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NHL Archive
Date	Match Up	Rating	Score	Result	Profit	Lead Time	Analysis
01-28-21	Sharks v. Avalanche OVER 6		0-3	Loss	-113	14 h 9 m	Show
San Jose can score. The Sharks have demonstrated that in producing at least three goals in five of their seven games. However, that's negated by the Sharks ranking 30th defensively allowing an average of four goals per game. The Sharks have permitted three or more goals in all but one of their seven games. Included in that is a 7-3 Colorado victory against San Jose at home two days ago. The Avalanche have scored 15 goals during their last two games. The Sharks are playing for the fourth time in seven days. They aren't helped playing again in Denver's high altitude. High altitude could be a reason why the Over has won seven of the past eight times in Colorado home games. This series has an Over bias, too, with the high side going 19-7-3 the last 29 times.
01-27-21	Senators v. Canucks OVER 6.5		1-5	Loss	-100	17 h 23 m	Show
Well the oddsmaker wised up a little when it comes to these two teams. The opening totals number was 6 when the Senators and Canucks met two days ago. The Canucks won that game, 7-1, so now the total opens at 6 1/2 with juice to the Under. Until proven otherwise, I'm going to ride the Over with these two teams in their rematch today. These are the two worst defenses in the NHL. Ottawa surrenders 4.5 goals per game. Vancouver gives up 4.25 goals a game. The Canucks broke out of their scoring slump against the defenseless Senators. The Senators are promising changes. So what? They haven't stopped any team all season. There have been seven or more goals scored in four of Ottawa's six games. The Over is 7-1 in Vancouver's games this season. Until holding Ottawa to one goal, the Canucks had permitted at least three goals in every game. The Over has cashed in each of the last five games between these teams. I see no reason to change course especially since the total hasn't reached 7.
01-25-21	Senators v. Canucks OVER 6	Top	1-7	Win	100	16 h 10 m	Show
I'm very surprised this total opened at 6 with juice instead of 6 1/2 or even 7 given the low quality of these defenses. Ottawa ranks 29th defensively giving up 4.0 goals a game. Vancouver is even worse. The Canucks surrender an NHL-high 4.7 goals per game. They also allow the second-most shots on goal. Vancouver has given up an average of five goals a game during its past six games. The good news for the Canucks is they have young, talented goal scorers. One of these is Elias Pettersson, who is starting to emerge out of an early-season scoring slump. The Canucks should get their share of goals against an Ottawa squad that just surrendered four goals in the third period during its last game, a 6-3 road loss to the Jets this past Saturday. The Senators have permitted at least three goals in all five of their games. Goalie Matt Murray has not looked good in the early going. The Over has cashed during the past four meetings between the two teams. That trend should continue as I'm expecting a loose game from two teams with a combined 3-9 record.
01-22-21	Red Wings v. Blackhawks OVER 6		1-4	Loss	-104	15 h 5 m	Show
The Blackhawks have played four games. They've allowed five goals in every one of their games. Their defense is littered with inexperienced players and their three goalies have all been terrible. The Red Wings, led by Dylan Larkin, are improved offensively. Chicago prefers to play up-tempo trying to win that way. The Blackhawks had the misfortune of playing their opening two games against Tampa Bay. Their offense has picked up since then producing six goals in the last two games against Florida. Chicago averaged 33 shots on net versus the Panthers.
01-22-21	Rangers v. Penguins OVER 6.5		3-4	Win	100	14 h 28 m	Show
The Rangers are averaging just 2.5 goals in their first three games. Ryan Strome and Alexis Lafreniere, the first overall pick in the draft, are off to slow starts. Neither has produced a single point yet. That's going to change. It could happen here against the Penguins, who are giving up 4.7 goals a game. Things don't figure to immediately improve for the Penguins defense either. Pittsburgh has a cluster blue line problem with only three healthy defensemen. The Penguins are going to be forced to use inexperienced players and low quality veterans to fill defensive positions. Their plight isn't helped by poor goalie play. The Rangers' net play has been spotty, too. The Penguins have scored three or more goals in three of their four games. The Over is 9-1-1 the last 11 times the two teams have played in Pittsburgh.
01-22-21	Oilers v. Maple Leafs UNDER 6.5		2-4	Win	100	14 h 7 m	Show
I had the Over when these two teams met two days ago. The final in that one was Edmonton 3, Toronto 1. I was caught off guard by how the Oilers and Maple Leafs changed their games around for that matchup. The Oilers basically went into a defensive shell. They were determined to prove they could play defense. Preventing goals and not feeding off Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were the Oilers' priorities in Wednesday's game. Boring, but it worked. So I don't expect the Oilers to deviate from that game plan. Toronto has used a defensive-heavy makeup to its roster. The Maple Leafs' offense is overrated right now averaging 2.5 goals in their last four games. Auston Matthews is their most dynamic scorer and he's questionable. Veteran Joe Thornton is out. The Oilers managed just 21 shots against Toronto in their Wednesday game. Lesson learned from the last meeting. Lesson now applied here.
01-21-21	Avalanche v. Kings OVER 5.5		2-4	Win	100	15 h 24 m	Show
Colorado has poured in 11 goals in its last two games. The Kings have given up three goals in regulation in all three of their games. LA doesn't have the speed to keep up with the Avalanche and lacks the skills to slow down Colorado without committing penalties. The Kings are averaging the most minor penalties in the league with a 5.3 average. The Avalanche could have the top power play unit in hockey with Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog. They've scored eight goals in 17 power play attempts this season.
01-21-21	Devils v. Islanders UNDER 5.5		1-4	Win	100	12 h 23 m	Show
The Islanders have been idle since Monday. The Islanders will use that energy for defense and checking because that is their makeup. It's only been three games, but the Islanders have shown their consistency. They've scored five goals in three games and given up five goals in three games. There hasn't been more than five goals total scored during each of their first three games with all three games going Under. Both teams have hot goalies. Semyon Varlamov has shutouts in his two starts, while the Devils' Mackenzie Blackwood has a 1.90 goals against average with 109 stops on 115 shots. New Jersey has allowed just seven goals in its three games.
01-20-21	Oilers v. Maple Leafs OVER 6.5		3-1	Loss	-113	3 h 46 m	Show
The Maple Leafs have scored a minimum of 3 goals in all four of their games. The Oilers are due to break out after a two-game series against the Canadiens in which they scored only two goals. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are too dangerous to be held in check for three straight games. Toronto goalie Frederik Andersen has been shaky in two of three starts. The Oilers are weak again defensively permitting 3.7 goals during their first four games.
01-18-21	Sabres v. Flyers OVER 5.5		6-1	Win	100	4 h 20 m	Show
The Flyers have shown plenty of offense in the early going producing 11 goals in their first two games, both against the Penguins. The Sabres are more dangerous on the offensive end adding Taylor Hall. That gives Buffalo's three strong scoring threats with Jack Eichel and Victor Olofsson. These teams have a history of going Over especially when playing in Philadelphia where the Over has cashed 73 percent during the past 32 meetings.
01-13-21	Canadiens v. Maple Leafs UNDER 6.5		4-5	Loss	-110	13 h 53 m	Show
The Canadians have gotten bigger on the defensive end. The Maple Leafs have slowed down their up-tempo style adding lots of age while dialing back some of their youth. They won't be afraid to grind more now. So I don't see a fast-paced game. Carey Price had a bounce back year last season. A return to dominance from Price makes Montreal tough to score on especially with its added size. The Canadiens closed out last season going Under in six of their last seven road contests. Toronto went Under in its last five home games last season.
09-28-20	Lightning v. Stars OVER 5		2-0	Loss	-138	12 h 33 m	Show
There's a reason why so much juice is attached to this 5 total. There haven't fewer than five goals scored during any of the five previous games played in this Stanley Cup championship series. I'm going to ride that trend here with the high-scoring Lightning, who led the NHL in scoring during the regular season and are averaging 3.7 goals in their last four games. Dallas has shown it can be aggressive with attacking defensemen to go with high-scoring veteran centers and forwards. The Stars have scored 3 or more goals in four of their last six games. This has been an Over series for a long time with the high end cashing 77 percent of the time during the past 26 meetings. Tampa Bay leads the series 3-2 and is heavily favored in this game. So if the Stars are trailing with time running out they are likely to pull their goalie and keep him out even if falling behind by two goals since they have nothing to lose.
