My selection is on Dallas over Carolina at 8:35 pm et on Wednesday.

This is undoubtedly a game the Stars have had circled since dropping a 5-4 decision in Raleigh earlier this season. Dallas is well-positioned to get its revenge here, noting that it has gone 13-9 on home ice this season, outscoring opponents by an impressive average margin of 1.0 goal per contest. With that being said, the Stars aren't likely to take anything for granted after dropping a 3-2 decision against the Sabres on home ice on Monday. Carolina has won four of its last five games overall including two in a row heading into this non-conference clash. Note that the Hurricanes are just 7-13 when playing on the road after winning four of their last five games over the last two seasons, outscored by an average margin of 0.6 goals in that situation. Worse still, the Canes are 7-20 in their last 27 road games when coming off consecutive wins by three goals or more, which is the case here, outscored by 0.8 goals on average in that spot. Take Dallas (8*).

Eastern Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on New York over Florida at 7:05 pm et on Monday.

We missed the mark fading the Panthers on Saturday as they outplayed the Wild in a 5-3 home victory. Here, I won't hesitate to come back with the same play as Florida hits the road to face the Rangers in Manhattan. The Panthers have now won consecutive games but consistency hasn't exactly been their calling card this season as they've yet to put together more than two victories in a row. They'll be hard-pressed to do so again here in my opinion as they catch the Rangers well-rested and undoubtedly in a foul mood after dropping a 3-1 decision against the league's best team, the Boston Bruins, last Thursday night. It's worth noting that the Rangers haven't dropped consecutive games since December 27th and 29th with the second of those losses coming by way of a shootout against the Lightning in Tampa. Here, they'll catch the Panthers banged-up with Eric Staal, Sergei Bobrovsky, Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad all suffering injuries in the last week. Goaltender Spencer Knight is expected to be back between the pipes after missing time due to injury, but that's not necessarily a good thing as he has posted a less-than-impressive .893 save percentage with the Panthers winning just four of his 10 starts on the road this season. Rangers all-world netminder Igor Shesterkin has been heating up lately, recording a sterling .922 save percentage over his last four games. Take New York (10*).

My selection is on Minnesota over Florida at 6:05 pm et on Saturday.

The Wild dropped a 5-2 decision in Carolina two nights ago but I'm confident we'll see them bounce back as they head to Florida to face the Panthers on Saturday. Note that Minnesota remains a winning team on the road this season, where it has held the opposition to just 2.6 goals per game. Meanwhile, consistency certainly hasn't been the Panthers calling card, noting that their longest win streak this season lasted just two games. They're 0-7 when coming off a win over a division opponent this season, as is the case here, outscored by an average margin of 2.4 goals in that situation. Minnesota will be a revenge-minded team here having dropped the last three meetings in this series. That's the Panthers longest win streak over the Wild all-time, going all the way back to when Minnesota entered the league as an expansion team back in 2000. Take Minnesota (8*).

Metropolitan Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Washington over New York at 7:35 pm et on Monday.

I'm not buying what the Islanders are selling right now. Sure, they snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over the Canadiens on home ice on Saturday but that victory was about as unimpressive as it gets. New York jumped ahead 2-0 in the game's first seven minutes but then never found the back of the net, and played generally uninspired hockey, for the rest of the contest. Here, the Isles will be hosting a desperate Capitals squad looking to snap its own two-game skid off consecutive upset losses at the hands of the Flyers. While Washington is just 10-12 on the road this season, it has managed to outscore opponents by 0.2 goals on average in the visitor's role. New York is 13-8 at UBS Arena but has looked anything but intimidating on home ice lately, going an even 4-4 over its last eight games on home ice. Worse still, the Isles check in a miserable 8-13 in their last 21 games overall. Here, we'll note that New York is 0-6 after scoring two goals or less in five or more consecutive games over the last two seasons, as is the case here, outscored by an average margin of 2.0 goals in that situation. Meanwhile, the Caps are 114-100 (but most notably +222 net games) when playing on the road after scoring one goal or less in their previous game going all the way back to 1996. Take Washington (10*).

My selection is on Vegas over Florida at 10:05 pm et on Thursday.

We'll fade the Panthers off Tuesday's thrilling 5-4 win over the Avalanche in Denver. Florida blew a 4-1 third period lead in the span of just six minutes in that game, but was rescued by Matthew Tkachuk's second goal of the game with 3:30 remaining to secure the win.

The Panthers check in allowing 3.5 goals per game this season with that average rising to 3.7 going back to December 10th. While they've managed to go 2-1 on their current road trip that doesn't tell the whole story as they've been outscored 11-9 and remain just 9-14 away from home this season, where they've been outscored by an average margin of 0.8 goals.

For the Golden Knights, this will be their first game action since January 7th when they dropped an ugly 5-1 decision against the Kings on home ice. That loss brought an end to a three-game winning streak that saw Vegas outscore the opposition 13-8.

The Knights are just 12-10 on home ice this season but will have a good opportunity to improve on that mark over the next couple of weeks as they'll play each of their next five contests here on The Strip.

While Florida has given up five goals or more in four of its last 10 games, Vegas' most recent contest marked the first time in nine games that it had allowed that many goals. I think we see a 'sling-shot' effect from the Knights here, who you can be sure are itching to get back on the ice after an extended layoff (and that most recent embarrassing loss).

The home team has won all but one of eight previous all-time meetings in this series (Vegas won that game 7-2 in Sunrise) and we'll call for that trend to continue on Thursday. Take Vegas (8*).

My selection is on Colorado over Florida at 9:35 pm et on Tuesday.

We won with the Avalanche in an underdog role in Edmonton on Saturday and I won't hesitate to come right back with them as they return home to face the Panthers on Tuesday. I don't believe this will be a 'one-and-done' situation when it comes to the Avs winning ways. Keep in mind, prior to Saturday's come-from-behind overtime victory, they had lost five straight games. They're just 9-10 on home ice this season but have managed to outscore the opposition by an average margin of 0.1 goal. Florida on the other hand has gone an abysmal 8-14 on the road, outscored by 0.9 goals on average along the way. Take Colorado (8*).

My selection is on Calgary over St. Louis at 8:05 pm et on Tuesday.

I really like the way this spot sets up for the Flames as they look to get back on track following a disappointing overtime loss in Chicago on Sunday. Here, we'll fade the Blues off their stunning 3-0 win in Minnesota on Sunday. Keep in mind, the night previous we saw St. Louis skate to a 5-4 defeat at the hands of the lowly Canadiens. The Blues haven't managed to win consecutive games since mid-December. It's a different story for the Flames, who haven't lost consecutive games since mid-December. While they're just 7-13 on the road this season, they've actually been outscored by only 0.2 goals on average. Meanwhile, the Blues are 7-10 at home this season, outscored by an average margin of 0.6 goals. Take Calgary (8*).

My selection is on Carolina over New Jersey at 7:05 pm et on Tuesday.

We won with the Devils on Saturday as they rallied from a 3-1 third period deficit to defeat the rival Rangers 4-3 in overtime. It was a fortunate win to be sure as the Rangers appeared to be in complete control for more than two-thirds of that contest. Here, we'll go the other way and fade the Devils as they head to Raleigh to face a Hurricanes squad that will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak. In fact, the Canes most recent win came against these same Devils by way of a shootout in Newark back on New Year's Day. While New Jersey has enjoyed plenty of road success this season, one of its three losses came on this ice. You would have to go back five meetings, all the way to 2019 to find the last time the Devils skated to a win over the Canes away from home. Take Carolina (8*).

My selection is on Colorado over Edmonton at 10:05 pm et on Saturday.

The Avalanche are reeling right now, losers of five straight games including three in a row since welcoming back Nathan MacKinnon to the lineup. What better place to bounce back than Edmonton, where they've taken seven of the last 11 meetings. We actually won with the Oilers on Thursday night but see fit to fade them here, noting that they've gone a miserable 3-9 when following a win by two goals or more this season, outscored by an average margin of 0.6 goals in that situation. The Avs let one slip away after jumping ahead 2-0 on the Canucks two nights ago. I don't expect them to make the same mistake twice. Take Colorado (8*).

My selection is on New Jersey over New York at 1:05 pm et on Saturday.

We'll fade the Rangers on Saturday afternoon as they carry a three-game winning streak into Newark to face the rival Devils. New Jersey suffered a 5-3 home loss against St. Louis last time out. I like the bounce-back spot here as they've hung tough in two previous meetings with New York this season, going 1-1 in a pair of matchups played in Manhattan. We'll note that the Rangers are a woeful 6-17 when playing on the road after scoring three goals or more in three straight games over the last three seasons, as is the case here, outscored by an average margin of 1.1 goal in that situation. Take New Jersey (8*).

Revenge Game of the Month. My selection is on Edmonton over New York at 9:05 pm et on Thursday.

