Let's get this out of the way right now. The Hurricanes are 7-0 at home in the playoffs. They are 3-0 at home against the Rangers in this series.

So why take the underdog Rangers besides getting a plus price?

Several reasons starting with the goalie matchup. Igor Shesterkin isn't just the favorite to win the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie in hockey, but he's also a strong Hart Trophy candidate, too, as the MVP of the league. Shesterkin has allowed two or fewer goals in five of the six games in the series. He's a difference maker.

The same certainly can't be said for Carolina goalie Antti Raanta. He's a backup forced into the spotlight because of an injury to Frederik Andersen. Fatigue could be hitting Raanta. He's made 12 starts in the postseason after making only 26 starts during the regular season. Raanta surrendered two - if not three - marginal goals to the Rangers in Game 6 with New York winning, 5-2. Raanta played so poorly he was pulled after 13 shots.

It's rare to get an underdog this large that holds such a monster goalie edge. All three of the Rangers' losses in Carolina were close. This stage and challenge isn't too big for the Rangers. They proved that in their first playoff series winning Game 6 in Pittsburgh and finishing off the Penguins in seven games.

Adam Fox gives the Rangers a Norris Trophy-winning defenseman. The Rangers have the point producers with Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad. The Hurricanes can't be as aggressive as the Rangers because of the goalie discrepancy.

The Rangers were a lot faster and smoother than the Hurricanes in the last game. That should carry over. It's the Hurricanes who are playing with all the pressure.

We've been down this path before with the Rangers. They faced elimination down 3-1 to the Penguins in their first-round Stanley Cup matchup and prevailed. Now they need to win this home game to stay alive against the Hurricanes down 3-2 in the series.

The Rangers have the resilience, goaltending and home ice necessary to win this game. Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad are due to step up bigger than they have in this series. Igor Shesterkin has regained his touch as the best goalie in hockey this season.

The price is more than right to back the Rangers against a Carolina squad that has shown strength at home, but weakness on the road. The Hurricanes are 0-5 in their Stanley Cup away games. All of those losses were by more than one goal. They have been outscored by 13 goals on the road in the playoffs during those five games.

Carolina doesn't have a good history at Madison Square Garden either, losing 20 of the past 26 times there.

The prideful Blues, who won the Stanley Cup three seasons ago, are on the verge of elimination down, 3-1, to the Avalanche. I don't see the Blues going down easily.

Yes, the game is in Colorado. But the Avalanche have been far from dominant during their last three home games, losing to the Blues by three goals and winning the other two in overtime. The Avalanche have scored four goals in regulation during their last three home games.

There's been a lot of bad blood in this series. So I see a lot of intensity and tight checking rather than a clean, fast skating up-tempo game.

There hasn't been more than six goals scored in any of the first three games of this Stanley Cup series. Each game has gone Under the posted 6 1/2 total. So now the oddsmaker has dropped the Over/Under to 6.

At this number, I'm going to get involved with the Over.

The Panthers led the NHL in scoring at 4.1 goals per game. But they've been totally held in check by Tampa Bay's defense and its star goalie, Andrei Vasilevskiy. Down 3-0 in the series - and with nothing to lose at this impossible stage - I see the Panthers playing loose, taking chances and going all out to dent the Lightning's defense.

This could lead to multiple Tampa Bay goals if the Panthers should be trailing during the final few minutes of the third period.

The Lightning were the eighth-highest scoring team in the league averaging 3.5 goals. They are coming off a five-goal game.

I like getting the Rangers in this price range knowing they are in must-win mode and their defense and strong goaltending is back. New York has held the Hurricanes to three goals in regulation during the first two games of this series.

Never mind that the Avalanche and Blues are each top-four scoring teams, averaging 3.8 goals per game. It doesn't matter that the Avalanche have fired 85 shots on goal during the first two games of this series, or that the Over is 22-10-1 in St. Louis' last 33 games. Who cares that the Over is 6-1-1 the past eight times these two teams have played in St. Louis.