09-23-20	Lightning v. Stars OVER 5		5-2	Win	100	12 h 0 m	Show
Dallas goalie Anton Khudobin fell back to Earth giving up three first period goals in Tampa Bay's 3-2 Game 2 Stanley Cup Finals win against the Stars on Monday. The Lightning led the NHL in scoring during the regular season averaging 3.5 goals a game. Their puck movement was much better than it had been in Game 1, which was won by Dallas, 4-1. Tampa Bay seems to have its attack back on track and shouldn't get so conservative and defensive-minded if building up an early lead again like it did on Monday. Tampa Bay would catch a break, too, if Dallas' Blake Comeau is out. Comeau is one of the Stars' better defensive forwards. He's a plus for the Under not the Over. Comeau is a game-time decision after getting injured in the last game. The Stars realize now they aren't going to win if they never go on the attack. The Lightning are too deep and too talented. Dallas is averaging 4 goals a game following a playoff loss. So I expect to see the Stars play aggressive like they did against the Avalanche and to effectively counterpunch like they did against the Golden Knights.
09-21-20	Stars v. Lightning OVER 5		2-3	Push	0	14 h 14 m	Show
Until I see a 5 1/2, I'm going to fire on the Over. A 5 total is too low on a Tampa Bay game. The Lightning led the league in scoring at 3.5 goals a game. They were flat and tired during the first two periods of Game 1 this past Saturday. That's because they had just taken out the pesky Islanders in overtime on Thursday night. The Lightning showed their offense in the third period firing 22 shots on goal. Dallas goalie Anton Khudobin has been playing well above his head. You wonder how long his magic can last? The Stars' defensemen were more aggressive in counter attacking in Game 1. Unlike other defensive-minded teams like the Islanders, the Stars can play an offensive style. They have the veteran goal scorers to produce high scoring games. The Over won in six of the seven games the Avalanche-Stars played in their series.
09-19-20	Stars v. Lightning OVER 5		4-1	Push	0	17 h 18 m	Show
Tampa Bay is the better team, but I'm not going to buck the hot Stars especially since the Lightning have a short turnaround after their Thursday overtime victory against the Islanders to clinch that series. So instead of getting involved with a side, I'm going the total route where I see each team producing at least two goals apiece. I highly doubt backup Stars goalie Anton Khudobin can repeat the magic he did against the Golden Knights when he stopped 153 of 161 shots for a .950 save percentage. The Lightning have a more potent attack than Las Vegas and they have their top playoff scorer, Brayden Point, back in the lineup. There's even the outside chance Steven Stamkos could suit up. He has yet to play during the Stanley Cup. Tampa Bay is averaging 3.3 goals during the playoffs. This is in line with the regular season when the Lightning led the NHL in scoring at 3.5 goals per game. The Lightning has three attacking lines and scoring depth up and down their roster. Dallas has shown it can play and win with a wide open style. The Stars took out the Avalanche in that fashion. It wouldn't surprise me if the well-rested Stars came out super aggressive to take advantage of Tampa Bay's fatigue issue.
09-15-20	Islanders v. Lightning OVER 5		2-1	Loss	-135	16 h 58 m	Show
Anytime the Lightning are involved and the total is less than 5 1/2, I'm automatically attracted to the Over. Moreso, with the Islanders on the brink of playoff elimination where they will be forced to take chances and empty the net if trailing. Tampa Bay has three strong scoring lines. This has been on display because the Lightning have scored 3 or more goals in eight of their past 10 playoff games. The Islanders, who rely on defense and discipline, have yielded three or more goals to Tampa Bay in three of the four games during the series. Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov could be wearing down from the grueling playoffs because his net play has considerably slipped.
09-14-20	Stars v. Golden Knights OVER 5	Top	3-2	Push	0	15 h 33 m	Show
The total for each of the first four games of this Western Conference Finals series has been lined at 5 1/2. Each game has gone Under. The oddsmaker has finally adjusted moving the total down to 5. So now is the time to play Over. The Golden Knights are in desperation territory down 3-1. Las Vegas finds itself on the brink of elimination despite outshooting the Stars, 105-67. Dallas backup goalie Anton Khudobin has played well above his head. The Stars realize they can't keep getting lucky winning low-scoring games while relying on Khudobin to bail them out. They have to step up their attack like did when they took out Colorado during their previous series. Dallas averaged four goals per game during that seven-game series. The Stars' power play has managed just one goal. So that is due to change, too. I envision a much more up-tempo game than what we've seen so far in the series. The Golden Knights will be aggressively attacking with all four of their quality lines. This could result in a much higher scoring game for them. If it fails, the total still is very much live to go Over as the Golden Knights won't hesitate to pull their goalie early if down by one goal and keep their goalie on the bench, too, if the Stars score an empty-netter to go up by two goals. This is a scenario that happens when teams face elimination.
09-10-20	Golden Knights v. Stars UNDER 5.5		2-3	Win	100	16 h 59 m	Show
There is high juice attached to taking the Under here. And for good reason. There have been a combined four goals scored during the first two games of this Western Conference Final. The Stars have reverted back to their style of play they used during the regular season, which is stressing defense being conservative. It worked in Game 1 when they won, 1-0. The Stars aren't panicking after losing, 3-0, in Game 2. They are going to stick to their defensive formula. They need to protect backup goalie Anton Khudobin and don't want to get into an up-and-down type of shooting match with Las Vegas and leave Khudobin vulnerable. The Golden Knights are the better team. They have no reason to take chances. The Stars are cold - 117 minutes and 24 seconds without a goal - and Las Vegas' has by far the superior goalie, Robin Lehner. He has the fifth-highest postseason save percentage in NHL history and is looking to be the first goalie since 2004 to record five shutouts during a single playoff year.
09-08-20	Stars v. Golden Knights UNDER 5.5	Top	0-3	Win	100	18 h 5 m	Show
The Golden Knights have picked a bad time to have their offense go cold. Las Vegas has managed just four goals in its last four games. The Golden Knights have scored just two goals when a goalie was in net during their last 240 minutes - and none of those goals was scored by a forward or center. The Golden Knights have scored two or fewer goals in seven of their last 11 games if you don't include a pair of empty net goals in their Game 7 victory against the Canucks. The Stars can play up-tempo as they showed against the Avalanche, or revert back to their natural, conservative defensive style. That's what they did in Game 1 of this series in defeating Las Vegas, 1-0. I expect the Stars to stick to their natural style knowing how cold the Golden Knights' forwards are. Dallas prefers a tight-checking methodical game especially when Anton Khudobin is in net. The Stars know how important it is to protect Khudobin. A quote from Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer is telling. This is what he was quoted as saying following Game 1: "...They (the Stars) play a hard, heavy game. They make you work for your offense. This is going to be a different series, and we're going to have to get our head around that and find a way to create offense. It's not going to look or feel like the Chicago series or the Vancouver series."
09-06-20	Stars v. Golden Knights OVER 5.5		1-0	Loss	-125	31 h 46 m	Show
The Golden Knights should be good for at least three goals against Dallas. Las Vegas has scored 3 or more goals in 12 of its last 17 games. The Golden Knights have four scoring lines and fired the most shots on goal of any team in the NHL. Las Vegas should also find it easier to score facing Dallas' 33-year-old back-up goalie Anton Khudobin than it did against Vancouver's hot rookie goalie Thatcher Demko. Khudobin has a 2.94 goals against average since the restart. The Stars have given up 30 or more shots on goal in eight of their last 10 games. Dallas has gone Over the total in seven of its last eight games. The Stars have completely changed the way they played during the regular season going from a defensive-minded conservative style to wide open using their defensemen to attack and force the action. Miko Heiskanen has especially thrived playing this way. He has the second-most playoff points. If you discount a one-goal performance in Game 6 against the Avalanche, the Stars are averaging 4.8 goals in their last seven games. Las Vegas and Dallas met during the round robin on Aug. 3. The Golden Knights won that game, 5-3.
09-02-20	Avalanche v. Stars OVER 6		4-1	Loss	-113	13 h 57 m	Show
There's only one way to play the total on this series - and it's certainly not Under. Colorado and Dallas have averaged 8.6 goals per game during the first five games of this Stanley Cup series. There haven't been fewer than seven goals scored in any game. The Over has won each time. It's clear the Stars are comfortable playing up-tempo, which is how the Avalanche prefers it. Various players are stepping up in huge ways on offense and the goaltending has been putrid. The Avalanche are down to ineffective backup goalies, while the Stars trotted out Ben Bishop for the first time since Aug. 13. An obviously rusty and perhaps not-100 percent healthy Bishop surrendered four goals in the first period before getting the hook. Bishop was making only his fourth appearance since March 10. Dallas has gone Over seven straight times. Colorado has gone Over in six of its last seven games. So I see no reason not to continue to ride the Over wave.