I like the way this spot sets up for the Oilers as they check in off consecutive losses (both on home ice) and host an Islanders squad that is fresh off a lopsided victory in Vancouver two nights ago. Here, we'll note that New York is a woeful 1-11 when playing on the road after scoring four goals or more away from home in its most recent contest over the last three seasons, as is the case here, outscored by an average margin of 1.5 goals in that situation. The Oilers have undoubtedly had this game circled on their calendar since dropping a 3-0 decision on Long Island back in late November. The home team has now won each of the last three meetings in this series going back to the start of last season. Take Edmonton (10*).

My selection is on Washington over Columbus at 7:05 pm et on Thursday.

The Capitals coughed up a 3-2 lead in the back half of the third period and lost in overtime against the upstart Sabres two nights ago. While they've now lost two of their last three games in overtime, they've still collected at least a point in seven consecutive contests. I like their chances of adding to the Blue Jackets woes here, noting that Columbus has lost eight of its last nine games and is just 9-12 on home ice this season, where it has been outscored by an average margin of 0.7 goals. While the Caps have gone 9-11 on the road, they have managed to outscore the opposition by 0.1 goal on average. Take Washington (8*).

Pacific Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Winnipeg over Calgary at 8:05 pm et on Tuesday.

Both of these teams enter this game riding two-game winning streaks but we'll choose to fade the Flames as they've been the more unreliable squad, not to mention the fact that they're just 7-10 on the road this season and will be up against a revenge-minded Jets squad. Winnipeg checks in 13-6 on home ice, where it has outscored the opposition by an average margin of 1.0 goal. The Flames are 2-6 when coming off consecutive wins this season and worse still, have gone 1-6 after posting victories in four or five of their last six contests here in the 22-23 campaign, outscored by an average margin of 1.2 goals in that spot. Calgary took the first meeting between these two teams this season by a 3-2 score on home ice but it's worth noting that it hasn't won consecutive matchups in this series since the two teams met in a 'bubble' playoff series in Edmonton back in August of 2020. Take Winnipeg (10*).

My selection is on Anaheim over Philadelphia at 10 pm et on Monday.

We'll fade the Flyers off rare consecutive road wins over the Sharks and Kings. Philadelphia remains a woeful 6-14 on the road this season, outscored by 0.7 goals on average. Anaheim was embarrassed on home ice on Friday, dropping a 6-1 decision against the Predators. Keep in mind, the Ducks are just one game removed from a 3-2 home win over the Golden Knights. The Flyers have gone a miserable 11-30 when coming off two victories in their last three games over the last three seasons, outscored by 1.1 goal on average in that situation. Take Anaheim (8*).

My selection is on Seattle over New York at 8:05 pm et on Sunday.

I like the bounce-back spot for the Kraken here after they fell by a 7-2 score against the Oilers on Friday night. That marked Seattle's third straight loss while New York has won three games in a row entering this clash. Keep in mind, all three of those Islander victories came at home. They've dropped four of their last five on the road to fall under .500 away from home this season. The Isles also check in a woeful 6-16 when playing on the road after holding consecutive opponents to two goals or less over the last three seasons, as is the case here, outscored by an average margin of 1.3 goals in that situation. Take Seattle (8*).

My selection is on Detroit over Ottawa at 7:05 pm et on Saturday.

We'll fade the Senators here as they look for their third straight win following a thrilling come-from-behind overtime victory in Washington two nights ago. Credit Ottawa for rallying from a 3-1 deficit in the second of back-to-backs on Thursday but the Sens remain 7-10 on the road this season where they've been outscored by an average margin of 0.5 goals per contest. Detroit had its two-game winning streak snapped in a 6-3 loss in Buffalo on Thursday although it did show some fight after falling behind big early on. That was a classic letdown spot for Detroit after it staged a furious rally to steal a victory in overtime in Pittsburgh the night previous. Here, I look for the Wings to regroup and pull back to even on home ice this season in the process. Take Detroit (8*).

My selection is on Carolina over Florida at 7:35 pm et on Friday.

We'll fade the Panthers off their seven-goal outburst against the lowly Canadiens last night. Carolina is the hottest team in the league right now, having won nine games in a row. While Florida checks in 7-12 on the road, allowing 3.7 goals per contest, Carolina has gone 11-4 on home ice, giving up just 2.7 goals per game. This is a game the Hurricanes have likely had circled on the calendar since dropping a 3-0 decision in Florida in the first meeting between the two teams this season back on November 9th. Take Carolina (8*).

My selection is on Buffalo over Detroit at 7:05 pm et on Thursday.

We'll fade the Red Wings off last night's incredible comeback victory over the Penguins - their second straight win in an underdog role. Here, they'll face a red hot Sabres squad that has reeled off four consecutive victories and are already 2-0 in this series this season, scoring a whopping 13 goals in the process. Note that Detroit has played road games on back-to-back nights just nine times over the last three seasons, as is the case here, and has been outscored by 1.5 goals on average in that situation, allowing 4.7 goals per game. Take Buffalo (8*).

My selection is on Washington over Ottawa at 7:05 pm et on Thursday.

We'll fade the Senators off Tuesday's upset win over the Bruins. The Capitals are red hot, winners of five in a row and 10 of their last 11 games overall with Alex Ovechkin stealing the spotlight as he chases Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record. Everything is clicking for the Caps right now as they've scored four or more goals in eight of their last 10 games and held nine of their last 11 opponents to two goals or less. The Sens snapped a three-game losing streak on Tuesday but that was at home. They're 6-10 on the road this season where they've been outscored by 0.6 goals per game on average. Meanwhile, Washington is 11-6 on home ice, outscoring the opposition by 0.7 goals on average. Take Washington (8*).

Eastern Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on Tampa Bay over New York at 7:05 pm et on Thursday.

I think this is a game the Lightning have had circled since dropping a 3-1 decision in New York way back on the opening night of the season. As healthy as they've been all season, I feel the Bolts are poised to go on a run and last night's 4-1 victory over the Canadiens could serve as the perfect jumping off point. New York has cooled off, dropping two of its last three games, most recently falling by a 4-0 score at home against the Capitals. Note that the Rangers will be up against it here as the Lightning have gone an incredible 22-3 when playing at home after losing two of their last three games over the last three seasons, outscoring the opposition by 1.8 goals on average in that situation. They're also an incredible 30-6 when playing at home seeking revenge for a loss against an opponent over the same stretch, also outscoring foes by 1.8 goals on average in that spot. Take Tampa Bay (10*).

My selection is on New York over Toronto at 7:05 pm et on Thursday.

The last time we saw the Maple Leafs on the road they were a slight underdog in Dallas. Now they're favored as they head to Manhattan to face a red hot Rangers squad that has won four straight games, and has a rest advantage having not played since skating to an overtime win over the Devils on Monday. Here, we'll note that Toronto is a woeful 2-10 when playing on the road after winning four or more consecutive games over the last three seasons, allowing 4.2 goals per game while being outscored by 0.9 goals on average in that situation. The Rangers have allowed just 2.1 goals per contest while outscoring opponents by an average margin of 0.8 goals when playing at home off a home victory over the last two seasons (19-game sample size). Take New York (8*).

My selection is on Winnipeg over Vegas at 8:05 pm et on Tuesday.

I like the way this spot sets up for the Jets as they look to bounce back from Sunday's 5-2 home loss to the Capitals. Here, we'll note that Winnipeg is a perfect 7-0 when coming off a home loss by three goals or more over the last two seasons, outscoring opponents by a whopping average margin of 2.5 goals in that situation. Perhaps better still, the Jets are 9-1 when playing at home seeking revenge for a loss against an opponent in which they scored a single goal over the same stretch, outscoring the opposition by 2.4 goals on average in that spot. That situation is in play after Winnipeg dropped a 2-1 decision in Las Vegas back on October 30th - its second defeat at the hands of the Golden Knights in as many meetings this season (both previous matchups were in Las Vegas). Take Winnipeg (8*).

My selection is on Los Angeles over Buffalo at 7:05 pm et on Tuesday.

The Kings have had an up and down road trip, splitting their first four games entering Tuesday's clash with the Sabres in Buffalo. Knowing that they'll be facing arguably the league's best team in Boston on Thursday, they'll want to the make the most of the opportunity in front of them against the slumping Sabres on Tuesday night. Buffalo has dropped consecutive games, managing to score just four goals in those two contests after exploding for nine goals in a game in Columbus last week. The Kings have certainly put the clamps on the Sabres recently, allowing just two goals in winning both meetings last season. Here, we'll note that Los Angeles is 9-4 when coming off a one-goal loss on the road over the last two seasons and 27-15 when following up a game in which it allowed four goals or more over the same stretch. While Buffalo has played an exciting brand of hockey this season, it only has six wins in 16 home games to show for it. Take Los Angeles (8*).

My selection is on Nashville over St. Louis at 8:05 pm et on Monday.

