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NHL Archive
Date	Match Up	Rating	Score	Result	Profit	Lead Time	Analysis
11-10-17	Panthers v. Sabres OVER 5.5		4-1	Loss	-110	16 h 59 m	Show
It's not a fluke that Florida has gone Over in 11 of its last 14 games. The Panthers score the sixth-most goals per game in the NHL, but have the worst defense in the league. Florida ranks in the bottom two in goals allowed, shots on goals and power play goals. The Panthers are giving up an average of 4.7 goals in their last seven games. Florida just lost 3-1 to the weak-scoring Hurricanes on Tuesday. Carolina rattled off 49 shots in that game. Opponents have managed at least 38 shots on goal against the Panthers in the last seven games. Buffalo is averaging three goals per game during its last three games going against better defenses than Florida's. Evander Kane is enjoying a fine season for the Sabres and Jack Eichel has superstar potential. So the Sabres have weapons. The Sabres also remain without their top defenseman as Rasmus Ristolainen is out with an upper-body injury.
11-09-17	Canucks v. Ducks UNDER 5.5		1-4	Win	100	14 h 6 m	Show
Vancouver has allowed only 16 goals during regulation in its last nine games. The Canucks face a depleted Ducks team that not only is without Ryan Getzlaf, but who lost second-leading scorer Ondrej Kase on Tuesday after he was knocked out. The Ducks rank 30th in power play goals. The Canucks have improved their offense, but they were the second-lowest scoring team in the NHL last season. This is an emotional game for the Ducks. Not only are they out to snap a four-game losing streak, but they'll have veteran Ryan Miller in net. Miller played the previous three seasons for the Canucks where he posted a 2.69 GAA and .914 save perecentage. Miller was superb in his last start making 44 saves in a 2-1 shootout loss this past Saturday at San Jose. Only once in the last seven meetings between these two teams in Anaheim has the total gone Over.
11-07-17	Panthers v. Hurricanes OVER 5.5		1-3	Loss	-117	14 h 33 m	Show
The high-scoring, but defensively challenged Panthers are nearly becoming an Over auto-play when their total opens below 6. That's the case here against Carolina. Florida ranks fourth in goals per game at 3.6. The Panthers are averaging 4.4 goals during their past five games. They should reach their average against the Hurricanes' average defense. However, the Panthers' defense gives back everything. Florida yields the most goals and shots per goal in the league. The Panthers also are second-to-last in penalty killing. The Hurricanes' below average offense should fare well here against such a weak defense. Florida has surrendered 20 goals in its last three games. Carolina has scored three or more goals in three of its last five games.
11-06-17	Red Wings v. Canucks UNDER 5.5		3-2	Win	100	8 h 45 m	Show
Red Wings at Canucks Under 5 1/2 minus $1.25 These are two defensive minded teams with Vancouver ranking 22nd in scoring and Detroit 23rd. The Canucks give up the third-fewest goals, while the Red Wings surrender the eighth-fewest goals. I like both goalies, Jimmy Howard for the Red Wings and Jacob Markstrom for the Canucks. The Red Wings are coming off a highly impressive 4-0 road victory against Edmonton. That was the Red Wings' fifth straight Under game on the road. I see the Red Wings playing a tight checking, conservative game here following that victory in an obvious letdown spot. I don't feel comfortable, though, laying the price with Vancouver because of its offense. If you discount the Canucks' six-goal explosion against the Capitals, they have scored six goals in their last four games. The Canucks beat the Penguins, 4-2, at home Saturday. However, they only had 21 shots on goal.
11-05-17	Devils v. Flames OVER 5.5		4-5	Win	100	13 h 36 m	Show
The much improved Devils are all about speed, youth and raw talent. It's helped them go Over eight of 11 times this season when the total has been either 5 1/2 or 6. New Jersey catches a break in that the Flames aren't likely to have defenseman Travis Hamonic, who was injured during practice yesterday. He was logging the third-most ice time for the Flames, who are going to have to have new defensive pairings because of Harmonic's expected absence. The Flames are one of the weakest offensive teams in the NHL. But they draw Devils backup goalie Keith Kinkaid. Calgary coach Glen Gulutzan said his team will have to skate with the up-tempo Devils rather than go into a defensive shell. "We can play fast ourselves," Gulutzan was quoted as saying, "we're going to have to do that."
11-04-17	Golden Knights v. Senators UNDER 6		5-4	Loss	-105	10 h 37 m	Show
Las Vegas averages 2.4 goals on the road compared to 4.2 goals when playing at home. The Golden Knights also are not used to playing at such an early hour. The Golden Knights are down to fourth-string goalie Maxime Lagace because of injuries. Lagace, though, made 27 saves in Las Vegas' 2-1 loss to the Bruins Thursday. The Senators finally showed signs of getting their defense in order defeating Detroit, 3-1, on Thursday. Ottawa held the Red Wings to 25 shots.
11-03-17	Devils v. Oilers OVER 5.5		3-6	Win	100	16 h 14 m	Show
The Devils have had a complete makeover this season and it's helped them jump off to their best start ever. The transformation is from a tight defensive club into a wide open offensive team. It's helped talented Taylor Hall and some of his below-the-radar teammates thrive. It's also made for a cash cow betting Devils games Over. The Over has cashed in seven of New Jersey's last 10 games. All of those totals were lined at either 5 1/2 or 6. The Devils are averaging nearly four goals per game. They have the fifth-best power play unit and can exploit Edmonton's 31st-ranked penalty kill unit. The Oilers should come out fired-up, though, having dropped their last two games - both at home. Those losses were to the Penguins and Capitals. Edmonton managed just two goals in each of those games. It's ridiculous that the Oilers average just 2.2 goals per game when they have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The over has cashed in five of Edmonton's last six home contests. I'm going to ride the Devils' Over money-making machine and take that leap of faith that the underachieving Oilers offense awakens here fired up by two consecutive home losses. Getting a total of less than 6 in a Devils game this year has become a good value.
11-02-17	Rangers v. Lightning OVER 6		2-1	Loss	-107	3 h 38 m	Show
The Rangers have gotten untracked offensively scoring 15 goals in their last three games. Only once in their last seven games have the Rangers failed to produce at least three goals in a game. The Lightning lead the NHL in goals averaging 4.1 per game. Tampa Bay is coming off an 8-goal game against Florida. The over has cashed 10 of the last 14 times when the Lightning has played at home.
11-02-17	Islanders v. Capitals OVER 5.5		3-4	Win	100	2 h 9 m	Show
The Islanders are red-hot averaging five goals per game during their last six games. Each of their last six games has gone above the total. The Capitals should get their offense in gear now that they are back home. Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom have strong histories against the Islanders.
11-01-17	Predators v. Sharks UNDER 5.5		1-4	Win	100	6 h 51 m	Show
Nashville ranks 28th in scoring while San Jose is 23rd in scoring. The Predators have scored nine goals in their last five games failing to break the two-goal barrier in every one of those games. The Sharks haven't scored more than three goals in five of their last six games. Both teams are going against hot goalies with strong histories in this series. Only two of the last 13 matchups played in San Jose between these two teams have gone Over the total.
10-30-17	Lightning v. Panthers OVER 5.5		8-5	Win	100	4 h 40 m	Show
Tampa Bay is the fourth-highest scoring team in the NHL. The Lightning have scored three or more goals in nine of their 12 games. Florida has been disappointing defensively. The Panthers give up the most shots on goal and rank 25th defensively. They also are going with backup goalie James Reimer. The Panthers are averaging 4.6 goals in their five home games. The Over has cashed in eight of Florida's last 10 games.