08-30-20	Golden Knights v. Canucks OVER 5.5		5-3	Win	100	13 h 22 m	Show
I definitely can see each team putting up three goals in this matchup. The Canucks lack the defense to stop the Golden Knights, who have produced 3 or more goals in 10 of their last 13 games and go four lines deep. The Canucks' top two lines can do plenty of damage with their youth, talent and skating ability. Vancouver showed that in Game 2 winning 5-2 before getting some bad luck in Game 3. This is a back-to-back spot. However, the teams should have gas left since they were idle Wednesday through Friday. Vancouver's talented offense and below average defense has resulted in the Over going 21-10-1 during its last 32 games.
08-29-20	Golden Knights v. Canucks OVER 6		3-0	Loss	-107	20 h 42 m	Show
The Canucks' two top lines showed their talent and speed being instrumental in Vancouver's 5-2 Game 2 victory on Tuesday. Vancouver has the offense to do that to foes. The Canucks aren't so strong on the defensive end. It's why the Over is 21-9-1 in Vancouver's last 31 games. The Golden Knights have scored 4 or more goals in eight of their last 11 games since hockey resumed. The Golden Knights won Game 1 of the series, 5-0, and have the depth to dominate when third and fourth lines are skating. Both teams should be fully fresh after getting extra rest time with the postponement of Thursday's game until Saturday. The Over has cashed four of the past five times the teams have met.
08-26-20	Avalanche v. Stars OVER 5.5	Top	6-4	Win	100	21 h 15 m	Show
There were eight goals scored in Game 1 of this series. There were seven goals produced in Game 2. Yet the oddsmaker still is hanging a 5 1/2 total on this matchup just like in the first two games. That Over/Under is too short. Dallas has played aggressive in the playoffs. The Stars' top scorers have come alive helping Dallas produce five goals each during the first two games of the series. The Over is 5-0 in the Stars' last five games. Dallas is averaging 4.1 goals during its last seven games. The Stars can continue to take advantage of Colorado backup goalie Pavel Francouz. Both teams are without their starting goalies as Dallas is missing Ben Bishop. Look for Colorado to come out super aggressive down 2-0 in the series. The Avalanche's calling card is offense. They ranked fourth in scoring during the regular season. They have the most talented scorer on the ice in Nathan MacKinnon. The Avalanche have scored three or more goals in 11 of their last 15 games. The Over is 4-1 in their past five games.
08-25-20	Canucks v. Golden Knights OVER 5.5	Top	5-2	Win	100	19 h 13 m	Show
The Canucks don't have the defense nor depth to keep the Golden Knights' offense in check. Las Vegas has scored at least 4 goals in eight of 10 games since hockey resumed. Las Vegas is averaging 5 goals per game in three meetings with the Canucks this season. The Canucks should have more energy than they did in Game 1 on Sunday after they had just eliminated the Blues. Vancouver has outstanding young goal scorers in Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson. They also have good scoring depth this season. Vancouver was embarrassed, 5-0, in Game 1 of this series. It's noteworthy to point out that the Canucks are 18-7-1 to the Over the past 26 times when they failed to score more than two goals during their previous game.
08-24-20	Stars v. Avalanche OVER 5.5		5-2	Win	100	18 h 28 m	Show
Forget perception. The Stars are far more offensive-minded in the playoffs. Veterans Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Alexander Radulov have all stepped up. The result has been the Stars averaging four goals during their last six games. Colorado's major strength is its fourth-ranked offense. Look for the Avalanche to step up their attack after losing, 5-3, in Game 1 of this series this past Saturday. The Avalanche lost starting goalie Philipp Grubauer and veteran defenseman Erik Johnson to injuries in that game. Neither is expected to play here. The Stars remain without their stud goalie, Ben Bishop. There's a huge drop from Bishop to backup goalie Anton Khudobin.
08-23-20	Canucks v. Golden Knights OVER 5.5	Top	0-5	Loss	-115	20 h 4 m	Show
Vancouver likes to attack and has the NHL's fourth-best power play. Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller are all accomplished goal scorers. The Canucks are a top-eight scoring team with a below average defense. That combination has resulted in a 20-8-1 mark to the Over in their last 29 games. The Golden Knights wouldn't mind an up-tempo game either since they will have plenty of energy having last played this past Tuesday. The Over is 6-0 the past six times the Golden Knights have played on 3 or more day's rest. Las Vegas wants to make an early statement in this series and they can do that by peppering the net with shots. The Golden Knights led the NHL in shots on goal. The teams met twice during the regular season. There were nine goals scored in each game.
08-22-20	Stars v. Avalanche OVER 5.5		5-3	Win	116	9 h 43 m	Show
Both of these teams are on offensive rolls so I'm going to ride with it. The Stars are coming off seven unanswered goals in eliminating the Flames, 7-3, two days ago. Dallas scored five or more goals in three of the six games in the series. So the Stars shouldn't be dialing back their aggressive, attacking style that worked. The Avalanche are riding plenty of momentum, too. They are coming off back-to-back seven-goal games. Colorado is more than willing to play a fast skating tempo game.
08-21-20	Blues v. Canucks OVER 5		2-6	Win	100	16 h 38 m	Show
Things could get out of hand in this Game 6 matchup with the Blues on the verge of elimination trailing 3-2 in the series. There were seven goals scored in the last game with Vancouver winning, 4-3. Play opened up and game flow should stay up-tempo for this matchup. The Blues have scored three goals in each of the last four games. St. Louis has fired 37, 39 and 49 shots on goal during the past three games. Vancouver has netted at least three goals in six of its last eight games. The Canucks are a top-eight scoring team with a below average defense. So it's not surprising the Over is 19-8-1 in the Canucks' last 28 games.
08-20-20	Islanders v. Capitals OVER 5		4-0	Loss	-124	6 h 60 m	Show
The Capitals displayed their firepower in the last game firing 28 shots during the last two periods while producing three goals. I see the Capitals carrying that over into this game. The Islanders haven't been able to slow down superstar Alex Ovechkin. Washington, though, has a slightly below average defense that the Islanders can dent. The Capitals are on the brink of elimination so they would have to take plenty of chances if trailing in the third period, which could lead to empty net goals. The Over is 5-1-1 the past seven times the teams have met.
08-19-20	Coyotes v. Avalanche OVER 5.5		1-7	Win	115	10 h 37 m	Show
So much for the conservative Coyotes keeping the lid on Colorado. The Avalanche exploded for seven goals in their last game. They have fired 81 shots on goal during the past two games. Colorado was the fourth-highest scoring team in the league during the regular season. The Avs aren't going to be held in check any more by the Coyotes. This game could feature a lot of penalties with a much faster tempo than earlier in the series. Arizona faces elimination with a loss so there could be a lot of late scoring action.
08-19-20	Blue Jackets v. Lightning OVER 5		4-5	Win	100	9 h 44 m	Show
Tampa Bay led the NHL in scoring this season at 3.5 goals per game. The Lightning have the firepower and motivation to steamroll the Blue Jackets after Columbus stunned them in the playoffs last season with a first-round sweep. Columbus finds itself on the verge of elimination down 3-1 in the series. The Blue Jackets have managed just three goals in the last two goals. They are overdue to score more. Both goalies have played well, but goalie fatigue could factor now. An early start time won't help. The Blue Jackets will have to open up and take more chances if they fall behind as expected. This could mean extended open net time, too.
08-18-20	Blackhawks v. Golden Knights OVER 5.5		3-4	Win	100	20 h 53 m	Show
The total during this series has gone from a high of 6 1/2 down to 5 1/2 with juice at some books for this Game 5 matchup. Perhaps 6 1/2 was a stopping point. But even though the last two games have fallen well short of going Over, I still believe Over is the way to go with these two teams especially now where 5 1/2's were still available. I don't see 35-year-old Corey Crawford finding the fountain of youth and stringing together two straight monster performances. The Golden Knights played well in Game 4 and fired 49 shots on Crawford. He stopped 48 of them. Now two days later, Crawford has to stand tall again against a peaking Golden Knights team and a leaky, mistake-prone defense. Golden Knights Coach Pete DeBoer said he wasn't worried about his team's offense. I'm not either. The Golden Knights will get their share of goals. They could come close to exceeding this total just by themselves. The Blackhawks, with their style of favoring speed over physical play, is built for higher-scoring games. Chicago has produced 3 or more goals in seven of its last nine games.