Both of these teams enter this game on the heels of consecutive losses although the Blues did manage to register a point in yesterday's overtime loss to the Avalanche. That was of little consolation as St. Louis coughed up a late 2-1 lead in that contest, another in a long line of disappointing results for the Blues this season. For the Predators, they'll be eager to erase the memory of a 3-2 home loss to the Senators on Saturday. With little separating these two teams up front or on the blue line, the difference could be between the pipes. While Nashville has gotten solid work from its goaltending tandem of Juuse Saros and Kevin Lankinen, the Blues are in dire straights with both Jordan Binnington and Thomas Greiss struggling. I simply feel the Predators have more upside at this stage of the season and the case can be made that the wrong team is being favored here. Take Nashville (8*).

My selection is on Ottawa over Dallas at 8:35 pm et on Thursday.

The Senators were a no-show against the Kings two nights ago (we won with Los Angeles in that game), falling behind 4-1 early and never recovering in a 5-2 defeat. That was the type of loss that's easy to move on from and I expect a far better performance from the underdog Sens in Dallas on Thursday. The common line of thinking here is that this is a layup bounce-back spot for the Stars off consecutive home losses. The reality is, that hasn't been the case over the last few seasons as Dallas checks in 2-5 the last seven times it has come off two or more home losses in a row. After scoring 25 goals over a six-game stretch the Stars were certainly in line for some regression and we saw that on Tuesday as they were shutout by a Leafs team missing a number of key contributors on the blue line. Look for Ottawa to be the team that bounces back on Thursday, noting that it has taken four straight meetings in this series including a 4-1 victory in Dallas last season. Take Ottawa (8*).

My selection is on Los Angeles over Toronto at 7:05 pm et on Thursday.

We won with the Kings two nights ago in Ottawa but missed fading the Leafs in their 4-0 victory in Dallas on the same night. Here, we'll take another shot at fading Toronto as it returns home to host Los Angeles on Thursday. The Leafs have actually dropped consecutive meetings with the Kings, including a 5-1 loss on home ice as a favorite priced well north of -200 last season. I'm higher on Los Angeles than most, realizing that it has plenty of warts defensively but does have considerable upside from an offensive standpoint. I do like the way the Kings forwards match up here against a Leafs squad that is still missing a number of stalwarts on the blue line due to injury. While it's always a considerable risk fading a team as offensively gifted as the Leafs, I like the letdown spot here returning home off a shutout victory in Dallas. Interestingly, Toronto has averaged just 2.9 goals per game at home this season compared to its season scoring average of 3.1 gpg. The Kings are a respectable 7-7 (+0.3 net games from a betting perspective) on the road. I think placing goaltender Cal Petersen on waivers was a wake-up call for the entire team last week and his replacement Pheonix Copley turned in a terrific performance between the pipes two nights ago. It's likely Jonathan Quick in goal tonight but he was also in goal for that aforementioned 5-1 win here in Toronto last season. Take Los Angeles (8*).

My selection is on San Jose over Vancouver at 10:35 pm et on Wednesday.

I'll gladly fade the favored Canucks off their ridiculous come-from-behind win over the Canadiens on Monday. Vancouver rallied from four goals down and then again after trailing 6-5 with just minutes remaining in the third period in an eventual overtime win. Credit the Canucks for never quitting in that game but there's no question the Habs served it up on a silver platter after jumping ahead 4-0 early. Here, I don't expect the Sharks to be as forgiving as they look to bounce back from three straight losses. Interestingly, San Jose's most recent home game came against these same Canucks back on November 27th - a game it lost by a 4-3 score. Here, we'll note that the Sharks have gone 7-2 in their last nine games after losing consecutive contests by three goals or more, which is the situation here, outscoring opponents by 0.9 goals on average in that spot. Having dropped six straight meetings in this series, look for the revenge-minded Sharks to finally put one over on the Canucks on Wednesday. Take San Jose (8*).

Non-Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on New York over Vegas at 10:05 pm et on Wednesday.

The Rangers 6-4 victory over the Blues on Monday was the type of win that can provide some positive momentum for a team as it heads out on the road for a brief two-game trip. New York appeared headed for its third straight loss before a furious third period rally that saw it score three unanswered goals. That marked the first time in seven games the Blueshirts found the back of the net more than three times. The Golden Knights persevered in a 4-3 shootout win in Boston on Monday. That marked their second straight victory and wrapped up a 3-1 road trip. I think they'll be in tough here against a Rangers squad that has gone 7-5 on the road this season, outscoring opponents by 0.8 goals on average. Note that New York is an incredible 12-2 in its last 14 games after losing five or six of its last seven contests, as is the case here, outscoring opponents by 1.1 goals on average in that situation. The Knights are a woeful 2-7 in their last nine home games after scoring three or more goals in four consecutive games, outscored by an average margin of 0.8 goals in that spot. Take New York (10*).

My selection is on Dallas over Toronto at 8:35 pm et on Tuesday.

The Maple Leafs finally lost a game on Saturday as they fell by a 3-2 score in Tampa. Meanwhile, the Stars check in off a disappointing 6-5 home loss against the Wild on Sunday - a game that saw them stage a furious rally but ultimately come away with just a single point. There was no shame in that shootout defeat, however, and Dallas remains a solid 7-5 on home ice this season, outscoring opponents by an impressive average margin of 1.3 goals. The Leafs were bound to come back to Earth following an extended winning run and I don't like the spot for them here as they come off a two-day layoff following Saturday's defeat, not to mention the fact that they'll be taking the ice for only the second time in the last six days. The 'rest vs. rust' discussion comes into play (especially at this early stage of the season) and given how well Toronto had been playing, I believe it could hit a bit of a lull here. This should be a game the Stars have had circled after dropping a 3-2 decision in Toronto back in October. Dallas didn't play particularly well in that contest but was still right there in the end, which should provide some confident that it can gain an ounce of revenge here at home. Take Dallas (8*).

My selection is on Los Angeles over Ottawa at 7:05 pm et on Tuesday.

I believe the case can be made for the wrong team being favored in this matchup on Tuesday night in Ottawa. The Kings head out on the road after a disappointing 1-3 homestand that started with a 3-2 loss to these same Senators a little over a week ago. That was a successful revenge trip to Los Angeles after the Sens had dropped both meetings with the Kings last season, including a 2-0 defeat here in Ottawa. I believe they'll find the going a little tougher this time around as the Kings look to get this eastern road swing off to a positive start. Here, we'll note that Los Angeles is 24-18 after losing two of its previous three games over the last two seasons and 15-11 when seeking revenge for a home loss against an opponent over the same stretch. Better still, the Kings are 22-12 after giving up three or more goals in consecutive games over the last two seasons and have given up just 2.7 goals per contest after allowing four or more goals in their previous game over the same stretch (40-game sample size), outscoring the opposition by 0.4 goals on average in that situation. Meanwhile, the Sens are a woeful 3-14 in their last 17 home games after scoring three goals or more in consecutive contests, outscored by 1.1 goals on average in that spot. Take Los Angeles (8*).

My selection is on Montreal over Vancouver at 10:35 pm et on Monday.

We missed with the Coyotes in Vancouver on Saturday as they blew a 2-1 third period lead in an eventual overtime loss (on a Canucks power play goal). Here, I won't hesitate to go back to the well fading the Canucks as a big favorite again, this time against the Montreal Canadiens, who will be looking to bounce back from a 5-3 loss to the red hot Oilers in Edmonton on Saturday. Montreal continues to play competitive hockey, 7-5 over its last 12 games including a 2-1 upset win in Calgary to open its current road trip. The Canadiens took the first meeting between these two teams this season and it wasn't particularly close (Montreal won 5-2). That game was played in Montreal but the Habs have also held their own here in Vancouver over the years, splitting the last six matchups while outscoring the Canucks by an average margin of 4-3. Take Montreal (8*).

My selection is on Arizona over Vancouver at 10:05 pm et on Saturday.

The Canucks continue to struggle, already 0-2 on their current homestand off blowout losses to the Capitals and Panthers. While a matchup with the lowly Coyotes would appear to be the cure for what ails them, I'm not convinced that will prove to be the case on Saturday night. Arizona pulled off a 4-0 stunner in Carolina just over a week ago but has dropped three in a row on the road since. The Coyotes do at least continue to score with consistency, having put up at least three goals in five consecutive games. After dropping all three meetings in this series last season by a combined 17-3 score, I can't help but feel the Coyotes have had this matchup circled and I look for them to take advantage of the Canucks playing some of their worst hockey. Take Arizona (8*).

My selection is on Washington over Vancouver at 10:05 pm et on Tuesday.