10-28-17	Rangers v. Canadiens UNDER 5.5		4-5	Loss	-103	12 h 56 m	Show
Call it a feeling, but I believe Carey Price is going to come up big against the Rangers. Price was booed at home during the Canadiens' 4-0 loss to the Kings this past Thursday. Price is far from being the best goalie in hockey like he was a couple of years ago. But he's not exactly washed up either. Price is going to need to come up big because the Canadiens have scored four goals in their last four games against the Rangers. The teams last met Oct.8 and New York won, 2-0. This has been an Under series with the Under cashing to the tune of 18-6-7 the past 31 times. The Rangers are going with backup goalie Ondrej Pavelec. I'm OK with that. Henrik Lundqvist is past him prime and Pavelec is 2-0 lifetime versus Montreal with a 1.92 goals against average mark and .942 save percentage.
10-28-17	Sharks v. Sabres UNDER 5.5		3-2	Win	100	6 h 1 m	Show
San Jose has scored more than three goals just twice in nine games this season. Buffalo ranks 27th in goals averaging 2.5 per game. The teams met a litte more than two weeks ago and San Jose won, 3-2. I don't see more than five goals being scored again. Only two of the last seven in the series have produced an Over. This is a very early start time, which usually means sluggish play on offense. The Sharnks are concluding a five-game, nine-day road trip with this matchup.Their power play has produced just two goals in 16 tries during the road swing.
10-27-17	Senators v. Devils OVER 5.5		4-5	Win	100	2 h 45 m	Show
Ottawa has scored 17 goals in its last four games. One of these games was a 5-4 overtime loss to the Devils eight days ago. The Devils have been a much higher scoring team than anticipated. They've gone over the total in five of their last seven games. The Devils had a season-high 46 shots in their 5-4 win against the Senators. Cory Schneider isn't ready yet to play, so backup goalie Keith Kinkaid will be in net for New Jersey.
10-23-17	Kings v. Maple Leafs OVER 6		2-3	Loss	-100	11 h 7 m	Show
Going Over 6 goals can be a daunting task in the NHL. But that task is made far easier when the matchup is the Kings versus the Maple Leafs. These are the No. 1 and No. 3 scoring teams in the league. Toronto leads the NHL in goals per game averaging 4.6 while the Kings average 3.9 goals a game. The Maple Leafs are an Over bettor's dream team with a fast-paced offense full of talented young skaters and a mediocre-at-best defense with an average-at-best goalie. So it's not a huge shock to see the Over cash in seven of Toronto's eight games. The Kings have scored three or more goals in six consecutive games. It's not a fluke as they've become much more uptempo under John Stevens. Their first line, featuring Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown, are playing great and Brent Burns ranks among the two best offensive defensemen. This is a prime revenge spot for the Maple Leafs, who lost 7-0 at home to the Kings last season. The price, though, is too high for me to back the Maple Leafs against the unbeaten Kings. Plus the Maple Leafs are coming off maybe their worst defensive effort of the season - which is saying a lot - in a 6-3 loss to the Senators this past Saturday. So I think the best way to get involved in this matchup is ride the high scoring games these teams have produced and go Over again.
10-21-17	Panthers v. Capitals OVER 6		4-1	Loss	-105	7 h 54 m	Show
Both Florida and Washington are struggling defensively. Both have bad backup goalies who are expected to be in net today. Both teams have above average offenses. That in a nutshell is why I like this game to go Over. The Panthers give up the third-most goals. They are giving up four goals a game and are prey to red-hot Alex Ovechkin, who already has 10 goals and a strong history against Florida with 73 points in 57 career games. Both teams have top-14 offenses. The combined record of Over/Unders between these two teams is 12 Overs and 2 Unders.
10-21-17	Predators v. Rangers UNDER 5.5		2-4	Loss	-107	7 h 24 m	Show
Nashville doesn't play nearly as wide open on the road. The Predators have scored 14 goals in their three home games this season, but have tallied only five goals in four road contests. The Rangers are off to a terrible start. They are 28th in goals averaging only 2.5 per game. Nashville is playing strong defense holding its last four opponents to four goals. This is a day game. So a sluggish effort by the visiting Predators wouldn't be a surprise with the unusual early start a plus for the Under.
10-19-17	Predators v. Flyers OVER 5.5		1-0	Loss	-103	11 h 45 m	Show
These two teams met just nine days ago and the Predators won, 6-5. There should be at least six goals scored in this quick turnaround even if Wayne Simmons doesn't play. Nashville has scored four or more goals in three of its last four games. The Flyers are averaging six goals per game during their last three games. Both teams have offensive-minded defensemen. The Flyers have a young team with fresh legs and an improved speedy fourth line.
10-18-17	Red Wings v. Maple Leafs OVER 5.5		3-6	Win	100	11 h 55 m	Show
Given all the rule changes favoring offense and Toronto's fast-paced, top-ranked offense and mediocre defense, it's hard NOT to go over a Leafs game when the total opens less than 6 1/2. The Maple Leafs are averaging 4.7 goals per game. That's the best in the NHL. Toronto has gone Over in five of its six games. Toronto averaged 4.2 goals against Detroit in sweeping the Red Wings last season. Detroit looks improved this season. The Red Wings have a top 12 offense and are averaging four goals a game during their last four matchups. The Red Wings catch a break, too, in that Toronto is going with backup goalie Curtis McElhinney for the first time this season.
10-17-17	Maple Leafs v. Capitals OVER 6		2-0	Loss	-115	17 h 19 m	Show
These two high-scoring teams have played a combined 10 Overs and one Under this season. The Maple Leafs lead the NHL in scoring averaging a monster 5.2 goals per game. The Capitals have the league's No. 1 goal scorer, Alex Ovechkin. He has nine goals in six games and has a strong history versus Toronto with 33 goals and 27 assists in 42 games. Both teams are struggling defensively. The Capitals lost one of their best defensemen with Matt Niskanen suffering a hand injury that will keep him out the rest of the month. Washington surrendered eight goals to the Flyers during their last game this past Saturday. That was Washington's first game without Niskanen. Toronto is yielding 3.8 goals per game. The Maple Leafs haven't been playing good defense, nor getting much from goalie Frederick Andersen.
10-14-17	Maple Leafs v. Canadiens OVER 5.5		4-3	Win	100	12 h 59 m	Show
Playing the Maple Leafs Over the total is getting to be mandatory especially when the oddsmaker opens their over/under at less than 6. Great young offensive talent, an in-your-face up-tempo style and a mistake-prone defense make Toronto a perfect Over team. Each of the Maple Leafs' four games have gone Over. The least amonnt of goals scored in any of these four games was seven goals. Now we have a Toronto-Montreal matchup. The oddsmaker has opened this total at less than 6 because the Canadiens rank second-to-last in goals and have 2015 Hart and Vezina Trophy winner Carey Price in goal. I still see this one going Over. Let's start with the Maple Leafs equation first. Toronto has scored 22 goals, an average of 5.5 per game. That's the best in the league. The Maple Leafs also take the most shots per game and have the second-best power play in the NHL. Price wasn't nearly as good last season as he was in 2015. He hasn't been that sharp this season either giving up nine goals on the last 64 shots he's faced. Montreal can take advantage of Toronto's defensive weakness. Frederik Andersen hasn't been that sharp in goal either for Toronto with a save percentage of .871. The key here is that the Canadiens are going to skate with Toronto rather than go into a defensive shell. This quote from Canadiens coach Claude Julien is telling: "...if you plan on playing on your heels against that team (Maple Leafs) they'll eat you alive, so we are going to be on our toes. It's going to be us pushing them back with our speed, hopefully, and playing with a little bit more engery."