08-15-20	Golden Knights v. Blackhawks OVER 6		2-1	Loss	-113	17 h 54 m	Show
Chicago has an up-tempo, attack mentality and proven offensive stars in Patrick Kane and Jonathan Kane. The Blackhawks also have too much youth and playoff inexperience, which leads to mistakes on defense. Las Vegas goes four lines deep. The Golden Knights have the depth to always apply offensive pressure on the Blackhawks. Las Vegas' second line of Jonathan Marchessault, Paul Stastny and Reilly Smith have been particularly effective in this series. The Blackhawks are giving up 3.8 goals in their last six games. The Golden Knights are averaging 4.4 goals in their last seven games. Las Vegas has scored 4 or more goals in all but one of its past seven games. Chicago is averaging 3.7 goals in its last seven games. The Over has won eight of the last 11 times these teams have met.
08-15-20	Avalanche v. Coyotes OVER 5.5		2-4	Win	120	12 h 58 m	Show
Sparked by one of the top No. 1 lines in hockey, the Avalanche finished with the fourth-highest scoring offense in the NHL. They have scored 3 or more goals in 11 of their last 14 games. So Colorado is going to produce its share of goals here. But what about the more conservative Coyotes? They've played a tight-checking style during the first two games of the series. It hasn't worked. They are down 2-0 in the series after losing 3-0 and then 3-2 on Friday. I see Arizona coming out more aggressive, trying to open things up because they lack Colorado's depth. Down 2-0, the Coyotes can't afford to play tight anymore. This is the third time in four days the teams are meeting. So there's a fatigue factor, which could lead to sloppiness and more blueline mistakes than usual.
08-14-20	Coyotes v. Avalanche UNDER 5.5		2-3	Win	100	10 h 5 m	Show
Arizona's style is to hang around hoping for a break since the Coyotes can't come close to matching Colorado's firepower. The Coyotes were heavily outshot in Game 1, but that strategy was working because the score was 0-0 going into the final seven minutes. Then a controversial interference penalty was called on the Coyotes. Colorado scored on the power play and then added two more goals to win, 3-0. The Avalanche is content to play Arizona's conservative, tight-checking style hoping to wear out the Coyotes like they did in Game 1. Colorado held Arizona to only 14 shots on goal, but Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said his team is capable of playing better defense. Note this game starts early - noon Edmonton time. Early starts often are a plus for the Under.
08-13-20	Blackhawks v. Golden Knights OVER 6		3-4	Win	100	13 h 43 m	Show
Since there were just five goals scored in Game 1 of this series, the oddsmaker opened the total at 6 with juice to the Over instead of 6 1/2. I think that's a mistake. This is going to be a high-scoring series just like the Blackhawks had against the Oilers. I respect the Golden Knights' defense. They were impressive in Las Vegas' 4-1 Game 1 win keeping the Blackhawks bottled up in their own end most of the game. The Blackhawks are playing on house money. They really shouldn't be here. So I see them playing even more loose than normal. They know they can't win a tight, defensive game. They have some outstanding offensive players. Chicago has scored 3 or more goals in 10 of its last 12 games. Expect an up-tempo game. The Golden Knights have scored 3 or more goals in 12 of their last 14 games. They have produced 4 or more goals in five of their last six games against much better defenses than Chicago. The Blackhawks lack the defensive depth to counter Las Vegas' outstanding line depth.
08-11-20	Blackhawks v. Golden Knights OVER 6.5		1-4	Loss	-100	15 h 5 m	Show
The Blackhawks are on house money after upsetting the Oilers to reach this stage. They are offensive-oriented and make mistakes defensively. The Blackhawks averaged 4 goals per game in beating the Oilers in four games. Chicago has scored 3 or more goals in 10 of its last 12 games. The Over has cashed in 16 of the past 21 instances when the Blackhawks have played on 3 or more day's rest. The Golden Knights are averaging 4.6 goals in their last six games. They led the league in shots on goal. The Over has cashed seven of the last nine times these teams have met.
08-08-20	Golden Knights v. Avalanche OVER 5.5		4-3	Win	100	12 h 43 m	Show
I'm not sold on the Golden Knights' defense right now. Las Vegas has given up at least three goals in four of its last five games. The Golden Knights have had problems with Colorado this season giving up 13 goals in two games. The Avalanche have produced three or more goals in eight of their last 11 games. But I also envision the Golden Knights getting their share of goals. It's a plus if their leading scorer, Max Pacioretty, is ready to return to the lineup. He has yet to play since the season resumed. Las Vegas notched five goals versus Dallas and six against St. Louis in its two games following the layoff.
08-07-20	Oilers v. Blackhawks OVER 6.5		2-3	Loss	-104	15 h 55 m	Show
The teams have played three games in their series. All three have gone Over with 10, 9 and 7 goals being scored. Perhaps the streak ends here. But I'm going to keep riding the Over. These are two offensive-minded teams. Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid are superstars and at the top of their games. Neither team has featured good goaltending. The Blackhawks live and die by attacking and being aggressive. This can lead to mistakes. But they are not all of a sudden going to get cautious. So the pace should remain fast. The Oilers have scored at least 3 goals in 12 of their last 17 games. It's not difficult to envision each team scoring at least three goals.
08-06-20	Flames v. Jets OVER 5.5		4-0	Loss	-100	10 h 11 m	Show
Calgary can finally get a five-year bad taste out of its mouth. All the Flames have to do is beat the shorthanded Jets today since they lead their best-of-five series 2-1. The Flames haven't eliminated a playoff opponent since 2015. So years of pent-up frustration could occur with the Flames producing six goals like they did in their 6-2 victory on Tuesday in the previous game. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck was tremendous during the regular season. But he was not sharp on Tuesday. So now his reliability comes into question especially with Calgary's top two lines playing well. It's a plus if the Jets get back some of their injured offensive stars. I'm not counting on that happening, though. But I do believe the underdog Jets will play this game aggressively and open their play up.
08-05-20	Oilers v. Blackhawks OVER 6.5		3-4	Win	102	16 h 35 m	Show
The oddsmaker set a total of 6 with juice on the Over in Game 1 of this series. The result was a 6-4 Chicago victory. Undaunted, the oddsmaker kept the total at 6 with juice to the Over in Game 2. The Oilers won, 6-3. Now the oddsmaker isn't being so stubborn. He's opened this Game 3 with a total of 6 1/2 with juice to the Under. But these teams aren't changing their styles. Connor McDavid is at the top of his superstar game and the Blackhawks lack the defense to keep the Oilers from putting up multiple goals. The Blackhawks have enough offense to contribute their share of goals. I had easy wins with the Over in the first two games of this series. So I see no reason to change at this point.
08-04-20	Wild v. Canucks OVER 5.5		3-4	Win	127	19 h 15 m	Show
Minnesota held up its end of the scoring producing three goals in Sunday's Game 1 of this series. Vancouver, though, was shut out by Alex Stalock. Credit to Stalock and the Wild's defense, but I don't see that happening again. The Canucks came out tight. They have too many dangerous scorers and now have had a look at Stalock. The Over is 11-3-1 the past 15 times the Canucks have scored two goals or less during their previous game. The Over also is 18-7-2 the past 27 times the Wild have allowed two goals or less in their past game. The Canucks had just one power play opportunity in Game 1. That's extremely rare. Expect more 5-on-4 opportunities this time around for them.
08-03-20	Blackhawks v. Oilers OVER 6		3-6	Win	100	13 h 59 m	Show
I thought we would see at least a 6 1/2 total after 10 goals were scored in the Blackhawks' 6-4 opening game win on Saturday. I liked the Over very much in that game. I see no reason to change especially with the oddsmaker stubbornly sticking with an opening total of 6 minus juice to the Over. The Blackhawks launched 42 shots on goal in that game. The Blackhawks win with offense so they are not going to change their aggressive style. The Oilers were not sharp defensively. Edmonton also is likely to switch goalies going from veteran Mike Smith to Mikko Koskinen, who has never started a playoff game. I expect the Oilers to come out firing, too. They have the two leading point-scorers in the league, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, who has looked fresh and frisky coming off the long layoff. The Over has won six of the past seven times the teams have met in Edmonton.
08-02-20	Wild v. Canucks OVER 5.5		3-0	Loss	-102	12 h 30 m	Show
This total is short. The average road game for each team averaged more than six goals per game. Neither team has stellar goaltending. Vancouver has really pumped up its offense. The Canucks own the league's fourth best power play percentage and rank in the top 8 in scoring. The Over has cashed in nine of Vancouver's last 11 games. Minnesota's defense is down this season. The Wild, though, have averaged 3.6 goals during their past 21 games. So it's totally reasonable to expect at least six goals in this matchup.