What matters is that the first two games of this series both went Under with the Avalanche winning, 3-2 in overtime, in Game 1 and the Blues upsetting Colorado, 4-1, in Game 2 this past Thursday. The important takeaway from those two games from a totals perspective is that the expected goals were much higher than what actually transpired.

I'm expecting the floodgates to finally open here with each team getting at least three goals.

The Avalanche were off their game in Game 2. They played too slow. Colorado is going to pick up the pace. The Avalanche wants a fast-paced game. They are going to force the action. The Blues remain without two veteran defensemen with Marco Scandella and Torey Krug both out. So there is some vulnerability.

The Blues are dangerous with all of their lines. They had nine players score 20 or more goals during the regular season. The Blues have scored four or more goals in nine of their last 11 home games.

Expect more than the five goals that were scored in Game 1 when the Avalanche nipped the Blues, 3-2, in overtime.

These teams tied for the third-most goals during the regular season, each averaging 3.8 goals per game.

Colorado peppered Blues goalie Jordan Binnington with 54 shots with three hitting the post and two the crossbar. I'm not counting on the inconsistent Binnington playing that well and being that lucky again. St. Louis is likely to still be missing defensemen Marco Scandella and Torey Krug. The Avalanche did their scoring damage with their supporting cast. Their superstars are due to step up now.

The offensive-minded Blues have excellent scoring depth, too. The Over is 13-3-1 in their last 17 road games.

Prior to Game 1, the teams had gone Over during their past six meetings.

Colorado has shown some vulnerability during the second round of the playoffs the last few seasons. It wouldn't surprise me if the Blues stole this first game of this series. So at this price, I'm throwing down on St. Louis.

The Avalanche could be dealing with serious rust having last played on May 9.

The Blues have won nine of their last 11 road games.

Colorado only outscored St. Louis by one goal during three regular season meetings.

Look for the Panthers to get this opening game, a game they've been pointing to ever since the Lightning eliminated them in the playoffs last season. Florida is much improved from a year ago setting a franchise record with 122 points, most in the league.

The Lightning still could be sucking wind after a hard-fought seven game series against the Maple Leafs that concluded Saturday night. Tampa Bay is 1-4 the past five times when playing on two days rest.

The Lightning also may be minus forward Brayden Point, who is doubtful after suffering a lower-body injury in Saturday's victory against Toronto.

The Panthers, the highest-scoring team in the NHL, are 48-11 in their last 59 home games.

I'm taking 1 1/2 goals on the puck line in the belief the Oilers will wilt at home under the pressure of a Game 7. Even if they win, it will be by the narrowest of margins.

Edmonton hasn't won a playoff series in five years.

The Kings were an outstanding 23-11-7 on the road during the season. They are 2-1 on the road against the Oilers during this first-round series.

LA still has some veterans remaining from its Stanley Cup winning teams of 2012 and 2014. So the Kings know how to win important games.

The Maple Leafs haven't won a first-round playoff series in 18 years. I don't see them ending that streak with an upset road victory against the Lightning today.

Tampa Bay has won 70 percent of its last 113 home contests. Even more impressive is the Lightning are 17-0 in the playoffs following a loss. Toronto is up 3-2 in the series. The Lightning followed each of their losses in this series with multiple goal victories.

The highly-experienced two-time defending Stanley Cup champions have earned my respect and trust especially at home where they have the final say on line changes.

During the past three postseasons, Tampa Bay has gone 16-0 following a playoff loss. That resiliency has been instrumental in the Lighting winning the Stanley Cup the past two years.

I see that streak continuing with the Lightning hosting the Maple Leafs Sunday.

Toronto opened the series with a 5-0 victory. The Lightning were flat that game. They came back to even the series with a 5-3 win on Wednesday, but then lost at home, 5-2, in Game 3 this past Friday. Tampa Bay couldn't overcome a 3-0 deficit.

