At 8:00pm Et, my NHL Playoff Game Of The Year is on Florida. The Oilers squandered their opportunity, allowing the Florida Panthers to take command. With home-ice advantage, the Panthers are now well-positioned to close out the series. While alternating goaltenders can occasionally ignite a team—and the Oilers desperately needed a spark—it also exacts a cost when neither goaltender can deliver consistently. Moreover, this strategy underscores that Edmonton's challenges in containing the Panthers extend beyond goaltending, revealing deeper systemic issues. Of course, no other team has been able to stop the Panthers either. Florida is 32-15-3 on home ice compared to Edmonton's 30-20-2 mark on the road. My heart might say Edmonton but this Panther team is even better than the one which won the Cup last year. There will be no denying them on home ice on Tuesday. Play on Florida

At 9:00pm ET, my NHL Playoff Total Of The Year is on the Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers Under the total. The first two games of this series were both played at Edmonton. The Oilers won 4-3 in Game 1, the Panthers responded with a 5-4 win in Game 2. Both contests went to Overtime. Now the series shifts to Florida's Amerant Bank Arena. This will lead to a lower-scoring game. Three of the Panthers' last 4 games here finished with 3 goals or less. Skinner has a better GAA on the road than at home and Bobrovsky has better numbers at home than on the road. Series tied and neither team wanting to give an inch, I believe that this will be the lowest scoring game of the Finals. Play on the under.

At 8:00pm ET, my Western Conference Playoff Game Of the Year is on the Dallas Stars. The Florida Panthers have secured their place in the Stanley Cup Finals and await their opponent. The Edmonton Oilers, riding a three-game winning streak, are eager to join them. However, the Dallas Stars, backed by their formidable 35-12-3 home record, are determined to extend the series. Despite the Oilers' dominant performance in the two games played in Edmonton and their victory in the last game at Dallas, the Stars, with a passionate fanbase and immense team pride, are poised to deliver their best effort to keep their season alive. Recall that the Stars were at their best when facing elimination in the Colorado series. The Oilers, with their 28-19-2 road record, are going to have to put their Florida plans on a temporary hold. We're going to Game 6! Play on Dallas.

At 8:00pm ET, my NHL Western Conference Total Of The Week is on the Edmonton Oilers vs Dallas Stars under. These teams do have some dangerous offensive weapons but this is a very high total for an NHL playoff game. Before losing Game 1 of this series, the Oilers' previous 2 games had scores of 1-0 and 3-0. Before winning Game 1 of this series, the Stars' previous 3 games had scores of 2-1, 4-0 and 3-1. Six of the Stars' last 8 games have finished with 6 or fewer goals. Scoring will be more difficult tonight. Play on the under. 

At 8:00pm ET, my NHL Conference Finals Game Of The Year is on Carolina. The Panthers and Hurricanes have been here before; Florida eliminated Carolina in the Eastern Conference Finals two years ago. The Panthers secured a dramatic Game 1 overtime victory in that series and maintained their momentum to advance. This time, in addition to holding home-ice advantage, Carolina benefits from a more favorable schedule. The Hurricanes concluded their seven-game series against Washington a few days earlier than Florida’s series against Toronto, which ended on Sunday. In the playoffs, where all teams are dealing with injuries and fatigue, those extra days of rest are critical. Florida has a mediocre road record of 25-21-2 while Carolina’s home dominance is formidable, boasting a 36-9-1 record at Raleigh. With these factors, the Hurricanes are well-positioned to start strong. Play on Carolina. 

At 7:00pm ET, my NHL Eastern Conference Total Of The Year is on Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs Under. After the first 3 games of the series went over the total, things changed drastically in Game 4. The score was just 2-0. That brings us to a critical Game 5. I believe we can expect more of what we saw in Game 4; a low-scoring, tight-checking, great goaltending brand of hockey. Bobrovsky has found his groove and the Toronto big guns aren't scoring: Captain Auston Matthews has yet to score a goal this series. Mitch Marner has only one shot on goal in the past three games. John Tavares, who opened the playoffs with five points in the first three games, has just two points over the past six.  Filling in for Stolarz, Toronto goalie Woll has risen to the occasion. Goals will be hard to come by. Play on the under. 

At 8:00pm ET, my NHL Center Ice Report is on Winnipeg Jets vs Dallas Stars Under. In the most recent matchup, the game total (5-2 Dallas) exceeded expectations. However, that was an outlier compared to historical trends. Notably, the previous ten meetings between these teams all finished below the projected total. The last game saw an unusually fast-paced start, with three first-period goals, including one within the opening few minutes, which undermined the under. A slower start tonight is likely to result in a lower final score. Expect improved performance from Winnipeg's goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, who will need to be sharp given the Jets' challenges scoring on the road. Play on the under.

At 4:30pm Et, my NHL Slap Shot Club is on Dallas. Home ice means a lot in this series. This is what I said, prior to Winnipeg's 4-0 Game 2 victory: "Don't count on these Jets. Not at the Canada Life Centre. This Winnipeg team, extremely strong on home ice, doesn't quit. The Jets are 34-8-4 at home. Off the Game 1 loss, they will bring everything they've got. Also strong on home ice, the Stars 24-18-3 road road record is nothing special." The problem for the Jets - and the good thing for the Stars and that their fans - is that the series has moved to American Airlines Center. The Stars are a different team at home and the Jets aren't as strong on the road. The Stars have responded to every playoff loss by winning their next game. Play on Dallas.

At 9:30pm ET, my NHL Game Of the Week is on Winnipeg. Don't count on these Jets. Not at the Canada Life Centre. This Winnipeg team, extremely strong on home ice, doesn't quit. The Jets are 34-8-4 at home. Off the Game 1 loss, they will bring everything they've got. Also strong on home ice, the Stars 24-18-3 road road record is nothing special. The Jets have one of the best goalies the game with the likely Vezina Trophy-winner. Connor Hellebuyck shines and the resilient Jets soar.

At 8:00pm ET, my May NHL Total Of the Month is on Winnipeg Jets vs St. Louis Blues Under. Winnipeg now leads the series 3-2. A win tonight and the Jets move on to the next round. The goaltending hasn't been as sharp as might have been expected the past few games. These are high-level net-minders though. In an elimination game, they're going to give us great goal-tending. Scheifele, the Jets' #1 center is out. That's big. Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel expects this: “This is going to be a meat-and-potato kind of work zone-to-zone game. Get out of our zone, get through that neutral zone and then make them spend some time in their end of the rink. You know, not having Nic [Ehlers], not having ‘Scheif,’ kind of knocks out a couple of your top-six players. So this is straightforward, grind it out kind of work for, fight for every inch." Go with the Under.

My WESTERN CONFERENCE TOTAL OF THE WEEK is on the under between the Oilers and the Kings at 10:00 EST. The first four games of this series have all flown over the number. LA won the first two games before Edmonton bounced back and won the next two. All tied up and now heading back to LA in the best-of-three series, I finally expect these fatigued sides to play some defense tonight. The Edmonton power-kill went 3-for-3 in Sunday's 4-3 OT victory. Yes, these four games have been high-scoring, but previous to this playoff series from December 28th to April 21st, five games between these clubs had a posted total of 5.5. Their final three regular-season games all went under the number. Expect a slower overall pace in Game 5 to lead to a much tighter and lower-scoring combined outcome. This number is high, the play is on the under.

My WESTERN CONFERENCE GAME OF THE WEEK is on the Dallas Stars at 9:30 EST. This has been a back-and-forth series. Colorado won Game 1 by a score of 5-1, but then Dallas responded with 2- and 4-3 OT victories in Games 2 and 3. Colorado then finally responded last time out with a 4-0 victory in Game 4. With the series shifting back to Dallas though, I do now think that home ice will prove crucial over the final three games of this series. Colorado, though, will play this one without Ross Colton. Dallas will play without Jason Robertson and Nils Lundkvist, while Oskar Back and Miro Heiskanen are questionable. The Avs outshot the Stars 48 to 23 in Game 4. The Avs are 23-17-1 on the road this year, but Dallas is 28-10-3 at home. Jason Robertson is still out for Dallas, but look for Tyler Seguin and company to once again step up their performance here at home in Game 5. The fact that we're getting "plus money" here is just a bonus, as I feel that Dallas should be the slight favorite still in this spot. The play is on Dallas.