08-01-20	Blackhawks v. Oilers OVER 6		6-4	Win	100	4 h 29 m	Show
Edmonton has the NHL's two leading point-getters in Leon Draisitl and Connor McDavid. They also have depth with four strong scoring lines. So the Oilers should come up big against a porous Blackhawks defense that gave up the second most shots on goal during the regular season. It shouldn't be a struggle for the Oilers to notch at least three goals. The Blackhawks also averaged 3 goals per game. This should be a free-wheeling matchup where the goalies could be rusty. It's worth noting, too, the Over has cashed eight of the last 10 times the teams have met in Edmonton.
03-07-20	Blue Jackets v. Oilers OVER 5.5		1-4	Loss	-100	7 h 9 m	Show
The Blue Jackets have gone Over in seven of their last nine games. They have given up 3 or more goals in 11 straight games. The Oilers have scored at least 3 goals in eight of their last 11 games. Leon Draisitl remains hot with 11 points during his last four games. The Over has cashed 10 of the last 13 times the Oilers have hosted the Blue Jackets.
02-29-20	Canucks v. Maple Leafs OVER 6.5		2-4	Loss	-128	3 h 20 m	Show
The Canucks have gone Over eight of the last nine times they've gone against an Eastern Conference foe. Look for that pattern to continue. Vancouver has yielded an average of four goals per game during its last five games. The Maple Leafs are averaging four goals a game in their last four contests. The Over has cashed seven of the last 10 times the Maple Leafs have met a Western Conference foe.
02-25-20	Flames v. Bruins UNDER 6		5-2	Loss	-109	10 h 12 m	Show
Look for the Bruins to play with a great deal of defensive intensity at home after giving up nine goals to the Canucks on the road in their last game three days ago. Before that game, Boston had allowed just 17 goals in its past 12 games. Both teams have been active on the trade market so the various lines may not be in full sync yet. Boston played at Calgary this past Friday and won, 4-3. However, only one goal was scored during the second and third periods combined as the defensives figured things out.
02-22-20	Avalanche v. Kings OVER 6		2-1	Loss	-100	11 h 36 m	Show
The Kings are going with youth and playing a more wide open style. That was evident in their last game, a 5-4 home win against the Panthers on Thursday. LA has scored an average of four goals in its last 4 games. LA, though, has given up 3 or more goals in 12 of its last 14 games. Colorado is banged-up, but leads the NHL in goals per game with one of the top lines in hockey.
02-22-20	Sharks v. Rangers UNDER 6.5		2-3	Win	100	3 h 14 m	Show
The Rangers haven't allowed more than 3 goals during their last nine games. The Sharks are down a lot of firepower with Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl and offensive-minded defenseman Erik Karlsson all out. San Jose does posses the No. 1 penalty-killing unit in the NHL, though.
02-15-20	Islanders v. Golden Knights OVER 5.5		0-1	Loss	-115	7 h 48 m	Show
The Islanders have scored 3 or more goals in six of their last eight games. They also have yielded 3 or more goals in each of their last seven games. If you discount a shutout loss to the Wild two games ago, the Golden Knights have scored 18 goals in their last three games. However, Las Vegas is giving up 4.2 goals per game in its last five games. The Over has cashed in seven of Las Vegas' last eight home contests.
02-14-20	Canadiens v. Penguins OVER 5.5		1-4	Loss	-115	10 h 41 m	Show
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are both hot. Crosby has scored 14 points in his last 10 games, while Malkin has notched at least one point in five straight games. The Penguins' offense is better, too, now that they acquired Jason Zucker. The Penguins can take advantage of Montreal being without its best defenseman with Shea Weber out with an ankle injury. The Penguins were held to one goal by Tampa Bay on Thursday. Prior to that, though, the Penguins had scored 15 goals in their last three home games. Montreal is getting to the desperate point. I don't see the Canadiens playing a conservative game here when they've managed just five goals in their last three games. Before that, Montreal had averaged 3.6 goals in its last five games.
02-13-20	Oilers v. Lightning UNDER 6		1-3	Win	100	5 h 43 m	Show
I'm going Under this total based on the injury report. Edmonton is minus superstar Connor McDavid. Tampa Bay will be without Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and Anthony Cirelli. The Oilers scored five goals in their first game without McDavid. That was against the Blackhawks, though. Tampa Bay gives up the fifth-fewest goals in the NHL. Look for the pace to slow down with McDavid out. Kucherov and Stamkos are the Lightning's two leading goal scorers.
02-12-20	Flames v. Kings OVER 5.5		3-5	Win	100	13 h 8 m	Show
Calgary has scored 12 goals in its last two games. The Flames know they have to win with a fast-paced style because they are down two key defensemen with Mark Giordano and Travis Hamonic both out. The Kings have been held to just seven goals in their last five games, all losses. LA is trying to pick up more offense by going with youth and faster skaters. The Kings have fared well offensively against Calgary this season scoring 11 goals in three games.
02-11-20	Flyers v. Islanders OVER 5.5		3-5	Win	100	4 h 11 m	Show
This series has a powerful Over bias with 10 of the last 11 played between these two teams going above the total. Look for that trend to continue here. The Flyers have gone Over in seven of their last eight road contests, while the Islanders have gone Over during each of their past four home games. Philadelphia has notched at least three goals in seven of its last eight games, while the Islanders have given up three or more goals in each of their last five games. The Islanders have scored at least three goals in five of their past six games.
02-10-20	Islanders v. Capitals OVER 6		5-3	Win	100	4 h 29 m	Show
The Capitals have gone Over the total in 72 percent of their last 32 home games. They are the No. 3 scoring team in the NHL and have tallied three or more goals in seven of their past eight games. Alex Ovechkin is hot producing 16 goals in his last 11 games. The Islanders have scored at least three goals in four of their last five games.
02-05-20	Maple Leafs v. Rangers UNDER 7		3-5	Loss	-122	15 h 13 m	Show
It has come. No more 6 1/2 with added juice to the Over. The oddsmaker has put out 7 as the opening total in this Maple Leafs-Rangers matchup. Given the goaltending situations and top-10 offenses that total is justified. But that doesn't mean there will be that many goals scored. Toronto and New York are each off 5-3 home losses from Monday. Both teams have goalie issues. The Maple Leafs are going with backup Michael Hutchinson after starting netminder Frederik Andersen was hurt on Monday. Hutchinson was caught unprepared and gave up three goals in 13 shots after replacing Andersen. Hutchinson, however, had performed surprisingly well in his past four starts giving up six goals on 116 shots during this time frame. I expect the Maple Leafs to dial back their free-wheeling offense to provide more two-way checking and a defensive mindset to protect Hutchinson. The Rangers have a three-headed goalie situation. The worst one is Henrik Lundqvist, who turns 38 next month and is well past his prime. The Rangers aren't going to go with him against the Maple Leafs instead opting for rookie Igor Shesterkin. New York has managed just five goals at even strength during its last six games. So I don't see the Rangers wanting to engage in a high speed skating exhibition against the Maple Leafs. They can dictate a slower tempo especially being the home team.
02-04-20	Oilers v. Coyotes OVER 5.5		0-3	Loss	-120	14 h 39 m	Show
The Oilers have scored three or more goals in nine consecutive games. The Coyotes have allowed at least three goals in their last nine games. Connor McDavid is hot producing 15 points during these past nine games. Edmonton is averaging 5.5 goals in its past four games. The Coyotes should have fresh legs having been idle the last two days. The Over has cashed in 11 of their last 15 home games. There were 10 goals scored when the teams last met on Jan. 18 in Alberta with the Oilers, winning 7-3.
02-01-20	Bruins v. Wild OVER 5.5		6-1	Win	100	10 h 0 m	Show
The Bruins have scored three or more goals in seven of their last nine games. They draw the Wild playing their first game since Jan. 22. The Over has been golden in spots like this where a team was coming off a long layout. The tempo is usually fast in these cases, the defense spotty and the goaltending rusty. The Wild entered break in a good scoring groove averaging 4.2 goals per game in their last five games. The Bruins are likely to go with backup goalie Jaroslav Halak, while Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk has a 3.69 GAA against Boston.
01-22-20	Jets v. Blue Jackets OVER 5.5	Top	3-4	Win	100	14 h 59 m	Show
I'm surprised to see the total open this short. The Jets are giving up an average of 5.3 goals per game during their last three games. The Blue Jackets are averaging 3.2 goals in their last five games. The Jets are expected to start backup goalie Laurent Brossoit. He doesn't have a good history versus Columbus with a 3.87 GAA and .863 save percentage. Winnipeg isn't playing well. But the Jets don't lack firepower with Patrik Laine, Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler. Note, too, that the Over has cashed seven of the last eight times these teams have met.
