4-2 for its second home loss in the last three contests inside Rogers Arena. The Canucks are trying to jump start their offense, which has managed to score over two goals in just three of their last 10 outings.

The Jets provide the perfect matchup to help Vancouver get on the board. Much like last week’s 5-2 drubbing of the Buffalo Sabres, the Canucks can take advantage of a team struggling to protect its goal. Heading into Monday’s game in Calgary, Winnipeg had allowed five goals in each of its previous three games. On top of that, the Jets will be fatigued on this short turnaround Tuesday.

The Canucks have dominated their Western Canadian foes, winning five of their last six meeting with Winnipeg, including a perfect 4-0 record in their last four home games versus the Jets. The home team is also a solid 5-2 in the last seven between these teams.

The Canucks’ desperate for a home win and the Jets’ road weary defense is why I’m playing on Vancouver as my 9* Personal Favorite Tuesday.

I’m playing on the Columbus Blue Jackets as my 8* Annihilator Tuesday.

The Blue Jackets open the doors to Nationwide Arena, welcoming the Arizona Coyotes Tuesday night. Columbus is happy to be home after playing five of its last six games away from Ohio. The Blue Jackets did take care of business in that lone home stand during that span, dropping the Washington Capitals 4-3 on Jan. 27.

Columbus will take advantage of a weak Arizona blueline, which has watched opponents net an average of 3.3 goals per night. This is drastic decline for the Coyotes of the past few seasons, which leaned on hard-nosed defense to keep them competitive. The Blue Jackets, who aren’t the most active offense in the NHL – averaging only 27.4 shots per game – will look to put a lot more on net, hoping they can overwhelm Arizona like other opponents.

This is a tough spot for the Coyotes, who have been kicked out of Glendale for an extended road trip due to Super Bowl festivities taking over town. Arizona has been on the road since January 17, wrapping an unsuccessful eight-game road trip in Columbus Tuesday. With the Yotes going just 2-5 in the first seven games of this set, you can be sure they’ll be looking forward to heading home and sleeping in their own beds for a change – and not focusing on the Blue Jackets.

The Blue Jackets' all-out assault on the Coyotes' weak defense and Arizona’s in a tough situational spot are why I’m playing on Columbus as my 8* Annihilator Tuesday.

I’m playing on the Vancouver Canucks as my 9* Personal Favorite Sunday.

The Canucks are building on a 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres when they host the Minnesota Wild Sunday. While a victory over the lowly Sabres isn’t much to write home about, it did snap a two-game skid for Vancouver and helps the team find its form on offense after scoring just once in those losses to Anaheim and Tampa Bay.

The Canucks had dropped three in a row on home ice before that one-sided win over Buffalo, giving the home fans just one goal to cheer for in that span. Vancouver does find Minnesota in a tough spot Sunday, wrapping up a four-game Western road trip and looking ahead to a home stand against the rival Chicago Blackhawks when they get back to Xcel Energy Center.

The Wild have had success on the road but a closer look at that schedule reveals they’ve taken care of the bottom feeders, like Calgary, Edmonton, and Buffalo, but have come up short against quality clubs. Minnesota fell in Detroit, Pittsburgh and Chicago in recent weeks and have another strong test with the Canucks.

For all their offensive woes, Vancouver remains one of the better defensive clubs in the NHL. The Canucks are limiting opponents to 28.6 shots per game – ninth fewest in the league – and boast a penalty kill percentage of 87.1 on the year. The Wild aren't the most offensively gifted team either, netting just 2.7 goals an outing and struggling to produce with the man advantage.

The Canucks finding their form at home and the Wild’s misleading record is why I’m playing on Vancouver as my 9* Personal Favorite Sunday.

I am playing on TAMPA BAY 6* as my Blue Marlin Saturday.  Tampa Bay has been dominant at home and I expect it to have its way with Columbus. It is worth laying the juice in this situation.

Give credit to the Blue Jackets as they have been one of the few teams to come to Tampa and get a road win this season. Columbus is one of three teams to hold the Lightning to just one goal at home this season, winning 3-1 on Dec. 6 as Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 33 shots.

The Blue Jackets, however, enter Saturday's contest having lost six of nine overall. Part of the reason for this losing streak is because they don’t have the services of Vezina trophy winning Sergei Bobrovsky due to injury.  Curtis McElhinney has struggled in his replacement. McElhinney is 5-7-1 with a 2.99 GAA in 17 appearances this season, and has allowed three goals in each of his two starts since Bobrovsky's injury on Jan. 21.

Tampa Bay bounced back from a loss in Carolina to manhandle the Red Wings 5-1 on Thursday night. Note I played on Tampa in that game as my “Personal Favorite.”

Tampa bay’s Ben Bishop has been a rock at home this season. Bishop has a 1.90 goals-against average at home and a 3.02 mark on the road.