I really like the bounce-back spot for the Capitals on Tuesday as they look to respond after suffering a 5-1 loss to the red hot Devils last time out. The Canucks enter on a three-game winning streak, sweeping their road trip. They're just 3-5 on home ice this season, though. The Capitals are a woeful 2-9 on the road but that record will level out eventually. Looking back, Washington has faced a tough slate of opponents away from home. I do think they use the rest of this trip as an opportunity to get on track on the highway and off two full days' off, this is an ideal turnaround spot in my opinion. With the Canucks 'fat and happy' off a perfect road trip and having dropped last year's lone matchup between these two teams here in Vancouver, I'll back the Caps at a generous price on Tuesday. Take Washington (8*).

Division Game of the Month. My selection is on New Jersey over New York at 7:05 pm et on Monday.

The Devils just keep rolling along and I like their chances of stacking up another victory as they head to Manhattan to face the struggling Rangers on Monday night. New York has lost seven of its last 11 games, including Saturday's stunning 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Oilers in a game they led 3-0 in the third period (we won with the underdog Oilers in that game). There's no comparison between these two teams statistically this season. The 'due factor' and the fact that New York has owned this series for years is really the only thing it has going for it in this matchup. That's not enough to warrant the pk'em price in my opinion. Noting that the Devils have outscored the opposition by 2.0 goals on average on the road this season while the Rangers have been outscored by an average margin of 0.6 goals at home, we'll confidently back New Jersey here. Take New Jersey (10*).

My selection is on Dallas over Colorado at 9:05 pm et on Saturday.

I'm not completely convinced that the Avalanche are the better team in this matchup, yet we're being given a very generous price to back the Stars, likely due to the fact they're off a hard-fought overtime loss to the Jets last night while Colorado was idle thanks to a water main break in Nashville. The Stars have undoubtedly had this game circled on their calendars since suffering a 3-2 home loss to the Avalanche earlier this week. Dallas has proven to be more than just a 'tough out' on the road this season, going 6-5 while outscoring the opposition by 1.0 goal per contest. The Avs are off a stunning 4-3 home loss to the Canucks and are just an even 4-4 here in Denver this season. Take Dallas (8*).

My selection is on Edmonton over New York at 1:05 pm et on Saturday.

With the Rangers having won just four of their last 10 games and in a tough spot here returning home off a west coast road trip, I like the slumping Oilers to catch them by surprise on Saturday afternoon. Edmonton has had a couple of days off to digest a 3-0 loss to the Islanders on Wednesday - its second straight defeat to open this three-game road swing. There's no reason for the Oilers to be intimidated by this matchup on Saturday, noting that New York has been outscored by an average margin of 0.3 goals in its 10 home games this season. It's worth noting that while the Rangers did skate to a victory the last time these two teams met last season, they haven't recorded consecutive wins over Edmonton since taking five in a row in the series from 2015 to 2018. Since then, the Oilers are 5-1 in the last six meetings. Take Edmonton (8*).

My selection is on Minnesota over Toronto at 2:05 pm et on Friday.

The Wild are generally a streaky team, particularly on home ice and here we'll back them fresh off consecutive victories in the State of Hockey, as they host the Leafs, who are in a clear letdown spot after ending the Devils long winning streak two nights ago. I don't think there's any question, there's a valley between the Eastern and Western Conferences this season, with the West proving superior to this point. Toronto checks in just 3-6 against Western Conference opponents while Minnesota has gone an even 4-4 against the East. The fact that the Wild have held six of their last eight opponents to two goals or less has gone largely unnoticed. Off a season-high six-goal outburst in a win over Winnipeg on Wednesday, I look for Minnesota to keep it rolling here, noting that it has gone an incredible 39-12 in its last 51 home games when coming off a victory. Take Minnesota (8*).

My selection is on Montreal over Chicago at 2:05 pm et on Friday.

I'm not buying what the Blackhawks are selling this season and will gladly fade them for a second straight game on Friday afternoon. Chicago might not be the worst team in the NHL, but it's certainly in the conversation. Sporting a 4-1 third period lead in Dallas two nights ago, all seemed to be going well for the 'Hawks before they allowed five unanswered goals, not only failing to win, but not even managing to hold on for the puck-line cover. They're back home on Friday but that should offer little comfort as they've gone 4-6 while being outscored by 0.7 goals on average here at the United Center. Montreal successfully avenged a loss the week prior in Columbus two nights ago and will be revenge-minded again here after dropping both meetings against Chicago last season. Noting that the 'Hawks are a miserable 8-28 after giving up three goals or more in three consecutive games over the last two seasons, outscored by 1.4 goals on average in that situation, we'll confidently back the Habs here. Take Montreal (8*).

My selection is on New York over Anaheim at 10:05 pm et on Wednesday.

The Ducks might not be the worst team in the NHL but they're certainly in the conversation. I don't see them picking themselves up off the mat on Wednesday, even as they catch the Rangers in a back-to-back spot off a 5-3 win in Los Angeles last night. New York has been a load for Anaheim to handle going back to last season, scoring 14 goals while taking all three meetings in this series. The Ducks simply aren't producing offensively right now, mustering two goals or less in three straight and five of their last six games overall. It won't get any easier against a Rangers squad that has held six consecutive opponents to three goals or less. Take New York (8*).

My selection is on Florida over Boston at 7:05 pm et on Wednesday.

We won with the Bruins two nights ago in Tampa but I won't hesitate to go the other way and back the Panthers as they look to snap Boston's long winning streak on Wednesday. The Panthers are in a triple-revenge spot here, having dropped three straight matchups with the Bruins. However, all three of those contests were played in Boston. The last time these two teams met in Sunrise, the Panthers skated to a 4-1 victory. Off an ugly loss in Columbus on Sunday, look for Florida to bounce back here. Take Florida (8*).

My selection is on Boston over Tampa Bay at 7:05 pm et on Monday.

This is undoubtedly a tough test for the red hot Bruins as the Lightning have been playing well also, winning eight of their last 11 games. I like Boston in this spot, however, noting that it took three of four meetings in this series last season and Tampa Bay checks in a woeful 8-13 in its last 21 games following four or more consecutive wins, as is the case here, outscored by an average margin of 0.6 goals in that situation. Take Boston (8*).

My selection is on Edmonton over New Jersey at 7:05 pm et on Monday.

The Devils are the hottest team in the NHL and have been for weeks but I like the Oilers to finally bring New Jersey's long winning streak to a halt on Monday night. Edmonton has proven to be a 'tough out' and then some on the road this season, going 5-2 including victories over top Eastern Conference teams including the Lightning and Panthers. Here, we'll note that the Oilers are an incredible 17-4 in their last 21 games when seeking revenge for a one-goal loss against an opponent, as is the case here, outscoring opponents by 1.6 goals on average in that spot. Take Edmonton (8*).

My selection is on New Jersey over Toronto at 7:05 pm et on Thursday.

It always seems to be one step forward, two steps back when it comes to the Maple Leafs and off consecutive victories including a lopsided win in Pittsburgh two nights ago, I look for them to get tripped up against the red hot Devils on Thursday. New Jersey isn't getting the credit or recognition it deserves. The Devils have reeled off 10 consecutive victories - that's no fluke. They haven't allowed more than three goals on a single occasion over that stretch. Contrast that with the Leafs, who have been lit up for 4+ goals in five of their last 10 contests. Outscoring the opposition by 1.9 goals on average on the road this season, we'll ride with the Devils on Thursday. Take New Jersey (8*).

My selection is on Carolina over Chicago at 8:35 pm et on Monday.

This is an awful spot for the Blackhawks, returning home off a win at the tail-end of their three-game western road swing, noting that they've scored three goals or less in seven straight games now and catch a Hurricanes squad in a foul mood off a 4-1 loss in Colorado to open their current road trip. While Carolina has been held to one goal or less in three of its last four games, I expect its offensive slump to be short-lived, noting that it is just one game removed from a seven-goal explosion against the Oilers. Carolina took both meetings in this series last season, scoring 10 goals in the process. The Blackhawks are an even weaker team this season in my opinion and they find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time tonight. Take Carolina (8*).

Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Toronto over Vegas at 7:05 pm et on Tuesday.

The Maple Leafs have proven to be a streaky team in recent years and this season has been no different. Toronto entered the start of the month having dropped four straight games. Since then, they've reeled off three straight wins, including a near-perfect road game in Carolina on Sunday. The Golden Knights come in red hot as well, winners of seven games in a row. That streak started with a victory over these same Leafs in Las Vegas. It's worth noting, however, in nine previous matchups between these two teams, the Knights have never managed to post consecutive victories, failing to do so in each of their last two tries, which both came in Toronto. Interestingly, the Leafs are an incredible 23-2 in their last 25 home games following a road game, which is the situation here, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 1.9 goals in that spot. It's worth noting that the Knights had been playing every other day going back to October 28th. Here, they come off back-to-back off days and I look for Toronto to get the jump on them as a result on Tuesday. Take Toronto (10*).

Pacific Division Game of the Month. My selection is on San Jose over Anaheim at 10:35 pm et on Saturday.