10-13-17	Capitals v. Devils OVER 5.5		5-2	Win	100	8 h 50 m	Show
Washington ranking seventh in scoring averaging just under four goals a game isn't a surprise. But New Jersey being No. 2 in the league in scoring at 5.3 goals is a surprise. It's not a fluke, though. The Devils, sparked by rookie Jesper Bratt, are playing a much faster, in-your-face style of hockey this season. The Devils have improved their offensive depth. Their top offensive threat, for instance, Taylor Hall has yet to score. The Capitals have a hot Alex Ovechkin - eight goals in four games - and their third line is bolstered by the return from suspension of Tom Wilson.
10-11-17	Devils v. Maple Leafs OVER 6		6-3	Win	100	7 h 43 m	Show
Each of Toronto's first three games have gone Over the total. I'm going to stick with that. Normally 6 is a high total, but not when the Leafs are involved. Their up-tempo approach and young talented offensive players have produced 19 goals with 13 different players scoring at least one goal. So the Maple Leafs could reach this number by themselves! The Devils have young offensive talent, too, that is showing up. New Jersey has scored 10 goals in its two games versus Buffalo and Colorado. The two teams have yet to produce an Under during their past seven head-to-head matchups.
10-10-17	Flyers v. Predators OVER 5.5	Top	5-6	Win	106	12 h 3 m	Show
I like what I've seen of the Flyers' offense so far. The Flyers scored five goals against the Sharks in San Jose to open their season. They were stopped by the Kings, 2-0, in their second game but had 35 shots on goal and then beat the Ducks, 3-2, in overtime this past Saturday. The Flyers had 15 shots on goal in the third period versus the Ducks and would have scored more goals if not for the outstanding goaltending of John Gibson. Wayne Simmons already has four goals. The Predators haven't played well defensively. They've scored just three goals in two games. But Nashville has too many good young forwards to be held down especially now playing at home for the first time where their defensemen are very offensive-minded. The over is 5-1-1 the past seven times these teams have met in Nashville.
10-09-17	Capitals v. Lightning OVER 5.5		3-4	Win	100	5 h 17 m	Show
Alex Ovechkin is the hottest goal scorer in hockey with seven goals in two games. The Capitals have scored 11 goals in their two games. Tampa Bay is hot, too, on the offensive end scoring nine goals in its two games. The Lightning catch a big break as the Capitals will be resting star goalie Braden Holtby. Getting the start in nets is Philipp Grubauer. This has been an Over series with 19 of the last 26 going above the total.
10-05-17	Flyers v. Kings OVER 5		0-2	Loss	-124	13 h 59 m	Show
The Flyers proved they can score opening the season with a 5-3 road win against San Jose Wednesday night. The Flyers, though, are vulnerable on defense. The over has cashed the past five times the Flyers have played without rest. The Kings should be more wide open this season with a coaching change to John Stevens. New rules meant to increase scoring such as anti-slashing should help offenses, too.
10-04-17	Maple Leafs v. Jets OVER 5.5		7-2	Win	100	19 h 42 m	Show
These are two high scoring teams that will be aided by new rules favoring offense such as stricter enforcement on slashing. The last 10 meetings between these two teams have all gone Over. The Maple Leafs were fifth in scoring and had the No. 2 power play. Their youthful roster only is going to get better. The Jets ranked seventh in scoring. However, the Jets were 27th defensively. It would not surprise me to see this total move up to 6 so now is the time to get down.
05-25-17	Senators v. Penguins OVER 5	Top	2-3	Push	0	29 h 43 m	Show
I went Under 5 at a plus price in Game 6 between these two teams and was financially rewarded when the Senators won, 2-1, at home. Now the scene shifts to Pittsburgh for Game 7 of these Eastern Conference Finals. There's only one way to play this total - and this time it is Over. I see the Penguins opening this game up at home. They easily could have scored more than one goal on the road in Game 6 firing 46 shots on goal and generally controlling the action.. Trevor Daley had a goal called back after a lengthy review in which it was ruled Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson had been pushed into the net. Anderson was great in the Senators' victory. He was terrible in Pittsburgh's 7-0 Game 5 victory. Sidney Crosby had scored a goal in three straight games until Game 6. Still, Crosby fired six shots on goal in Game 6 and Pittsburgh outshot Ottawa, 23-11, when he was on the ice and the teams were at even strength. You have to think Crosby and fellow superstar, Evgeni Malkin, will come up with big games. Ottawa could contribute to the scoring, too, after ending an 0-for-29 power-play slump with a power play goal in Game 6. The Senators will be forced to get out of their defensive shell if they fall behind, a likely occurrence with Pittsburgh a 2-to-1 favorite. The chance for two empy net goals for the winning team is in play, too, with this being Game 7.
05-23-17	Penguins v. Senators UNDER 5	Top	1-2	Win	124	13 h 7 m	Show
The Senators made a huge strategic mistake two days ago when they lost, 7-0, to the Penguins in Pittsburgh. They tried to play run-and-gun with the offensively-superior Penguins. That's not going to happen today with the Senators at home and their season on the line trailing 3-2 in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Finals. Ottawa is going to revert back to its normal play, which is a conservative, defensive style meant to pick spots and frustrate Pittsburgh. It worked for the Senators during the first three games of the series when they allowed just three goals. The Penguins have made adjustments and played much better during the last two games. One adjustment was going with Matt Murray in goal instead of Marc-Andre Fleury. I've always considered Murray to be Pittsburgh's top goalie. He was outstanding in helping lead the Penguins to the Stanley Cup last season and he's been great since replacing Fleury giving up just two goals during nearly nine quarters posting a 1.08 goals against average and .958 save percentage. There was one plus for the Senators in getting blown out by the Penguins this past Sunday. They were able to greatly reduce the ice time of star defenseman Erik Karlsson and Cody Ceci. This could prove especially beneficial to Karlsson, who is playing with two hairline fractures in his left heel. There's a chance, too, that the Senators could get back defenseman Mark Borowiecki, who has been out since early in the Round 1 series against Boston.
05-09-17	Senators v. Rangers OVER 5		4-2	Win	100	5 h 52 m	Show
This isn't high juice to lay Over five goals being scored especially considering Ottawa is facing elimination with a loss. There have been at least five goals scored in each of the past four games with the teams combining for nine goals in the last game. The Rangers have scored at least four goals during their last four games. Neither goalie, Craig Anderson nor Henrik Lundqvist, is playing well.
05-06-17	Penguins v. Capitals OVER 5	Top	2-4	Win	100	12 h 36 m	Show
I'm surprised this line is not above 5. Even though the juice has gotten heavy on the over, it's still worth laying. It's an added plus if Sidney Crosby plays. There has been at least five goals in all four games of the series and nine straight in the series. There also has been a minium of five goals scored in 17 of the Penguins' past 18 games. Not only could the Penguins get back Crosby, who is expected to play after practicing on Friday, but Conor Sheary, too. Sheary scored 23 goals during the regular season. He missed Game 4 after suffering a concussion in Game 3. Sheary practiced, too, Friday. Washington goalie Braden Holtby hasn't played up to his reigning Vezine Trophy status giving up three goals per game with just an .867 save percentage. The Capitals are due for a big scoring game with their quick strike capabilities. This is their game to win. Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has been playing above his head. Capitals coach Barry Trotz moved Alex Ovechkin to the third line, which should ensure maxium offense for Washington on all three lines.