My EASTERN CONFERENCE ROUND ONE TOTAL OF THE YEAR is on the over between the Hurricanes and the Devils at 3:30 EST. Home ice advantage has so far proved crucial in this series. Carolina won Game 1 by a score of 4-1, and then Game 2 at home by a score of 3-1. The Devils finally answered back at home in Game 3 with a hard-fought 3-2 overtime victory. While the first three games of this series have all gone under the number, I'm finally anticipating a much faster-paced affair in Game 4, and will therefore be hammering the over in this one. These teams played a back-to-back on December 27th and 28th in the regular season. The Devils beat Carolina 4-2 on the 27th, and then Carolina responded with a 5-2 win on the 28th. I believe we'll see a similar offensive response here following the Game 3 loss. Keep your eyes on the Devils' Timo Meier, who has ten shots on 27 attempts through three games. Jacob Markstrom and Frederik Andersen have so far been the focal point of this series, but now everything points to these offenses taking "center stage" so to speak in Game 4. This number is low, the play is on the over.

My ROUND ONE WESTERN CONFERENCE GAME OF THE YEAR is on the Las Vegas Golden Knights at 4:00 EST. The Knights looked great in Game 1, but have stumbled over the last two games, falling 5-2 in both Game's 2 and 3. Las Vegas is loaded with talent and I don't see the visitors panicking here. Keep your eyes on the Knights' Jack Eichel, who leads the top line for Las Vegas and who had 94 points this season. Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev will also be difficult for the Wild to handle in my opinion. Adin Hill is expected back in net for the visitors and he should bounce back no problem after finishing 32-13-5 with a 2.47 GAA this season. Minnesota has already defied the odds by winning the last two games and while it does have talent (like Matt Boldy), I believe it's going to be Minnesota that takes a step back now with its performance in Game 4. Flip Gustavsson is 31-19-6 with a 2.56 GAA for the Wild, but I still think Hill is the correct call in this spot. There's a chance that Akira Scmid could be in net for the Knights, but that's fine with me as well. Las Vegas is the deeper, more experienced team and I expect it to finally answer back in this series after dropping the last two games. Lay the price, the Golden Knights roll!

My EASTERN CONFERENCE ROUND ONE GAME OF THE YEAR is on the Montreal Canadiens at 7:00 EST. Despite Washington owning a 2-0 lead as it shifts North of the border, this has still been a competitive series. I believe that the "home ice advantage" will prove crucial for the Canadiens tonight. Winning on the road in the NHL Playoffs is a difficult task. The bottom line here is that I don't see Alexander Ovechkin and company sweeping this series. Cole Caufield and the Canadiens went 23-12-6 at the Bell Centre. Looking back finds that the Capitals have dropped their last four playoff road games dating back to May 3, 2023. With the hometown crowd cheering them on, I believe the Canadiens dig deep and respond in Game 3. Montreal rolls!

My SLAP-SHOT play is on the over between the Jets and the Blues at 8:30 EST. The Blues are on the ropes and must play with desperation here to match Winnipeg if they have any hopes of getting back into this series. The Jets, though, have scored seven goals over the first two games, and I don't see their offense slowing down here. Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele have led the way for Winnipeg by combining for four goals and five assists so far. St. Louis has only scored three goals over the first two games. Pavel Buchnevich, Jordan Kyrou, and Robert Thomas should have a much better game at home here though in my estimation. Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington though has struggled so far and he'll once again have his hands full with this aggressive Winnipeg offense. This number is low in my opinion, so the play is on the over.

My SLAP-SHOT play is on the under between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche at 9:30 EST. Colorado won Game 1 by a score of 5-1, while Dallas bounced back with a 4-3 overtime win in Game 2. The first two games have been fairly high-scoring, but with the shift in venue, I'm also expecting a shift in pace, and so, because of that, I like the "under" in Game 3 as far as the total is concerned. Nathan MacKinnon had a goal in both games for Colorado. I had a play on the Stars in both Game's 1 and 2. I lost in Game 1, and won in Game 2. That victory snapped a eight-game slide for Dallas. It really was a "do or die" type of scenario for the Stars. Will they have a letdown here now in Game 3 after that emotional victory? The Stars are still without top-scorer Jason Robertson and I think that catches up to them again here in Game 3. Look for Game 3 to be a much tighter, and lower-scoring defensive battle. The play is on the under.

My WESTERN CONFERENCE ROUND ONE TOTAL OF THE YEAR is on the under between the Wild and Knights at 11:00 EST. Game 1 flew over the posted total in the Knights 4-2 victory, but I'm expecting a much tighter, and ultimately lower-scoring battle here in Game 2. Over bettors were in fact "lucky," as Las Vegas would hit the late "empty netter" to push the total over the posted number of 5.5. Minnesota struggled offensively this year, averaging 2.74 GPG. The Knights averaged 3.34, but goaltender Adin Hill, who stopped 18 of the 20 shots he faced, should only get stronger now moving forward. I see Game 2 playing out much the same as Game 1 did, but even tighter and lower-scoring this time around. The play is on the under.

My WESTERN CONFERENCE GAME OF THE WEEK is on the Dallas Stars at 9:30 EST. The Avalanche have already stolen home-ice advantage in this series, but I like Dallas to dig deep and find a way to even this series before it shifts to Colorado. Both teams have a couple key injuries, but this is a do-or-die game for Dallas. The Stars closed out the regular season with seven straight losses and its safe to say that if they don't win this contest here now at home, that you can stick a fork in the rest of their playoffs moving forward with this series heading to Colorado for Game's 3 and 4. Nathan MacKinnon looked good in Game 1, but I think that Stars' netminder Jake Oettinger can bounce back. Without Jason Robertson in the line-up, I admit that it will be very hard for Dallas to win this series. However, I like the Stars to finally answer here in Game 2 and think the offer great value to do that. The play is on Dallas! 

My PLAYOFF PAYOFF is on the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7:00 EST. I think Toronto is worth the price of admission in this matchup. Ottawa exceeded expectations with its young core, but now I think it'll stumble here in this difficult road venue. At least in Game 1. To say the "revenge angle" is a real one in this game would be an understatement I think, as Ottawa went 3-0 in the regular season series. Tim Stutzle was a standout for Ottawa this year with 79 points. But Mitch Marner had over 100 points for the Leafs this year. Ottawa appears to have great future potential, but it's in uncharted territory right now. It's an almost "do or die" Playoffs for the Leafs, with many key players up for contract re-negotiation. Look for Toronto to find a way to get the job done in Game 1. Lay the price, Leafs roll!

My OPENING NIGHT NHL PLAYOFF POUNDER is on the Dallas Stars at 8:30 EST. These teams played three times, and the home team won each game. Home ice will once again prove to be crucial between these clubs in this series in my opinion, and getting the Stars here at this price in Dallas seems almost like a gift. Dallas beat Colorado in the second round of the Playoffs last year. Overall, Colorado averages 3.33 GPG, while conceding 2.82. Nathan MacKinnon was second in the league with 116 points, while Mackenzie Blackwood finished 28-21-6 with a 2.55 GAA. Dallas averages 3.35 GPG, while allowing 2.71. Mikko Rantanen finished with 32 goals and 56 assists and will face his former team. Both teams were better on home ice this season and despite a couple of injury concerns, I believe the Stars are the correct call here in Dallas. Great line value, Stars roll!

My SLAP-SHOT play is on the under between the Calgary Flames and the LA Kings at 9:30 EST. Calgary is 2-0 in the season series and the Flames enter having won four of their last five, but they've officially been eliminated from Playoff contention and I expect a predictable letdown here in this meaningless game. The Kings are also super hot, having won four in a row and eight of their last nine, but they've already clinched their spot and will be resting most starters in preparation for their series with Edmonton. With each team "going through the motions" like I believe they will, the "under" becomes the correct call as far as the total is concerned in my opinion. 