We missed with the Sharks in this same matchup earlier this week but I won't hesitate to go back to the well in this 'revenge' spot, noting that the previous contest could have certainly gone either way as it was decided in a shootout. The Ducks check in having allowed a whopping 29 goals over their last six games and figure to get lit up again here. Note that Anaheim is a woeful 6-26 when coming off two wins in their last three games over the last three seasons, outscored by 1.6 goals on average in that spot. Meanwhile, the Sharks are a profitable 25-21 after losing three of their last four games over the same stretch, as is the case here. Take San Jose (10*).

My selection is on Pittsburgh over Seattle at 7:05 pm et on Saturday.

Getting a win on Saturday is 'mission critical' for the Penguins as they look to finally snap their six-game losing streak before a three-day layoff which precedes a showdown with the rival Capitals on Wednesday in Washington. This is a 'revenge game' for the Pens after they outshot the Kraken but fell by a 3-1 score in Seattle last Saturday. Note that while the Kraken have won three games in a row, they've actually been outshot by a wide 95-79 margin over that stretch. Here, we'll note that Seattle is a woeful 2-12 all-time when coming off a road victory, which is the situation here following its 4-0 shutout win over the Wild on Thursday. Take Pittsburgh (8*).

My selection is on Tampa Bay over Carolina at 7:05 pm et on Thursday.

The Lightning have looked like a different team since an embarrassing home loss against the Flyers back on October 18th. That loss dropped the Bolts to 1-3 to start the season. Since then, they've gone 5-1, including a come-from-behind 4-3 win over Ottawa here on home ice two nights ago. I look for them to continue to build positive momentum as they host the Hurricanes on Thursday. Carolina has won back-to-back games but it is seven games removed from its last victory by more than a single goal - illustrating how razor thin its margin for error is at the moment. Note that the Lightning check in 10-1 in their last 11 games following a one-goal victory over a division opponent, as is the case here, outscoring opponents by 1.8 goals on average in that situation. Meanwhile, the Canes have been outscored by 0.8 goals on average in their last 72 road games following a home victory over a divisional foe, which is also the situation here. Take Tampa Bay (8*).

My selection is on San Jose over Anaheim at 10:35 pm et on Tuesday.

Both of these teams have struggled in the early going this season but I like what I've seen from the Sharks lately, even if the wins haven't come with much consistency. San Jose is coming off a 4-3 loss against Tampa Bay but still checks in 3-3 over its last six games with the other two losses coming against the Golden Knights and Devils - two teams that are off terrific starts to the season. The Ducks finally snapped their seven-game losing streak with an overtime win over the reeling Maple Leafs on Sunday. During that long losing skid they scored two goals or less on six occasions. I'm not convinced the Ducks are out of the woods just yet and here we'll note that they're 0-10 in their last 10 games after a one-goal victory on home ice, as is the case here, outscored by 2.7 goals on average in that situation. Meanwhile, the Sharks are 14-6 in their last 20 games after allowing 3+ goals in three consecutive games, which is also the situation here, outscoring opponents by 0.6 goals on average in that spot. Take San Jose (8*).

My selection is on St. Louis over Los Angeles at 8:05 pm et on Monday.

I really like the way this spot sets up for the Blues to finally snap their four-game losing streak at home against the Kings on Monday. St. Louis hasn't won a game since October 22nd, when it skated to a 2-0 win in Edmonton. I expect the Blues to get back to that type of hard-nosed defensive play here as they catch the Kings off a 4-2 home win over the reeling Maple Leafs on Saturday. Here, we'll note that St. Louis has gone 11-3 the last 14 times it has come off a game in which it allowed 6+ goals, as is the case here following Saturday's 7-4 loss to Montreal, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 1.0 goal in that situation. The Blues are also 14-4 the last 18 times they've played at home off consecutive losses by 2+ goals, which is also the situation here, outscoring the opposition by 1.3 goals on average in that spot. Keep in mind, the Blues were priced at -170 or worse in their two home matchups against Los Angeles last season. We're being offered a much more reasonable price here thanks to their recent struggles. I expect them to bounce back. Take St. Louis (8*).

Underdog Game of the Month. My selection is on Vancouver over Pittsburgh at 10:05 pm et on Friday.

The Canucks finally picked up their first win of the season last night in Seattle and I look for them to build off the positive momentum provided by that victory as they return home to host the Penguins on Friday. Pittsburgh scored 26 goals in its first five games this season but has been held to only four in the first two games of its current four-game road trip. Worse still, after holding five straight opponents to three goals or less, the Pens have been lit up for 10 goals over their last two contests. Meanwhile, Vancouver posted its highest scoring output of the season in last night's win, providing a glimmer of hope as it enters this key four-game homestand. Note that the Canucks will be playing with double-revenge here after dropping both of last season's meetings with Pittsburgh. The Pens haven't posted three straight victories over the Canucks since 2016-17. Take Vancouver (10*).

Revenge Game of the Month. My selection is on Edmonton over Carolina at 9:05 pm et on Thursday.

I really like the way this spot sets up for the Oilers, who will be looking to avenge a pair of losses against the Hurricanes last season (in which they scored just two goals). Edmonton opened the campaign with a 5-3 win over the Canucks (which perhaps doesn't look as impressive given how poorly Vancouver has played). Since then, the Oilers have dropped consecutive home games against Calgary and Buffalo with the latter coming in embarrassing fashion two nights ago. Carolina is off to a perfect 3-0 start including consecutive wins to open its current five-game road trip. Here, we'll note that the Canes have gone a poor 42-74 the last 116 times they've played on the road following three straight victories. Meanwhile, the Oilers have outscored opponents by an average margin of 0.9 goals when playing at home after losing two of their last three games going back to the start of last season (22-game sample size). Take Edmonton (10*).

Non-Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Nashville over Los Angeles at 9:35 pm et on Tuesday.

The Kings have secured consecutive wins to open their current road trip, including a wild 5-4 overtime victory last night in Detroit. The Predators opened the season with a pair of wins over the Sharks in Prague but have suffered a hangover of sorts since returning, dropping both games in a home-and-home series against the Stars. After a couple of days off, I look for the Preds to bounce back here, noting that they've gone an incredible 10-2 when coming off consecutive losses by 2+ goals over the last 2+ seasons, outscoring opponents by 1.4 goals on average in that spot. Nashville took the first two meetings between these two teams last season before letting its guard down and dropping a lopsided 6-1 decision in Los Angeles in late March. The Kings haven't recorded a victory in Nashville since back in 2016. Take Nashville (10*).

My selection is on Washington over Boston at 7:05 pm et on Wednesday.

We're being asked to lay a reasonable price to back the Capitals as they host the Bruins on Wednesday night. Boston took two of three meetings between these two teams last season but I look for a different story to unfold on Wednesday at least. The Bruins fired head coach Bruce Cassidy at the end of last season, hiring previously exiled Stars coach Jim Montgomery in a bit of a perplexing move. Regardless, the Bruins start the campaign at less than full strength with Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk sidelined. The Caps won't have the services of veteran Nick Backstrom or Tom Wilson to start the season but I like the additions they made with Connor Brown joining the top line with Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome centering the second line. I'm anticipating somewhat of a sophomore slump for Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman while the Caps make the move to Darcy Kuemper, who is only a few months removed from a Stanley Cup title with the Avalanche. While that move could be questioned, I do think the Caps have enough firepower to outlast the B's on opening night. Take Washington (8*).

My selection is on Colorado over Tampa Bay at 8:15 pm et on Sunday.

We won with the Lightning in Game 3, the Avalanche in Game 4 and the Lightning on the puck-line in Game 4. Here, I won't hesitate to switch gears once again and back Colorado as it looks to hoist the Stanley Cup on Sunday night in Tampa. Credit the Lightning for battling their way to a hard-fought 3-2 victory in Game 5 of this series on Friday. It wasn't all that difficult to see coming, however, as we're talking about the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions. The fourth win in a series is always the most difficult when it comes to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Avalanche have found that out first hand in each and every series so far. Just as they did against St. Louis in the second round, I look for Colorado to bounce back from a home loss in Game 5 with a road win in Game 6. There's no question the Avalanche have been the better team in this series but they obviously felt the pressure playing in front of the Cup-starved (Colorado's last Stanley Cup was won in 2001) home faithful. Look for the Avs to play much looser in Game 6 and ultimately prevail. Take Colorado (10*).

NHL Game of the Year. My selection is on Colorado over Tampa Bay at 8:15 pm et on Wednesday.