01-17-20	Lightning v. Jets OVER 6		7-1	Win	100	9 h 48 m	Show
Tampa Bay is fourth in the NHL in scoring. Winnipeg is among the bottom-three in penalty killing. The Lightning are feeling frustrated after losing, 3-2, at Minnesota last night. They felt they could have been a lot more aggressive. The Jets have notched four goals in three of their last four games. They beat Tampa Bay, 4-3, on the road in the previous meeting this season on Nov. 16. The Over has won eight of the last 11 times the Jets have hosted the Lightning. I see that Over pattern continuing in what should be a wide open game with both team's possessing dangerous goal scorers.
01-16-20	Flames v. Maple Leafs OVER 6.5		2-1	Loss	-105	5 h 22 m	Show
The Maple Leafs have scored four or more goals in 12 of their last 14 games. Only once during their past 14 games have they failed to produce at least three goals. Toronto, though, is down defensemen Morgan Rielly and Jake Muzzin. The Maple Leafs have surrendered at last four goals in four consecutive games. The Flames should be in attack mode having last played on Monday when they lost 2-0 to the Canadiens.
01-13-20	Ducks v. Blues OVER 5.5		1-4	Loss	-100	6 h 41 m	Show
The Blues are averaging 4 goals in their last five games. St. Louis has reached at least three goals in nine of its past 10 games. The Ducks aren't as strong defensively on the road. The Over has cashed in eight of their last 10 games and has won in Anaheim's past five away matchups.
01-11-20	Canucks v. Sabres UNDER 6		6-3	Loss	-100	10 h 19 m	Show
Vancouver is a slightly below average defensive club. The Canucks, though, are not nearly as bad as they've been the past two games giving up a combined 14 goals during their Florida road trip in losses to the Lightning and Panthers. Now the Canucks are in upstate New York to face the Sabres with a strong attitude to clamp down defensively. The Sabres are below average offensively. They are averaging just two goals per game during their last nine games. The Sabres have held six of their last eight foes to three goals or fewer. Note the early start, which is an added plus for the Under.
12-27-19	Islanders v. Blackhawks OVER 5.5		2-5	Win	100	7 h 53 m	Show
The Islanders have scored three or more goals in six of their last seven games. They are averaging 3.4 goals a game during this span. The Blackhawks have key defensive injuries and give up the second-most shots in the league. Chicago is surrendering an average of 4.3 goals during its last eight games discounting allowing just one goal to Winnipeg during this time frame. The Blackhawks can do damage against an Islander defense that has given up a power-play goal in five consecutive games. Both teams should be energized coming off a three-day break.
12-17-19	Coyotes v. Sharks OVER 5.5		3-2	Loss	-111	13 h 39 m	Show
The Coyotes needed a pickup to their scoring attack. That's just what they got with the addition of sharpshooting forward Taylor Hall, who will make his Arizona debut today. Hall becomes the Coyotes' leading scorer since he has 25 points on the season. He elevates Arizona's attack. The Coyotes should hold up their end of making this total go Over as the Sharks rank 30th defensively giving up 3.5 goals per game. San Jose also is projected to start backup goalie Aaron Dell. Goaltending has not been a strength for San Jose. The Sharks should play looser now that they have ended a six-game losing streak with a 4-2 home win against Vancouver this past Saturday. Arizona also hasn't played since Saturday so both team should have energy.
12-15-19	Wild v. Blackhawks OVER 5.5		3-5	Win	100	15 h 49 m	Show
Given the Blackhawks' major defensive injuries, this total is short. Chicago is missing stalwart defender Calvin de Haan on top of already being without Duncan Keith. This lack of defense showed up during the third period of the Blackhawks' road game against the Blues Saturday night. St. Louis scored four goals in the final period to beat Chicago, 4-3. This was an epic meltdown by the Blackhawks. But it shouldn't be shocking. They give up the second-most shots on goal in the NHL. Their goalies can't dodge the constant peppering. The Blackhawks are surrendering an average of 4.2 goals a game during their last nine games. Minnesota happens to be averaging 4.1 goals in its last eight games. The Blackhawks now head home for the first time in more than a week knowing they can't go into a defensive shell because they can't win that way. So I'm expecting a loose, up-tempo matchup. Chicago has scored a power play goal in five of its last six games. The Wild are giving up 3.8 goals in their last five games. So this matchup does not have the markings of a defensive battle.
12-14-19	Blue Jackets v. Senators UNDER 6		3-4	Loss	-119	9 h 19 m	Show
Maybe it's because backup goalies could get the call. But this total is set too low especially with an early day time start, which often is favorably to the Under because of sluggish play. Columbus ranks 28th in scoring at 2.5 goals per game. The Blue Jackets have scored two or fewer goals in seven of their last nine games. Ottawa is 21st in scoring at 2.7 goals a game. The Senators have scored two or fewer goals in six of their last nine games. These teams met on Nov. 25 and the Blue Jackets nipped the Senators, 1-0.
12-12-19	Bruins v. Lightning UNDER 6.5		2-3	Win	100	18 h 6 m	Show
The season statistics show Tampa Bay to be the No. 2 scoring team in the NHL with Boston the fourth-highest scoring team. Neither team, however, is in good offensive form. The Bruins haven't scored more than three goals in a game during their past eight matchups, going 2-for-25 in power play opportunities during this span. They are averaging two goals a game during their last five games. The Lightning have scored three goals in their last two games. This is a high-profile, marquee matchup. I envision a tight-checking game with both teams more conservative not wanting to make a mistake since their offenses are in slumps. The Lightning know they most play a cleaner defense game than they did when they got past the Bruins, 4-3, in a shootout during the first meeting this season on Oct. 6. Boston scored all three of its goals on power plays. Two of the best goalies should be in net, too. Tuukka Rask has a 17-10-2 career mark versus Tampa Bay, while Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy is in strong form stopping 64 of 66 shots the past two games.
12-09-19	Flames v. Avalanche OVER 6		5-4	Win	100	7 h 24 m	Show
Backed by one of the top scoring lines in hockey, Colorado has scored three or more goals in seven consecutive games. The Avalanche are especially potent with Mikko Rantanen back from injury. Calgary's scoring has picked up under interim coach Geoff Ward. The Flames have scored 14 goals in their last four games. They have reached three goals in five of their past six contests. Note, too, that the Flames have scored a power play goal in each of their last three games. So that area has picked up, too.
12-02-19	Kings v. Ducks UNDER 5.5	Top	2-4	Loss	-125	11 h 8 m	Show
This is the first meeting this season between these in-state, division rivals. I envision a feeling-out process and a tight checking matchup between two of the lowest scoring teams in the NHL. The Kings rank 26th in scoring and 29th on the power play. The Under is 5-0-1 in their last six road games. That's not a big shock considering the Kings have managed only 10 goals during their last eight away games. The Ducks are 26th in scoring. Their power play ranks even lower than the Kings at No. 30. Both projected goalies - the Kings' Jonathan Quick and Anaheim's John Gibson - have strong histories in this series.
11-29-19	Rangers v. Bruins UNDER 6.5		2-3	Win	107	13 h 1 m	Show
The player's stomachs still could be full from Thanksgiving with this early start. It's a big plus for the Under. So is the goaltending. Both Henrik Lundqvist and Tukka Rask have been hot in net. Lundqvist might not have to deal with Patrice Bergeron, the Bruins' top-line center. He's missed the last two games because of a lower body injury and is questionable here. The Bruins have given up two or fewer goals during regulation in six of their last seven games.
11-26-19	Stars v. Blackhawks OVER 5.5		0-3	Loss	-105	6 h 40 m	Show
The Stars have picked up their scoring. They've notched 29 goals in their last seven games, an average of 4.1 goals. Dallas has scored at least three goals in eight of its past 10 games. The Blackhawks are averaging 3.6 goals in their last nine games. The Blackhawks are likely to face Dallas backup goalie Anton Khudobin after Ben Bishop played last night.
11-25-19	Golden Knights v. Stars OVER 5.5		2-4	Win	103	5 h 48 m	Show
Goalie news is out and Malcolm Subban is set to start in net for Las Vegas. That pushes me to go Over in the Golden Knights-Stars game. Subban's numbers are bad: 3.42 GAA and an .888 save percentage. Dallas has picked up the pace offensively. The Stars have scored three or more goals in seven of their last nine games. The Golden Knights are averaging 3.1 goals during their last six games.
11-21-19	Sharks v. Golden Knights OVER 6.5		2-1	Loss	-115	9 h 8 m	Show
Expect a lot of power play opportunities and a wide open contest here as these two teams hate each other. The Sharks have increased their scoring tallying at least four goals in five of their last seven games. The Sharks remain vulnerable defensively surrendering three or more goals in 10 of their last 12 games. They have allowed five goals or more in five of their past 11 games. Las Vegas has picked up its scoring pace, too, averaging four goals during its last four games. The Golden Knights' defense has been disappointing. They have given up at least three goals in four of their last six games.