The Lightning did outplay the Maple Leafs for much of the last two periods, especially the third period, but the damage had been done. Tampa Bay's core, which has been together for around a decade and used to playoff highs and lows, should rebound like they always have.

Toronto goalie Jack Campbell has been playing above his talent level. I can see a drop-off in his play with this game in Tampa. Having home ice also gives the Lightning the last line change. This is especially crucial for Tampa coach Jon Cooper in matching up against the Maple Leafs' upper tier line featuring superstar Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

After the Kings upset the Oilers in the series opener, 4-3, the Oilers came back with a vengeance destroying LA, 6-0, two days ago.

Now the scene shifts to LA. The Kings were manhandled in that Game 2 loss. They won't be at home.

I'm looking for a physical, Stanley Cup type of intense, defensive game. The change in venue also is a factor.

The Under has cashed in five of the Oilers' past six road games. The Under is 4-0-1 in the Kings' last five home contests.

Do you trust the Maple Leafs now that it's Stanley Cup time? I sure don't.

The last time Toronto won a first-round series was 2004. They were upset in the first round by the Canadiens last season, blowing a 3-1 series lead. 
Tampa Bay has proven it knows how to step up having won the Stanley Cup each of the last two seasons. 

The teams just met on April 21. Tampa Bay blasted Toronto, 8-1, at home. The Maple Leafs were without Auston Matthews and No. 1 goalie Jack Campbell. Still, this was a 7-goal win for the Lightning. 

Tampa Bay has defeated the Maple Leafs seven of the last 10 times in Toronto. 

The Lightning hold a monster edge in net with Andrei Vasilevskiv against Campbell. 

The Jets are finishing the season playing great defense giving only two goals in their last three games. The Under has cashed in each of Winnipeg's last five games.

Seattle ranks 30th in scoring. The Kraken are defensive-minded. This is the final game of the regular season, a make-up from an April 13 game that was postponed due to a snowstorm.

So I doubt either team is too psyched up for this meaningless matchup. I believe the attitude will be let's just get this finished, not get anyone hurt and go on summer vacation.

The major part of this handicap is a letdown factor from Carolina. The Hurricanes have been playing extremely well winning five in a row. The latest victory, 4-3 against the Rangers two days ago, clinched the Metropolitan Division for the Hurricanes.

So that sense of urgency is gone now for the Hurricanes. They accomplished what they wanted to do. Now, playing for the fourth time in six days, I don't see the Hurricanes too motivated for this matchup against the lowly Devils.

New Jersey is capable of pulling off a huge upset on the road. The Devils have done that twice during the last 3 1/2 weeks beating the Golden Knights and Stars at better than plus $2.00 in each game.

The Devils nearly upset the Hurricanes when they hosted them five days ago, losing 3-2 in overtime. The Hurricanes forced the overtime by scoring with less than two minutes left.

Two losing teams who lack defense playing a meaningless late season game. That's a nice recipe for an Over especially when those teams are the Blackhawks and Coyotes.

Chicago has gone Over in its last five games. The Blackhawks have permitted 4.8 goals during this span.

Arizona has been even worse giving up an average of 6.1 goals during its last seven games. The Blackhawks have enough scoring talent and offensive-minded defensemen who can take advantage.

The youth-minded Coyotes should be excited to play the Blackhawks knowing this a winnable game for them and they can open their attack instead of trying to keep from being embarrassed.

There hasn't been a hotter scoring team than the Blues during the last 29 years in the NHL. St. Louis has scored at least four goals in each of its last 12 games. That's the longest NHL stretch since the 1992-93 season.

The Blues are averaging 5.1 goals during their past dozen games.

The Bruins are a strong defensive team. But the Blues can't be ignored especially playing at home and with Boston minus injured defenseman Hampus Lindholm and starting goalie Linus Ullmark. Boston has given up eight goals in its last two games.

The Bruins fire off the second-most shots in the NHL. The Over has cashed nine of the last 12 times the teams have played in St. Louis.