We won with the Lightning in Game 3 of this series on Monday as Tampa Bay showed up with its best effort of the series to avoid an 0-3 hole. Now I look for the Avs to answer back and push the Bolts to the brink of elimination before the series shifts back to Colorado for Game 5. It certainly wasn't surprising to see Tampa Bay push back and deliver a lopsided victory on Monday. After all, we are talking about the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions. The Lightning weren't simply going to roll over, certainly not on home ice. Things could have gone differently, however, were it not for an early disallowed Avalanche goal due to an offside call by way of review. Here, we'll note that Colorado checks in 34-12 when seeking revenge for a loss by 2+ goals against an opponent over the last three seasons, outscoring the opposition by 1.4 goals on average in that situation. While the Lightning may be known for their offensive prowess, this series certainly hasn't been played at their preferred pace. Note that they're a woeful 11-19 after three consecutive games totalling 7+ goals over the last three seasons, as is the case here, allowing 3.4 goals and outscored by 0.2 goals on average in that spot. Colorado has yet to lose consecutive games in these playoffs. It did drop six of seven games at the tail-end of the regular season but that was after it had wrapped up the President's Trophy and was more focused on managing the playing time of its stars. You would have to go all the way back to March 8th and 10th to find the last time the Avs lost consecutive 'meaningful' games and in that situation they were playing a third road game in four nights against a tough opponent in Carolina. You would have to go back eight meetings in this series to find the last time the Lightning managed to defeat the Avalanche in consecutive matchups, with that last taking place in October and December 2018. Take Colorado (10*).

My selection is on Tampa Bay over Colorado at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

Some will point to Saturday's 7-0 drubbing in Game 2 of this series as a reason for why it's difficult to back the Lightning here in Game 3 on Monday. I actually feel the lopsided nature of that game - which was never competitive - will serve the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions well in this spot as they were completely embarrassed 48 hours ago. Here, we'll note that the Lightning check in a perfect 9-0 when playing at home after losing two of their last three games this season, as is the case here, outscoring opponents by 2.2 goals on average in that spot. They're also an incredible 18-2 when playing at home seeking revenge for a loss in which their opponent scored 4+ goals over the last two seasons, outscoring the opposition by 2.1 goals in that situation. As I've noted time and time again in these playoffs, long winning streaks just aren't commonplace in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, yet here we find the Avs off seven consecutive victories. Look for that streak to finally come to an end on Monday. Take Tampa Bay (10*).

Eastern Conference Final Game of the Year. My selection is on Tampa Bay over New York at 8 pm et on Tuesday.

We won with the Lightning in Game 3 of this series on Sunday as they rallied from a 2-0 deficit to prevail by a 3-2 score. I won't hesitate to go back to the well with Tampa Bay again in Game 4 on Tuesday as it looks to knot this series at two games apiece before heading back to Manhattan. The Lightning are now 32-15 on home ice this season including 5-1 in the playoffs. While the Bolts are known for their offense, they've been as stingy as they come here on home ice, allowing just 2.6 goals per game this season while outscoring opponents by 0.9 goals on average. The same trend we used to support our play on Tampa Bay in Game 3 still works in Game 4 as the Bolts are now an incredible 16-1 when playing at home after losing two of their last three games over the last two seasons, allowing just 1.7 goals per contest and outscoring opponents by 1.8 goals on average in that situation. The Rangers just haven't been the same team away from Madison Square Garden this season, posting a modest 27-22 record while failing to outscore their opponents on a per-game average. It seemed to me that the Lightning solved Rangers elite goaltender Igor Shesterkin as the game went on Sunday afternoon, peppering him with an incredible 52 shots on goal in that contest and finding the back of the net three times in the final 30 minutes. Expect some carry-over from that thrilling come-from-behind victory on Tuesday. Take Tampa Bay (10*).

NHL Game of the Week. My selection is on Tampa Bay over New York at 3 pm et on Sunday.

As I've pointed out time and time again in these playoffs, long winning streaks just aren't commonplace in the NHL postseason. We saw that play out at the start of this series as the Rangers snapped Tampa's six-game winning streak with a victory in Game 1 (and then went on to win Game 2 as well). Now we'll look for the Lightning to bring an end to the Rangers four-game winning streak, noting that New York is just 5-15 when playing on the road after scoring 3+ goals in three consecutive games over the last two seasons, outscored by 1.4 goals on average in that situation. Meanwhile, the Lightning are an incredible 12-1 when playing at home seeking revenge for a one-goal loss against an opponent over the same stretch, outscoring the opposition by 2.2 goals on average. Tampa Bay also checks in 15-1 when playing at home coming off two losses in its last three games over the last two seasons, as is the case here, outscoring opponents by 1.9 goals on average in that spot. Take Tampa Bay (10*).

Metropolitan Division Playoff Game of the Year. My selection is on New York over Carolina at 8 pm et on Saturday.

Game 5 of this series was interesting as the Hurricanes jumped ahead 1-0 early before the Rangers quickly tied things up and then New York seemingly grabbed a 2-1 lead in the second period before that goal was called back. From there the tide turned back in the hometown Canes favor as they went on to score the next two goals in a 3-1 victory. Who knows how that contest would have played out were it not for the disallowed Rangers goal. New York certainly carried the play for much of the game, outshooting Carolina by a wide 34-17 margin. That was the fourth straight game in which the Rangers held the advantage in terms of shots on goal. I like New York to bounce back here at home, where it has gone an impressive 32-15 this season, outscoring opponents by 1.0 goal on average. The Canes are actually one of the weakest road teams remaining in the playoffs, with a 25-21 record, outscoring opponents by 0.4 goals on average but allowing just shy of 3.0 goals per contest. Note here that the Rangers are 11-3 when seeking revenge for a road loss against an opponent this season, outscoring the opposition by 1.3 goals on average in that spot. Better still, the Blueshirts are 7-1 when that road loss came by 2+ goals, which is the situation here, outscoring opponents by 1.3 goals on average along the way. The home team has now won all 12 games the Hurricanes have played in these playoffs. I'm not going to go against the grain here. Take New York (10*).

My selection is on Colorado over St. Louis at 8 pm et on Friday.

The Avalanche couldn't close the deal in Game 5 on Wednesday, despite building a 3-0 lead and seemingly having proceedings in full control. While the Blues did well to battle back and ultimately win in overtime, I don't expect them to turn the trick again on Friday. Note that the Blues 'home ice advantage' has been virtually non-existent lately, 0-2 in this series and 2-5 over their last five games here in St. Louis. Colorado checks in 28-17 on the road this season where it has outscored opponents by an average margin of 0.5 goals. There's just not a lot for the Blues to hang their hat on here, even after Wednesday's thrilling victory, noting that they've been outshot 71-50 over the last two games and goaltender Ville Husso has performed admirably since taking over for an injured Jordan Binnington, but he's in no position to steal a game having allowed nine goals over the last two games. Take Colorado (10*).

Western Conference Second Round Game of the Year. My selection is on Calgary over Edmonton at 9:30 pm et on Thursday.

The Flames ran into a buzz-saw in Edmonton, dropping both games to fall behind 3-1 in this series. In fact, the Oilers have won three games in a row since losing the series-opener by a 9-6 score. As I've noted previously, long winning streaks just aren't commonplace in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. We've seen it time and time again. Here, I look for the Flames to answer back on home ice, where they're 29-18 and outscore opponents by 1.3 goals on average this season. We'll also note that the Oilers are a woeful 2-12 the last 14 times they've played on the road after consecutive home wins by 2+ goals, as is the case here, outscored by 1.3 goals on average along the way. Take Calgary (10*).

My selection is on Carolina over New York at 7 pm et on Thursday.

We missed with the Hurricanes on the puck-line on Tuesday as they fell by a 4-1 score at Madison Square Garden. With the scene shifting back to Raleigh for Game 5 - where the Canes are a perfect 6-0 in these playoffs - I won't hesitate to come right back with them again here. Carolina has been incredibly stingy here at home this season, going 35-12 while allowing just 2.0 goals per contest. Needless to say, that's critical in a tight-checking, low-scoring series such as this one. New York checks in 26-20 on the road but has actually failed to outscore the opposition by any margin, allowing 2.9 goals per game. This is one of our preferred spots to back the Canes, noting that they've allowed just 2.1 goals per contest and outscored opponents by 0.9 goals on average when playing at home after losing two of their last three games over the last two seasons (23-game sample size). Take Carolina (8*).

My selection is on New York over Carolina at 3:30 pm et on Sunday.

The Hurricanes have now won three games in a row - their longest such streak of the playoffs to date. Off a shutout victory in Game 2, I look for the Canes to suffer a letdown in Game 3 as the scene shifts to Madison Square Garden. Note that Carolina is a miserable 1-6 when coming off consecutive games in which it allowed one goal or less over the last two seasons, as is the case here. They're also a miserable 41-70 when coming off 3+ consecutive victories in the long-term picture. The Rangers are an impressive 8-1 when seeking revenge for a loss against an opponent in which they were shut out over the last two seasons. They've also 10-2 when coming off consecutive losses this season, which is also the situation here. Take New York (8*).

My selection is on Florida over Tampa Bay at 1:30 pm et on Sunday.

