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NHL Archive
Date	Match Up	Rating	Score	Result	Profit	Lead Time	Analysis
04-13-17	Flames v. Ducks -153	Top	2-3	Win	100	58 h 35 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Anaheim Ducks. It was just over a week ago that the Ducks played Calgary in a high stakes game with both teams battling for playoff position. I had Anaheim in that game, and they went on to win 3-1. It was their 27th consecutive home win over the Flames. Here is what I said before the game: "The Ducks and the Flames could potentially meet in the first round of the playoffs, but given the history, Calgary is probably hoping for another opponent in the first round. The Ducks are 9-1 in the last 10 meetings between the two teams, and Calgary has lost 26 straight at The Duck Pond. The Ducks beat the Flames in Calgary on Sunday, and they can move into second place in the Western Conference with a win at home tonight. The Ducks have the best home record in the West, and they are 6-0-1 in their last seven home games. The Flames have dropped nine of their last 11 when playing the second game in a home and home series." The Ducks have a ton of playoff experience, and there's no reason to expect an upset here in Anaheim in the first round. Take ANA. GL, Jesse Schule
04-08-17	Oilers v. Canucks +1.5	Top	3-2	Win	100	21 h 1 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Vancouver Canucks. The Oilers will play the Canucks in a home and home series to finish the season, and if Edmonton can sweep both games, they have an outside chance to edge out Anaheim for first in the Pacific Division. They would also need help from the LA Kings, who would need to win in regulation in a meaningless (for them) road game on the final day of the regular season. The Canucks aren't going to the playoffs, as they come into tonight's game ranked 29th overall, and have lost six in a row. There's still plenty to play for here though, in their final home game in front of one of the healthiest fan bases in the league. History certainly favors the Canucks, who have won 21 of their last 29 home meetings with the Oilers. These teams also have a history of playing close games, with six of the last 10 meetings decided by one goal. Five of those games went to overtime. Take VAN +1.5. GL, Jesse Schule
04-04-17	Flames v. Ducks -140	Top	1-3	Win	100	18 h 53 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks and the Flames could potentially meet in the first round of the playoffs, but given the history, Calgary is probably hoping for another opponent in the first round. The Ducks are 9-1 in the last 10 meetings between the two teams, and Calgary has lost 26 straight at The Duck Pond. The Ducks beat the Flames in Calgary on Sunday, and they can move into second place in the Western Conference with a win at home tonight. The Ducks have the best home record in the West, and they are 6-0-1 in their last seven home games. The Flames have dropped nine of their last 11 when playing the second game in a home and home series. Take ANA. GL, Jesse Schule
03-27-17	Panthers v. Sabres +108	Top	2-4	Win	108	12 h 54 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Buffalo Sabres. After outscoring opponents 10-1 in back to back home wins, I think the Florida Panthers are due for a let down. They will take their show on the road, visiting a Buffalo Sabres team that has won three of it's last four overall. With the playoffs already out of reach for both teams, I expect the home side to be far more motivated to give the fans something to cheer about. The Sabres boast a solid winning record at home, and the also own the league's most efficient power play converting on nearly a quarter of their man advantage opportunities. Buffalo's leading scorer Jack Eichel scored a pair of goals in Saturday's win over Toronto, and Ryan O'Reilly and Evander Kane also bulged the twine. Florida is missing some key contributors, with starting goaltender Roberto Luongo, veteran forward Jaromir and top defenseman Aaron Ekblad all on the shelf with injuries. That's likely a big reason why the Panthers have lost four of their last five road games, and 11 of their last 16 overall. Take BUF. GL, Jesse Schule
03-25-17	Sharks v. Predators -131	Top	2-7	Win	100	7 h 47 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Nashville Predators. The San Jose Sharks were blown out by a score of 6-1 at Dallas last night, and they have now dropped five straight. They play their second game in as many nights on the road at Nashville tonight, and this looks like a tough spot for the visitors to break out of a slump. The Predators have won five of their last six overall, and Pekka Rinne has been a brick wall during that span. Nashville's #1 netminder has won four straight starts, and have given up a total of just three goals in his last three starts. He's 19-5-4 with a 2.33 GAA at home this season, and Nashville is 22-8-5 at Bridgestone Arena. The Sharks have lost nine of their last 10 visits to the Music City. Take NASH. GL, Jesse Schule
03-20-17	Kings v. Oilers -130	Top	0-2	Win	100	14 h 20 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Edmonton Oilers. The Kings are coming off a 5-2 loss in Calgary last night, in a game that they really needed to earn points. Their chances of making the playoffs have been greatly reduced, and playing in Edmonton tonight in their second game of a back to back could be the final nail in the coffin. This looks like a let down spot for the visitors, while the Oilers have outscored opponents 16-5 during a three game winning streak. Both of the Kings goalies saw action last night, but neither performed well. Jonathan Quick was pulled after surrendering two goals on seven shots, while Ben Bishop gave up a pair of goals on 16 shots. Cam Talbot is coming off a 23 shot shutout win over the Canucks in his last start. The Kings have lost four straight when playing on back to back nights. Take EDM. GL, Jesse Schule
03-18-17	Canucks v. Oilers -1.5	Top	0-2	Win	113	9 h 46 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers have won their last two games by a combined score of 14-5. They will host a struggling Canucks team tonight that has conceded a whopping 19 goals while losing five straight. Vancouver's last three losses were in games decided by more than one goal, and with their backup goalie going tonight, another lopsided loss seems likely. Richard Bachman will get the start in Edmonton tonight, and it's just his second appearance this season. "If we had Markstrom here, (Miller) wouldn't be playing as much, for sure," said Desjardins. "But he's played good, we've had time between games. I think a lot of starters would go through with that schedule ... you look at (Montreal starter Carey) Price, you look at those guys, they play that all the time." The Canucks could have trouble getting up for a game like this late in the year when they know they will be golfing in a few weeks. Take EDM. GL, Jesse Schule
03-18-17	Canadiens -123 v. Senators	Top	4-3	Win	100	6 h 48 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs are in first place in the Atlantic Division, but Ottawa is right on their heels trailing by just one point. The two teams play in a nationally televised game in the nation's capital tonight, and my money is on Montreal. As long as Carey Price is on top of his game, the Canadiens will be one of the toughest teams in the league. Price struggled for a stretch this season, but he's 4-1 with a 1.40 GAA in his last five starts. His improved play is a big reason why Montreal has gone 7-2 over it's last nine games overall. They haven't had trouble winning games on the road, going 6-1 in their last seven. The Sens are a tough opponent, but I don't think they have what it takes to beat a superior Montreal team in a meaningful game at this point in the season. Take MTL. GL, Jesse Schule
03-16-17	Bruins v. Oilers -110	Top	4-7	Win	100	20 h 6 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers broke out of an offensive slump, scoring seven goals in a home win over Dallas Tuesday. They host the Bruins tonight, and they could be catching Boston a good time. The Bruins play on back to back nights, and their third game in four nights. They picked up maximum points on this road trip so far, winning in Vancouver and Calgary. The Oilers have had their number in recent seasons, winning the last four meetings between the two teams. Playing the second game of a back to back has been a problem spot for the Bruins, who are just 3-10 in their last 13 on no rest. The 7-1 win over Dallas came at a perfect time for the Oilers, and I expect some of that momentum to spill over into tonight's game. Take EDM. GL, Jesse Schule