My SLAP-SHOT PLAY is on Vancouver Canucks on the puckline option at 10:00 EST. Neither team will be in the playoffs, but I'm definitely expecting the Canucks to dial up the pressure here and not only win this game, but to do so in blowout fashion. This is the fourth and final matchup of the year between the clubs and Vancouver is so far 3-0 in the season series. Tyler Toffoli leads the Shakrs with 30 goals this year, and while he has three over his last five games, fatigue will clearly be a major issue for the visiting side tonight playing the second game of the back-to-back. Vancouver lost 3-2 in OT to the Wild in their last game. The Canucks are led by Marcus Pettersson and they average 2.88 GPG. The Sharks on the other hand rank dead last in the league by conceding 3.80 GPG and over their nine-game slide, they're conceding an average of 5.11. Look for the Canucks to post a big win here, before a much more difficult end of season game vs. the Golden Knights. Lay the 1.5 goals and take Vancouver on the puckline.

My PUCKLINE SLAP-SHOT PLAY is on the Calgary Flames at 8:00 EST. Calgary is in a fight for its playoff life with three games remaining, as the Flames sit in ninth spot in the standings, four points behind St. Louis for the eighth spot. Calgary beat Minnesota 4-2 last time out here at home, but I'm anticipating an even bigger blowout here vs. the toothless Sharks. San Jose is just 8-22-9 on the road and it enters with zero momentum after eight straight losses. One of those setbacks includes a 3-2 home loss to the Flames last week. But now here at home and with so much on the line, I'm expecting Calgary to push the pace and to take advantage of this matchup. Clearly, we can't take Calgary on the moneyline, but with an expected blowout predicted, let's lay the 1.5 goals for the Flames on the puckline option instead!

My WESTERN CONFERENCE NHL UNDERDOG OF THE MONTH is on the Calgary Flames at 10:00 EST. Calgary sits five games back of St. Louis and Minnesota for the 7th/8th spot. The Flames will need to win their remaining four games to have any shot at the Playoffs. The Wild have a chance to end the Flames season tonight, but I believe they'll stumble after back-to-back difficult overtime victories at home, most recently a marathon 8-7 OT win over the Sharks. With a game at Vancouver tomorrow, the visitors could also be caught "looking ahead" here. Typically I would avoid playing on a team that's already beaten the other side twice in the same season, but the overall situation supercedes that factor. Calgary has beaten Minnesota twice this year, and everything points to the Flames pulling off a third win the regular-season series here at home tonight as well. Great value play on Calgary on Friday.

My 8* CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the over between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers at 7:00 EST. These teams are also battling Tampa for top spot in the Atlantic. Toronto is 8-1-1 in its last ten, while Florida is 3-6-1. Florida will be particularly eager to bounce back here as well after three straight losses. William Nylander and Nicholas Robertson each scored twice and Auston Matthews had two points in Toronto's latest 5-0 win over the Blue Jackets. I think Toronto keeps that offensive momentum rolling here. Florida on the other hand is off a 2-1 loss to Detroit. Florida though still ranks first in the league in shots with 32 per game on average and I expect a big response here in this important contest. A great overall situational play on the over, as I'm anticipating each side to push the pace from start to finish.

My 8* CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the Las Vegas Golden Knights at 10:00 EST. The Canucks season came to a disappointing end in their 5-0 loss to Seattle on April 2nd. They then bounced back with a 6-2 victory over the Ducks last night, but with upcoming games at Dallas and Colorado, I believe they'll have a hard time bringing the same energy tonight against the Knights. Las Vegas beat Vancouver 3-1 at home in February. The Knights broke a two-game slide with an important 3-2 OT victory at Calgary last night. With a tough upcoming game at Colorado, the Canucks present a great opportunity to maintain their lead in the Pacific with just over a week left in the regular season. Keep your eyes on Knights' star Jack Eichel, who has a career-high 93 points for Vegas in 74 games this season. Lay this price with confidence, Knights roll!

My 8* TOTAL CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the over between the Wild and Islanders at 7:30 EST. Minnesota enters 41-28-7, while New York is 32-32-10. The Wild beat the Isles 6-2 at home in February, and I believe everything points to a similar final combined score here as well in what I anticipate will be a much faster-paced affair than most. Minnesota is off a 5-4 OT loss at the Rangers, so they're now in the fourth spot in the Central, seven points ahead of the Flames. New York though has lost six straight. While only scoring 16 goals over that span, note that the Islanders have conceded 27 over that stretch as well. Most recently they lost 4-1 to the Lightning despite outshooting Tampa 29-24. Now five points behind the final wild-card spot in the East, time has all but run out for New York at this point. However, with each side pushing the pace in this one like I believe it will, the over is what I'm rolling with in this one!

My 8* CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the Buffalo Sabres at 7:00 EST. These teams are hungry for wins. Pittsburgh is 29-33-11 overall, and just 11-19-6 on the road, while Buffalo is 29-35-6 overall, but 18-14-3 at home. The Penguins have lost three of their last four, including a 6-1 defeat at Tampa last time out. It's the Sabres though that play with the added incentive of revenge here following a 5-2 defeat here to Pittsburgh in mid-January. The Sabres are playing better all of a sudden after back-to-back victories as an underdog. That includes a 3-2 win here over Ottawa on Tuesday. With a difficult upcoming three-game road trip starting in Philadelphia on Saturday night, tonight's game takes on added importance for Buffalo as well. I'm predicting a blowout for Buffalo here. Lay the price, Sabres roll!

My 8* CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the Edmonton Oilers at 10:00 EST. Dallas beat Edmonton 4-1 at home back in October, and then Edmonton returned the favor with a 5-4 home victory on March 8th. This is the rubber match, and in my opinion, the Stars are overvalued here on the road. Dallas is coming off a 3-0-1 home stand, most recently a 3-0 victory over Minnesota (despite getting outshot 32-29.) Jake Oettinger posted his second shutout of the season. But Edmonton has won four of its last five, most recently holding on for the 5-4 win over Seattle on Saturday. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored his fourth career hat-trick. So despite missing key players like Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, I believe Edmonton is still the correct call at home here in this spot. Dallas has a game at Calgary tomorrow, and I believe it gets caught looking ahead as well. Edmonton is also in action against the Kraken on Wednesday, but the line value here is just too good to turn down on the underdog home side in my opinion. Oilers roll!

My 8* CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the New Jersey Devils at 7:30 EST. The Canucks are 32-26, but they're off back-to-back road losses, most recently a 5-3 setback at the Rangers. With three more difficult contests at the Islanders, Columbus and Winnipeg, the road ahead definitely won't get any easier for Vancouver. The Devils hammered the Canucks 6-0 in Vancouver back on October 30th. The Devils are 37-28 and they're also desperate to snap a two-game slide, falling 5-3 to Calgary and then 3-2 to Ottawa. With a three-game road trip on deck next, this final home game does take on added importance here for New Jersey as well. I'd almost assuredly be backing the Canucks in this spot if this game were being played in Vancouver, but the home-ice advantage can't be overlooked as a very real deciding factor in my opinion as well. Either way, I'm expecting the Devils to find a way to come out on top in this important home contest, so lay the price with confidence.

My 8* CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the Islanders at 4:00 EST. After back-to-back road wins as an underdog, and with two nights off before a game at home vs. Seattle, I think the Flames are going to have a letdown here at Long Island. The Isles play with revenge following a 2-1 OT loss in Calgary at the start of the season as well. New York is playing its best hockey of the season right now, entering off three quality wins and scoring 12 goals in the process. All things considered, I believe this line could or should in fact be a lot larger. So, great line value here on the revenge-minded home side in the end. Lay the price, Islanders roll!