The Lightning have averaged 3.40 goals in 25 games at Amalie Arena while allowing 1.96 per contest en route to a 20-4-1 record. Look for them to get some redemption against the Blue Jackets for that earlier loss this season. Lay the juice on TAMPA BAY 6*Blue Marlin.

I am playing on TAMPA BAY as my 9* Personal Favorite. The Lightning has been nearly unbeatable at home and I expect it to continue here, even with a strong team in Detroit in town.

The Red Wings have won six in a row coming in and are one of the hottest teams in the NHL heading into the All-Star Break.

Detroit has been able outscore its defensive and goaltending troubles of late. The Wings have allowed an average of four goals against per game over the last three games but still have come away with wins.

Detroit has had to play without starting goalie Jimmy Howard. Peter Mrazek has taken over as the number one goalie and he has struggled after a good start. After posting a 1.63 goals-against average through three starts, the 22-year-old has surrendered 11 goals with a 4.76 GAA in three games since.

Poor goaltending and defensive play will kill them in a game against Tampa Bay on the road.

Tampa Bay is looking to bounce back after a rare loss at Carolina. The Lightning had won three in row before the loss. Tampa Bay is a strong 19-4-1 on home ice this season so this looks like a perfect opportunity for it to bounce back.

Tampa Bay has had their trouble all all-time versus the Red Wings but has been dominant when hosting recently. The Lightning have taken five of the last six and two straight at Amalie Arena.

Tampa Bay is 7-3 after allowing four or more goals in its previous game.

Take TAMPA BAY to bounce back and win this game straight up. 9* Personal favorite.

I am playing on ANAHEIM 6*. The Ducks are the big favorites at home for a good reason and I don’t mind laying the extra juice to see them win in easy fashion.

The visiting Flames have gotten back on track nicely this January after a rough December. The Flames have won four in row after a comeback win in Monday at the Staples Center in LA.  While they got the win in LA they may not have really deserved it as rookie goaltender Joni Ortio stole the show despite the Flames getting heavily out-shot and outplayed. I don’t they get quite as lucky in Anaheim.

Calgary last won a regular-season game in Anaheim on Jan. 19, 2004, going 0-14-5 since for the NHL's longest active road losing streak in a series.

Keep in mind that the Flames are still just 7-10 versus teams with a winning record this season.

Anaheim sits atop the Western Conference and the entire NHL with 66 points thanks to consistent excellence.

Anaheim's four-game winning streak is part of a 16-4-1 stretch since the start of December. The Ducks are also coming off a victory in Los Angeles, 3-2 in a shootout Saturday. Frederik Andersen who will likely be in net for this game  got his fifth straight to improve to 15-2-1 with a 2.19 GAA in his last 18 games. Andersen is 2-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA at home against Calgary.

Keep an eye out for the Ducks’ captain and superstar Ryan Getzlaf who has eaten up the Flames over his career. Getzlaf has three goals and nine assists in his last seven home games against the Flames.

The Ducks are arguably the hottest and best team in the NHL right now and I expect them to take care of business at home in a big way here against a road tripping Flames team. Play ANAHEIM 6*

I am playing on the LA KINGS 7*. The Kings have struggled lately but that won’t last forever as the defending champs are just too talented to get held down this long.

The Kings’ opponent in this game is the Calgary Flames which is coming off an impressive 4-3 OT win over San Jose on Saturday night.  The Flames will be seeking a fourth straight road win in LA on this night but will meet a desperate Kings team looking for revenge.

The Flames have won three straight against the Kings and now sit ahead of LA in the standings due to the tie-breaker. Calgary has succeeded lately despite going 4 for 49 with a man advantage in its last 15 games.

The Kings are coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to Anaheim on Saturday. Los Angeles' defeat dropped it to 2-3-4 in its last nine and 1-2-3 on a season-high seven-game homestand that ends Monday. Look for them to be extra motivated to end this home stand on a good note here.

The Kings are 11-9 revenging a loss to an opponent this season.

The Kings' Anze Kopitar has three goals and seven assists in his last 11 games against Calgary, and he's been one of the league's most prolific point producers since Dec. 15, totaling five goals and 17 assists in 14 games.

The Kings have been a little unlucky as they have not been able to put all aspects to the game together of late but I think they get it here.  The Flames prove to always be a tough challenge but the Kings will really know that coming in. Take LA 7* to win.

I am playing on MINNESOTA 7*. The Wild are finally starting to get it together after a rough stretch and should be able to keep it going here against Columbus.

The Blue Jackets are coming off an impressive 3-1 win at Boston on Saturday night.  Impressive win no doubt, but we should keep in mind that the Jackets have just the one win in their last five games.

Columbus has had trouble scoring goals over this poor stretch as they have failed to score more than two goals in all but one game.  This isn’t a huge surprise though as the Jackets are 24th in the league in for goals scored at 2.47 on the league.