03-09-17	Islanders -130 v. Canucks	Top	4-3	Win	100	13 h 30 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the New York Islanders. The Isles have turned their season around under interim head coach Doug Weight. They currently sit in the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, just one point ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs. They are 4-2-1 on their current road trip, and they visit Vancouver tonight. The Canucks have lost seven straight home games, and they've already given up on any hopes of the post-season. The Isles have won six of their last eight versus teams with a losing record, and the road team have won five of the last seven in this series. Vancouver has really struggled against Eastern Conference teams, losing 20 of their last 27. This game should mean a lot more to the visitors, and they should be able to take two points against a young Vancouver team at the beginning of a rebuild. Take NYI. GL, Jesse Schule
03-04-17	Canucks v. Kings -1.5	Top	4-3	Loss	-100	19 h 2 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the LAK. The Vancouver Canucks and the LA Kings are teams heading in the opposite direction. The Canucks have started to dismantle the core of this team, trading veterans Alex Burrows and Janik Hansen at the traded deadline. Vancouver has lost 11 of it's last 14 overall. Eight of those losses came by more than one goal, most recently a 3-1 defeat at San Jose on Thursday. The Kings are sitting in the eighth and final playoff spot in the West, just one point up on ninth place St. Louis. LA traded for Ben Bishop and Jarome Iginla at the trade deadline, an indication that they intend on making another deep playoff run. Vancouver's locker room is in rough shape, with a flu bug going around, as well as several players suffering from the mumps virus. The home team has won four straight in this series, and the Canucks have lost seven of their last nine visits to the Staples Center. This looks like a tough spot for the visitors, facing a team with a lot more to play for. Take LAK. GL, Jesse Schule
02-28-17	Kings v. Flames -105	Top	1-2	Win	100	13 h 48 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Calgary Flames. The Flames are on a roll, going 9-2-1 in their last 12 overall. They currently sit in seventh in the Western Conference, six points clear of LA. The Kings will travel to Calgary coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to Minnesota last night, and LA has now lost seven of it's last 10. They failed to score in three of those seven losses. Jonathan Quick is back after missing most of the season due to injury. He made his return on Saturday, and will now make his third start in four nights coming off a long layoff. Johnny Hockey has tallied eight points in his last four games, and that's good news for a Flames team that only averages 2.6 goals per game. The Kings have owned Calgary in recent meetings between the two teams, but this looks like a tough spot for LA. The price is right to back Calgary at home. Take CAL. GL, Jesse Schule
02-20-17	Panthers v. Blues -135	Top	2-1	Loss	-135	22 h 38 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the St. Louis Blues. The Blues have won seven of nine games since firing head coach Ken Hitchcock and replacing him with Mike Yeo. Starting goaltender Jake Allen is 5-2 with a 1.87 GAA during that span, and he's 14-6-2 with a 2.50 GAA on home ice this season. St. Louis will host the red hot Florida Panthers, who come in as winners of four straight. This will be the final game of a five game road trip for Florida, and after picking up maximum points in the first four games, a let down seems likely here in St. Louis. The Panthers have struggled in previous meetings with St. Louis, losing seven of the last eight. The Blues boast one of the NHL's top special teams units, ranking 7th on the power play and 4th on the penalty kill. Florida has only converted on 15 percent of it's power play chances, ranking 27th in the league. Only three teams in the NHL have more wins on home ice than the Blues, and I think the price to back St. Louis as the home favorite is more than reasonable here. Take STL. GL, Jesse Schule
02-18-17	Panthers v. Kings -149	Top	3-2	Loss	-149	21 h 60 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the LAK. The Florida Panthers will play their second game of a back to back, and third game in four nights on the road at LA Saturday. This will be their fourth straight game on the road, and they've won the first three. This looks like an ideal spot to take their foot of the gas, and suffer a bit of a let down against a desperate Kings team. LA absolutely needs two points here, coming into this game trailing Calgary by one point in the Western Conference standings. The Flames are currently occupy the final wild card spot in the West, but the Kings have two games in hand. Roberto Luongo has won three of his last four starts, but has given up a whopping 17 goals in those games, and he's just 6-7-4 with a 2.73 GAA on the road this season. The 37 year old veteran is expected to play despite leaving his last start early due to cramps. The Panthers rank 23rd in the NHL in scoring, and 28th in the league on the power play. The Kings have won six of the last seven meetings in this series, and Florida is 3-14 in it's last 17 visits to LA. Take LAK. GL, Jesse Schule
02-17-17	Panthers v. Ducks -141	Top	4-1	Loss	-141	20 h 25 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks host Florida tonight in their first game back from a six game road trip that began in Florida. The Panthers won that game by a score of 2-1, but they are in a much tougher spot here at the Duck Pond. Anaheim owns one of the league's better home records (17-6-2), and the Ducks have won three of their last four home meetings with Florida. Ultimately many games are decided by goaltending, and I'd have to give the Ducks a big edge in this department. Jon Gibson is coming off a 37 save shutout win in Minnesota, and he's 14-6-2 with a 2.11 GAA at home. Roberto Luongo has won three of his last four starts, but has given up a whopping 17 goals in those games, and he's just 6-7-4 with a 2.73 GAA on the road this season. The 37 year old veteran is expected to play despite leaving his last start early due to cramps. The Panthers rank 23rd in the NHL in scoring, and 28th in the league on the power play. They play again tomorrow night in LA, and I don't like their chances of coming out of California with any more points. Take ANA. GL, Jesse Schule
02-09-17	Predators v. Rangers -130	Top	3-4	Win	100	13 h 46 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the NYR. The Rangers have won three straight, and starting goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has been playing at the top of his game during that span. Lundqvist stopped 43-of-44 shots in a 4-1 win over the Ducks on Tuesday. The Rangers will host Nashville tonight, and the Predators have a losing record on the road this season (11-13-1). The home team is 4-1 in the last five meetings between the two teams, and the Rangers have out-scored Nashville 7-1 in the last two meetings at MSG. New York ranks 2nd in the NHL in goals scored, averaging 3.4 goals per game. The Predators have struggled to score, and they have been shutout twice in their last four games at New York. Nashville has alternated wins and losses in their last seven games, and coming off a home win over Vancouver, I expect that trend to hold true with a loss here in New York. Take NYR. GL, Jesse Schule
02-02-17	Blackhawks -145 v. Coyotes	Top	4-3	Win	100	10 h 2 m	Show
10* analysis before game time
01-31-17	Devils v. Red Wings UNDER 5	Top	4-3	Loss	-101	17 h 30 m	Show
10* analysis before game time