My 8* CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the Calgary Flames on the puckline at 7:00 EST. Calgary is now 31-25-11 after a 2-1 win at the Rangers last time out. The Flames are only 13-14-6 on the SU on the road this season, but they're 18-15 on the puckline option. New Jersey is 17-11-4 at home straight-up, but only 15-17 against the spread. The Devils have won four of their last five following a 2-1 win at Columbus two nights ago, but the Devils struggled to keep pace at Calgary back in November, falling 3-0. I'm predicting another really tight battle here and in a contest that I see possibly even seeing extra time, I'm going to lay the price with confidence and take Calgary on the puckline option.

My 8* CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the Calgary Flames on the puckline at 7:00 EST. I think the Rangers are a bit overpriced here. I believe this game will be a lot more competitive than what the oddsmakers are trying to lead us to believe. Yes, Calgary is only 12-14-6 on the road this season, but the Rangers are just 16-15-3 at home. Calgary will be risking life and limb here to snap a three-game slide following a 6-2 loss at Toronto last night. They beat the Rangers 3-2 at home though back in November. The Rangers so play with revenge, but they also come in on shaky form, going just 2-5 in their last seven following a 3-1 loss here at home to Edmonton last time out. The Leafs and Canucks are up next for the Rangers, as New York prepares to face four Canadian teams in a row. Regardless, I say Calgary shakes off last night's performance and comes prepared to play tonight against a shaky Rangers team. Lay the reasonable price for the extra 1.5 goals, the play is Calgary on the puckline.

My 10* Atlantic Division GAME OF THE YEAR is on the Boston Bruins at 7:00 EST. I believe a great spot to pull the trigger here on the revenge-minded home side. The Sabres are 26-33-6, while the Bruins are 30-30-8. Buffalo doesn't travel well, going just 9-19-3 as the visitor this season. Boston on the other hand has been at its best at home by going 19-12-5. The Sabres are off a 4-3 shootout win at home over Vegas, but in their last road game, they were blown out 7-3 by Detroit and I believe a similar fate now awaits them here in Boston. The Bruins will be hungry to snap a two-game slide, falling 6-3 at Ottawa, before a 6-2 home loss to Tampa most recently. With a difficult five-game Western road swing after this for Boston, tonight's contest takes on added importance for the Bruins. And as mentioned, Boston does play with revenge here as well after a 7-2 loss at Buffalo at the end of January. Considering the price as well, I think we're getting unbelievable value here the Bruins. Lay the short price, Boston rolls!

My 8* ULTIMATE SLAP-SHOT is on the Edmonton Oilers at 7:00 EST. I'm going to lay this price and expect Edmonton to take advantage of this spot. The Rangers are off back-to-back victories, including a 4-0 win at Columbus yesterday. Fatigue will be an issue in the second game of the back-to-back and I believe New York suffers a letdown here after going 2-1 on its road-trip. Edmonton already destroyed New York 6-2 at home back in November and the Oilers are off the 2-1 OT win at Long Island on Friday. Look for the more well-rested visiting side to close out its road-trip with a victory as it earns the perfect Big Apple sweep. Oilers roll!

My 8* CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the Flames on the puckline at 9:00 EST. The Avs are 39-24, but after having their six-game win streak snapped with a 2-1 shootout loss at Minnesota last time out, I'm expecting another letdown here in Calgary against the revenge-minded home side. And with a night off before a home contest vs. the 42-20 Stars, it's also a potential look-ahead position for Colorado. Calgary lost 4-2 to Colorado here last month and it's now 30-23 after trading wins/losses over its last five games. Off a 4-3 shootout loss here to Vancouver though, I think this pattern will continue (especially considering that the Flames have a difficult four-game Eastern road swing after this home contest.) Considering all of these factors, I definitely feel that Calgary on the puckline option offers great value.

My 8* CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the Rangers/Wild over at 8:00 EST. These teams haven't been scoring a lot of goals of late, but I believe that's about to change here on Thursday in Minnesota. The Rangers are 31-28-6 overall and 15-14-3 on the road, while the Wild are 27-24-4 overall, and 15-14-1 at home. The Rangers have lost four straight and they'll be desperate to snap the slide. The Wild just broke a two-game losing streak with a 2-1 shootout win over Colorado. Minnesota has seen the total go under in three straight. The Wild have a favorable schedule here though with upcoming home games vs. St. Louis, LA, Seattle and Buffalo. With each team pushing the pace of this one from the outset like I'm predicting, I see this total flying well over the number.  

My 8* CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the Seattle Kraken at 10:30 EST. Montreal is 31-27-6 after last night's 4-2 win at Vancouver, but now I believe fatigue will be a major issue for the Habs in the second game of the back-to-back scenario. With two nights off before a home game vs. Florida, would anyone fault the visitors if they got caught "looking ahead" here?! Seattle will look to take advantage of that possibility while also bouncing back from a poor 1-3 stretch, as the Kraken most recently fell 4-2 in the Nation's capital. But with two nights off to rest and prepare, Seattle looks poised to try and duplicate its big 8-2 win at Montreal back in late October. Either way, I think Montreal comes in tired and Seattle takes advantage. Lay the price, Kraken roll!

My 8* CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the under in the Wings/Senators at 7:30 EST. Detroit is 30-27-6 this year and 14-12-3 on the road. Ottawa is 32-25-5, including 18-9-2 at home. Detroit though enters desperate to snap a five-game slide following 5-2 setback at Washington last time out. Perhaps a date vs. the Senators is just what the doctor ordered to get back on track, as Detroit prevailed 3-2 in OT at home back in early January. The Senators have played in three straight extra time games, winning 4-3 OT contests over Chicago and New York most recently. The home side though will have to be cautious here to not get caught looking ahead to its game at Philadelphia on Tuesday night. I expect another competitive battle between these clubs with a similar lower-scoring outcome as what we saw in their OT game in February. This number is high in my opinion.

My 8* CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the Carolina Hurricanes at 5:00 EST. Winnipeg is now 44-16 after back-to-back victories, including a 6-1 win at the Devils last time out. With a night off before two difficult home contests vs. the Rangers and Stars, respectively, the visitors will have to be careful not to lose focus versus the revenge-minded home side. Carolina is 37-22, and it's off three straight quality victories as well, most recently a 3-2 win here over Boston. The Hurricanes play with the added incentive of revenge after falling 3-0 at Winnipeg at the start of February. Carolina is playing its best hockey of the season right now and considering the circumstances and this reasonable price, I believe it's the correct call in this matchup and offers great line value in the end. Canes roll!

My 8* CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the Colorado Avalanche at 7:00 EST. Toronto is 38-21, but it comes to Colorado with zero momentum after back-to-back losses. Colorado is 37-24 and it comes into this one arguably playing its best hockey of the season after four straight victories. These teams have a common opponent over the last two weeks. The Leafs lost 3-2 in OT to the Sharks at home in their previous outing, while Colorado beat San Jose here by a score of 7-3 in its most recent matchup. Recent form plays a big part in my decision to pull the trigger on the home side in this matchup. And so does the price. The play is Colorado.

My 8* CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the OVER Jets/Devils at 7:00 EST. I'm expecting a wide-open offensive affair here between these non-conference opponents on Friday night. Winnipeg snapped a three-game slide with a 4-1 win at Philadelphia just last night. The Jets have seen the total go under in six straight now. New Jersey is coming off back-to-back losses, most recently a 4-3 setback at Dallas on Tuesday. This is a big game for the Devils as they look to snap their slide. With a game at red-hot Philadelphia on Sunday, tonight's contest takes on added importance for the Devils. Because of that, the home side will be forced to push the pace in this one to snap the slide. A faster-paced affair leads to production on the ice in my opinion, so I'm rolling with the over in this one.     

My THURSDAY CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the Detroit Red Wings at 7:00 EST. This is the first-ever matchup between the clubs. Utah is 27-25-9, but it's three-game win streak at home came to an end last time out in a 3-1 loss at the Devils. That was on March 1st. Now, five days later, The Hockey Club is on the East Coast and getting ready to play a tough back-to-back here in Detroit and then in Chicago on Friday. Will rest lead to rust for Utah?! That scenario is a very real possibility, but the Wings don't have that luxury right now. Detroit enters having lost three straight, and it will be desperate to stop the bleeding here, falling to 30-25 in its most recent 2-1 loss here to Carolina on Monday. With a game in Washington, the home side doubles down and rolls to victory on Thursday. Lay the price with confidence.