After a rough stretch the Wild have turns things around with some good hockey with two good wins and the confidence is up with the Wild.  The Wild has been invigorated with the addition of new goalie Devan Dubnyk.  Minnesota has struggled with net minding, that’s why the Wild acquired Dubnyk from Arizona on Wednesday. He made 18 saves in a 7-0 victory at Buffalo in his debut the next night and then stopped 25 shots to beat his former team in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Coyotes.

Dubnyk is a healthy 6-1-1 with a 1.86 GAA in his last eight starts against the Blue Jackets.

The Wild come in with revenge on their minds having lost the last four meetings with the Blue Jackets.

Minnesota has still been a strong home team this season with 11 wins in their building. Look for it to be difficult for the Jackets in this game.  Play MINNESOTA 7*.

I am playing on TORONTO 7*.  The Leafs return home from an ugly western road trip but they return home to face a lesser opponent they should work over.

Carolina comes in off a nice 3-2 win over Ottawa on the road. It was a rare win on the road for the Canes as they have one of the worst road records in the league with a 5-16-3 mark. They face a tough home in Toronto here.

The biggest reason the Canes have struggled to win this season and especially on the road is because they can’t score goals. Carolina has averaged just 2.02 goals per game this season and that just won’t get it done.  In fact, it is the second worst scoring clip in the league.

The Maple Leafs meanwhile are coming off a very hard western road trip where they lost four straight.  Other teams have seen this happen to them as it is not easy to win games against the California teams.  This game however will be held in Toronto where the team has performed well this season.

"I think it will be really good (to get back home)," Leafs’ interim coach Peter Horachek said. "We've been on the road a lot, but we can't make excuses. We're going to have to prop ourselves back up like we have before."

Toronto has been solid at home where 15 of its’ 22 wins have come this season.  Keep in mind that the Leafs are strong 3-1 after three consecutive road games this season. Look for Toronto to be desperate for a win here.

Toronto is averaging 3.6 goals per game at home compared to just 2.2 on the road.

The Hurricanes are a not a good but the Leafs are unlikely to take them lightly as Carolina has won two straight games in this series, outscoring Toronto 10-2 over that span. Revenge will be on the minds of the Leafs in this game.  Play TORONTO 7*

I am playing on PITTSBURGH 8*. Yes the Rangers have been hot of late but they run into an ultra talented Penguins team looking to take out a recent loss on an opponent on someone else.

The Rangers went on an incredible run that lasted over a month but with two losses in the last three games they look to be regressing a little bit. A game with the Penguins on the road is not a place where you can turn things around.

Despite a massive win streak the Rangers are still just 11-11 versus teams with a winning record.

The speed of the Rangers is a problem for most teams as the fore check us punishing on team’ with a slow puck moving defense. The Penguins are not one of those teams with Paul Martin and Kris Letang on the backend.

Pittsburgh comes in “angry” after 6-3 loss to the division leading Islanders. It was a game where the Penguins allowed four third period goals to give up the lead.  Look for the Penguins to take it out on the visiting Rangers.  Pittsburgh hasn’t forgotten about a close 4-3 loss at MSG to the Rangers in early December.

Keep in mind that the Penguins are a very strong 11-5 when revenging a loss to an opponent this season.

Some good news for Pittsburgh in the loss to the Islanders was the play of mega star Sidney Crosby who collected three points and is starting to get on role at the same time as teammate Evgeni Malkin.  When these two stars have it going at the same time it is always trouble for another team.

The Penguins are the better team on paper and to get them on the money line at home at this fair price is a very strong opportunity to win. Take PITTSBURGH 8*.

I am playing on the LA Kings 8*. This is a big rivalry game in California and I look for the defending Stanley Cup champs to show their metal and come out on top.

The Anaheim Ducks are coming off a 5-1 blowout win over a road tripping New Jersey team last night. Corey Perry scored his team leading 19 goal of the year.  The Ducks are no doubt a power house team but the Kings will be much tougher test on short rest.

Anaheim is 4-3 when having to play on the second night of a back-to-back situation.

While it seems logical that Ducks would have the upper hand on any team if you look at their record, that can’t be said in this matchup against the defending champs.  While they may have the upper hand recently, the hungry talented Kings team is very dangerous in a revenge spot.

Anaheim has taken five of its last six against the Kings, who still hold a slight edge since 2011-12 with nine victories over 17 meetings in that span.

Despite some recent struggles, the Kings are still 15-6-4 at the Staples Center this season.

The last two meetings between the teams were decided by one goal. This looks to be another close game but don’t be surprised if the Kings have more jump in the end. The Kings haven’t played since Wednesday night.  Play the LA KINGS 8*

I am playing on DALLAS*. The Stars get the Capitals in a good spot here and I expect them to take advantage of it.

The Washington Capitals come in off a 4-3 hard fought loss at Nashville last night. It was an emotional night for the Caps as new head coach Barry Trotz was making his return to Nashville where he had been a coach of a very long time. To get the high emotions up for another game the night after should be no easy task on the road.  Keep in mind the Capitals were on a very nice stretch of winnings games before the loss in regulation and letdown could easily happen here.