01-26-17	Canucks -104 v. Coyotes	Top	0-3	Loss	-104	12 h 46 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Vancouver Canucks. I took Vancouver in last night's win over the Avs, and I think they'll keep on rolling here in Arizona tonight. The Coyotes have won their last two games, but had dropped 13-of-15 before that. They haven't had a lot of success in recent meetings with Vancouver, losing eight of the last nine meetings. The Canucks have won four straight at Arizona, and they are 9-2-3 in their last 14 overall. Starting goaltender Ryan Miller was rested in favor of backup Jacob Marktsrom last night, and he will be ready to go in Arizona. Miller is hot, coming into tonight's game with a record of 7-1-2 (with a pair of shutouts) in his last 10. He's also won four straight versus the Coyotes, and he's only given up three goals in those four victories. Take VAN. GL, Jesse Schule
01-25-17	Canucks -125 v. Avalanche	Top	3-2	Win	100	10 h 13 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Vancouver Canucks. Vancouver trails Calgary by just a single point in the Wild Card standings, and the Canucks have three games in hand. They play on the road against the cellar dwelling Avalanche tonight, and they really need to bag two points here. The Avs are dead last in the NHL in both goals scored, as well as goals against. That has resulted in just one win in their last 12 games. Colorado's best player (Matt Duchene) was held out of Monday's loss to the Sharks, and the team said it was due to an illness. There is some speculation that Duchene will be traded to a contender. The Avs are also down a defenseman, with Tyson Barrie out indefinitely with a lower body injury. The Canucks have owned the Avs at the Pepsi Center, winning 11 of their last 15 visits. Expect more of the same tonight in Denver. Take VAN. GL, Jesse Schule
01-21-17	Ducks v. Wild UNDER 5	Top	3-5	Loss	-100	12 h 19 m	Show
This is a 10* play on Ducks vs Wild Under. The Mighty Ducks are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games, and during that time they've been rock solid defensively. Only one of those games saw more than five goals, and they held the opposition scoreless three times during that span, and they've conceded more than one goal just once in their last nine games. Starting goaltender Jon Gibson has been standing on his head, with a record of 7-1-1 with a 1.32 GAA and two shutouts in his last nine starts. The Ducks will be in Minnesota tonight, and the Wild are one of the league's toughest home teams. Devan Dubnyk leads the league in GAA and save percentage. He's won 15 of his last 18 starts. These two teams have a history of playing low scoring games, failing to go over the total in each of the last five head to head meetings. The Ducks have only gone over the total twice in their last 16 games overall. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-20-17	Panthers v. Canucks -110	Top	1-2	Win	100	18 h 18 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks will welcome a familiar face on Friday night when Roberto Luongo and his Florida Panthers visit Rogers Arena. The veteran netminder led the Canucks to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2011, but he returned to Florida in 2013. He allowed three goals, losing his only visit to Vancouver last season. He's been struggling lately, losing 10 of his last 15 starts, posting a 2.80 GAA during that span. He's been lit up for eight goals in back to back losses to Calgary and the Islanders. The Canucks are rolling, coming into tonight's game with a record of 7-1-3 in their last 11. Vancouver's starting goaltender Ryan Miller is coming off a shutout win over Nashville, and he's 4-0-2 with a 1.63 GAA in his last six starts. He has very solid home numbers, going 11-4-1 with a 2.04 GAA at Rogers Arena this year. The Panthers are 2-5-1 in their last eight visits to Vancouver, and playing a third game in four nights following games on back to back nights in Alberta looks like another tough spot for the visitors. Take VAN. GL, Jesse Schule
01-19-17	Senators v. Blue Jackets -155	Top	2-0	Loss	-155	29 h 12 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Columbus Blue Jackets. After winning a record 16 straight games, the Jackets have won just three of six overall. Starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky missed two of those three losses, but had a triumphant return stopping 24-of-35 shots in a 4-1 home win over Carolina on Tuesday. Bobrovsky leads the NHL in wins, and ranks in the top 5 in GAA and save percentage. He's an incredible 16-3 with a 1.79 GAA at home this season. The Senators started the season with veteran Craig Anderson and fan favorite Andrew "Hamburlar" Hammond as their top two goaltenders, but both have been sidelined by injury. Former Montreal backup Mike Condon has done a pretty solid job stepping in as their starting netminder, but he has rather pedestrian numbers on the road. Condon is 5-4 with a 2.93 GAA playing in 11 road games, and he's allowed at least three goals in five of his last eight starts. Take CBJ. GL, Jesse Schule
01-15-17	Devils v. Canucks -125	Top	2-1	Loss	-125	9 h 40 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Vancouver Canucks. The Devils have just one win in their last five games, and they are in a tough spot in Vancouver tonight. After playing on back to back nights in Edmonton and Calgary, tonight's game is their third game in four nights. Vancouver has been one of the league's hottest teams since Christmas. The Canucks have earned points in eight of their last nine games overall. Veteran goaltender Ryan Miller has been dominant during that stretch, and he's 10-4 with a 2.17 GAA at Rogers Center this season. He's facing a Devils team that ranks 28th in scoring, and has one of the league's least effective power plays. I like Vancouver's chances of extending a five game home winning streak. Take VAN. GL, Jesse Schule
01-10-17	Canucks +1.5 v. Predators	Top	1-2	Win	100	11 h 48 m	Show
This is a 6* play on the Vancouver Canucks +1.5. Vancouver had a six game winning streak snapped on the road in Calgary on Saturday, playing their second game in a back to back with their backup goaltender between the pipes. Starting netminder Ryan Miller is expected to return to action in Nashville tonight, and he's won five straight starts, allowing just seven goals and posting a .955 save percentage in those games. The Predators are struggling, coming into tonight's game as losers of six of their last eight. Pekka Rinne is 1-4 in his last five starts, and has conceded 12 goals in those games. These two teams have split the last four meetings, and three of those four games were decided by just one goal. Vancouver has won outright in nine of their last 12 visits to the Music City. Take VAN. GL, Jesse Schule
01-06-17	Flames v. Canucks UNDER 5.5	Top	2-4	Loss	-135	33 h 14 m	Show
This is a 10* play on CAL@VAN to go UNDER the total. The Canucks have won five straight, and they've held opponents to just seven goals in those games. They haven't gone over five goals in any of their last eight games, and I expect a tight battle here in Vancouver with bitter rivals Calgary in town. The Flames are also playing great, coming in as winners of 10 of their last 14. Brian Elliot has won back the starting job, winning five straight starts, conceding just nine goals in those games. These teams have played twice already this season, and neither game went over five goals. They've scored five goals or less in 10 of the last 11 meetings at Rogers Arena. This game is going to be huge for both these clubs, as they are battling for one of the final playoff spots in the West. Vancouver currently sits on the outside looking in, two points behind LA and three points behind Calgary who currently occupy the wild card spots. The Canucks have failed to go over the total in nine straight games against Pacific Division rivals. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-04-17	Avalanche v. Flames -203	Top	1-4	Win	100	19 h 16 m	Show
This is a 5* play on the Calgary Flames. The Flames are one of the hottest teams in the NHL, coming into tonight's home game versus Colorado as winners of 10 of their last 14 overall. The Avs on the other hand have dropped four straight and nine of their last 10. Semyon Varlamov has been sidelined by a groin injury, and backup Calvin Pickard has started the last five games. He's been lit up for 18 goals while losing his last four starts. One of those games was a 6-3 home loss to the Flames. Brian Elliot stopped 25-of-28 shots in the victory, and he appears to have won the starting job back from Chad Johnson. Elliot has won his last four starts, conceding just eight goals in those games. Michael Backlund scored twice in that game, and Calgary's leading scorer has five goals and three assists in his last four games. The Flames don't have a lot of room for error, as they are clinging to the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Take Calgary. GL, Jesse Schule