My NON-CONFERENCE GAME OF THE YEAR is on the Golden Knights at 10:00 EST. A great price on the home side here in my opinion. Toronto is No. 1 in the Atlantic at 38-20, but it's coming off a suspect 3-2 shootout loss at home to San Jose as a -290 favorite. With upcoming road games at Colorado and Utah, this contest in Vegas marks the start of a very difficult road trip. Vegas is 36-18 and it's won five of its last six. It's off a 2-0 victory here over the Devils. It's 22-6-3 overall at home and it plays with revenge following a 3-0 loss at Toronto back in November. I'm expecting the red-hot Knights to ride their current form and use the previous loss as extra motivation for a solid victory in front of the home town crowd this season. Lay the reasonable price, Knights roll!

My CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the Minnesota Wild at 10:00 EST. I think Minnesota will find a way to win this game and avenge an earlier loss against the Kraken. The Wild are 35-22 after a 1-0 victory over Boston last time out. They have a difficult upcoming schedule, with a game at Vancouver up next, followed by home contests vs. the Pens and Avs. As mentioned, the Wild do play with revenge here following a 5-4 shootout home loss as well back in December. Seattle is 26-31 after a satisfying 6-3 home win. With a tough upcoming three-game road trip as well, the Kraken will have to be cautious to not get caught looking ahead. The revenge factor tips the scales in favor of Minnesota in my opinion. Great line value, as I expect the Wild to roll in this one.

My ATLANTIC DIVISION GAME OF THE YEAR is on the Buffalo Sabres at 7:00 EST. These teams square off for the second time here in two nights. Montreal won 4-2 on the first, but I believe that Buffalo will bounce back and respond in the revenge spot. Montreal is a perfect 4-0 since the restart. The Habs have been underdogs in all but one of those contests. Montreal is 29-26 and seventh in the Atlantic, while Buffalo is now 24-29 after back-to-back losses. The Sabres can almost leapfrog the Habs with a win here though, with a very "winnable" game at home on Tuesday vs. the Sharks. Montreal to me appears to be playing "above its head" right now and with a couple of nights off before a four-game road trip, the potential to get caught looking ahead to that difficult schedule will be a real mental temptation. It's a big game for both teams, but I argue now more so for Buffalo. Sabres roll.

My CENTER-ICE REPORT play is on the New York Rangers at 7:00 EST. I'm laying the price here, but expecting a relatively simple victory for the home side. Considering the circumstances, I'm surprised that New York isn't a bigger favorite in this spot. The Predators are just 21-31 overall, including only 6-19-4 on the road. New York is 29-26-4 overall, and 14-13-2 at home. The Predators fell 7-4 at the Islanders yesterday, and clearly fatigue will be a major issue now in the second game of the back-to-back. The Rangers also play with the added incentive of revenge following a 2-0 loss at Nashville back in December. New York is 2-2 since the re-start following a 3-2 home loss to Toronto, but everything points to this being a perfect bounce back spot. Lay the price with confidence, the Rangers roll at home on Sunday night!

At 10:00 EST, my CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the Anaheim Ducks. Chicago is only 17-35 and it's now lost four straight since the Four Nation's Cup concluded. Most recently it was a tough 7-5 loss at Vegas. After the Ducks, Chicago is back home to face LA on Monday for four straight at home. Anaheim is 26-25. The Ducks are playing extremely well right now, having won three of four since the restart. Most recently, they won here 5-2 over Vancouver. They beat Chicago 3-2 earlier in the year, but I'm expecting an even bigger victory now here at home, especially with a tough upcoming two-game road trip at Edmonton and Vancouver up next. I think this is a great price on Anaheim considering all of the above-lised factors I've mentioned. Ducks roll.

At 7:07pm Et, my NHL Center Ice Report is on the Detroit Red Wings. The Blue Jackets can be hard to beat at Columbus but they're much easier to handle on the road. They are a paltry 9-20 in away games. On Saturday, these teams will meet again at Columbus, although it will be an outdoor game at Ohio Stadium, as part of the NHL Stadium Series. Ahead of that highly anticipated game, the Red Wings will earn a victory on home ice on Thursday. They are off consecutive wins and are 8-2 their last 10 games. Also, they've beaten the Blue Jackets 4 straight times. Make it 5 in a row! Play on Detroit.

At 3:37 pm ET, my Eastern Conference Game Of The Month is on the New York Rangers. Both the Penguins and the Rangers got walloped yesterday. The Capitals beat Pittsburgh 8-3 and the Sabres defeated New York 8-2. Neither will be happy with that effort but the Rangers are much better equipped to bounce back from the loss. They are 3-0 in 2025 when coming off a loss and playing the next day. After losing badly to Washington, they won 6-2 the next day. After a bad loss versus Boston, they won beat Vegas 4-2. After a loss to Pittsburgh 2 weeks ago, they beat Columbus the next day. New York is a playoff team and Pittsburgh is not. Play on the Rangers.

At 7:07pm Et, my Center Ice Report is on the Ottawa Senators. The Senators will do what is required to come away with a victory against the Canadiens at the Canadian Tire Centre. This season's only previous meeting was at Montreal and it was way back in October. It was Ottawa's first road game. The Canadiens won. This game is at Ottawa though and the Senators are 16-7-2 on home ice. They were 9-0 their past 9 regular season games against Montreal, 5-0 at home. Play on Ottawa.

At 12:37pm Et, my Early Riser is on the Utah Hockey Club on the puck-line. Getting an extra +1.5 goals with the visitors is the way to go in this afternoon's game at Capital One Arena. Before yesterday's 7-3 setback at Raleigh, Utah had been involved in 5 straight 1-goal games. Four of those were tied at the end of regulation. Off a 4-3 win in its last game, Washington has now played 1-goal games in 3 of 4. Two of those also went to OT. We get a better price on Utah due to the game being played at Washington but the Hockey Club have a better road record than they do at home. Grab the +1.5 goals on the puck-line.

At 8:07pm ET, my Revenge Game Of the Week is on the Nashville Predators. The Predators lost to Buffalo on the last day of January. They haven't won a game since. Now they have a chance to avenge that loss and get things turned around, heading into the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off. They badly want this game and will give us a huge effort. Coach Andrew Brunette said. ""We've got one game before the break. Let's try to play our best game and regroup here a little bit." Nashville captain Roman Josi added: "We have another chance tomorrow. It's one more game before the break, and we've got to find our identity." Before last week's loss, the Predators had beaten the Sabres 3 straight times. Both teams are much stronger on home ice. Playing this game at Bridgestone Arena, the determined Predators will bounce back from last night's loss and get things turned around in the right direction. Play on Nashville.

At 7:07pm ET, my selection is on Tampa Bay. These teams just faced each other 2 days ago. The Lightning won 4-3. I won with the Lightning in that game and I see no reason why they won't do it again. The Senators are now 13-16 on the road and the Lightning are 17-9 at home. On Tuesday, I mentioned that the Lightning were healthier. That's even more then case now than it was then. Already dealing with some key injuries, the Senators also lost Shane Pinto on Tuesday. Even after the win, the Lightning can't afford to let up. They are still looking up at Ottawa in the standings. The price on Tampa is lower than it was on Tuesday. Lay it.

At 10:07pm ET, my selection is on Seattle. Both teams recently faced Calgary. The Red Wings defeated the Flames on February 1st and the Kraken lost to them the next night. Seattle played very well in that game though, at least in the final 2 periods. The Kraken are going to want to bounce back from that defeat and they will look to avenge last month's loss at Detroit. They are catching the Red Wings at the end of a West Coast road trip and looking forward to returning home. They are 4-2 their last 6 against the Wings and will get it done tonight. Play on Seattle.