The Capitals had starting goalie Braden Holtby play in the game last night and he most likely will give way to backup Justin Peters in this game. Hotlby has been a big reason why the Capitals have been so hot.

The Capitals are just 6-7 versus teams in the Western Conference. It is not a surprise as the West is wildly considered to be the best conference in the NHL this season.

The Dallas Stars haven’t been a hot team of late but they the distinct advantage of an extra day off and are on a home stand that should have them very comfortable.

The Stars didn’t get the win against the Jets but you could say they are knocking on the door of a nice winning streak. Five of the Stars' contests during a 1-3-2 stretch have been decided by one goal, including Thursday's 2-1 home loss to Winnipeg. They finished with season highs of 47 shots and seven power-play opportunities.

Dallas has dominated the series with the Capitals over the years and it continued in the last meeting with a 5-0 Stars win last April. Dallas is 10-2 in the last 12 meetings with Washington.

Take DALLAS 8* to take advantage of a weary road tripping Washington team.

I am playing on MONTREAL. The Islanders are a good team but the Habs catch them in a tough spot here and I look for them lay the hammer down in a big Saturday prime time game.

New York comes in red hot and off a 6-3 win at the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Islanders have always seemed to play the Penguins hard and last night was no exception as Kyle Okposo scored four goals. But while we should give them respect, not too much as having to go to the Bell Centre the next night to play a rested Montreal team is going to be very hard task.

Keep in mind that 10 of the Islanders’ 13 losses this season have been on the road.

Montreal is in a 1-2-1 stretch after winning nine of 10 and is coming off Thursday's 4-1 loss at Ottawa. Max Pacioretty was again a bright spot, scoring a goal in a sixth straight game with seven total in that span.  The Habs are 7-3 in games after they managed to score just one goal or more.

This is a nice spot at home for them to start another winning streak. Montreal is 13-5-2 on home ice this season but will be hungry to put an end to an uncharacteristic two game losing streak at home right now.

The Canadiens have won four of five against the Islanders and are 8-1-4 in the last 13 meetings at the Bell Centre.  A big home meeting on Saturday means a lot to the fans of Montreal and the team feeds off the energy in the building.  Expect that to play a factor in this game.

Montreal dispatched the Islanders 3-1 in New York earlier this season and I look for the same sort of result in this game.  Play MONTREAL *8.

I am playing on CHICAGO 6*. The Hawks are a big chalk favorite here but I don’t mind paying extra money to get them because I think they will easily take care of business in this spot.

The Winnipeg Jets visit the United Center off a 2-1 win in Dallas last night. The weary legs should play a factor as that is a lot of miles to travel overnight to play a game against one of the league’s elite in the Blackhawks.

The Jets were fortunate to get the win last night in Dallas as goalie Ondrej Pavelec made a season high 46 saves. Backup Michael Hutchinson will likely get the call in this one.

Chicago meanwhile is rested and has had plenty of time to prepare for the Jets. The Blackhawks haven’t played since a 4-1 win over Minnesota on Sunday.

In a very strange anomaly, the Jets have won three of the last four meetings between these two teams in Chicago and the last three meetings overall. Look for the Blackhawks to be extremely determined to end that streak this time around. Chicago is one of the best and most talented teams in the NHL and should pounce on an opponent in a situation like this.

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said: "They get you disrupted, and I think that's what we saw here both times. I think we got outworked both times we played them, and you can't expect to beat them when you're just out there playing."

Chicago is 13-7 revenging a home loss this season and will be extra “angry” after Winnipeg embarrassed it 5-1 at the United Center back in late December.

Winnipeg is 2-3 on the backend of back-to-back games this season. Look for Chicago to exploit the situation here and get an easy win. Lay the wood on CHICAGO 6*.

I am playing on ARIZONA 9*. The Coyotes are at a good price here and I like that they are knocking on the door of a hot streak.

The visiting Calgary Flames have the disadvantage of trying to ramp things up again after having a full four days off. That is seems like almost an eternity in most professional sports and I think the layoff won’t be good for the Flames here as their last game was in Vancouver.

It has been a bit of a struggle for the Flames of late as they are just 1-3 in the new calendar year.  The lone win they got was against the Canucks on Saturday and they were thoroughly outplayed in the game but got the win thanks to surprise effort from AHL call-up Ron Ortio.  Look for things to catch up to them there.

The Arizona Coyotes meanwhile are playing their final game of a six game home stand and should be very determined to get the win in this matchup before heading out on the road. The Coyotes are 2-3 on this stretch of games and a win would tie it off in at least a .500 mark.

Arizona will be looking for revenge as it has lost three straight to Calgary already this season. The Coyotes should have a strong effort here as they have played well versus the Flames in Glendale. Arizona is 4-1 versus the Calgary at home the last three seasons.

The Coyotes are a great price here as they are almost even money at home. Take advantage of it and play ARIZONA 9*.