01-04-17	Coyotes v. Canucks -152	Top	0-3	Win	100	19 h 16 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks are now back at .500 after winning four straight games. They are back in the hunt for a playoff spot, trailing LA and Calgary by just three points in the Western Conference wild card race. Veteran goaltender Ryan Miller has started three of those games, and he's now 8-4-1 with a 2.35 GAA at home this season. Miller stopped 35-of-36 shots in a win over Arizona earlier this season, and he stopped 33-of-34 shots winning his only start versus the Coyotes last season. Arizona has lost seven straight, and both goaltenders are struggling. Mike Smith gave up five goals on 31 shots in a 6-3 loss to New York in his last start, and he's been torched for 17 goals in his last five outings, all losses. Backup Louis Domingue gave up four goals on 24 shots in a 4-2 loss to Calgary on Saturday, and he's lost five straight starts. The Canucks have owned Arizona in recent seasons, winning seven of the last eight meetings. The Coyotes are 8-21-1 in their las 30 trips to Rogers Arena. Take VAN. GL, Jesse Schule
12-31-16	Canucks v. Oilers -1.5	Top	3-2	Loss	-100	14 h 44 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Edmonton Oilers. The Canucks have won back to back home games, but they play their second game in as many nights on the road in Edmonton on New Years Eve. This is a tough spot for Vancouver, and they face an Oilers team that has won four of it's last five. Edmonton has struggled to find consistent goaltending in previous seasons, but Cam Talbot has been sensational in 2016. The former New York Ranger has been particularly good against the Canucks, going 3-0-2 in five starts against them over the last two seasons. He stopped all 26 shots he faced in a shutout win over Vancouver earlier this season. The Canucks have dropped five of their last seven when playing the second game of a back-to-back, and they have last four of their last five when playing a third game in four nights. Take EDM. GL, Jesse Schule
12-20-16	Sabres +1.5 v. Panthers	Top	3-4	Win	100	20 h 19 m	Show
This is a 5* play on the Buffalo Sabres +1.5. The Sabres are six points back of eighth place Boston, who occupy the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Buffalo though does have a couple of games in hand, with a record of 12-11-7 through 30 games. Florida sits to points ahead of the Sabres, but has played one more game. The Panthers have lost eight of their last 11 overall, and six of those games were decided by just one goal. The Sabres have played more than their fair share of one-goal games, with seven of their last nine being decided by a single score. Buffalo owns the league's 4th best power-play, converting on 22.9 percent of it's man-advantage opportunities. The Sabres should give Florida a run for it's money here at the BB&T Center. Take BUF +1.5. GL, Jesse Schule
12-17-16	Lightning v. Oilers -145	Top	2-3	Win	100	17 h 22 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Edmonton Oilers. The Lightning are struggling, coming into Edmonton Saturday as losers of eight of their last 10. This is a particularly tough spot, as they play on back to back nights after losing last night in Vancouver. They haven't done well playing on no rest, losing five of their last six in the second game of a back to back. They've also lost four of their last five visits to Edmonton. Goaltending has been a big issue for the Bolts, with Ben Bishop posting a losing overall record, and backup Andrei Vasilevskiy getting lit up for 17 goals in his last five appearances. Whoever gets the start tonight (likely Bishop) will face the NHL's leading scorer Connor McDavid. Oilers coach Todd McLellan has said he will reunite McDavid with Milan Lucic and Jordan Eberle on the top line. He likes his chances here against the road weary Lightning: "We're fresh, we're energized and we got to polish some things up," said McLellan. Take EDM. GL, Jesse Schule
12-16-16	Kings v. Penguins -185	Top	1-0	Loss	-185	22 h 41 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins are the hottest team in the National Hockey League, coming into tonight's home game against LA as winners of seven straight overall. They are tied with the Rangers at the top of the Eastern Conference Standings, and trail Chicago by just one point for the league's overall best record. The Kings are playing the second game of a back to back, on the East Coast a long way from home. The Kings are 5-8-1 on the road, while the Penguins home record of 13-2-1 is the league's second best behind Montreal. Sidney Crosby has six goals and five assists in his last seven games, and he has an NHL best 21 goals this season. Matt Murray has picked up right where he left off when he led the Penguins to a Stanley Cup Championship in his rookie season. He's 12-2 with a 1.93 GAA, ranking among the league leaders in all major goaltending categories. This looks like a mismatch, and while the price is steep, it should probably be higher. Take PIT. GL, Jesse Schule
12-15-16	Devils v. Blues -183	Top	2-5	Win	100	8 h 3 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the St. Louis Blues. The New Jersey Devils have lost seven of their last nine overall, and they will have a tough matchup tonight on the road at St. Louis. The Blues are coming off consecutive road losses, but they are 7-0-1 in their last eight home games. Starting goaltender Jake Allen has yet to lose in regulation on home ice this season, boasting a record of 10-0-2 with a 1.79 GAA. Allen already has a win against the Devils this year, allowing one goal on 21 shots in the victory. It's tough to win games in the NHL if you can't take advantage of your power play chances, and the Devils have struggled in that department, ranking 22nd in the league with a 15.4 percent conversion rate. The Blues rank in the Top 10 both on the power play as well as killing penalties. St. Louis at home, with a huge advantage on special teams, a superior offense and more consistent goaltending looks solid at this price. Take STL. GL, Jesse Schule
12-13-16	Panthers v. Wild -140	Top	1-5	Win	100	11 h 23 m	Show
8*
12-10-16	Jets v. Flames -125	Top	2-6	Win	100	15 h 33 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Calgary Flames. The Flames come into tonight's home game versus Winnipeg as winners of five straight. The biggest difference for Calgary has been a change between the pipes. Brian Elliot came into the season as the starter, but after struggling mightily he's given way to veteran Chad Johnson. The 30 year old was born in Calgary, and he's been standing on his head so far this season, with a record of 12-4-1 with a 1.98 GAA. Goaltending has not been a strength for the Jets, and their #1 netminder Connor Hellebuyck is 3-5 with a 3.18 GAA on the road this year. The Jets have just four wins in their last 12 games, and they've lost their last three visits to the Saddledome. Going back even further, they've lost nine of their last 11 in Calgary. Johnny Hockey returned from injury last week, and he's scored a pair of goals and added four assists in three games since. Things have really come together nicely for the Flames, and we get a great price to back them at home against an inferior opponent. Take CAL. GL, Jesse Schule
12-10-16	Penguins -126 v. Lightning	Top	4-3	Win	100	12 h 35 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins are flying, coming into Saturday's game at Tampa as winners of four in a row. They sit two points behind the 1st place Rangers in the Metropolitan Division, with two games in hand. The Lightning are struggling, they've lost six of their last seven overall. Goaltending has been an issue, and their #1 goaltender Ben Bishop has a losing record (8-10-1, 2.86 GAA). Backup netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy has better numbers (6-2-1, 2.27 GAA), but he's conceded nine goals on 54 shots in his last two starts. Pittsburgh ranks 2nd in the NHL averaging 3.4 goals per game. Matt Murray has been stellar between the pipes, with a record of 9-2-0 with a 1.91 GAA. He doesn't mind playing on the road, he's 5-2 with a 1.74 GAA in seven road starts this season. The Penguins have won 15 of the last 22 meetings between these two teams, and with Ryan Callahan and Steven Stamkos both sidelined by injury, I don't like their chances here tonight. Take PIT. GL, Jesse Schule