At 9:07pm ET, my selection is on the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Flames had last night off but they are still playing their 3rd game in 4 days. After losing to Detroit on Feb 1st, they defeated the Kraken the next day. They didn't get into Seattle until very late (3am PST) the night before the game and had to hang on for dear life in the final 2 periods of the game. Calgary's Morgan Frost said: "That was a tough back-to-back, a tough turnaround." Still perhaps a little weary, the Flames take on a very strong Toronto team, one which always gives them fits. The Maple Leafs are 4-0 the past 4 meetings (2-0 at Calgary) and 8-2 the past 10. The Leafs beat Edmonton last game and will complete the "Alberta sweep" tonight. Play on Toronto.

At 7:07pm ET, my selection is on Tampa Bay. There are many reasons why the Lightning are larger favorites on Tuesday. The Senators played last night and the Lightning didnt. Ottawa is 7-12 its last 19, when playing 2 games in 2 days. The Senators are 13-15 on the road and the Lightning are 16-9 at home. The Lightning are also healthier and they're playing with revenge. Add it up and we've got a Lightning victory. Play on Tampa

At 8:07pm ET, my Sunday Center Ice Report is on Vancouver. When playing against the Canucks when they lost at Dallas on Friday, I said this: "...all is not right in Vancouver. J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson, two of the Canucks' most important players, are fighting with each other. That's obviously not good for the team. Present of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford said this: "I felt like for a long time that there was a solution here because everybody has worked on it, including the parties involved. But it only gets resolved for a short period of time and then it festers again and so it certainly appears like there's not a good solution that would keep this group together. When you don't have chemistry, it's hard to be that consistent team because there's too much going on in the room for everybody to concentrate on what they're supposed to do." Rutherford is right and its going to make things extremely difficult against a very good Dallas team..." Recognizing that something needed to be done, Rutherford and the Canucks did the right thing. They traded Miller. Things are now going to be right in the locker-room again and the Canucks will be on point against the Red Wings on Sunday. The Red Wings won yesterday and are hot right now. But they are 0-3 the last 3x that they played 2 games in 2 days and 1-5 their last 6. The Canucks have won their last 2 against Detroit and this will make 3 straight. Play on Vancouver.

At 7:07pm ET, my NHL Revenge Game Of The Month is on Edmonton. The Oilers outshot the Maple Leafs 30-22 in this season's first meeting. They also took a lead into the 3rd period. They ended up losing in Overtime. Now they get a chance to make things right. That November loss was the Oilers' 4th straight defeat, at Toronto. They've been much better against the Leafs at Rogers Place. They beat the Leafs 4-2 here last season and 5-2 the previous season. The Leafs have lost 3 in a row and they only scored 3 total goals in those games. They are 11-10 on the road. The Oilers are 18-10 at home. The Oilers are 7-2-1 their previous 10 games, while not allowing more than three goals in any of those 10 games. They ran into a hot goalie last game (lost in OT) but still played very well. They will have their revenge against the struggling Leafs tonight. Play on Edmonton.

At 8:07pm ET, my Center Ice Report is on the Dallas Stars. The Canucks have managed to put together a 3-game winning streak but all is not right in Vancouver. J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson, two of the Canucks' most important players, are fighting with each other. That's obviously not good for the team. Present of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford said this: "I felt like for a long time that there was a solution here because everybody has worked on it, including the parties involved. But it only gets resolved for a short period of time and then it festers again and so it certainly appears like there's not a good solution that would keep this group together. When you don't have chemistry, it's hard to be that consistent team because there's too much going on in the room for everybody to concentrate on what they're supposed to do." Rutherford is right and its going to make things extremely difficult against a very good Dallas team. The Stars have also won 3 straight and they are 18-8 at home. A comeback win against Dallas last game marked the first time that they won a game when trailing after two periods. They're previously lost 13 in a row, in that situation. They will ride the momentum into Friday and will snap the Canucks' winning streak. Play on Dallas.

At 9:07pm ET, my Center Ice Report is on the Calgary Flames. The Flames lost their last game here but they are still 15-7-3 at home for the season. A game against the Ducks provides a great opportunity to bounce back with a big win. The Flames have defeated the Ducks 5 of the past 6 times that the teams faced each other. They are 8-2 the past 10 meetings. Calgary coach Ryan Huska said the Flames "have to find a way to bear down and bury when you get your chances." Against an Anaheim team which is 10-15 away from home, that's what the Flames will do tonight. Play on Calgary.

At 8:07pm ET, my NHL Center Ice Report is on Minnesota. This is a very fair price to get the Wild at. Minnesota is 28-19 on the season. Utah is only 20-26. The Wild score more goals and they allow less. The Hockey Club closed out a 7-game home stand with a pair of victories. Now they're back on the road for the first time in nearly 3 weeks. Utah's last road game was way back on January 4th, a loss at Dallas. On the season, the Hockey Club are just 8-15 away from Utah. Minnesota snapped a 3-game losing streak last game. The Wild are the 5th most profitable team in the league this season. Tonight, the Wild will make it 2 in a row. Play on Minnesota

At 7:07pm Et, my Atlantic Div Game Of the Month is on Tampa. Off a loss to Toronto yesterday, Tampa will be in a serious mood for this one. The Lightning are 3-0 their last 3 off a loss. The Lightning were upset at home by the Canadiens on December 29th. That result will provide them with some extra motivation for tonight's game. They have scored 12 goals in their last 2 visits to Montreal, winning 7-4 and 5-3. The Lightning are a team that doesn't mind playing 2 games in 2 days. The Lightning are 6-1 their past 7 in that situation. Play on Tampa.

At 7:07pm Et, my NHL Ground and Pound is on Carolina. Both these teams are currently struggling but they're still 2 of the best in the league. Each is going to be fighting hard for a win. The winner of that fight will be the Hurricanes. They are 17-6 at home compared to the Knights' 11-9 record away from Vegas. The Hurricanes have beaten the Knights 3 straight times. The last game here was 6-3 for the Hurricanes. They fired 39 shots and were up 5-1 until late in the game. Play on Carolina.

At 7:07pm ET, my NHL Center Ice Report is on Columbus. The Blue Jackets have been better at home than people might realize. A game against the Sharks will allow for another home win for the fans. Play on Columbus.

At 9:07pm ET, my NHL Non-Conference Game Of the Month is on Utah. It's "get right night" for the Hockey Club. Utah has been really struggling and a game against Montreal is precisely what is needed. The Canadiens are off 4 straight games which went to OT or a shootout. This will be Montreal's 8th road game in the past 10. It's going to catch up to the Canadiens against a hungry Hockey Club. Utah is in a long home stand and it gets harder after this. The Hockey Club need this game and they will get it. Play on Utah.

At 7:07pm et, my NHL Game of the Month is on New Jersey. The Devils have home ice advantage for this big battle with the Tampa Bay Lightning. That's important as the Lightning are very strong in their own building but only 8-9 on the road. The Devils should also have a strong motivational advantage. Not only are they off a loss, their 5th in 6 games, but they also lost to Tampa in October and again in November. They are going to be extremely determined to avoid a 3rd straight loss to the Lightning and to get back to their winning ways. The Devils have been strong all year and they will get some revenge against Tampa today. Play on NJ

At 8:07pm ET, my NHL Ground And Pound is on Dallas. The Wild are good on the road but the Stars are even better at home. The Stars lost their last 2 home games and 3 of their last 4 home games. They're still 13-5 here though and they are going to be hell-bent on avoiding a 3rd straight setback on home ice. Dallas coach DeBoer said: "We've had some adversity the first half and that's not a bad thing. I think every team needs to go through a little bit of that to learn about yourselves. They find a way to dig deep in adverse situations and get the job done." The Stars have defeated the Wild 7 straight times, outscoring them 32-9. This will make 8 straight!

At 9:07pm ET, my selection is on the Dallas Stars. Off losses to the Maple Leafs and the Rangers, the Dallas Stars will bring their "A Game" to the hockey rink tonight. This is a talented team which hasn't lost 3 in a row all season. Each 2-game losing streak has been immediately snapped. The Stars visit a Utah team which has a better record on the road than it does at home. Dallas won the first meeting 2-1. Tonight, the Stars are rested and they are catching the Hockey Club off an OT/SO loss yesterday. Play on Dallas.