The Wild are in danger of suffering a letdown after clinching a playoff spot this past Sunday during their last game. All of Minnesota's last three games have been decided by one goal. The Wild would be 0-4 in their last four road games if laying 1 1/2 goals.

Montreal shouldn't lack motivation and effort after an embarrassing, 8-4, home loss to the Capitals in their last game this past Saturday.

The Canadiens have not been playing well, but they are capable of getting up for big games. They upset the Lightning as larger underdogs than this earlier this month.

Arizona has become an auto-fade on the puck line. The combination of injuries, inexperience and just wanting to get their season finished have rendered the Coyotes noncompetitive.

The Coyotes are 2-13 in their last 15 games with their only victories during this time frame coming against non-playoff teams the Blackhawks and Sharks.

Arizona has lost six in a row. All of these defeats have been by at least four goals! In fact, 12 of the Coyotes' last 13 losses have occurred by multiple goals.

The Hurricanes can't afford to sleep against the Coyotes being in a tight race with the Rangers for the Metropolitan Division title. Carolina has beaten the Coyotes during seven of their last nine visits.

This is a kill spot for the Avalanche.

Colorado is tied with Florida for the most points in the NHL at 110. The Avalanche have won six in a row. They've been idle since Saturday.

The Kings halted a three-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory against the hapless Blackhawks Tuesday night. The Kings' reward? They go into high altitude to face the rested and ready Avalanche.

Not only are the Kings playing without rest, but it's their third game in four days and they have a cluster injury problem on defense. One of the defensemen out for LA is Drew Doughty.

The Avalanche has dominated the Kings winning the past eight times against them.

The Jets don't deserve to be a road favorite against the Canadiens.

Winnipeg escaped lowly Ottawa winning, 4-3, on Sunday. Prior to that, the Jets had lost four in a row.

The Canadiens are 4-8 in their last 12 games. However, Montreal has been extremely competitive against upper level competition. The Canadiens lost in overtime to the Bruins and Stars. They also fell by one goal to the Maple Leafs and Panthers during this span.

Montreal has won five of the past six meetings against the Jets and is the more rested team. Winnipeg is playing for the third time in four days and fourth time in six days. The Jets had a tough one-goal home loss to the Avalanche in overtime this past Friday and then had another tough game against the Senators on Sunday.

The Jets also will be without Mark Scheifele, who is second on the team in goals and points. He suffered an upper body injury against the Senators.

The Over is 11-5-1 in Chicago's last 17 games. The Over has cashed seven of the past eight times in this series. 

No way are the Sharks slowing down Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. These two superstars are hot and so are the Oilers, who have scored 4 or more goals in 11 of their last 13 games and 5 or more goals in eight of their past 11 games. 

Arizona is out of playoff contention. Yet the Coyotes still could be fat and happy having upset the Blackhawks, 3-2, in overtime on the road Sunday.

The Coyotes are without their top goal scorer and points leader, injured Clayton Keller.

Arizona is 2-7 in its last nine games. The Blues are an overtime loss to the Oilers away from being 4-0 in their last four games.

I fully expect each of these teams to register at least three goals. Las Vegas has scored 5 or more goals in four of its last six games, including producing 11 goals the past two games. Seattle ranks 27th defensively and 29th in penalty kill. 

Arizona has given up 3 or more goals in each of its last eight games. The Coyotes have permitted 4 goals in each of their last four games. I don't see their defense getting turned around on the road against the Jets.

Winnipeg has produced 4 or more goals in five of its last seven games.

Discounting a 4-0 shutout of Las Vegas, the Jets have given up an average of four goals during their last four games. They have surrendered at least 3 goals in 19 of their last 21 games. So the Coyotes should be in line, too, to help this total get Over.

These two teams just met two weeks ago in Chicago. There were 11 goals scored in the Blackhawks' 8-3 victory. This should be another loosely played game with both teams in full rebuild mode. The Blackhawks have permitted 3 or more goals in 11 of their last 12 games. They rank 25th defensively. Anaheim has scored three goals a game in three of its last four games. The Ducks, devoid of healthy defensemen, have surrendered an average of 4.1 goals in their last seven games.