12-09-16	Oilers v. Wild -154	Top	2-3	Win	100	12 h 53 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Minnesota Wild. The Oilers jumped out to an early lead last night in Philly, but the Flyers came back with three goals in the third period to win by a score of 6-5. It's going to be tough to get up for tonight's game, playing on the road in the final game of this road trip on back to back nights. It's also Edmonton's third game in four nights, and the Oilers have just two wins in their last eight overall. The Wild are 7-3 at home this season, and goaltender Devan Dubnyk has been dominant on home ice. He's 6-3 with a 1.57 GAA in nine starts in Minnesota this year, and he's won seven of eight starts against his former team. The Oilers have lost 21 of their last 26 visits to Minnesota, and they have dropped a woeful 60 of their last 77 when playing on back to back nights. Take MIN. GL, Jesse Schule
12-03-16	Jets v. Blues -183	Top	3-2	Loss	-183	19 h 49 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the St. Louis Blues. The Blues are hot, coming into tonight's home game versus Winnipeg as winners of seven of their last eight overall. They are 8-0-1 in their last nine home games, and Jake Allen is 9-0-2 with a 1.78 GAA at home so far. The Jets have lost six straight road games, and their starting goaltender has really been struggling. Connor Hellebuyck allowed six goals on 29 shots in a home loss to Edmonton on Thursday, and he's 2-5 with a 3.51 GAA on the road this year. The Jets are at a serious disadvantage on special teams, ranking 25th on the penalty kill and 19th on the power play. The Blues scored three power play goals in a 5-4 win over Tampa on Thursday, and they rank 6th overall converting on 23.3 percent of their chances this season. The Jets are just 3-10 in the last 13 meetings in this series. Take STL. GL, Jesse Schule
12-02-16	Canadiens v. Sharks UNDER 5	Top	1-2	Win	100	17 h 4 m	Show
This is a 10* play on MTL@SJS to go UNDER the total. The Montreal Canadiens have seen the exact same final score in four of their last five games (2-1). They might be expected to play another low scoring game here at the Shark Tank, as San Jose ranks first in the NHL in goals against, allowing opponents to average just 2.1 goals per game. The Sharks starting goaltender Martin Jones has held opponents to one goal or less in four of his last five starts, and he's been spectacular at home, going 7-3 with a 1.61 GAA. Carey Price is widely considered to be the best goaltender in the world, and he's looked the part lately, leading the NHL with a .947 save percentage. These two teams have failed to reach the total in five of the last six meetings, and eight of the last 10. The under is 14-4-6 in the Sharks last 24 home games, and they've gone under in 10 of their last 12 when playing on one day's rest. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
12-01-16	Lightning v. Blues -142	Top	4-5	Win	100	13 h 40 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the St. Louis Blues. The Blues have won six of their last seven overall, and they are 7-0-1 in their last eight home games. They host the Tampa Bay lightning tonight, and the Bolts have lost three straight. Tampa is really missing Steven Stamkos, who suffered a serious knee injury two weeks ago. He had scored nine goals and totaled 20 points in 17 games prior to the injury. The Lightning haven't had much success against the Blues, losing five straight in this series, and four straight at St. Louis. The Blues starting goaltender Jake Allen is riding an impressive hot streak, he's 11-3-3 with a 2.39 GAA this season, and he's won six straight starts at home. Goaltending has been a sore spot for the Lightning, as starter Ben Bishop owns a losing record (7-8) with a 3.04 GAA. He's lost his last three starts, surrendering 12 goals in those losses. Backup netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy was lit up for five goals on 38 shots in a loss to Columbus on Tuesday. Take STL. GL, Jesse Schule
11-29-16	Sabres v. Senators UNDER 5	Top	5-4	Loss	-100	12 h 41 m	Show
This is a 10* play on BUF@OTT to go UNDER the total. The Sabres rank dead last in the NHL in scoring averaging just 1.8 goals per game. The Sens aren't much better, ranking 28th in the league in scoring. Both teams though have managed to stay reasonably competitive by playing strong defense. They rank 7th and 8th respectively in goals against. The Sens are coming off an impressive 2-0 shutout win over the Rangers, and Craig Anderson has allowed just two goals in his last three starts. These two teams have a history of playing low scoring games, failing to reach the total in eight straight meetings dating back to 2014. The under is 12-2-2 in the Sabres last 16 overall, and 10-0-1 in their last 11 versus a team with a winning record. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
11-24-16	Hurricanes v. Canadiens -168	Top	1-2	Win	100	12 h 41 m	Show
This is an 8* play on Montreal. The Habs sit at the top of the NHL standings with a record of 14-3-2. Montreal's hot start comes as no surprise to me, as this is the team I picked to win it all before the season started. Here is what I said just a few weeks ago: "The Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup a record 24 times. Last year they started off well, winning their first nine games, and going into November with the league's best record. An injury to starting goaltender Carey Price derailed their season, and it was all downhill from there. Price was 10-2 with a 2.06 GAA and a .934 save percentage prior to the injury, and those stats would have led the league if he played enough games to qualify. If you're thinking to yourself: "that's a small sample size", keep in mind that he led the NHL in GAA, wins and save percentage the previous season (2014-15). Price is clearly the best goalie in the world, and he proved that once again while winning gold with Canada in the World Cup of Hockey in September. Shea Weber was the anchor on defense for team Canada in the tournament, and he replaces P.K. Subban on the Habs blue line. What Weber might lack in terms of raw talent (compared to Subban), he makes up for it with maturity and leadership. And what might prove to be the biggest off-season pick up by any team, they added 2015 KHL scoring leader Alexander Radulov. He returns to the NHL at the age of 30, and he looks like he's grown up a lot since he was benched in the playoffs when he played for Nashville in 2012. He's looked great in the pre-season so far, and he has the potential to be the team's leading scorer. Given that the Habs went to the Conference Finals two seasons ago, and they have the NHL's best goaltender, I think it's fair to call them a contender. I like their chances a lot better than teams like St. Louis, Dallas, Nashville, LA, or San Jose, and the payout is much higher on Montreal." They host the Carolina Hurricanes tonight, and this is a game that Montreal needs to get back on track. The Canes might be a little complacent after winning five straight. One of those five wins came here at Montreal, adding a revenge angle here for the Habs. Take MTL. GL, Jesse Schule
11-22-16	Hurricanes v. Maple Leafs -128	Top	2-1	Loss	-128	10 h 21 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs are coming off a 2-1 loss at Montreal on Saturday night, but on a positive note, Frederik Anderson had another strong start. Toronto has plenty of firepower, ranking 3rd in the NHL in scoring, but poor goaltending proved costly early this season. Anderson though has been playing much better lately. He's won three straight home starts, and he's 7-2 overall at Air Canada Center. The Leafs host Carolina tonight, and the Canes have really been brutal on the road. While they've won four straight home games, the Canes have just two wins in nine games on the road so far. The Leafs have won six of their last seven home games, and they are 2-0-1 in the last three meetings in this series. I like the price we get on the home team, especially given how well Toronto has played since Babcock made them skate in the dark following a 7-0 loss to the Kings two weeks ago. Take TOR. GL, Jesse Schule
11-19-16	Devils v. Kings UNDER 5	Top	2-4	Loss	-132	15 h 45 m	Show