At 7:07pm ET, my selection is on the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings really need this game. They'd finally gotten some momentum going only to lose 2 in a row to Montreal. They really don't want to go into the Christmas holiday on a 3-game losing streak. Coach Lalonde knows his job may not be safe and he'd be able to enjoy the holiday a lot more if his team can deliver a win today. A visit from the Blues is just what they need. St. Louis ranks 30th in the league at 2.46 goals per game. The Wings won both meetings last season and crushed the Blues 6-1 in the game at Little Caesars Arena. Play on Detroit.

At 7:07pm ET, my selection is on the Boston Bruins. The Bruins are playing on home ice. They're off a win on Saturday, their third in four games. They're 7-3 their last 10. The Capitals are also playing well. But they're off a win yesterday and playing their 2nd game in 2 days. They just lost to the Blackhawks in that same situation, less than one week ago. The Capitals are also 0-2 their last 2 road games. The Bruins were -164 and -319 the past 2 times they hosted the Capitals. Today's price is a "great deal" by comparison, especially given the scheduling advantage. Play on Boston.

At 7:07pm ET, my Metro Division Game Of The Year is on Carolina. When the Hurricanes faced the Capitals in November, they were -260 to -275 favorites. They won 4-2, outshooting the Capitals 45-21. In the previous meeting, which was back in last season in April, the Hurricane outshot the Capitals 45-16, also winning 4-2. They were -250 for that game. Tonight, because the game is in Washington, the Hurricanes are far more reasonably priced. The Capitals actually have a better road record though (they are 12-4 on the road and 9-6 at home) so the called home ice advantage isn't a factor for them. Carolina is the better team and is playing better hockey. The Hurricanes won their last 2 games by a score of 8-1. Struggling to score without Ovechkin, the Capitals lost their last 2 games by a score of 6-3. The last loss was against Chicago and Carolina is a much better team. Lay the fair price with the hotter, better team.

At 9:07 PM ET, my NHL Road Warrior selection is on Boston. This is a short price to be laying with the much better team. The Bruins were off back to back losses to start their road trip but they broke through with a big victory on Saturday, at Vancouver. The 5-1 win marked just the fifth game this season that they scored more than four goals. That's exactly what they needed and now they can keep on rolling against a Flames team which has been over-achieving and is likely due to start struggling. Play on Boston.

At 7:07pm ET, my Saturday Center Ice Report is on Columbus. The Blue Jackets don't get many chances to be favorites of this size. They will make the most of their opportunity. Did you know that the Ducks score fewer goals than any team in the NHL? They have scored only 67 through 28 game. The Blue Jackets have played 1 more game but have scored 30 more goals! That ability to put the puck in the net will make the difference. The The Blue Jackets are 4-11 on the road, one of those losses coming at Anaheim, in November. They are a much better 8-6 at home and they will have their revenge tonight.

At 1:07 PM ET, my NHL Early Riser is on the New York Rangers. The Rangers have underachieved in recent weeks. They're better than they've played. They got back on track in their last game though and now are poised to go on a strong run to close out 2024. The Kings are also a solid team but they are far less formidable on the road. They lost their last game and are now playing an early game in a hostile environment. The home team won both games last year. The Rangers won 4-1 at home. The price is fair and they will their 2nd straight on Saturday afternoon.

At 9:07pm Et, my Ground and Pound selection is on Edmonton. These are 2 good teams and both are playing well. The Lightning have won 2 in a row and 3 of 4. The Oilers are even hotter. They've won 2 in a row and 5 of their past 6. The Oilers are also just the more talented team now. Tampa isn't quite what it was a few years ago and Edmonton is still a team on the rise. Both last season's meetings came fairly early in the season, before the Oilers had hit their stride. Tampa won both. The Oilers got going shortly after that and they've been very difficult to defeat ever since. The Lightning are still pretty solid (8-5) on home ice but only mediocre (6-6) on the road. The Oilers remember last season and they won't let it happen again. Play on Edmonton.

At 7:37, my selection is on the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens have the worst record in the Eastern Conference. Tonight, they get a chance to host the team with the worst record from the Pacific Division. This a rare chance in the favorite role and Les Habitants will seize the opportunity. The Canadiens have played pretty well on home ice (compared to their play on the road) and they recently got Patrick Laine back from injury. He's a sniper and he scored a goal in his first game here. The Ducks are off 2 straight losses where they were outscored 9-2. The Canadiens swept the Ducks last season and they beat them 5-0 in the game at the Bell Centre in Montreal. This will be another big win for the Habs at home.

At 8:07pm Et, my NHL Center Ice Report is on the LA Kings. I supported the Wild on Tuesday when they defeated the Canucks. Last night, the Wild won again, as they defeated Anaheim 5-1. That's 5 straight victories. The streak ends tonight though. The Kings rested last night while the Wild worked. The Kings already defeated Minnesota earlier this season. The Wild have won 5 in a row but the Kings have won 4 straight themselves and their streak included wins over teams like Dallas and Winnipeg. Minnesota built up its streak partly against weaker teams. The Kings are 5-2 the past 7 meetings. Play on LA.

At 8:07pm ET, my Center Ice Report is on Minnesota. These are two quality teams and they both come in on a roll. The Wild have had their way with the Canucks here. They are 8-2 the past 10 meetings and 5-0 the past 5 meetings at Minnesota. The Wild scored 10 goals the last time that the Canucks came to town! Tonight, the Wild catch the Canucks at the very end of a long 6-game road trip. They'll be looking forward to the trip home to Vancouver. The Wild will make sure their trip ends on a losing note. Play on Minnesota.

At 8:07pm ET, my Ground and Pound selection is on Ottawa. Not overly concerned that Ottawa played the Kings yesterday. Not only is there no travel involved but the Senators had 2 days off before yesterday. Ottawa is much better at putting the puck in the net. Anaheim has scored 56 goals in 22 games. Through their first 22 games, the Senators had scored 70. Anaheim's scoring issues are partly a result of injuries to offensive players. Already without wingers Robbi Fabbri, Brock McGinn. (and defenceman Cam Fowler) the Ducks their lost top line center Leo Carlsson to injury last week. Though Carlsson is day-to-day, the point is that Anaheim has a difficult time scoring. No team has scored less. When they played 2 games in 2 days earlier, the Senators won 3-0. Play on Ottawa.

At 7:07pm ET, my Game Of The Week selection is on St. Louis. Scheduling advantage for the Blues. They had yesterday off and the Flyers were in a fight with the Rangers. Philadelphia was all over New York to start that game but then had to hang on for dear life. There will be some tired legs today. Blues are rested and playing with revenge from a Halloween loss at Philadelphia. They are rolling since making a coaching change. They just beat the Devils and Rangers by a combined score of 8-2. That strong play will continue today. Play on St. Louis

At 3:37pm ET, my Pacific Division Game Of The Month is on Seattle. The Kraken lost Wednesday but that was only their 3rd defeat in the last 9 games. That loss meant that they split a home and home with Anaheim and they weren't happy. Now they get a chance go do better against San Jose as these teams will meet again Saturday in Seattle. This is a real opportunity for Seattle to pick up 4 points in 2 days and start climbing up in the Pacific standings. That's important for the Kraken as more difficult games follow the 2 with SJ. They've won 3 of the past 5 against the Sharks, 2 of the past 3 at San Jose. Seattle comes in hungry and secures the road win.

At 7:37pm ET, my NHL Atlantic Division Game Of The Week is on Florida. I often support the Maple Leafs but not on the road against the defending world champions on Wednesday. The Leafs are actually the hotter team. They've played 7 of their last 8 at home though. That is noteworthy given that the Leafs are 10-3 at Toronto but only 3-5 in their road games. Also, the home team has won 4 straight in this series. Since a 5-0 win over Winnipeg, which was the hottest team in hockey, the Panthers have been on a losing streak. They are too good for that to continue. The Panthers will show their teeth and move to 7-3 their last 10 against Toronto.