05-05-17	Oilers v. Ducks UNDER 5.5		3-4	Loss	-119	18 h 42 m	Show
Now that this series is down to the best-of-three, I see Edmonton and Anaheim tightening its defenses and playing more conservative. There have been a combined 16 goals scored during the past two games with each game of course going Over. The last time Edmonton was involved in three straight Overs was Feb. 11-16. It has been even longer for Anaheim. You have to go back to Dec. 11-15 to find the last time the Ducks went Over three consecutive times. Goalie Cam Talbot played much better for the Oilers during the first two games of the series, which were played in Anaheim. Anaheim goalie John Gibson is due to play better, too. The Ducks are a veteran, physical team. Ryan Kesler can do a good job shadowing Connor McDavid. The Oilers would be hard-pressed to score multiple goals if McDavid is neutralized.
04-19-17	Wild v. Blues OVER 5		2-0	Loss	-100	9 h 14 m	Show
Wild at Blues Over 5 plus $1.05 Jake Allen has been on fire and the Blues have won the first three games of this series. All three games have gone under with no more than four goals scored in any of the games. So why go Over 5 now? Because the Wild are going to let everything hang out here in order to avoid the sweep. They have no choice. It's not like Minnesota can't score goals. The Wild were the No. 2 scoring team in the league during the regular season. The Blues are going to match the Wild's aggressiveness and attack-mode being home and with a chance to end the series. If the Wild happen to be down a goal or two late in the third period, there's no doubt they will pull their goalie earlier than usual.
04-18-17	Penguins v. Blue Jackets OVER 5.5		4-5	Win	100	5 h 59 m	Show
The Penguins have scored three or more goals in all but one of their last nine games. This includes the first three games of this series. The Penguins are averaging four goals per game in the series and have talked about coming out even more aggressively in order to sweep the Blue Jackets. Columbus got its attack rolling in Game 3 scoring four goals. The Blue Jackets will be going all out to keep from being swept. This would include pulling their goalie earlier than usual if trailing late in the game. The Penguins have some vulnerabilities defensively due to injuries. The over has cashed 14 of the past 19 times these two teams have played in Columbus.
04-17-17	Ducks v. Flames OVER 5		5-4	Win	100	9 h 19 m	Show
The teams have played twice now in the series and the Ducks have won each game, 3-2. Once again the total is 5. I say this time - with 0-2 Calgary now at home - there will be more than five goals scored. The Ducks' defensive depth is down with two regulars hurt. The Ducks have been propped up by brilliant goaltending from John Gibson and his .942 save percentage. I say he can't keep this up. I understand goalies can get hot during the Stanley Cup, but Gibson is not an elite goalie. Look for the Flames to play really agressive down 0-2 in the series. I see a wide open game. Only once has the under cashed during the Flames' past 11 home games. The over is 8-2, too, the past 10 times these two teams have played in Calgary.
04-14-17	Sharks v. Oilers OVER 5		0-2	Loss	-105	21 h 8 m	Show
The Sharks showed in Game 1 they aren't going to just let the upstart Oilers kick them to the curb. San Jose fired 39 shots from the second period on and defeated the Oilers, 3-2, in overtime with the total pushing. Only once in the last seven meetings between these two teams has the total gone under. All together, Edmonton goalie Cam Talbot faced 44 shots. The Oilers learned a big lesson in that Game 1 home loss while making their first Stanley Cup appearance in 11 years. Connor McDavid could manage just a single point in Game 1. I expect he and his linemates to do much better in Friday's Game 2. The Oilers only managed 17 shots at Sharks goalie Martin Jones. That's going to change. The Oilers were the eighth-highest scoring team in the league. They've scored three or more goals in nine of their last 11 games. The Sharks, though, are capable of scoring multiple goals, too, especially with Logan Couture returning to the ice after being out since March 25. His effectiveness should only increase as he gets less rusty. It's a plus, too, if Joe Thornton can play after missing Game 1 with a knee injury. Thomas Hertl did an outstanding job at center taking Thornton's place. It just adds to San Jose's scoring depth if Thornton returns.
04-12-17	Blue Jackets v. Penguins UNDER 5.5	Top	1-3	Win	100	29 h 55 m	Show
I see both teams playing tight here with a lot of intensity and physical play. The Blue Jackets enter the playoffs on a bad 1-6 run. They are averaging less than two goals per game during their last 10 games. Only one of the Blue Jackets' last eight away games went above the total. Columbus can't let Sidney Crosby beat them and that's where Brandon Dubinsky comes in. Dubinsky is a physical center, who has a history of bothering Crosby, the NHL's top goal scorer this season. Both teams have solid goalies with Sergei Bobrovsky and Matt Muray, who was particularly good at home for Pittsburgh going 17-5. The teams just met a eight days ago in Pittsburgh with Murray in net and the Penguins won, 4-1. Wednesday Free Play Bruins minus $1.20 at Senators What does it say when the Bruins are favored in this Game 1 despite being on the road and losing all four regular-season meetings to the Senators? It tells us the oddsmaker believes Boston is the superior team. I agree. The Bruins are the more experienced playoff team, have the better goalie in Tukka Rask over Craig Anderson and hold huge edges in special teams. The Bruins are the top penalty-killing unit in the NHL. They also ranked seventh in power play scoring percentage. Ottawa rates 22nd in penalty killing and 23rd in power play scoring percentage. Boston is better, too, offensively. Brad Marchand and David Pastmak are the two best goal scorers in the game. The Senators were held to just 28 goals during their last 15 games. The Bruins are much better since Bruce Cassidy took over going 20-8-1 since then. Yes, Ottawa did go 4-0 versus the Bruins in the regular season but each of those games could have gone either way. Now, when the pressure really is on, I see the Bruins prevailing.
04-08-17	Avalanche v. Stars OVER 5.5		3-4	Win	100	4 h 10 m	Show
I'm expecting a loose, high-scoring game between two teams who aren't going to the playoffs and have terrible defenses and goaltenders. The Avalanche rank last defensively, but have scored two or more goals in all but one of their last 10 games. Dallas gives up the second-most goals per game. The Stars' offense declined a lot from last season, but is still decent. Dallas has scored three goals in each of its last four games. The Stars have been a big over team at home. The over has cashed 17 of the past 22 times the Stars have been home.
03-21-17	Rangers v. Devils OVER 5		2-3	Push	0	7 h 32 m	Show
The Rangers are the fifth-highest scoring team in the NHL. They have scored three or more goals in five of their last six games. The Devils are giving up an average of four goals per game during their last five games. The Devils' defense has slipped and their goaltending has proven overrated this season. New Jersey, though, should do its share of damage on the offensive end at home against Rangers backup goalie Antti Raanta. The Devils have scored a power play goal in each of the last four games while the Rangers have yielded a power play goal in six straight games. There haven't been fewer than five goals scored during the past four meetings between the two teams.
03-13-17	Blue Jackets v. Flyers UNDER 5.5		5-3	Loss	-130	9 h 47 m	Show
The spot sets up well for the road 'dog Hurricanes, who have beaten the Islanders seven of the past nine times when visiting. This is the Islanders' first home game in more than three weeks. They just returned from a nine-game road trip on Sunday so their focus and attention could be distracted being away from home for so long. The Hurricanes are 5-0-2 in their last seven games versus the Islanders. They have enough offense to take advantage of faltering Islanders goalie Thomas Greiss, who has a hit a wall with an .888 save percentage in his last seven games. Greiss was pulled in the Islanders' past game after allowing four goals on 18 shots.