This is a 10* play on NJD@LAK to go UNDER the total. The Devils are a team that is short on offense, and an injury to leading scorer Taylor Hall doesn't help. Hall leads the team with five goals and 12 points in 14 games, and he's expected to miss 3-4 weeks due to a knee injury. The good news for the Devils is that Corey Schneider has been standing on his head, and New Jersey ranks #1 overall in the NHL in goals against. We should expect a defensive hockey game here in a matinee in Los Angeles, as the Kings rank 22nd in the league in goals scored, and they own one of the NHL's worst power play units. With starting goalie Jonathan Quick injured earlier in the season, it looked like the Kings could be in trouble. Veteran Peter Budaj has stepped up, going 8-6-1 with a 2.12 GAA. These teams have a history of playing low scoring games, failing to reach the total in eight of the last 10 meetings. The Devils have only gone over the total once in their last 13 road games, while the Kings have failed to reach the total in six of their last seven home games. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
11-16-16	Coyotes v. Flames UNDER 5.5	Top	1-2	Win	100	16 h 38 m	Show
This is a 10* play on ARI@CAL to go UNDER the total. The Flames are coming off an impressive 1-0 win on the road at Minnesota, and they are back home to host Arizona in their second game of a back to back. The Coyotes are coming off back to back home losses to Boston and Winnipeg, scoring just three goals in those games. We might not see a lot of offense here in Cow Town tonight, as these are two of the least talented teams in the league. Calgary ranks 25th in the league in scoring, and they have one of the league's worst power play percentages (10.2 %). The Yotes aren't much better, ranking 24th in the NHL converting on just 11.9 percent of their power play chances. The status of Calgary's leading scorer Johnny Gaudreau is up in the air after he sat out the third period of last night's game. These teams have a history of playing low scoring games, failing to reach the total in six of the last seven meetings. Calgary has gone under in five of it's last six overall, and four straight when playing on back to back nights. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
11-15-16	Predators -115 v. Maple Leafs	Top	2-6	Loss	-115	21 h 52 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Nashville Predators. After a slow start to the season, the Preds have won three straight. The scary thing for Leafs fans is that Pekka Rinne is coming off a 27 save shutout, and has conceded just two goals in his last three starts. Toronto's goaltending situation has been a complete nightmare, with Frederik Anderson really struggling. The former Anaheim Ducks starting netminder has conceded 11 goals while losing two of his last three starts, and he has an unsightly 3.42 GAA in 13 games played. Toronto ranks 28th in the league allowing an average of 3.6 goals per game. Nashville should be able to take advantage of the Leafs defensive shortcomings, especially on the man-advantage. The Preds boast the league's 5th best power play, converting on roughly 25 percent of their chances. Nashville has won three straight, and four of their last five at Toronto. Take NAS. GL, Jesse Schule
11-06-16	Flames v. Ducks -179	Top	1-4	Win	100	25 h 41 m	Show
This is a 7* play on the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks opened the season with four straight losses, but have gone 5-2-1 in eight games since. They are coming off a 5-1 blowout win at home over Arizona on Friday, and they host a struggling Calgary team playing on the back end of a back to back at the Duck Pond tonight. Calgary was shutout in a 5-0 loss to the Kings at the Staples Center last night, and they have lost three of their last four overall. The Flames special teams play has been brutal, ranking 28th on the power play, and 29th on the penalty kill. The Ducks goaltender Jon Gibson stopped 21-of-22 shots in the win over the Coyotes, and he has owned the Flames in recent meetings. He was 4-0 with a 0.83 GAA in four starts versus Calgary last year. The Ducks have a long history of dominating Calgary, going 9-0-1 in the last 10 meetings, and 28-1 in their last 29 home meetings with the Flames. Take ANA. GL, Jesse Schule
10-30-16	Senators v. Oilers -141	Top	2-0	Loss	-141	13 h 26 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Edmonton Oilers. Oilers have been stockpiling #1 draft picks for the better part of a decade, and it finally appears to be paying dividends. Edmonton's 19 year old captain Connor McDavid leads the NHL in scoring with 12 points in eight games. The Oilers have won five straight, and boast a 7-1 overall record. They host Ottawa Sunday, and the Senators are coming off a 5-2 loss to Calgary on Friday. Ottawa has lost 2-of-3 on the road so far, and they rank near the bottom of the league on special teams. Cam Talbot has been solid between the pipes for the Oilers, allowing just two goals in his last four starts. The Sens have lost 21 of their last 31 on the road, and I think we get a good line backing the red hot home team here in Edmonton. Take EDM. GL, Jesse Schule
10-29-16	Kings v. Blues -135	Top	0-1	Win	100	17 h 42 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the St. Louis Blues. The Blues opened the season winning three straight, but have since won just once in five games. Goaltender Jake Allen has played well, with a 3-1-2 record and a 2.13 GAA. He stopped 26-of-27 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss to Detroit on Thursday. The Kings are down to their third string goaltender after starter Jonathan Quick and backup Jeff Zatkoff went down with injuries early in the season. They have won four straight with veteran backup Peter Budaj between the pipes, but all four of those wins came after regulation. It's going to be tough to keep that streak alive here on the road in St. Louis. The Blues have a huge edge on special teams, with the second best penalty killing unit in the league, and an above average power play. The home team is 11-4 in the last 15 meetings between the two teams, and the Kings have lost eight of their last 11 on the road. Take STL. GL, Jesse Schule
10-24-16	Flyers v. Canadiens -156	Top	1-3	Win	100	16 h 24 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Montreal Canadiens. After just five games, the Habs have the best record in the NHL. The are tied with St. Louis with nine points overall, but the Blues have played one more game. Montreal's hot start comes as no surprise to me, as this is the team I picked to win it all before the season started. Here is what I said just a few weeks ago: "The Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup a record 24 times. Last year they started off well, winning their first nine games, and going into November with the league's best record. An injury to starting goaltender Carey Price derailed their season, and it was all downhill from there. Price was 10-2 with a 2.06 GAA and a .934 save percentage prior to the injury, and those stats would have led the league if he played enough games to qualify. If you're thinking to yourself: "that's a small sample size", keep in mind that he led the NHL in GAA, wins and save percentage the previous season (2014-15). Price is clearly the best goalie in the world, and he proved that once again while winning gold with Canada in the World Cup of Hockey in September. Shea Weber was the anchor on defense for team Canada in the tournament, and he replaces P.K. Subban on the Habs blue line. What Weber might lack in terms of raw talent (compared to Subban), he makes up for it with maturity and leadership. And what might prove to be the biggest off-season pick up by any team, they added 2015 KHL scoring leader Alexander Radulov. He returns to the NHL at the age of 30, and he looks like he's grown up a lot since he was benched in the playoffs when he played for Nashville in 2012. He's looked great in the pre-season so far, and he has the potential to be the team's leading scorer. Given that the Habs went to the Conference Finals two seasons ago, and they have the NHL's best goaltender, I think it's fair to call them a contender. I like their chances a lot better than teams like St. Louis, Dallas, Nashville, LA, or San Jose, and the payout is much higher on Montreal." They host Philly Monday, and the Flyers come in ranked 25th in goals against, and 21st on the penalty kill. The home team has won 20 of the last 26 meetings in this series, and Philly has lost four straight at Montreal. Take MTL. GL, Jesse Schule