At 7:07pm ET, my Center Ice Report is on Boston. The Bruins have immediately started playing better since the coaching change and the improvement has started with an improved defensive effort. They kept the Red Wings to 1 goal last game after shutting out Utah in the game before that. The Canucks have dropped 2 of 3, giving up 12 goals. The Bruins are a perfect 4-0 their last 4 as a host of the Canucks. They won those games by a combined score of 16-4. The price is fair and the Bruins will continue to roll. Play on Boston.

AT 7:07pm ET, my Slap Shot Club selection is on Las Vegas Golden Knights. The Flyers fight hard but are still a 9-11 hockey team. The Golden Knights have played the same number of games and are 13-8. Vegas is +17 in goals. Philadelphia is -13. The Knights scored 6 goals last game, a 6-2 victory over Montreal. Vegas forward Keegan Kolesar commented: "It's just our style of play. We wear teams down. We were able to capitalize on a couple of mistakes they made and we sent our nose to the net. ... That results in some goals for us." The Knights will wear down the Flyers for their 3rd straight victory.

At 7:07pm ET, my Central Division Game Of The Month is on Nashville. The Predators have home ice advantage. That's important because the Jets have been tough on the road but even better at home in Winnipeg and because it allows Nashville the ability to match lines with the home team getting the last line change. The Predators also benefit from a scheduling advantage. The Jets are off a 4-1 win at Pittsburgh yesterday. This is the first time all season that they played 2 games in 2 days. They lost by a combined score of 8-0 the last 2 times that they played in that situation last season. Play on Nashville.

At 7:07pm ET, my NHL Road Warrior is on Colorado. The Avalanche play with revenge from a 5-2 home loss, less than a week ago. The Capitals had Ovechkin for that game. Though the likely future All-Time goal scoring leader didn't score, he picked up an assist and his presence made Washington better. He's been the driving force behind their hot start but is now injured. The Capitals are also playing their first game home from a trip, not an easy spot for them. The Avalanche are still 4-1 their last 5 meetings and they've won each of their last 2 trips to Washington. Ovechkin will be missed tonight and Colorado will cool off the Capitals and win its 3rd straight game here.

At 8:37pm ET, my NHL Western Conference Game Of The Month is on Chicago. The Blackhawks favored by this much tells you a little bit about how bad the Ducks are. The Ducks weren't bad Monday, they went to Dallas and upset one of the best teams in the league. That's back-to-back victories. The Ducks haven't won 3 in a row all season. They also haven't won when playing 2 games in 2 days. They're 0-2 in that spot this season and 0-6 their last 6 times since last season. They're 3-17 their last 20 when playing 2 games in 2 days! The Blackhawks are 7-3 the last 10 meetings. Well rested, healthy and playing at home, Chicago will defeat the Ducks for the 2nd time this season.

At 9:07pm ET, my Center Ice Report is on Utah. What more can you say about Ovechkin? It's becoming more and more likely that he will ultimately overtake Gretzky for the most goals ever. That makes for a nice story but the Capitals are in a bad spot tonight. They just beat Vegas last night and are playing 2 games in 2 days and 3 games in 4 days. Utah has had some time off. The Hockey Club played well in losing their last game. The Hockey Club won their previous home games 4-1 and 5-1. They are 4-2 against Eastern Conference teams. Washington is at the end of a road trip. Play on Utah.

At 10:07pm ET, my NHL Sharp Shooter is on Nashville. Vancouver played last night. Nashville did not. This is the Canucks first time playing 2 games in 2 days, this season. The Canucks are 6-1 on the road but only 3-6 at home. The Predators will be getting their first crack at the team which knocked them out of the playoffs last year. They will have no shortage of motivation. The Predators have won each of their last 2 games at Vancouver. The scheduling advantage will make a difference and the Predators will outwork the Canucks tonight. The price is also right. Play on Nashville.

AT 4:07pm ET, my Saturday Afternoon Slap Shot is on the Seattle Kraken. The Kraken are playing their best hockey right now. They've won 3 straight games. More difficult games await them, beginning with the NY Rangers on Sunday. The Kraken can more than hold their own against the Islanders though, especially when the the Islanders have multiple defensive injuries. The Kraken won both meetings last season and they're undefeated at home against the Islanders the past 2 seasons. At this price, I will gladly take the surging Seattle Kraken.

At 9:07pm ET, my NHL Non-Conference Game Of The Week is on Colorado. The Avalanche have hit their stride. They are off 3 straight victories and have won 4 of their last 5. Players have been returning from injury and that helps. "We're all excited to add guys back in the line, especially the caliber players that are coming back in, but I'm more excited like the way our team's been playing over the last half a dozen games," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. The Capitals are cooling off. They are off a loss and have dropped 3 of their past 5. The Avalanche have beaten the Capitals 4 straight times. Last season, they beat them 6-3 at Washington and 6-2 at Colorado. They were priced at nearly -300 for that game at Colorado. Tonight's lower price tag is a bargain. Colorado wins its 5th straight over the Capitals!

At 7:07pm ET, my Slap Shot Club is on New York Rangers on the puck-line. Though I'm quite certain of victory, I wouldn't play the Rangers on the money-line for this game. The price is way too steep. The puck-line provides a much more reasonable option. The Rangers have beaten the Sharks 8 of the past 10 meetings and the gap between the teams is larger than ever. Off a loss against Winnipeg, the Rangers will be very serious about getting this victory. When the Rangers win, they tend to win big. Seven of their 9 victories this season have come by 2 or more goals. This will be another multi-goal victory.

At 7:07pm ET, my Atlantic Division Game Of The Month is on Toronto. Auston Matthews is eligible to come off injured reserve on Tuesday. Even if the superstar doesn't play, the Maple Leafs are doing just fine without him. They have won 3 straight without Matthews. "I thought we checked extremely well for two periods," Toronto coach Craig Berube said. "The power play was good again. Clean pretty much with penalties and I thought we played a real smart game. I was really happy. Third period they made a little push but our goalie (Joseph Woll) was really good for us." The Leafs are 7-2 at home. The Senators won at Boston but they are still 2-5 on the road. The Senators upset the Leafs in both games here last season, winning 3 of the 4 in the season series. That's not happening again. Toronto makes it 4 straight!

At 8:07pm ET, my #1 NHL Total Of The Month is on Columbus/Anaheim under. The Ducks have scored 3 goals or less in 10 straight games. Over that 10 game period, they have scored only 19 goals in total, less than 2 per game. Over their past 4 games, the Ducks have managed only 6 total goals. For the season, they are the lowest scoring team in the league. The Blue Jackets know how they feel. They have scored 2 or less in 5 straight and only 7 goals over their past 4 games. With the struggles these offenses are currently having, this total is too high. Play on the under.

At 7:37pm ET, my NHL Metro Division Game Of the Week is on the New Jersey Devis. Injuries will catch up to the Islanders on Saturday.

At 10:07pm ET, my Center Ice Report is on Anaheim on the Puck-Line. The Ducks have had some trouble recently and they've also struggled against the Wild the past few years. This game sets up nicely though. The Ducks have home ice advantage and they are rested. The Wild are off a game at San Jose last night and playing their first back-to-back of the season. They are only 6-12 their last 18 tries when playing 2 games in 2 days. Home ice advantage and a scheduling advantage. Plus, we get an extra +1.5 goals to boot. Before last night's win against the league's worst team, the Wild were off a loss. Before that, they were off a 1-goal win. Let's go Ducks!

At 7:07pm ET, my #1 Eastern Conf. Game Of The Month is on Ottawa. The Senators are 1-5 on the road but 5-1 at home. They lost their last 2 road games by a combined score of 7-2 but they won their last 2 home games by a combined score of 11-1! The Islanders won 4-3 against the Penguins in Overtime last game and have managed to stay competitive. That's to their credit because they are missing some very important pieces at the moment. Off their worst loss of the season, 5-1 at Buffalo, the Senators will show them no mercy. The Islanders injuries will catch up to them and the Senators strong play on home ice will continue. Play on Ottawa.