03-10-17	Sabres v. Blue Jackets UNDER 5.5		3-4	Loss	-130	7 h 33 m	Show
This is a bad line. The total should be lined at 5 not 5 1/2. Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is playing great recording three straight shutouts. The Blue Jackets have given up only six goals during their last seven games. Buffalo ranks 22nd in goals scored. The Sabres are a better defensive club and Columbus has scored only eight goals in its last five games. The under has cashed 10 of the last 14 times the Blue Jackets have played at home.
03-06-17	Sharks v. Jets OVER 5.5		3-2	Loss	-100	5 h 43 m	Show
These teams met twice during the latter part of January and there were a combined seven goals scored each time. Look for another high-scoring game here. Winnipeg is an over the total beast going above the total 77 percent of the time during its last 23 games. A combination of outstanding goal scorers and subpar defense and goaltending will do that. The Jets are averaging four goals per game during their last eight games. The Sharks have scored three or more goals in eight of their last 11 games.
03-04-17	Blackhawks v. Predators OVER 5.5		5-3	Win	102	7 h 3 m	Show
The Blackhawks have scored four or more goals in 10 of their last 12 games. But the Predators have been the highest-scoring team in the NHL during the past 30 days. Nashville has scored at least four goals in nine of its last 13 games. If you think this has resulted in a lot of overs you would be right. The over has cashed in 11 of Nashville's last 12 games. The over is 7-0 in Nashville's last seven home contests. The Blackhawks have gone over in nine of their last 12 games. Chicago is likely to be facing the Predators' backup goalie, Juuse Saros. The over is 5-0 the past five times he has been in goal.
03-02-17	Islanders v. Stars UNDER 6		5-4	Loss	-113	12 h 29 m	Show
Expect a focused, defensive effort from the Islanders, who were embarrassed 7-0 by the Blue Jackets this past Saturday. New York hasn't played since. The Stars are far from the offensive force they were last season. They rank 12th in scoring and have a bunch of new faces following the trade deadline. That means an adjustment period to their various lines. Dallas has broken the 3-goal barrier only three times in its last 12 games.
03-02-17	Devils v. Capitals OVER 5		0-1	Loss	-105	4 h 45 m	Show
The Capitals are an over machine when playing at home. They have gone under the total just once during their past 12 home contests while averaging 5.1 goals per game during their last dozen games at Verizon Center. Alex Ovechkin has a strong history scoring against the Devils. He's already put up six points against them this season in three games. The Devils aren't a big scoring team - hence a 5 for a total - but they have taillied three or more goals in four of their last five games while scoring at least one power-play goal in each of their past five games.
03-02-17	Wild v. Blue Jackets OVER 5.5		0-1	Loss	-100	4 h 43 m	Show
The Wild has gone over the total during their last four games. This is no big surprise as Minnesota has been a big over team all season going 25-6-3 to the over in its last 34 games. The over has cashed in eight of Minnesota's last nine games versus the East. The Wild rank second in goals scored. Columbus has a strong offensive, too, ranking fifth in goals scored.
02-28-17	Kings v. Flames UNDER 5		1-2	Win	106	15 h 37 m	Show
I expect Ben Bishop to make his first start for the Kings here - and for him to shine in goal. Both teams carry high fatigue ratings. Calgary is playing for the fifth time in eight days. The Flames last played at home 13 days ago. The Kings are in action for the fourth time in six days. LA played last night, too, losing 5-4 in overtime on the road to Minnesota. So I'm expecting a conservative, slow-moving type of game here as the teams deal with their weariness. It's also an important game for both teams in their battle to gain a wild-card playoff spot. Neither team wants to come away with no points from this game. More reason for the teams to play cautious. The Kings are ranked first in fewest shots allowed on goal and give up the fifth-fewest goals. The Flames have allowed two or fewer goals in five of their last six games.
02-28-17	Predators v. Sabres OVER 5.5		5-4	Win	100	4 h 35 m	Show
Look for Nashville to make it 11 over games in a row. The Predators have gone over the total 10 straight times thanks to a combination of outstanding offense - four or more goals in their last five games - a hot Flip Forsberg and shaky goaltending from Pekka Rinne. Now the Predators get to go against AHL call-up Linus Ullmark, who will be making his first NHL start of the season replacing injured Robin Lehner. Ullmakr will have to deal with Forsberg, who has scored eight goals in his last four games. The Sabres offense has been above their season average during the past 10 games. They're going against a Nashville defense that has allowed an average of 3.8 goals in their last 10 games. Only twice in the last 10 meetings in Buffalo has the under cashed in this series.
02-24-17	Coyotes v. Stars UNDER 6		2-5	Loss	-110	8 h 4 m	Show
I don't envision Dallas being sharp for this matchup having been idle since Saturday due to its mandatory bye week. The Stars' only practice of the week came on Thursday. The Stars' scoring is down from a year ago ranking 13th. They are below average on the power play. Arizona ranks among the bottom-six in goals, shots on goal and power play. The Stars have mediocre goaltending, but will have their best goalie in net as Kari Lehtonen is projected to start. The Coyotes had a bad first period against the Blackhawks last night in a 6-3 loss. I expect the Coyotes to play a more tight-checking game rather than try to open things up.
02-23-17	Coyotes v. Blackhawks OVER 5.5		3-6	Win	115	5 h 20 m	Show
The Coyotes surprisingly have been consistently good on offense scoring three or more goals in 12 of their last 15 games. Arizona, though, gives up the fourth-most goals in the league. Mike Smith will be in goal for the Coyotes. He got banged-up in Arizona's last game and had to leave the game. It remains to be seen if he'll be 100 percent. The Coyotes are in big trouble in the nets if Smith can't finish the game. The Blackhawks rank 8th in goals scored. They've scored four or more goals in seven of their last eight games. The over is 18-6-5 in Chicago's last 29 games.
02-23-17	Rangers v. Maple Leafs UNDER 6		2-1	Win	100	9 h 46 m	Show
The Maple Leafs rank sixth in scoring. But they don't want to get into an up-and-down track meet against the Rangers. Toronto learned its lesson after losing 5-2 to the Rangers last month. So look for the Maple Leafs to be more defensive-minded, clogging the neutral zone. The Rangers have scored only two goals in each of their last three games. New York, though, has surrendered two or fewer goals in four of its last five games during regulation. Henrik Lundqvist is playing much better in goal.
02-22-17	Capitals v. Flyers OVER 5		4-1	Push	0	13 h 31 m	Show
Washington has been held to three goals in its last two games - both losses. I don't see the Capitals' No. 2 ranked offense kept in check for a third straight game, especially from the Flyers, who have mediocre goaltenders and rank 25th defensively. Prior to their last two games, the Capitals had averaged five goals a game during their previous six games. Washington has too much star power on offense to be kept down by Philadelphia. The Flyers rank sixth in shots taken and have the ninth-best power play. Brayden Schenn leads the league in power play goals with 14. So the Flyers should be able to contribute their share to the total going over.
02-17-17	Penguins v. Blue Jackets UNDER 6		1-2	Win	100	15 h 57 m	Show
These two teams are separated by just two points in the standings and could possibly meet in an early playoff round. So I'm envisioning a tight-checking, conservative approach especially from Pittsburgh. The Penguins edged the Jets, 4-3, in overtime last night. This is their third game in four days. The under has cashed the past five times Pittsburgh has played without rest. If you discount a 3-0 home loss to Vancouver, the Blue Jackets are giving up an average of two goals per game during their last four games. The under has cashed seven of the last nine times Columbus has played at home. Another key to this under is Matt Murray should be in goal for Pittsburgh after not playing yesterday. Murray has given up only one goal in his last two games. He has a 2.27 GAA compared to Marc-Andre Fleury's 3.16 GAA. I find Murray to be much the better goalie.