The Avalanche has been getting outstanding goaltending in giving up just two goals in their last three games. The Sharks are 28th in scoring and 30th in shooting percentage and expected goals per game during the last 25 games.

Colorado remains without its leading goal scorer, injured Gabriel Landeskog. That's a factor why the Avalanche is averaging just 2.2 goals during their last four games. The Sharks have the second-best penalty kill unit in the league. The Sharks haven't given up more than 3 goals during any of their last five games.

You have to go back to late December/early January to find the last time the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning lost three in a row.
Tampa Bay is in that rare stop-the-pain mode after losing to the Jets this past Tuesday and to the Flames this past Thursday. 

I fully expect the Lightning to take care of business and right their ship against the Oilers. Edmonton is 3-6 in its last nine games. The Oilers are lucky to not be 2-7 after giving up a tying goal to the Capitals in their last game this past Wednesday with less than one second left. Edmonton managed to prevail in overtime. 

The Lightning rank seventh in scoring. The Oilers are a below average defensive team with mediocre goalies. Tampa Bay has won the past five meetings in the series. 

The Oilers should be good for at least three goals - if not many more.

Paced by superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers rank ninth in scoring at 3.3 goals a game. McDavid and Draisaitl are the two top point producers in the NHL.

The Blackhawks give up 3.4 goals per game, which ranks 24th. Chicago also is 29th in penalty kill. Edmonton ranks third in power play goal percentage.

Edmonton has scored 3 or more goals in nine of its last 10 games. Here the Oilers get to face a well-below average defense.

The Blackhawks should be up for this game. They've been idle for three full days. That should ensure a lot of energy and fresh legs. Just two games ago, the Blackhawks scored eight goals at home against the Devils.

Considering the lopsided money lines in hockey this season, this seems like a reasonable lay price to fade San Jose.

After racing off to a 16-5 start, Edmonton is just 7-13-3 in its last 23 games.

The bottom fell out for the Oilers in their last game, a 4-1 home loss to the Blackhawks this past Wednesday. The Oilers were minus $1.78 in that game. That loss was so bad the Oilers fired coach Dave Tippett following the game.

This will be Edmonton's first game under new coach Jay Woodcroft. You have to believe the Oilers are going to be super fired-up. It's also must-win time for the Oilers trailing the Flames by five points for the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

So the timing is right for the Oilers to beat the Islanders.

The Islanders have endured a rough season themselves. They played for the first time in a week and beat the Canucks, 6-3, this past Wednesday. The Islanders were shut out by Seattle, 3-0, at home in their previous game.

The Islanders are 1-7 the past eight times as a road 'dog. They also are 6-13 the last 19 times following a victory.

Edmonton has dominated the Islanders at home winning eight of the last nine times, although the last time the Oilers hosted the Islanders was nearly three years ago.

The Oilers are in stop-the-pain mode with three consecutive losses, the last two coming in overtime. 

The Rangers, on the other hand, are fat and happy having just defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning, 4-0, on Sunday for the second time in three days.

The Oilers have scored five goals in three of their last five games. They can be explosive with superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The Rangers aren't likely to have their best player, forward Artemi Panarin. He was placed in COVID-19 protocols on Sunday.

Edmonton is 5-0 the past five times facing the Rangers. 

It's easy envisioning each team scoring at least three goals. The oddsmaker opened this one short at 6 instead of 6 1/2. 

Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid are having monster seasons combining for 34 goals and 76 points in just 19 games. Now they are on the same line together. Scary.
Edmonton ranks No. 3 in scoring at 3.8 goals per game. The Oilers also have the No. 1 power play in the NHL.

The Golden Knights rank 12th in scoring, but their defense has slipped to 21st. 