10-18-16	Hurricanes v. Oilers -141	Top	2-3	Win	100	23 h 16 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Edmonton Oilers. The Carolina Hurricanes finished 10 points out of a playoff spot last year, and they lost the heart and soul of their team in the off-season. Eric Staal was traded to Minnesota, as the Canes look to start a rebuild. Starting the season with six straight road games isn't ideal for Carolina, and earning points in their first two games should be considered an achievement, despite losing both games in OT. They are in a tough spot here in Edmonton, facing a young Oilers team that can really fly. The Oilers scored 12 goals in back-to-back wins over Calgary to start the season, but then suffered a let down in a 6-2 loss to Buffalo. The loss caused head coach Todd McLellan to cancel a scheduled off-day, getting the players back on the ice at practice. Connor McDavid has an NHL best six points so far, and he should get his fair share of chances against a Carolina team that conceded nine goals in two games so far. Take EDM. GL, Jesse Schule
10-15-16	Predators v. Blackhawks -133	Top	3-5	Win	100	9 h 7 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks will play the second game of a home and home series versus Nashville on Saturday, and they are still looking for their first win of the season. They lost 3-2 at Nashville last night, setting up a nice revenge angle here in Chicago. The Blackhawks had one of the best home records in the league last year, going 26-11-4 at the United Center. Nashville has lost seven of it's last eight games at Chicago. Patrick Kane led the league in scoring last year, but has yet to record a single point in two games this season. I expect a much better effort from Toews and Kane, and the entire Chicago team as they look to avenge last night's loss. The Predators have lost four straight on the road, and they are just 18-38 in their last 56 games when playing on back-to-back nights. Take CHI. GL, Jesse Schule
06-12-16	Penguins v. Sharks -110	Top	3-1	Loss	-110	33 h 36 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the San Jose Sharks. The Penguins have out-played the Sharks for most of this series, and they had a chance to clinch the Stanley Cup in Game 5 on home ice. The Sharks had other ideas though, jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead, and holding on to win 4-2. Now the series shifts back to California for Game 6, and the Sharks can smell blood in the water. The last thing the Penguins want is to return home for a winner takes all Game 7, but the Sharks are a dangerous team an they have now seized the momentum. Goaltender Martin Jones stood on his head for the final 40 minutes of Game 5, stopping all 31 shots he faced. The Penguins defense continued to protect Matt Murray, as the rookie faced just 21 shots, making 18 saves. With such high stakes, I expect Game 6 to be a tightly contested battle, with the home team emerging victorious. Take SJS. GL, Jesse Schule
06-12-16	Penguins v. Sharks UNDER 5	Top	3-1	Win	109	19 h 36 m	Show
This is a 10* play on PIT@SJS to go UNDER the total. The Penguins have out-played the Sharks for most of this series, and they had a chance to clinch the Stanley Cup in Game 5 on home ice. The Sharks had other ideas though, jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead, and holding on to win 4-2. Now the series shifts back to California for Game 6, and the Sharks can smell blood in the water. The last thing the Penguins want is to return home for a winner takes all Game 7, but the Sharks are a dangerous team an they have now seized the momentum. Goaltender Martin Jones stood on his head for the final 40 minutes of Game 5, stopping all 31 shots he faced. The Penguins defense continued to protect Matt Murray, as the rookie faced just 21 shots, making 18 saves. With such high stakes, I expect Game 6 to be a tightly contested battle with goals hard to come by. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
06-09-16	Sharks v. Penguins UNDER 5	Top	4-2	Loss	-100	21 h 37 m	Show
This is a 10* play on SJS@PIT to go UNDER the total. Here is what I had to say prior to Game 4: "So far all three games between the Sharks and the Penguins have failed to reach the total in the Stanley Cup Finals. We should expect another defensive battle in a pivotal Game 4 at the Shark Tank Monday. Both goaltenders have been rock solid, and neither team has looked great offensively. Joe Pavelski leads all scorers with 13 goals in the playoffs so far, but he hasn't registered a single point in this series. These teams have failed to reach the total in six of the last seven meetings, and the Penguins have gone under in six straight Stanley Cup Final games. The Pens are just 1-12-1 in their last 14 at the Shark Tank, and they might have a tough time bouncing back from such a tough loss in Game 3. Both these teams have been outstanding on the Penalty kill, and a lack of scoring with the man-advantage is one of the reasons why all three games have been low scoring. Game 4 should prove to be a lot like the first three games in this series." The Pens won by a score of 3-1, and with the Cup up for grabs here in Game 5, another tight, low scoring game is expected. The Blackhawks clinched the Cup with a 2-0 win in Game 6 of last year's Finals, The Kings clinched with a 3-2 win in Game 5 versus the Rangers the previous season. It's really quite rare to see a lot of offense in these type of elimination games in the Finals. While there is a high possibility of a push, I think the under is by far more likely than an over. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
06-06-16	Penguins v. Sharks UNDER 5.5	Top	3-1	Win	100	18 h 29 m	Show
This is a 10* play on PIT@SJS to go UNDER the total. So far all three games between the Sharks and the Penguins have failed to reach the total in the Stanley Cup Finals. We should expect another defensive battle in a pivotal Game 4 at the Shark Tank Monday. Both goaltenders have been rock solid, and neither team has looked great offensively. Joe Pavelski leads all scorers with 13 goals in the playoffs so far, but he hasn't registered a single point in this series. These teams have failed to reach the total in six of the last seven meetings, and the Penguins have gone under in six straight Stanley Cup Final games. The Pens are just 1-12-1 in their last 14 at the Shark Tank, and they might have a tough time bouncing back from such a tough loss in Game 3. Both these teams have been outstanding on the Penalty kill, and a lack of scoring with the man-advantage is one of the reasons why all three games have been low scoring. Game 4 should prove to be a lot like the first three games in this series. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
06-04-16	Penguins v. Sharks -140	Top	2-3	Win	100	57 h 12 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks return home down 0-2 after losing back to back one-goal games in Pittsburgh. This is a must win, as they know it will be impossible to come back from an 0-3 deficit in the Stanley Cup Finals. During the regular season, home ice was not a big factor for San Jose, but that has changed here in the playoffs. They've won six of their last seven at the Shark Tank, and Martin Jones has two shutouts during that span. Jones has been rock solid at home, with a record of 7-2 and a stellar .934 save percentage. Joe Pavelski leads all scorers in the post-season with 13 goals, and he alongside Logan Couture and Brent Burns are 1-2-and-3 in playoff points. San Jose owns one of the NHL's most potent power-plays, converting on 22.5 percent of their chances, while the Penguins rank below average clicking at around 18 percent. The Sharks are likely to be flying tonight, and it's going to be tough for the Pens to match the intensity of a team that is fighting for survival. Take SJS. GL, Jesse Schule
05-30-16	Sharks v. Penguins UNDER 5.5	Top	2-3	Win	100	59 h 17 m	Show