I am playing on DALLAS 9*. The Stars got a much needed win over Ottawa on Tuesday and I think they ride the momentum into another win.

The Winnipeg Jets come in off an impressive 8-2 win at home over Florida. Keep in mind that the Jets took advantage of a road tripping Panthers team in that blowout win.  Now they themselves have to go south to Texas to try and get a win over the hot Stars.

The Jets are primed for a letdown as they are just 3-8 following a win of two or more goals.  Winnipeg is just 3-5 during a stretch of games where they have been lucky to score a lot of goals to make up for some poor defensive play.

The Stars meanwhile are coming off a moral boosting 5-4 come from behind win over Ottawa on Tuesday. The win came despite having top players in Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn at less than 100 percent.  I like them to be healthier for this game and the results will follow.

Dallas will be playing the second game of a three game home stand that is very important as the team is trying desperately to get back into a playoff spot after a horrendous start.

Dallas will be looking to revenge a 5-2 loss to the Jets in its’ only other meeting this season.  Dallas won the last meeting between these two teams held in Texas which was held last season.

Dallas still has not gotten a lot of respect from odds makers thanks to a poor start to the season and I think we should take advantage of while we still can with a decent home value here.

Play DALLAS to win straight up 9*.

8* Dallas. Analysis to follow

I am playing on ANAHEIM 6*. The Ducks are worth laying the juice on in this spot against a Jets team that played just last night.

The Winnipeg Jets got an impressive 5-4 shootout win last night in LA against the Kings. The bad news for them is that they have the play the back-end of a back-to-back in Anaheim against a very good Ducks team.

Not only are the Jets tired, they are due for a letdown as they just 3-6 in games after scoring four goals or more previously. Winnipeg had lost four of five before beating Los Angeles 5-4 in a shootout Saturday in their second stop on a three-game road trip.

A big reason for the Jets success this season has been the unexpected play of goalie Michael Hutchinson who got the win in LA last night. Being the back-end of a back-to-back however, means they will likely have to go with the struggling Ondrej Pavelec.. He's allowed four goals in each of his last three starts while going 0-2-1, and he's 1-1-2 with a 3.49 goals-against average in four career outings against the Ducks.

The Ducks meanwhile are looking to get back on track after losing to the red hot New York Rangers on Friday.  Anaheim has arguably been the best team in the NHL this season and has the roster of players who are just plain better than the Jets.  Keep in mind that the Ducks are 7-2 in games following a loss in which they fell by two goals or more.

Frederik Andersen, who is 5-1-1 with a 1.80 GAA in his last seven starts, should be in goal for Anaheim.

Anaheim is 6-3 in Sunday games while the Jets are just 2-6 this season. 

The Ducks have won the last three meetings in this matchup and look for them to make a fourth on Teemu Selanne night . Play ANAHEIM 6*.

I am playing on the LA KINGS 8*. The Kings have dominated this matchup with the Jets in recent memory and I expect that it continues in this spot.

The Winnipeg Jets will be playing the first game of a back-to-back set with a contest in Anaheim tomorrow.  While both games are tough, this is arguably the toughest with the problems they have had at the Staples Center of late.

The Jets have lost two in row and did not look good in getting blown out by one of the worst teams in the west in Arizona on Thursday. 

The Jets are missing four defensemen and forward Evander Kane, though they got defenseman Zach Bogosian back from a lower-body injury Thursday. He had missed 14 games since Dec. 3. These are key contributors for a Jets team that doesn’t have the greatest depth.

The Jets have dropped three in a row overall to the Kings and are 2-6-1 against the Pacific Division.

The Kings are coming off an embarrassing loss to the New York Rangers and will be looking to take it out on someone.  This could be a great spot as Winnipeg has been outscored 33-18 in losing six of seven visits to Los Angeles. The Kings are 7-2 overall versus the Jets the last three seasons combined.

Keep an eye out for Kings’ superstar Anze Kopitar. Kopitar has scored three goals in the last two games against Winnipeg. He has four assists in his past two contests overall.

Even with the recent losses at home, the Kings are still a strong 14-5-3 at the Staples Center this season.

This is a big mis-match no matter where the game is played. While the Kings are indeed the favorites to win this game, laying the extra juice is well worth it here.  Play LOS ANGELES 8*.

I am playing on SAN JOSE 10*. The Sharks have returned home off a tough road trip and have had some time to recover enough to take down a road tripping Rangers team in this spot.

The New York Rangers are arguably the hottest team in the NHL and have already won games at Anaheim and LA on this California road trip. As much as we want to give them credit for those wins, we should look for reality to set in here as they will not be able to sweep this trip.

The Rangers were beat up 9-2 the last time they visited San Jose. While I don’t think we will see any kind of beat down that big, the Sharks will be tough competition.

As noted earlier, the Sharks are coming off the win at Los Angeles. That game was huge for them as they were getting revenge from the Stanley Cup series loss to the Kings. Don’t be surprised if the team can’t get up to full gear in this game which means a lot less to them in the whole scheme of things.