As I've mentioned on numerous occasions previously, long winning streaks just aren't commonplace in the NHL Playoffs. Here, the Lightning will be looking to deliver a fifth consecutive victory after improbably taking Games 1 and 2 in Sunrise. Note that the Bolts are 2-6 after winning 4+ games in a row this season. I look for the Panthers to answer back on Sunday afternoon. Florida has now dropped consecutive games, its longest losing streak since dropping three in a row from February 22nd to 26th. The Cats are 13-2 after being held to one goal or less in their previous game over the last two seasons and 30-15 when playing on the road off a loss over the last three seasons. Take Florida (9*).

Central Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Colorado over St. Louis at 8 pm et on Saturday.

We cashed our free play on the Blues puck-line in Game 2 of this series on Thursday but I won't hesitate to go the other way and back the Avs as the series shifts to St. Louis on Saturday. After a dominant performance in Game 1 (Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington stood on his head in that overtime loss), Colorado was brought back to Earth in Game 2. That wasn't all that surprising, as I noted in my analysis that long winning streaks aren't all that commonplace in the NHL Playoffs (the Avs had won five games in a row to open the postseason). Now I look for Colorado to answer back, noting that it has gone 18-5 when seeking revenge for a loss in which it scored one goal or less over the last three seasons, outscoring opponents by 1.5 goals on average in that situation. Meanwhile, the Blues are just 5-12 in their last 17 games when tied in a playoff series and playing on home ice (including 0-1 in these playoffs), outscored by 0.8 goals on average in that spot. Take Colorado (10*).

Second Round Game of the Year. My selection is on Florida over Tampa Bay at 7 pm et on Thursday.

We missed with the Panthers in Game 1. I can't help but think after grabbing an early 1-0 lead they thought the Lightning would just roll over, especially with Brayden Point sidelined and coming off a grueling seven-game series against the Leafs that saw them rally to win the final two games. That wasn't the case of course as Tampa Bay outmuscled Florida in a 4-1 victory. Now it's on the Panthers to bounce back and I expect them to do just that on Thursday. Note that Florida checks in an incredible 13-1 when coming off a game in which it scored one goal or less over the last two seasons, outscoring opponents by 1.4 goals on average in that spot. Perhaps better still, the Panthers are 20-3 when playing at home after allowing 3+ goals in consecutive games over the same stretch, outscoring opponents by 2.1 goals on average while putting up an incredible 4.7 goals per contest. We know this is a critical contest for the Panthers as they can ill afford to dig themselves an 0-2 hole the way they did against the Lightning in last year's opening round playoff series. As I've noted previously, long winning streaks just aren't commonplace in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I suppose I should have taken my own advice in Game 1 of this series as the Panthers were looking for a fourth straight win. Now it's the Lightning that will be aiming to win a fourth consecutive game. I expect them to fall short. Take Florida (10*).

My selection is on Carolina over New York at 7 pm et on Wednesday.

Long winning streaks aren't commonplace in the NHL Playoffs - at least not anymore. We saw evidence of that again last night as the Panthers failed to deliver a fourth straight victory, falling by a 4-1 score at home against the Lightning. Here, the Rangers will be aiming for their fourth consecutive win after rallying from a 3-1 series deficit to prevail in overtime in Game 7 against the Penguins last round. I expect them to fall short in Wednesday's series-opener. Carolina remains undefeated on home ice in these playoffs - an impressive accomplishment considering it faced a team that enjoyed plenty of road success during the regular season in the Bruins during the opening round. The Canes are now an incredible 33-12 on home ice this season, allowing a stingy 2.1 goals per game while outscoring opponents by 1.2 goals on average. They catch the Rangers in a favorable spot here, noting that New York has gone 5-14 when coming off three consecutive games scoring 3+ goals over the last two seasons, outscored by an average margin of 1.5 goals in that situation. Take Carolina (8*).

My selection is on Florida over Tampa Bay at 7 pm et on Tuesday.

The Lightning rallied to win consecutive games after falling behind 3-2 in the series against the Leafs last round, adding to Toronto's long history of playoff collapses. Now Tampa makes the short trip to Sunrise to face the in-state rival Panthers and I look for it to fall short in Game 1. Florida hasn't just been good at home this season, it has been dominant, going 36-8 while outscoring the opposition by an average margin of 1.7 goals. The fact that Tampa took the most recent meeting between these two teams by an 8-4 score back in late April actually serves Florida well, noting that it has gone 15-3 when playing at home seeking revenge for a loss by 2+ goals against an opponent over the last three seasons, outscoring the opposition by 1.5 goals on average in that spot. The Panthers also own an incredible 15-2 record when playing at home off a victory this season, as is the case here, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 2.6 goals in that situation. Take Florida (8*).

My selection is on Carolina over Boston at 4:35 pm et on Saturday.

The home team has owned this series, winning all six games to date. I expect that trend to continue in Game 7 on Saturday as the Hurricanes wrap up the series on home ice. Note that Carolina checks in allowing just 2.1 goals per game and outscoring opponents by 0.9 goals on average when playing at home after losing two of their last three games over the last two seasons (22-game sample size), as is the case here. The Canes have averaged an impressive 3.7 goals per game when seeking revenge for a road loss by 2+ goals over the same stretch (11-game sample size), which is also the situation here. Credit Boston for forcing a seventh-and-deciding game in this series but its victory in Game 6 was anything but unexpected (we won with the Bruins in that game). The fact is, none of the games in this series have been all that close with the home side dominating and there's little reason to expect anything different here. Take Carolina (6*).

My selection is on Tampa Bay over Toronto at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

We've yet to see a team register consecutive wins in this series and I don't think that changes here as the Lightning face elimination on home ice. Note that Toronto is just 8-13 when playing on the road after scoring 3+ goals in four consecutive games over the last two seasons, allowing 3.9 goals per game and outscored by 0.3 goals on average in that situation. They've also gone just 8-12 when coming off a home win by one goal over that same stretch. Meanwhile, the Lightning check in an incredible 14-1 when playing at home after losing two of their last three games over the last two seasons, as is the case here, outscoring opponents by 1.9 goals on average. They've also gone 24-5 when seeking revenge for a road loss against an opponent over the same stretch, averaging 3.7 goals per game and outscoring the opposition by 1.6 goals on average in that spot. Take Tampa Bay (6*).

Non-Division First Round Game of the Year. My selection is on Boston over Carolina at 7 pm et on Thursday.

Home ice advantage has mattered in this playoff series. That's actually an understatement as the home team has outscored the opposition by a 24-8 margin through the first five games with all five of those contests decided by 2+ goals. The Bruins did welcome Charlie McAvoy back from Covid protocols last time out but it wasn't enough as they dug themselves an early hole and never recovered. I expect a different story to play out on Thursday. Note that Boston has allowed just 1.9 goals per game and outscored opponents by 0.8 goals on average when playing at home after losing four or five of its last six games over the last two seasons (18-game sample size), as is the case here. On the flip side, the Canes have gone 16-25 when playing on the road after winning five or six of their last seven contests over the last three seasons, allowing 3.3 goals per game while being outscored by 0.4 goals on average in that spot. While it's not well-advised to employ such a hot-and-cold style, especially at this time of year, the Bruins have the talent on hand to 'flip the switch' so to speak. We saw it when the scene shifted to Boston earlier this season as the B's looked like a completely different team in Games 3 and 4 on home ice. Note that they check in 5-1 off a loss by 4+ goals this season and 10-4 after scoring one goal or less in their previous game. Take Boston (10*).

My selection is on Calgary over Dallas at 9:30 pm et on Wednesday.

It may sound strange given the series is knotted at two games apiece, but no first round matchup has been as lopsided as this one. We won with the Flames in Game 4 on Monday and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here as the scene shifts back to Calgary for Game 5. The Flames fired a whopping 95 shots on goal over the course of Games 3 and 4 in Dallas but only managed to come away with one victory. They've outshot the Stars 150-106 in this series. I don't expect the tide to suddenly turn in Calgary, noting that the Stars average just 2.5 goals per game while being outscored by an average margin of 0.6 goals on the road this season. They're a woeful 7-19 when heading out on the road following a home game over the last two seasons, outscored by 1.4 goals on average in that situation. The Flames good but not great 26-17 home record doesn't tell the whole story as they've averaged 3.7 goals per game on home ice while allowing just 2.3 on average. Take Calgary (4*).

My selection is on Calgary over Dallas at 9:30 pm et on Monday.

We missed with the Flames in Game 3 of this series on Saturday but I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play in Game 4 on Monday. Most expected this to be a relatively quick series with the Flames the heavy favorite heading in. It hasn't played out that way, however, with Dallas rebounding from a 1-0 loss in Game 1 with consecutive victories. While the Stars have gone an impressive 28-14 at home this season, nearly half of those 14 losses have come since March 12th, six of them to be exact. The Flames, meanwhile, have been one of the league's best road teams, going 25-17 while outscoring opponents by an average margin of 0.6 goals. Dallas checks in averaging just 2.5 goals per game while being outscored by 0.4 goals on average when coming off four or five wins in their last six games this season (35-game sample size), as is the case here. The Stars have also been outscored by 0.3 goals on average, allowing 3.4 goals per game when coming off a home win in which they scored 4+ goals over the last two seasons (26-game sample size), which is also the situation here. Take Calgary (3*).