02-16-17	Stars v. Wild OVER 5.5	Top	1-3	Loss	-114	15 h 13 m	Show
The over has cashed in 10 of Minnesota's last 12 home games - and this certainly looks like another over. The Wild is the fourth-highest scoring team in the NHL. Yet they are off a 1-0 home loss to the Ducks two days go. The Wild were shut out despite firing 37 shots on goal. Minnesota hasn't gone under the total the past 11 times when scoring two or fewer goals in its previous game. Minnesota certainly isn't going to get shut out against the Stars, who are second-to-last in goals allowed and last in defending against the power play. Dallas has two veteran goalies, Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi, neither of whom has played well this season. Dallas has surrendered at least three goals in 14 of its last 15 games! The Stars' scoring is down from a year ago, but they are still an above average scoring unit with star players, who can take advantage of Minnesota being down defensemen Jonas Brodin and Matt Dumba.
02-15-17	Panthers v. Sharks UNDER 5		6-5	Loss	-100	14 h 8 m	Show
The Sharks have been a huge under team at home this season at 18-5-7. I envision a tight defensive game here with both teams being sluggish offensively. Florida is crossing three times zones. The Panthers' offense has picked up lately, but they are a bottom-six scoring team and rank 28th in power play goals. Sharks goalie Martin Jones has turned aside 41 of 44 shots in two career games versus the Panthers and is 3-0-2 since the All-Star break. The Sharks are returning home for the first in 11 days. They just finished a four-game East Coast trip. San Jose has netted two or fewer goals in four of its last five home games while scoring three goals in the other home matchup during this span.
02-14-17	Stars v. Jets OVER 6		2-5	Win	100	5 h 7 m	Show
The oddsmaker has set a high total here - for good reason: Bad defense, below average goalies and strong offenses. The Stars aren't as high-scoring as last season, but they do rank 13th in goals. They've scored at least three goals in six of their last eight games and can take advantage of Winnipeg's 28th-ranked defense. The Jets have gone over the total in seven of their last eight games.
02-13-17	Rangers v. Blue Jackets OVER 5.5		3-2	Loss	-117	4 h 5 m	Show
The Rangers and Blue Jackets have met three times this season. There have been six, nine and 10 goals during those games with the latest coming in a 6-4 Blue Jackets victory on Jan. 31. The over has cashed seven of the last nine times the Rangers have been on the road. The Rangers are going with backup goalie Antti Raanta in this game. Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has cooled off not playing as well as before and has a poor history against the Rangers.
02-12-17	Canadiens v. Bruins OVER 5		0-4	Loss	-122	7 h 60 m	Show
The Bruins offense has picked up since Bruce Cassidy replaced Claude Julien. That was two games ago and Boston has scored 10 goals in those two games. This hasn't just been happenstance. The Bruins are playing more aggressively offensively while utilizing four lines instead of heavily relying on only two lines as Julien favored. This has led to a faster and more consistent tempo. The over has cashed in Boston's last five home games. Montreal's defense has slipped. So has the play of goalie Carey Price. The Canadiens have allowed at least three goals in all but one of their last six games. Montreal has yielded four goals in each of its last three games.
02-11-17	Lightning v. Jets OVER 5.5		4-1	Loss	-102	6 h 13 m	Show
Tampa Bay's middle-of-the-pack offense can roll here against the Jets, who rank 27th in goals allowed and have surrendered three or more goals in 14 straight games. Winnipeg, though, is a top-10 scoring team. So it's not that surprising the over is 16-3-1 in the Jets' last 20 games. It doesn't take much to get involved with an over in a Jets game. But if you need more evidence the last three meetings between these teams have all resulted in overs with seven, 11 and 10 goals being scored, respectively.
02-11-17	Islanders v. Senators UNDER 5.5		0-3	Win	100	9 h 40 m	Show
First off, this is a day game meaning an early start. That's a plus for the under as it could mean sluggish offenses. Then there are some interesting sub plots that also favor the total going under. This game could mark the return of Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson. He's the Senators' No. 1 goaltender. He's been out for more than two months to be with his wife who is battling cancer. Anderson is expected to play. Before taking a leave of absence, he had a 12-6-1 record with a 2.46 GAA and .924 save percentage. His presence would provide an emotional lift for the Senators. Islands goalie Thomas Greiss is having a surprisingly strong season. He's giving up 2.3 goals in his last 15 starts. The Senators have scored just three goals in their last three games going 0-for-7 in power play opportunities during this span. The under has cashed in seven of the last nine games between the two teams.
02-10-17	Blackhawks v. Jets OVER 5.5		5-2	Win	100	12 h 18 m	Show
This figures to be a high-scoring game between two top-11 offenses. The Jets give up the fourth-most goals in the league, though. Their defense has been particularly vulnerable lately as the Jets have surrendered three or more goals in 13 consecutive games, including 12 goals allowed during their past three games. The Blackhawks have scored at least three goals in four of their past five games. The over has cashed in six of Chicago's last seven games. The over has cashed an overwhelming 92 percent during the Jets' past 13 games.
02-09-17	Canucks v. Blue Jackets UNDER 5.5	Top	3-0	Win	100	12 h 30 m	Show
Columbus is home for only the second time in its last eight games. The Blue Jackets give up the fifth-fewest goals in the league, but fiery coach John Tortorella hasn't been pleased with his team's defense lately. The Blue Jackets are looking to tighten up their defense and they've found the right opponent. Vancouver ranks third-from-the-bottom in the NHL in scoring, shots on goal and power play goals. The Canucks have been held to two goals or fewer in nine of their last 12 games. Both teams have issues with their power play. Columbus has scored in just two of its last 19 power play opportunities while Vancouver's power play unit will be without injured forward Sven Baertschi. He's the Canucks' fourth leading scorer and key guy on their power play. The Blue Jackets have a strong under tendency when facing Western Conference opponents with the under standing 17-5-1 the past 23 times. The under also has cashed seven of the last eight times the two teams have met in Columbus.
02-08-17	Blackhawks v. Wild OVER 5.5	Top	4-3	Win	110	9 h 55 m	Show
I can point out that Minnesota is the No. 3 scoring team in the league while Chicago is 11th in goals scored. But to be honest, I'm just going to ride the Wild's amazing over the total run especially when the total is less than six. Minnesota is 17-3-1 to the over in its last 21 games. The over has cashed in Minnesota's past five games and is 9-1-1 during the Wild's past 11 home games. The Blackhawks have only gone under the total twice in their last 11 road contests. The over also is 3-0-1 the past four times the teams have met in Minnesota.
02-07-17	Wild v. Jets OVER 5.5		4-2	Win	100	3 h 22 m	Show
It's difficult to not think at least six goals will be scored here. The over is 18-3-3 in Minnesota's last 24 games. It's not a fluke with the Wild's up-and-down style and numerous scoring depth. Winnipeg is a big over team, too, going above the total in eight of its last nine games. That's not a fluke either as the Jets have a high scoring offense - ranking ninth in goals scored - while allowing the fourth-most goals in the league with below average defense and shaky goalie play. During their last 10 games, the Jets have averaged 3.6 goals, but given up an averge of 3.5 goals.