The Sharks meanwhile are coming off a road three-game road trip that saw it take two-of-three but did end sourly with a 7-2 loss at St. Louis. Look for the Sharks to play “angry” with a bounce back in mind.

San Jose will be looking to revenge a 4-0 loss to the Rangers earlier this year at MSG in New York.  The Sharks are a profitable 12-9 in games where they are revenging a loss this season.

The Sharks have brought it versus good teams this season with a 13-9 record overall against teams with a winning record.  Expect San Jose to take this big Saturday night home game.

San Jose is 2-0-1 in the past three matchups at home versus the Sharks.

Play SAN JOSE 10*

I am playing on CALGARY 9*. The Flames look to right the ship after two straight losses and I think this is the perfect spot for them to do it.

The road tripping Florida Panthers’ team played just last night in Vancouver and will have be hard pressed to play again the night after in Alberta, Canada.  Florida is just 1-3 in back-to-back situations this season.

Full props to the Panthers for taking care of the Canucks on the road in an emotional Roberto Luongo return to Vancouver last night. It is highly likely the Oilers were watching the game and scouting out a game plan to beat the Panthers while they were resting idle.

The 35-year-old Luongo has yet to play both ends of a back-to-back this season, and could cede the net Friday to backup Al Montoya. Montoya took the loss in Florida's previous meeting with Calgary, and is 0-4 with a 3.65 goals-against average in his last four games.

After winning four in a row the Flames have lost two in row at home to some good teams in Detroit and the New York Islanders. They were knocking on the door in both games though as they lost each by just a single goal. Look for them to get back in the winner’s circle with a nice advantage here.

Calgary is 11-8-2 at home and has taken the last three meetings versus the Panthers and seven of the last ten.

The Flames are well rested and hungry for a win while the Panthers will be a little bit tired with likely their backup goalie in net. Take CALGARY 9* to win at a decent home price.

I am playing on TORONTO 10* Personal favorite. The Maple Leafs have finally had some time off at home after a rough road trip and I think that will do wonders for a struggling team looking to avoid a season high fourth straight loss.

The visiting Blue Jackets will be playing the final game of a four game road trip that has seen them take two of three thus far but has taken them far out west in the process. After this game the Jackets will be playing a big high profile home game versus the New York Islanders the very next night. I wouldn’t be surprised if the players and coaches have this game on their minds as they are so close to returning home.

Keep in mind that Columbus is 0-2 after three consecutive road games this season.  The team is just 2-5 on Friday nights which is understandable as Saturday is the big night for hockey in the league and many teams get geared up for it.

Toronto doesn’t have the luxury of wasting away a game on Friday night as it is desperate to snap a three game losing streak. The Leafs are 2-0 after three consecutive losses.  Toronto is 8-7 after allowing four goals or more the previous game. The Leafs were embarrassed in Washington 6-2 on Wednesday night.

The Leafs will come in with confidence after beating the Jackets 4-1 in Columbus the last time they met. With a few days off now  they should be ready to explode at home. "I think guys are positive here," said star Phil Kessel, who has a team-leading 41 points but is mired in a season-high three-game drought. "We know we have a good team here."

 With a weary Columbus team on the road, Take TORONTO 10* Personal Favorite.

I am playing on LOS ANGELES *8. In a rematch of last season’s Stanley Cup final look for more of the same dominance from the Kings in this spot.

We have to give full credit to a New York Rangers team that is playing their best hockey of the season during a much needed stretch here. However, playing back-to-back games in California is too much to ask when the Kings are on the backend of it waiting. New York won a 4-1 game in Anaheim last night.

The Rangers lost in the Cup Finals of last season four games to one as they had trouble solving Kings’ goalie Jonathan Quick in overtime games.

The Kings are 3-1 when hosting the Rangers the last three seasons and have the advantage of rest in this game after being idle since Saturday.

Los Angeles has definitely not been the world beater we expect them to be with their roster of stars but getting them motivated and rested is something a bettor cannot pass up on.

The Kings are one of the better teams on home ice this season as they are 14-4-3 at the Staples Center.

Jonathan Quick is likely to be in net for the Kings after getting pulled half way through a loss to Nashville on Saturday. Quick went 4-1 with a 1.63 GAA in last season's Cup final.

Play the rested LOS ANGELES team 8*.

I am playing on COLORADO 8*. The Colorado Avalanche is starting to play some better hockey of late and I feel the value is good here as a lot of people haven’t quite taken notice.

The Ottawa Senators hope to make a run at the playoffs, but it's headed in the other direction after losing five of seven. The Senators have scuffled offensively on the road, scoring six goals while going 1-2-1 in their past four.

Not helping matters is the fact that Ottawa is just 8-10-4 on the road this season.

Craig Anderson is expected to get the nod for the Senators. He was 0-2-1 with a 6.35 GAA against Colorado before making 28 saves in October.