Las Vegas relies on depth rather than individual great scorers. The Golden Knights' depth has gotten even better with the return of Max Pacioretty and William Carrier. 

Toronto is 11-2 in its last 13 games. The Maple Leafs have accomplished this with defense and strong goaltending. Toronto has permitted just eight goals in its last seven games. The Kings have scored two or fewer goals in four of their last five games.

LA has dropped four in a row, including a 2-1 overtime loss to the lowly Coyotes in its last game this past Sunday.

The Kings are 2-9 the past 11 times they've been a home 'dog.

But don't expect the Maple Leafs to take the Kings lightly, or not be motivated.

Toronto is in full revenge mode for a 5-1 loss suffered at home to the Kings a little more than two weeks ago. Former Kings goalie Jack Campbell is likely to be in net for Toronto. He has three shutouts this month.

Superstar Auston Matthews is due for a breakout game having been held without a goal the past three games despite coming close to scoring.

The Blue Jackets have produced 3 or more goals in all but one of their last nine games. They rank sixth in the NHL in goals per game.

The Jets' scoring is due to go up. I see that happening here. The Blue Jackets' 23rd-ranked defense is in bad form giving up 3.8 goals in their last six games.

The Over has cashed the past four times in this series.

After four straight one-goal losses, the Blues ended their losing streak with a solid, 4-1, victory against the Sharks two days ago. I see St. Louis following through with another win.

Until the Canadiens right their ship, they are a fade. Montreal has lost seven of its last eight games, including the past four. Proud Canadien fans have turned on their team for their awful performances.

The teams met just two days ago and there were 7 goals scored in the Jets' 5-2 win. The Oilers have short revenge. They also are the No. 1 goal scoring team in the NHL averaging 4.1 goals. 

I'm not about to call the Ducks an Over team, but Anaheim's offense and power play have been surprisingly good at this early juncture. The Ducks also have been getting outstanding offensive contributions from their defensemen. They've helped the Ducks produce 3 or more goals in three of their four games. 

The Oilers may have the most dangerous line in hockey with Jesse Puljujarvi fitting in with superstars Connor McDvid and Leon Drasisitl. Puljujarvi already has four points - two goals and two assists - in Edmonton's first two games. The Ducks could be missing reliable defenseman Hampus Lindholm. He was hurt in the Ducks' 3-2 overtime win against the Flames last night. 

The Over is 5-2-1 the past eight times the teams have met in Edmonton. 

The Sharks were terrible last season finishing 3-14. San Jose doesn't look any better going into this season. If anything they could be even weaker in goal. They also don't have Evander Kane. 

Not having Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to begin the season means a transformation for the Penguins. This transformation is to a strong defensive tone starting with this opening game. 

It has been 23 years since there was a Stanley Cup Finals sweep. Tampa Bay has a chance to end that string up 3-0 against Montreal. 

The Canadiens did a fantastic job pulling off one of the great playoff series upsets when they eliminated the Golden Knights. 

As strange as it sounds, maybe beating the Canadiens, 4-1, in the first game of this series after overcoming the Avalanche in a tough series was the worst thing that could have happened to the Golden Knights. 

Montreal has a surprising 2-1 lead on Las Vegas heading into Game 4 of its Stanley Cup series. But the Canadiens have not shown they are the better team. Not to denigrate the Canadiens' achievement, but they are extremely fortunate to be up. 

This has been an extremely tight series. So taking a plus price with the home Islanders makes sense. The Islanders controlled much of the action during the last two periods of Game 3 on Thursday, but lost, 2-1. 

The Islanders frustrated the Lightning in winning Game 1 of this series, 2-1. 

Few, if any, thought Montreal would be one of the four finalists for the Stanley Cup. But here the Canadiens are. They are loose, playing on house money and in a great position to ambush the host Golden Knights in Monday's opening game of their semifinal series. 

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy may be a crybaby. But I do see the Bruins evening this series at 3-3 having lost the last two games. The oddsmaker does, too, making Boston a road favorite.