02-07-17	Flames v. Penguins OVER 5.5		3-2	Loss	-127	2 h 7 m	Show
Johnny Gaudreau has picked up his play lately and the Flames have scored 15 goals in their last four games. Calgary, though, is a below average defensive team. The Penguins can take advantage leading the league in goals scored while ranking No. 2 in shots on goal and power play goals. Pittsburgh, like Calgary, has scored 15 goals in its past four games.
02-06-17	Sabres v. Devils OVER 5		1-2	Loss	-105	4 h 46 m	Show
The Sabres have scored three or more goals in seven of their last nine games. The over is 7-0-1 in Buffalo's past eight road contests. The Devils have scored 12 goals during their last three games. It's a great sign for the Devils that Taylor Hall broke out of his scoring slump scoring twice in New Jersey's last game, a 5-1 victory against the Blue Jackets.
02-04-17	Wild v. Canucks OVER 5		6-3	Win	100	10 h 34 m	Show
Minnesota is averaging 3.9 goals in its last 11 games. The Wild have gone consistently over, too, during their last 23 games posting a 17-3-3 mark to the over. Only three of those games had less than five goals scored in them. So I think this total is short. The Wild play at a fast pace. This has resulted in them not only scoring but giving up three goals per game. Vancouver's offense gets a boost with the return of Jannik Hansen. The danger of playing this one over is the Canucks. However, the over is 3-0-1 the past four times the teams have met and Vancouver goalie Ryan Miller has a 3.40 GAA versus the Wild.
02-04-17	Penguins v. Blues UNDER 6		4-1	Win	100	9 h 36 m	Show
The Blues are really stressing defense following the coaching change from Ken Hitchcock to Mike Yeo. That was evident in the Blues' first game under Yeo when they held the Maple Leafs to just one goal in their last game. The Penguins have gotten healthy on defense. They've surrendered two or fewer goals in four of their last seven games. The two teams just met on Jan. 24 in Pittsburgh and the Blues won, 3-0, behind goalie Carter Hutton, who could get the call today.
02-04-17	Blackhawks v. Stars OVER 5.5		5-3	Win	100	3 h 8 m	Show
Dallas has gone over the total in seven of its last home games. The Stars have scored 13 goals in their last three games showings signs of being as strong offensively as last season. The Blackhawks are in the upper half of goals and have the skill position players to take advantage of Dallas' mediocre defense and goaltending.
02-03-17	Ducks v. Panthers OVER 5		1-2	Loss	-114	7 h 19 m	Show
I can easily see at least five goals being scored here. Florida is off its best offensive performance of the season beating Ottawa, 6-5, this past Tuesday. The Panthers' scoring should pick up even more with the return of Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau. The Ducks got a spark from the return of Jakob Silfverberg in their last game, a 5-1 victory against Colorado this past Tuesday. Silfverberg had three points against the Avalanche, including two goals. He had missed the previous three games due to a concussion. The Ducks catch a break, too, in that backup James Reimer is expected to start in goal. He's one of the lesser regarded backup goalies in the league.
02-02-17	Rangers v. Sabres OVER 5.5		2-1	Loss	-104	3 h 41 m	Show
The Rangers are the No. 2 goal scoring team in the NHL. But shaky goaltending makes the Rangers a good over team. They lost 6-4 to the Blue Jackets in their first game following the All-Star break. The over has cashed in 7 of the Rangers' last 8 road games. Buffalo's defense has slipped lately as the Sabres have allowed 13 goals in their last three games.
01-23-17	Flames v. Maple Leafs OVER 5.5		0-4	Loss	-116	11 h 15 m	Show
Toronto ranks third in shots on goal and power play goals. Only five teams score more per game than the Maple Leafs. Toronto has notched three or more goals in 11 of its last 13 games. Calgary is a below average defensive team. The Flames have allowed 11 goals in their last two games. They've scored 11 goals, though, during their past three games. The Flames' matchup is helped by Morgan Rielly, the Maple Leafs' best defenseman, likely missing a third consecutive game due to an ankle injury. Monday Free Play Avalanche plus $1.95 hosting Sharks Granted, Colorado is the worst team in the NHL. But the Avalanche have been playing better lately and catch San Jose carrying a high fatigue rating and in a vulnerable spot. So at this huge 'dog price the Avalanche are worth a peanut. The teams just met in San Jose on Saturday. The Avalanche actually outplayed the Sharks, but lost 3-2 in overtime. Colorado played well in its previous game, too, a 2-1 road loss to Anaheim on Thursday. "I think that we're doing certain things better now than we have at any point during the season," Colorado coach Jared Bednar was quoted as saying. The Sharks are in action for the fifth time in eight days. They aren't going to be helped playing in Denver's high altitude. The Sharks also have a more challenging road game against Winnipeg on Tuesday. So that could mean a backup goalie starting for San Jose and a reduction in minutes for certain key players. The Avalanche have short revenge going. They aren't going to lack for motivation.
01-21-17	Senators v. Maple Leafs OVER 5.5		3-2	Loss	-105	5 h 43 m	Show
The Maple Leafs will be missing injured Morgan Rielly, perhaps their best defensemen, for a second straight game. Toronto gave up five goals without him against the Rangers in their last game. Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen had problems in his other start against the Senators giving up five goals on 30 shots. He's not played well this month with an .888 save percentage allowing 26 goals in seven games. Ottawa has scored 19 goals in its last five games. The Maple Leafs are in the top-six in goals scored and top three in shots on goal and power play goals. They have scored three or more goals in 11 of their last 12 games. The over has cashed in seven of Toronto's last eight games.
01-16-17	Stars v. Sabres UNDER 5.5	Top	1-4	Win	100	8 h 56 m	Show
Dallas isn't the high-scoring team of a year ago. Jamie Benn is having a down season and the Stars rank just 17th in goals scored. The Sabres are a defensive-team. They rank 27th in goals scored. Their style is tight-checking with a methodical neutral zone approach. They like to force turnovers and dump-offs. The Stars dislike this approach preferring an up-and-down the ice style. Buffalo is effective at home in its way of doing things. The under is 14-6-6 in the Sabres' past 26 home contests. An early day time start here is a plus to the under, too. The Stars just beat the Wild in an exciting 5-4 game this past Saturday coming from four goals down. This game is going to have an opposite feel. Dallas has a bigger road game on deck tomorrow facing the Rangers. So it's a real flat spot for the Stars. The under has cashed four of the last five times, too, when the teams have met.
01-14-17	Penguins v. Red Wings OVER 5.5		3-6	Win	100	3 h 44 m	Show
The over has cashed the last five times the Penguins and Red Wings have met. I see that trend continuing here. The Penguins lead the NHL in scoring and the Red Wings are giving up an average of five goals in their last three games. Neither team has a top-notch goalie. The Red Wings are really sub-par in goal with Jared Coreau slated to be in the net today.
01-12-17	Canucks v. Flyers OVER 5		4-5	Win	100	2 h 59 m	Show
Vancouver had scored three or more goals in five straight games prior to its past two games. I see the Canucks getting back into scoring at least three goals here against an overworked, mediocre Flyers goalie Steve Mason and a 26th-ranked Flyers defense that has permitted an average of 3.5 goals in their last seven games. The Flyers have scored three or more goals in all but two of their last nine home games. They have a history, too, of playing high-scoring games versus Western Conference foes with the over 20-7-6 during Philadelphia's past 33 Western Conference matchups.