Colorado comes in looking for its fourth win in five games after a 2-0 win at Chicago on Tuesday.

A big reason for the run that Colorado has made is the play of Vezina trophy finalist Semyon Varlamov who got the shut out in Chicago.  Varlamov struggled to start this season but has made strides toward getting untracked by posting a 1.79 GAA in winning four of his last six outings.

Colorado is 6-3-1 versus Ottawa and won the last meeting between these teams in the mile high city. The Avs will be looking to revenge a 5-3 loss in Ottawa earlier this season though.  Colorado is 9-6 versus teams with a losing record.

With a win here the Avalanche are inching closer to .500 mark on home ice. Take COLORADO 8*  

I am playing on ANAHIEM *8 Personal Favorite. The Ducks have the NHL’s lead in points right now and I expect them to add to it here with a favourable matchup.

The New York Rangers come in on a nice run but this will be arguably its’ toughest test of the season. The Rangers are 0-2-1 in their last three visits to the Honda Center. Last season a trip California proved to be too tough a test for the Rangers as they lost back-to-back games to Anaheim and San Jose by a combined 15-2 score over a span of three days.

The Rangers will figure to start their standout goalie Henrik Lundqvist who is no doubt one of the best in the league. Lundqvist, though, is 0-2-1 with a 3.89 GAA in his last three road games against the Ducks

The Ducks are 4-0-1 in the past five meetings with the Rangers, allowing only five goals during that span.

Anaheim has won seven of eight home games coming in and has consistently the best hockey team in the NHL this season overall. At home the Ducks are a 14-4-3 and have saved their best hockey for teams who are good. The Ducks are 15-6 versus teams with a winning record this season. The Rangers are 9-9 against teams with a winning record.

The Ducks have been consistently well this season without arguably their best player in Corey Perry but now Perry is back and they could be poised to go on a very good run.

Anaheim will likely start Frederik Andersen for the seventh straight game. He's 7-1-0 with a 2.19 GAA in his last eight home contests.

Anaheim has risen to the occasion versus the other top teams and I expect no difference here as the team has the distinct advantage of home ice over an Eastern conference team. 8* Personal Favorite.

I am playing on ANAHEIM 7*. This is a battle of two the best teams in the Western Conference this season and I expect the home side to be victorious.

The Predators come in off a draining 7-6 overtime win in LA versus the defending cup champion Kings just yesterday. The Preds held a 5-1 lead before blowing it in the third period.  It was the second times in three games the Preds have blown a three-goal lead to a western power in the last three games.

The Ducks meanwhile have had full days rest since their last game against St. Louis.  Playing against a road weary Predators team should help the home side even more in this contest.

Anaheim is looking to get revenge over Nashville for a 5-2 loss at the Honda Center the last time these two teams met. Note that the Ducks have normally been at their best versus good teams this season. They are 14-6 versus teams with a winning record.  Anaheim will likely see this game as a measuring stick and go all out to earn the respect as the top team.

The Ducks are 20-11 in home meetings versus the Predators and have two of the last three overall.  They are 13-4-3 at home this season overall.

It is never easy to play good California teams in the NHL these days and to have to do it on back-to-back nights on the road is even tougher. Look for the Predators to struggle at multiple times in this game.

Play ANAHIEM 7*

I am playing on COLORADO 7*. The Avalanche team has looked a lot better of late and I expect them to continue this roll with a favorable matchup on home ice.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have allowed a lot of goals of late. The 6-3 loss in Arizona has marked the second time in three games the Jackets have given up six goals in a game. Playing in the altitude of Denver will not help matters.

Columbus is 7-9 SU on the road this season and has lost the last two meetings with the Avs in Colorado.

Colorado has won two in a row and is trying desperately to turn the page from a tough end to the 2014 calendar year.  The Avs won a close one in Edmonton but a win is a win and Colorado has now quietly won five of seven coming into this game.

Colorado has dominated Columbus pretty much since the inception of the Blue Jackets. Avs hold a 19-5 edge in the last 21 meetings. 

The Avs have taken care of the weaker teams in the NHL this season with a 9-5 record against teams with a losing record. While Colorado has a losing record on the road, they have managed to pull more straight up wins at home than losses. Play COLORADO 7*

I am playing on WASHINGTON 7*.  The Caps have dominated the Panthers on home ice of late and I expect that trend to continue.

The Florida Panthers come in losers of two-of-three but did break the two game losing streak with a win over the Sabres. The Sabres are one of the weakest teams in the NHL this season so we can’t give them too much credit for that.

The Panthers have scored just five goals in their last three games and now face a Capitals team this on serious fire defensively. The Capitals have given up just 2.00 goals per game in their last 13 contests.

The last two meetings between these teams saw 2-1 shootout final scores with each team winning on home ice. Look for home ice to be eye again in this matchup.

The Capitals come in off an impressive 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at the Winter Classic on New Year’s Day. Note that the team has had a full two days rest between these games and will be ready to get back at it in a big way here.