11-19-19	Maple Leafs v. Golden Knights OVER 6.5		2-4	Loss	-113	20 h 40 m	Show
Toronto is in let-it-all-hang-out mode on a five-game winless streak. The Maple Leafs are giving up an average of five goals per game during their last four games. They've been idle the past two days and know they aren't going to break their losing streak by going into a defensive shell. That's not their style. So I'm expecting a fast-paced, wide open game. The Golden Knights have been playing this way. They are averaging 4.6 goals in their last five games. The Over has won during each of Toronto's past five road contests.
11-19-19	Canadiens v. Blue Jackets UNDER 6		2-5	Loss	-102	17 h 39 m	Show
The teams just met a week ago in Montreal with the Canadiens winning, 3-2, in a shootout. Jonathan Drouin scored the deciding goal. Drouin, who is tied for the second most goals on the Canadiens, won't play here because of a wrist injury. The Blue Jackets have short revenge. They win with defense as they have the fewest goals in the NHL. So expect a tight-checking effort. Montreal will be looking to shore up its defense after a sloppy 4-3 overtime loss to the Devils this past Saturday. Canadiens coach Claude Julien was upset about the Canadiens' defensive lapses and penalties. Look for a cleaner game from Montreal. Carey Price has been hot in net, too, for Montreal with a .935 save percentage during his last four games. Price was rested against the Devils. The Under has cashed seven of the last nine times the teams have met.
11-16-19	Devils v. Canadiens UNDER 6.5		4-3	Loss	-115	8 h 46 m	Show
Early activity in the marketplace has been on the Over. I disagree. The total has now reached the point where there is value on the Under - and I'm getting involved. Both teams played on Friday and each won. The Canadiens had a highly-satisfying, 5-2, road win against the Capitals in a physical matchup. The Devils held off the Penguins, 2-1. That's the way things go for the Devils. They are offensively-challenged this season tied for the fewest goals in the NHL. New Jersey has scored only 10 goals in its last six games. They have failed to score more than two goals during any of those past six games. Montreal is likely to go with backup goalie Keith Kinkaid instead of Carey Price. The Devils could stick with hot goalie MacKenzie Blackwood. Perhaps that's why early money to the Over. But I'm fine with Kinkaid in net. He certainly knows the Devils well having played for them for six seasons. Blackwood has been a revelation in net. He faced the Canadiens last Feb. 2 stopping 37 shots in a 3-2 New Jersey victory. I don't expect a fast tempo either in this matchup with both teams having played tough games last night.
11-13-19	Capitals v. Flyers OVER 6.5		2-1	Loss	-120	10 h 39 m	Show
The Capitals are the No. 1 scoring team in hockey averaging 4.1 goals. They have gone 16 consecutive games with 3 or more goals, producing at least 4 goals in 12 of those contests. As a result, the Over is an amazing 14-2 in Washington's past 16 games for 87 percent. The Flyers have scored three or more goals in six straight games. The oddsmaker still is not putting up a 7 on Capitals' totals. So I'm going to continue to ride the Over wave.
11-12-19	Red Wings v. Ducks UNDER 6		4-3	Loss	-115	12 h 9 m	Show
The Red Wings head to the west coast after stunning home victories against the Bruins and Golden Knights during the weekend. These wins can't hide the fact that Detroit ranks last in the NHL in scoring. The Red Wings have scored three or fewer goals in six of their last seven games. The Ducks won't be taking the Red Wings lightly. The Ducks, in fact, need this game to halt a three-game losing streak. They are off an embarrassing 6-2 loss to Edmonton on Sunday. If Anaheim is going to win it needs to do that through defense. The Ducks rank 25th in scoring with an ineffective power play unit, but are sixth defensively. They have produced no more than two goals in five of their last six games. So I see a tight-checking, low-scoring contest.
11-11-19	Coyotes v. Capitals OVER 6		4-3	Win	100	4 h 8 m	Show
The Capitals are 10-0-1 in their last 11 games. They also have gone Over in 10 of their last 11 games. Rather than lay heavy juice backing the Capitals, I'd rather ride their Over trend especially now that it is confirmed both teams will be starting backup goalies. The Capitals have scored at least three goals in 15 straight games and in 12 of those matchups they have produced four or more goals. John Carlson has become a monster offensive defenseman. Arizona has surrendered 11 goals in its last three games and have been shorthanded on the blue line due to injuries. The Coyotes, though, have scored three or more goals in six of their last eight games.
11-08-19	Lightning v. Sabres UNDER 6.5		3-2	Win	101	13 h 16 m	Show
Lots of rust. European venue. Sabres in a major scoring slump. Factor it all in and this total is too high. Tampa Bay hasn't played in a week. Buffalo last was in action six days ago. The reason for this long interval is this matchup is taking place in Stockholm. The puck drops at 11 a.m. American West Coast time. The two teams meet again at the same location on Saturday. All of these elements favor the Under. The Sabres are in a huge scoring slump managing just three goals in their last three games. They have been held to two goals or fewer in each of their last five games. The Sabres know the only way to end their three-game losing skid is slow down the tempo and keep the Lightning from breaking open the game. If you discount a 7-6 overtime victory against the defensively-challenged Devils, the Lightning is averaging only two goals during its past five games.
11-07-19	Canucks v. Blackhawks OVER 6		2-5	Win	100	11 h 60 m	Show
Only four teams score more goals per game than Vancouver. The Canucks have scored five or more goals in five of their last seven games. The Blackhawks have picked up their offense during their last three games. I expect the Blackhawks to be loose and up-tempo now that they are back home following a four-game road trip. I'm not sold on the Blackhawks' defense improvement either. Chicago has given up at least three goals in five of its past seven games.
11-06-19	Red Wings v. Rangers UNDER 6.5		1-5	Win	100	18 h 48 m	Show
The Under is 9-1-1 the last 11 times the Rangers have hosted the Red Wings. I see another low-scoring matchup here. The Red Wings have given up 17 goals in their last three games. They have beaten the Rangers five consecutive times by playing steady defense and getting excellent goaltending. New York has failed to score more than two goals in each of its last five games versus Detroit. Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard has the Rangers' number compiling a 10-3-3 mark against them with a 1.77 GAA and.948 save percentage. The Rangers will be emphasizing defense after losing, 6-2, to Ottawa at home on Monday. The Rangers haven't allowed the Red Wings to score more than three goals during their last five meetings.
11-05-19	Devils v. Jets OVER 6.5		2-1	Loss	-114	8 h 37 m	Show
New Jersy is giving up 4.1 goals per game. That's the worst mark in the league. The Devils have some strong offensive players headed by Taylor Hall. So it's not surprising they have gone Over in nine of their 12 games. There have been at least seven goals scored in six of New Jersey's past seven games. Winnipeg is a below average defensive team, too. But the Jets also pack some scoring punch especially with the return of sharpshooter Patrik Laine. The Jets have yielded at least three goals in six of their last nine games. So it's not too much to ask each team to produce three goals, which would get this total Over again.
10-23-19	Red Wings v. Senators UNDER 6		2-5	Loss	-105	8 h 12 m	Show
The Red Wings are 27th in scoring. They have managed just seven goals in their last five games. The Senators are worse, though.They are last in the league in scoring at 2.1 goals on the season. The Red Wings have held the Senators to two or fewer goals in six of the past eight meetings. Maybe these teams find their offenses here playing each other. But until then I've got to believe there will be fewer than six goals scored.
10-17-19	Predators v. Coyotes UNDER 6		2-5	Loss	-115	10 h 43 m	Show
Arizona has yet to go Over the total during its first five games. The Coyotes are getting tremendous goalie play from Darcy Kuemper. Arizona has held its first five foes to eight goals in regulation. The Coyotes, though, are averaging only 2.2 goals per game. Nashville may not have its leading goal scorer as Flip Forsberg is questionable with a lower body injury sustained in the team's victory against the Golden Knights this past Tuesday.
10-14-19	Ducks v. Bruins UNDER 5.5		2-4	Loss	-135	4 h 9 m	Show
The juice is high, but the number is wrong. The oddsmaker should not be putting up higher than a 5 total on Anaheim games right now. The Ducks have been a dead nuts Under team. There has not been more than four goals scored in any of their first five games, all of which have easily gone Under. Anaheim is the perfect Under team. The Ducks are totally defensive-minded and have been receiving outstanding goaltending. They have allowed just six goals in five games. The Ducks have failed to score more than than three goals in a game. They average just 2.2 goals. Boston is the No. 2 defensive team in the league permitting only 1.6 goals a game. The Bruins have yet to fully get their offense going at this early juncture. They rank 24th in scoring at 2.4 goals a game. This is the Ducks' fourth road game in seven days. So they surely aren't going to change their deliberate, plodding style. Note this is a very early West Coast time start for the Ducks, another plus for the Under.