01-08-17	Lightning v. Penguins UNDER 6		2-6	Loss	-110	5 h 14 m	Show
It's rare to see a total this high on an NHL game. A lot has to break right for seven goals to be scored. There are some unusual circumstances for this matchup, which favor a lower-scoring game than the oddsmaker envisions. This is an earlier than usual start time plus the Penguins have been idle for eight days! They last played in December. So there has to be a huge rust factor. The Lightning, on the other hand, are playing in their third game in four days and second in two nights. The under has cashed the last four times Tampa Bay has played without rest. The Lightning will look to guard against the much fresher and healthier Penguins by slowing things down and playing a tight checking game. Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy also has been playing well with Ben Bishop out.
12-31-16	Sabres v. Bruins UNDER 5		1-3	Win	112	11 h 4 m	Show
First note this game starts early, which could mean sluggish play. The Sabres are going to play with intensity here in a triple revenge spot. The Bruins just beat the Sabres, 4-2, in Buffalo on Thursday night. These teams are better than average defensively. Boston gives up the eighth-fewest goals. Tukka Rask is one of the league's top goalies and he has a strong history versus Buffalo. Only two teams score fewer goals than Buffalo. The Sabres rank 14th defensively. Boston is 23rd offensively and will be without injured David Backes, its fourth-leading goal scorer.
12-20-16	Sabres v. Panthers UNDER 5		3-4	Loss	-109	8 h 47 m	Show
The Sabres are the 10th-best defensive team in the NHL, but rank 28th offensively. That makes them a good under club. So it's no shock that the under is 15-6-4 in Buffalo's last 25 games. This series has an under history, too, when the teams play in Florida. The over only has cashed four times during the last 26 times the Panthers have hosted the Sabres. Buffalo has made changes to three of its four lines. So it might take a while for the adjustment to click in. That favors the under so does the Florida rust factor. The Panthers haven't played since last Friday. They are 7-2-2 to the under when playing on three or more day's rest. Florida has been held to three or fewer goals in 13 of its last 14 games. The Panthers have killed off 34 of 36 power plays since Tom Rowe became head coach.
12-15-16	Panthers v. Jets OVER 5		3-4	Win	100	9 h 52 m	Show
These teams have a recent history of going over the total with only one of the past seven meetings falling under the total. I see that trend holding up here. The Jets have been in a scoring slump. That slump shouldn't last given the top-notch goal scorers they have. Winnipeg has been idle for the past three days. The Jets will be refreshed and have an extra burst to their skating here. They'll likely draw Panthers backup goalie James Reimer, too. Florida has been a mess since firing popular coach Gerard Gallant. The Panthers have allowed an average of three goals a game during the eight games since firing Gallant. The Jets have allowed the third-most goals in the NHL.
12-12-16	Coyotes v. Penguins OVER 5.5		0-7	Win	100	6 h 15 m	Show
It's hard not to like the over in this game thanks to the Penguins. Sidney Crosby is leading the NHL in goals and Pittsburgh has scored 28 goals in winnings its last five games. Arizona is the third-worst defensive team in the league and gives up the most shots on goal. The Coyotes have permitted an average of 39.1 shots on goal during their last eight games. The Penguins have played 10 straight over games. The fewest combined goals scored during this over streak was six. There have been at least seven goals scored in nine of Pittsburgh's past 10 games. The overs have worked so well in Pittsburgh's last 10 games because the Penguins' defense has been less than stellar. The Penguins have allowed at least three goals in seven of their last 10 games.
12-05-16	Sabres v. Capitals OVER 5	Top	2-3	Push	0	12 h 0 m	Show
Buffalo is much more dangerous offensively since blossoming star Jack Eichel returned from an ankle injury three games ago. The Sabres scored a combined nine goals in Eichel's first two games back. They fired 35 shots in their last game, but were thwarted by Bruins hot goalie Tukka Rask in a 2-1 Saturday loss. Eichel has four points since returning, including three goals. Washington's scoring is down this season. The frustrated Capitals haven't won during their last three games. They still rank in the top 10 in shots, though, and are due for a breakout scoring game especially their leading goal scorer Alex Ovechkin. He's been held goal less for four games after netting a hat trick on Nov. 23.
12-02-16	Canadiens v. Sharks UNDER 5	Top	1-2	Win	100	10 h 56 m	Show
Martin Jones is proving to be a big-time goalie for San Jose. He's having an excellent season. Montreal has the best goalie in the NHL in Carey Price, who unlike last season is healthy and putting up monster numbers leading the NHL in save percentage. Price has allowed just four goals in his last three starts. He should be strong for this matchup since the Canadiens have been idle since Tuesday. So there are not going to be any cheap goals scored here, a key in going under 5. Montreal's scoring has been going down. The Canadiens are averaging just two goals per game during their last five games. Montreal is now averaging less than three goals per game for the first time this season. The Canadiens also do not have a good history in San Jose having lost the last nine times there. San Jose has scored two goals or fewer in six of its last nine games. The Sharks are 14-4-6 to the under in their last 24 home games. The under has cashed five of the last six times in this series.
12-01-16	Lightning v. Blues OVER 5	Top	4-5	Win	100	15 h 28 m	Show
St. Louis enters December having scored three or more goals in eight consecutive games. Tampa Bay has surrendered 14 goals in its last three games. The Lightning could get a big defensive boost if Anton Stralman returns to their lineup after missing nine games. But that's not a given. Tampa Bay never has been an outstanding defensive team even when Stralman was healthy. The Lightning were aided by excellent goal tending, but that hasn't been the case this season especially with Ben Bishop. He's having a down season. The old saying a good offense makes for a better defense could be applied to the Lightning here. They haven't controlled the puck much recently. So expect a faster pace from them in an effort to aggressively attack and stop a three-game losing streak where the combined losing margin has been by a staggering nine goals.
11-29-16	Devils v. Jets OVER 5		2-3	Push	0	6 h 24 m	Show
This has been an under series, but current form trumps history here. The Devils have gone over in their last three games scoring 12 goals while giving up 13 goals. Part of this uptick in scoring is due to Mike Cammalleri returning from injury. The Devils have become more offensive-minded at the expense of defense during this span. This is reflected in the Devils giving up an an average of 38.5 shots per game during their last four games. Even an outstanding goalie such as Cory Schneider can't keep the puck out of the net when peppered with that many shots. Winnipeg has some big time goal scorers and its offense has been far more effective at home where the Jets average better than three goals per game.
11-29-16	Lightning v. Blue Jackets OVER 5		1-5	Win	100	17 h 53 m	Show
Both Tampa Bay and Columbus rank in the top six in goals scored. The Blue Jackets are averaging 3.1 goals in their last eight games, while the Lightning have allowed 14 goals during their past four games. The teams just met this past Friday and Columbus won, 5-3. The Blue Jackets have better offensive depth this season and Tampa Bay is missing steady Anton Stralman, who has been out the past eight games suffering from an upper body injury. Without Stralman, the Lightning lack a No. 2 defenseman and their depth suffers. Ben Bishop is slated to get the start in goal for Tampa Bay. Bishop is the bigger name, but I think backup goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy has been more effective. He's 6-1 with a 1.50 GAA.
11-26-16	Canucks v. Avalanche OVER 5	Top	3-2	Push	0	10 h 59 m	Show
Yes we have two below offenses here. But these two teams also have below average defenses. The Canucks carry a high fatigue rating playing for the third time on the road in four nights and without rest. Colorado has an injury to its first-string goalie Semyon Varlamov meaning Calvin Pickard will draw the start, He's one of the weaker backup goalies in the league. Vancouver gives up an average of three goals per game. The Canucks have scored at least three goals in four of their last six games. The Avalanche has scored three or more goals in four of their last five games. They also have surrendered 13 goals in their last four games.

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