Washington will seek a 10th consecutive home win over Florida when it returns to the Verizon Center. The Capitals have also won 10 of the last 12 overall meetings.  A loss in the last meeting at Florida will have this team looking for revenge on this day.

Keep an eye out for Capitals star Alex Ovechkin who showed his big game dominance at the Winter Classic. Ovechkin has six goals and five assists in his last 11 games, but has one assist in the two meetings with Florida this season. He had 11 goals and six assists in his previous nine matchups.

The Capitals will look to extend their season high home winning streak and are primed to do it against a long time divisional foe. Play WASHINGTON 7*.

I am playing on BOSTON 6* Breakfast Club. The Bruins have had their way with the Senators at home recently and I think that will continue into this matchup.

The Senators enter the new year having lost three of four but did get a new year’s eve win over Buffalo 5-2. Note that I did play on Ottawa in this game citing their matchup and home ice advantage. However I see the shoe falling on the other foot in this game at Boston.

Ottawa is 2-5-2 on the road since Thanksgiving. Overall they are just 7-10-3 on the road this season.

It has been a while between games for the Senators as they have had four days off since their win against Buffalo. While that could be constituted as an advantage, it has not for the Senators this season as the team is just 1-3 with three or more days rest this season.

The Bruins enter the 2015 calendar in unfamiliar territory as it is two points out of a playoff spot. The Bruins have been one of the best teams in the NHL for quite some time and are the reigning President’s trophy winners.  They have had awful injury troubles in the first half of the NHL season but are starting to get healthier and should see better results here pretty soon.

Boston dominated the Red Wings on Monday but then lost in a shootout to the Maple Leafs on Wednesday.  It should be plenty motivated to get back on the winning track in this game.

 Boston is 10-2-3 at home since the beginning of November. I think that streak continues as they are 5-1 against the Senators at home the past three seasons and 7-3 overall in the last ten meetings. 

Tuukka Rask is 6-3-1 with a 1.99 GAA in 10 career starts versus Ottawa.

It’s not always worth it to lay the extra juice in an NHL matchup but it is here on BOSTON *6 Breakfast Club.

I am playing on MINNESOTA 10* Personal Favorite. The Wild need to get back on track I think this is a great spot for them to do so.

The Toronto Maple Leafs come into this game off a big 4-3 shootout win over Boston. It would not be hard to see them have a letdown immediately afterwards. The Leafs are 8-11 after games they have scored four or more goals.

The fact of the matter is that Toronto just has not been playing good hockey of late. Toronto is having some difficulty defensively, giving up 27 goals in a 2-5-0 stretch.

Toronto will be playing the sixth game of a tough seven game road trip over a busy Christmas and New Year’s schedule.  Making matters worse is that the Leafs are missing the services of key players in Joffrey Lupul and Peter Holland.

The Wild have struggled get a streak of winning games together but the desperation should help us as they have been a pretty  good home team over the past two years. In fact the Wild are 9-4-4 in home games on the campaign.

Minnesota won the last meeting between these two teams last season in Minnesota 2-1. The Maple Leafs are 1-2-1 in their last four visits to Minnesota.

The long road trip, poor defensive play and lack of depth due to injury are all reasons to not like the Leafs in this road game. The desperation and solid home play of the Wild make the home side a good bet. Play MINNESOTA 10* Personal Favorite.

I am playing on PITTSBURGH. The Penguins have owned the Lightning at home in recent seasons and I expect that to continue.

The Tampa Bay Lightning is considered one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference when you look at their point totals for the season are hot coming in with four straight victories. However, aside from a recent 5-1 win at Buffalo, the Lightning have not played well on the road of late. Tampa Bay had gone 1-3-2 in its previous six road games before beating the Sabres.

Tampa Bay has had its’ struggles with the Penguins on the road where it has not won since March of 2010.  I do give the Lightning credit for a 4-3 home win over the Penguins the last time these teams met just earlier this season. It is very apparent the Lightning are a much different squad at home these days compared to the road where it is actually 9-10 when you add up all the overtime losses.

Pittsburgh meanwhile is a fantastic home team with 14-5-1 record on the year. The Pens will likely get up for this game as the Lightning pose a serious threat to winning the East, a title they think they should win this season. Pittsburgh is 11-4 when facing a team with a winning record so history shows they get up for good teams this year.

As mentioned before, Pittsburgh will look for revenge for that 4-3 loss in Florida. The Pens are 9-4 when revenging a loss to team this season. I like their chances at doing that even more in this matchup as they a perfect 4-0 when hosting the Lightning the last three seasons.

The Penguins have been dealing with injuries like more NHL teams at this time of the year. They should get a boost with the expected return of Steve Downie in this contest.

Marc Andre-Fleury will likely get the call for the Penguins in net and he has won his last seven starts versus Tampa Bay.  

Play PITTSBURGH 9* Eastern Conf. Annihilator