10-12-19	Jets v. Blackhawks OVER 6.5		3-2	Loss	-120	7 h 27 m	Show
This total may be heading toward 7. The Jets are a huge offensive team with tremendous goal scorers. They have scored 4 or more goals in four of their five games. The Blackhawks have a porous defense and are playing for just the third time. They are going to need more time to get their blue line problems straighten out. The Blackhawks, though, like to play fast-paced and they can score in bunches, too. Chicago should be good for at least three goals against a below average Winnipeg defense. The Jets give up the third-most shots in the league.
10-12-19	Predators v. Kings OVER 5.5		4-7	Win	100	18 h 37 m	Show
Nashville has played four games. Each of those contests has gone Over. It's not a fluke. All four lines are contributing for the Predators. They are getting tremendous balanced scoring. The Kings have played three games. Each of those matchups has gone Over, too. LA has scored 11 goals while giving up 17 goals. The Kings' goaltending has been terrible. The oddsmaker opened this total too low.
10-11-19	Ducks v. Blue Jackets UNDER 5.5		2-1	Win	100	7 h 15 m	Show
Until proven otherwise, I'm going to ride the Under with Anaheim. The Ducks have played four games. Each game has gone below the total. There has not been more than four goals scored in any of their games. The Ducks just took a hard-fought 2-1 road loss to the Penguins on Thursday. So they certainly won't be pushing any kind of tempo in this back-to-back situation. Instead they will continue their defensive, grind-out style. The Ducks don't have much offense so this way of playing makes sense. Anaheim's John Gibson has been the hottest goalie in the league. He's likely to rest here, but I'm fine with backup goalie Ryan Miller. He has a strong background versus Columbus with a .929 save percentage and 2.02 GAA in 13 career games versus the Blue Jackets. Columbus figures to be rusty having been idle the last four days. The Blue Jackets also will be without 27-goal scorer Josh Anderson, who has an upper-body injury.
10-10-19	Ducks v. Penguins UNDER 6	Top	1-2	Win	100	18 h 1 m	Show
There isn't a hotter goalie right now than Anaheim's John Gibson, who has stopped 98 of 101 shots. The Ducks are 3-0 this season because they have given up just three goals in three games. The Ducks are a dead-nuts Under team right now with a sub-par offense and a strong commitment to defense. If you go back to preseason, the Ducks are a perfect 27-for-27 in killing off power plays, including 7-for-7 in the regular season. The Penguins have a cluster injury on offense with two centers and two wingers out the most prominent being Evgeni Malkin. The multiple injuries really showed in the Penguins' last game when they could manage only one goal versus Winnipeg this past Tuesday at home. Pittsburgh takes to the road for the first time this season following this game. So the Penguins should have their defensive intensity up knowing their offense is down players and this is the final matchup of a four-game homestand that has proven disappointing at 1-2.
10-09-19	Devils v. Flyers OVER 6		0-4	Loss	-119	7 h 46 m	Show
The Devils have played two games so far this season. There have been a combined nine goals scored in each game. It's not a fluke. The Devils are much stronger offensively than they are defensively. The Flyers also have issues on defense. They were on display in the Flyers' first game, a 4-3 victory against the Blackhawks. At this early juncture, both team's offenses are ahead of their defenses. I'll ride that here and go Over.
10-08-19	Oilers v. Islanders UNDER 5.5		5-2	Loss	-110	15 h 17 m	Show
I envision a tight, defensive battle here. The Oilers have two great scorers in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. But that's about the extent of their offense. New Edmonton coach Dave Tippett is stressing defense. The Islanders are all about defense. They've given up three goals in two games, holding the powerful Capitals to two goals and the offensive-minded Jets to just one goal. Thomas Greiss is a hot goalie.
06-06-19	Blues v. Bruins OVER 5.5		2-1	Loss	-100	26 h 52 m	Show
There have been at least six goals scored in three of the four playoff games in this Stanley Cup Final between the Blues and Bruins. Yet the oddsmaker still has yet to put up higher than 5 1/2 for a total. I see value in taking the Over especially with the series returning to Boston and considering the Bruins' injuries on defense. Boston is averaging 3.9 goals in its last 11 games. The Bruins followed up their Game 2 loss to the Blues by scoring seven goals in Game 3. I'm expecting a big game from the Bruins' top line of Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand after a 4-2 road loss to the Blues in Game 4 this past Monday. The Bruins have scored on 38 percent of their power play attempts in the series and should get some opportunities being home given the Blues' physical play. St. Louis has scored three or more goals in seven of its last 10 games. The Bruins are likely to be down two defensemen with Zdeno Chara doubtful with a broken jaw and Matt Grzelcyk also not likely to play due to a concussion.
06-03-19	Bruins v. Blues UNDER 5.5		2-4	Loss	-130	14 h 34 m	Show
Look for the Stanley Cup Finals to revert back to a defensive-minded matchup following the Bruins' 7-2 Game 3 road win against St. Louis this past Saturday night. The Blues can't afford to take a second straight home loss down 2-1 in the series. In order to win, though, the Blues must cut back on their penalties. I believe they have the discipline to do that having been the least penalized team during the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup. Boston isn't going to draw any cheap calls either with this Game 4 being played in St. Louis. The Bruins tighten things up on the road. The Under has cashed in five of their last six away games. Tukka Rask is the frontrunner to be named MVP in the playoffs. He's stopped 164 of 168 shots in his past five road starts. St. Louis is only 1-of-10 during its past 10 power plays. Boston is surrendering just 1.6 goals per game in regulation during its last 16 games. The Blues have yielded two or fewer goals in eight of their last 12 games.
05-19-19	Blues v. Sharks OVER 5.5		5-0	Loss	-104	15 h 50 m	Show
This has been a back-and-forth series as expected. That can apply to the total, too. The teams are returning to San Jose here for Game 5. The first two games of the series were at San Jose. There were nine goals scored in Game 1 and six goals scored in Game 2. That's the norm as 68 percent of the Sharks' past 19 games have resulted in six or more goals being produced. The Sharks are constantly in attack mode. They maybe have the two most offensive-minded blueliners in Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson. St. Louis is known for its defense and goaltending. The Blues' offense production, though, is underrated. St. Louis is averaging 3.3 goals in its last games. The Blues have scored at least three goals in 75 percent of their last 28 games.
05-12-19	Hurricanes v. Bruins UNDER 5.5		2-6	Loss	-125	19 h 7 m	Show
There were seven goals scored in Boston's 5-2 Game 1 victory on Thursday. The oddsmaker wasn't fooled by this many goals being scored and neither should you. This was a tight 2-1 game with Carolina pulling the upset - until the third period. The Bruins took advantage of power play opportunities and outscored the Hurricanes, 4-0, during the final period. Carolina goalie Petr Mrazek was making his first appearance since getting hurt on April 28. Mrazek should be less rusty. Mrazek stopped 31 shots in a 1-0 overtime victory against the Islanders in his previous game before playing against the Bruins. The Hurricanes realize their missed opportunity. They will do a better job of keeping their emotions in check and playing cleaner hockey in order not to incur any penalties playing on foreign ice. That means a conservative style. They have given up two or fewer goals in five of their last eight games. The Bruins get back star defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who sat out Game 1 due to suspension. The Bruins also have the hottest goalie in the playoffs, Tukka Rask. The Hurricanes are going to have to earn any goals they might get because Rask isn't going to give them soft ones.
05-04-19	Avalanche v. Sharks OVER 5.5	Top	1-2	Loss	-125	20 h 59 m	Show
It's not difficult to project at least six goals being scored in this Game 5 with the series returning to San Jose. There have been at least seven combined goals during each of the Sharks' last 10 home games. Colorado is averaging 3.5 goals during its past eight games. Nathan MacKinnon is in the argument for best offensive player in the NHL. He's hot, too, riding an eight-game point scoring streak. The Avalanche have one of the most dangerous power play units in hockey. The Sharks are not strong strong defensively. They ranked 21st defensively during the regular season and have shaky goaltending with Martin Jones. Their top two defensemen are offensive-minded in constant attack mode. San Jose was the No. 2 scoring team in the league. The Over is 7-3-1 in its Stanley Cup games. The Over has won in four of the Sharks' last five playoff games. These two teams have a strong Over history, too, when meeting each other especially in San Jose where 80 percent of the past 16 matchups have gone above the total.

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