This is a 10* play on SJS@PIT to go UNDER the total. The Sharks come into Pittsburgh well rested after dispatching of the Blues in six games. The Penguins have only had one day off after escaping with a 2-1 win in Game 7 versus Tampa Bay. The opening game of the Stanley Cup Final goes tonight, and I expect a cautious approach from both teams here. Both these teams have been riding hot goaltenders, as Martin Jones sports a record of 12-6 with a 2.13 GAA in the post season, and he had a pair of shutouts in the Western Conference Finals. Matt Murray has played well for the Pens, and was only asked to face 17 shots in Game 7 versus Tampa. These teams have a history of playing low scoring games, as five of the last six meetings have gone under, and the under is 6-1 in the last seven meetings in Pittsburgh. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
05-26-16	Lightning v. Penguins UNDER 5.5	Top	1-2	Win	100	18 h 34 m	Show
This is a 10* play on PIT@TB to go UNDER the total. The Penguins host Tampa in a deciding Game 7 in Steel Town Thursday, and history tells us we should expect tight defense in this elimination game. Pittsburgh took a 3-0 lead into the third period in Game 6, but four more goals in the third pushed the total over. Since the 2006 season, studies show that referees call roughly 50% fewer penalties in Game 7s, in comparison to the regular season. This means fewer power-plays, and often fewer scoring chances when the refs let the defenders get away with more physical play. "The numbers do seem to support this theory. Since 2006, the Under has gone 20-14-7 in Game 7’s for an 11% ROI (going under the total by an average of 0.3 goals per game)." These stats are based on totals of 5 goals or lower, which would mean that all seven of those pushes would have fallen below 5.5. It's also likely that the 14 games that went over would also include a few games that finished with five goals, with a total of 4.5. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
05-25-16	Blues v. Sharks -155	Top	2-5	Win	100	21 h 44 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks can punch a ticket to their first ever Stanley Cup Final with a win at home in Game 6 of the West Final tonight. The Sharks suffered a let down at home in Game 5, after out-scoring the Blues 7-0 in consecutive shutout wins in Games 2 & 3. After more than a decade of disappointment in the playoffs, this year's squad appears destined to hoist Lord Stanley's Mug. Joe Pavelski leads all scorers in the post-season with 12 goals, and he's just one of three Sharks that rank in the top 5 in points scored. The old saying goes like this: "To win in the playoffs, you need your best players to be your best players." That's certainly been the case for the Sharks, but Blues leading scorer Vladimir Tarasenko has been held off the scoresheet in this series so far. Take SJS. GL, Jesse Schule
05-21-16	Blues v. Sharks -150	Top	6-3	Loss	-150	32 h 42 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks were a little unfortunate to lose Game 1 of this series in St. Louis. Martin Jones let in a soft goal that proved to be the difference in a close game. I took San Jose in Games 2 & 3, and here is what I said prior to Game 2: "The difference in the game was a bad goal against allowed by netminder Martin Jones, who has been stellar so far in these playoffs. I expect a much better effort from Jones tonight, and the Sharks are likely to come out flying." Jones was brilliant, stopping all 26 shots he faced. He's since recorded consecutive shouts, and has only allowed two goals in his last four starts. Joe Pavelski leads all scorers in the post-season with nine goals, and he's just one of three Sharks that rank in the top 5 in points scored. The Blues leading scorer Vladimir Taresenko did not play particularly well in Game 1, and he's been unable to solve Martin Jones so far in this series. The Sharks should prove to be an Apex Predator here in Game 4, moving in four the kill when they smell fresh blood. Take SJS. GL, Jesse Schule
05-19-16	Blues v. Sharks -135	Top	0-3	Win	100	33 h 59 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks were a little unfortunate to lose Game 1 of this series in St. Louis. Martin Jones let in a soft goal that proved to be the difference in a close game. I took San Jose in Game 2, and here is what I said prior to opening faceoff: "The difference in the game was a bad goal against allowed by netminder Martin Jones, who has been stellar so far in these playoffs. I expect a much better effort from Jones tonight, and the Sharks are likely to come out flying." Jones was brilliant, stopping all 26 shots he faced. The Sharks owned the puck in the 4-0 win, controlling the play for the entire 60 minutes. Joe Pavelski leads all scorers in the post-season with nine goals, and he's just one of three Sharks that rank in the top 5 in points scored. The Blues leading scorer Vladimir Taresenko did not play particularly well in Game 1, and he's been unable to solve Martin Jones so far in this series. The Sharks have complete control of this series heading back to San Jose, and I don't like the Blues chances in Game 3. Take SJS. GL, Jesse Schule
05-17-16	Sharks +116 v. Blues	Top	4-0	Win	116	20 h 51 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks came into this post-season with a lineup loaded with veteran players and a ton of playoff experience. They also bring a reputation for choking under pressure, and a long history of post-season failure. This might well be the last kick at the can for players like Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton, and so far we've seen a team that appears to be focused on putting it's previous failures behind them. They lost Game 1 in St. Louis by a score of 2-1, but they dominated play in the third period, and out-shot the Blues 32-23 in the game. The difference in the game was a bad goal against allowed by netminder Martin Jones, who has been stellar so far in these playoffs. I expect a much better effort from Jones tonight, and the Sharks are likely to come out flying. Joe Pavelski leads all scorers in the post-season with nine goals, and he's just one of three sharks that rank in the top 5 in points scored. The Blues leading scorer Vladimir Taresenko did not play particularly well in Game 1, and he missed the pre-game skate because of the birth of his child. He's expected to play, but might have other things on his mind, and likely hasn't gotten much sleep. Look for this series to be tied heading back to San Jose. Take SJS. GL, Jesse Schule
05-11-16	Blues +103 v. Stars	Top	6-1	Win	103	18 h 11 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the St. Louis Blues. The Blues failed to close out the Stars at home in Game 6, but they get another crack at it tonight in the series finale in Dallas. The Stars jumped out to an early lead in the last game, but St. Louis carried the play, out-shooting them 37-14. Brian Elliot was beaten three times on just seven shots, which was totally unexpected after he stopped 27-of-28 shots in a 4-1 win at Dallas in Game 4. He should be able to bounce back here in Game 7. Dallas has really missed Tyler Seguin in this series, and leading scorer Jamie Benn has only found the net once heading into Game 7. Dallas was 0-for-2 on the power-play at home in Game 5, and they have only scored twice in 17 opportunities with the man-advantage in the series. The Blues are bigger, stronger and far better defensively, and Dallas is lucky to have lasted this long. St. Louis should be able to escape with a win here in Game 7. Take STL. GL, Jesse Schule
05-10-16	Capitals v. Penguins -130	Top	3-4	Win	100	57 h 47 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Caps avoided elimination with a 3-1 home win in Game 5 of this series versus Pittsburgh, but the Pens get another chance to close out the series on home ice tonight. The President's Trophy winners have lost both games in Pittsburgh, although each game was close. Matt Murray stymied the Caps in Game 3, stopping 47-of-49 shots. He was great again in Game 4, and I expect he'll rebound from a shaky performance in the last game in Washington. He's 9-2-1 with a 2.00 GAA since stepping in to replace Marc Andre Fluery, and he's won four of five starts at home. The Pens are tough to beat on home ice, and they've won 21 of their last 26 games at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins dynamic duo of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have been pretty quiet in this series so far, but that should be of little comfort to the Caps, who still find themselves on the verge of being ousted from the post-season. You can bet that Crosby will have his best game of the series here in Game 6. Take PIT. GL, Jesse Schule

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