NHL First Round Division Game of the Year. My selection is on New York over Pittsburgh at 7 pm et on Monday.

I don't feel that we've seen the Rangers best performance yet in this series. Sure, there was a 5-2 victory in Game 2 but even in that contest, it didn't seem like the Blueshirts were in complete control. Off a 7-4 drubbing on Saturday - a game that featured a furious second period rally from New York after falling behind 4-1 after the first - I look for the Rangers to bounce back in a big way on Monday. A stunningly poor performance from likely Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin highlighted Game 3 on Saturday. He was pulled early in that contest, a rare sight for sure. I certainly expect the world class goaltender to rebound with a much better performance here. Note that the Rangers check in 15-6 after losing two of their last three games this season, outscoring opponents by 0.9 goals on average in that situation. Better still, they're 7-1 after losing five or six of their last seven contests over the last two seasons, as is the case here, averaging 4.0 goals per game and outscoring the opposition by 1.5 goals on average in that spot. When seeking revenge for a road loss against an opponent this season they've allowed an average of only 1.7 goals per game while averaging 3.8 themselves, going 9-1 along the way. The last 37 times we've seen the Penguins play on home ice when leading a playoff series they've been outscored by an average margin of 0.2 goals. Take New York (10*).

My selection is on Calgary over Dallas at 9:30 pm et on Saturday.

Coming off a shutout loss in Game 2, I look for the Flames to regain their focus and answer back as the scene shifts to Dallas for Game 3 on Saturday. Shutout victories have been few and far between for the Stars in recent years. One thing is for certain though, they haven't performed well following up on those performances, noting that they check in 1-8 when coming off a shutout win over the last three seasons, outscored by an average margin of 1.1 goals in that situation. The Flames have been one of the best road teams in the league this season, going 25-16 while outscoring the opposition by 0.6 goals on average. The Stars average a less than impressive 2.9 goals overall this season but that average drops to 2.5 when coming off four or five wins in their last six contests (34-game sample size), as is the case here, outscored by 0.4 goals on average in that spot. Take Calgary (6*).

My selection is on St. Louis over Minnesota at 9:30 pm et on Friday.

We won with the Wild in Game 2 of this series on Wednesday but I won't hesitate to go the other way and back the Blues as the series shifts to St. Louis for Game 3 on Friday. The Wild desperately needed a win to even up this series in Game 2. Not surprisingly, the Blues came out flat after a shutout victory in Game 1. Here, I look for the Blues to ramp up again and ultimately prove to be too much for the Wild to handle. Minnesota continues to struggle to keep the puck out of its net. It acquired Marc-Andre Fleury to shore up its goaltending situation prior to the trade deadline but he's only been average at best - certainly not the savior some were expecting. Note that the Wild are allowing 3.2 goals per game on the road this season. When playing on the road off a home win over a division opponent over the last two seasons, as is the case here, they've allowed a whopping 4.7 goals per game, outscored by 2.4 goals on average while winning just once in nine games. The Blues on the other hand have allowed 6+ goals in a game on six previous occasions this season. Each time they've responded with a win in their next game, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 3.1 goals in that situation. Take St. Louis (8*).

My selection is on New York over Pittsburgh at 7 pm et on Thursday.

The Penguins rallied to take the opener of this series in thrilling triple-overtime fashion on Tuesday so now it's up to the Rangers to answer back before the scene shifts to Pittsburgh for Game 3. I expect them to do just that in Game 2 on Thursday. Here, we'll note that the Pens are just 15-23 when playing on the road after scoring 3+ goals in consecutive games over the last three seasons, as is the case here, outscored by 0.5 goals on average in that situation. The Rangers have hit a rough patch at a tough time but the good news is, they're 12-6 after losing four or five of their last six games over the last two seasons, which is the situation here, averaging 3.6 goals per game and outscoring the opposition by 1.1 goals on average in that spot. Bouncing back hasn't been a big issue for the Blueshirts in recent years as they're 30-16 when coming off a home loss over the last three seasons, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 1.0 goal along the way. Keep in mind, the Rangers had won three straight meetings in this series before the Penguins pulled out the win on Tuesday. Now it's New York's turn to gain an ounce of revenge. Take New York (9*).

My selection is on Edmonton over Los Angeles at 10 pm et on Wednesday.

Don't think for a second that the Oilers aren't still haunted by last year's first round four-game sweep at the hands of the Jets. Edmonton didn't get off to the start that it hoped for in this series, falling 4-3 to the Kings on Monday. I look for the Oilers to answer back on Wednesday, noting that they're still 28-14 on home ice this season, averaging 3.8 goals per game and outscoring opponents by an average margin of 0.7 goals. The Kings on the other hand, check in a solid 24-18 on the road but have actually been outscored by an average margin of 0.1 goal per game. You could argue that Los Angeles was in a favorable spot in the opener of this series as it had dropped three consecutive meetings against the Oilers so motivation was sky-high. Now the shoe is on the other foot as Edmonton is playing with revenge, noting that it has gone a perfect 5-0 in that situation in this particular series going back to 2018. Take Edmonton (5*).

Central Division First Round Game of the Year. My selection is on Minnesota over St. Louis at 9:30 pm et on Wednesday.

The Wild got caught in the trap of thinking that home ice advantage alone would carry them in the opener of this series - after all, they did go an incredible 31-10 here in the 'State of Hockey' during the regular season. The Blues had other ideas, cruising to a 4-0 victory - their sixth consecutive win against the Wild. I look for Minnesota to answer back in Game 2 on Wednesday. Note that the Blues are just 6-14 when playing on the road after scoring 3+ goals in four consecutive games over the last three seasons, as is the case here, outscored by 0.4 goals on average in that situation. The Wild meanwhile are a perfect 8-0 when coming off a home loss by 2+ goals this season, averaging 4.6 goals per game and outscoring opponents by 2.2 goals on average in that spot. While the Wild certainly went through a rough stretch from mid-February to mid-March, they did manage to turn it around down the stretch and despite the disappointment of that lopsided Game 1 defeat, not to mention the fact that St. Louis has owned this series this season, I don't expect them to roll over on home ice. Take Minnesota (10*).

Atlantic Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Toronto over Tampa Bay at 7:30 pm et on Monday.

We'll fade the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning in their playoff opener on Monday. The Leafs past playoff failures have been well-documented. While they certainly draw a tough opening round opponent in the Lightning, I do feel this is their best team in a number of years - one capable of making a deep playoff run. That's a story for another day, however. Here, I expect the Leafs to get this series off on the right foot, noting that the Lightning have shown some cracks in their armor this season, particularly down the stretch. Tampa Bay checks in having allowed 3.9 goals per game, outscored by an average margin of 0.6 goals, when playing on the road after winning six or seven of their last eight games this season (17-game sample size), as is the case here. The Leafs rested most of their stars but still notched a regular season-ending 5-2 win over the Bruins. That's notable as they've averaged 4.5 goals per game while outscoring opponents by 1.4 goals on average after scoring 5+ goals in their previous game this season (28-game sample size), which is the situation here. Also of note, Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell, who had an extended rough stretch during the regular season, bounced back to post a .941 save percentage over his last five starts with the Leafs going 4-1 in those games. Take Toronto (10*).

My selection is on Winnipeg over Seattle at 2 pm et on Sunday.

I'll keep it simple with my analysis of this odd regular season finale in Winnipeg - a make-up game from earlier in the season. The Kraken won their home finale in shutout fashion against San Jose. Now they hit the road one more time, where they've gone a woeful 11-29, outscored by 0.8 goals on average this season. The Jets have had a disappointing season but do check in 22-18 on home ice, where they've outscored opponents by 0.6 goals on average. They also enter this game with a chance to wrap up the season on a four-game winning streak, giving them something to feel good about heading to the golf course. Take Winnipeg (5*).

My selection is on Dallas over Anaheim at 8:35 pm et on Friday.

The Stars inexplicably let one slip away in an overtime loss against the lowly Coyotes two nights ago, on home ice no less. With the first Wild Card spot hanging in the balance (that position avoids a first round date with the Avalanche) I look for Dallas to bounce back on Friday night. The Stars remain a terrific home team on the season, having gone 26-14 while averaging 3.2 goals per game and outscoring opponents by 0.4 goals on average in the host role. The Ducks meanwhile are coming off a lopsided win in San Jose but remain a woeful 14-26 away from home this season, outscored by 0.7 goals on average along the way. Note that you would have to go all the way back to February 19th and 22nd to find the last time Anaheim managed to win consecutive games. Here, we'll also note that the Ducks are 8-33 when seeking revenge for consecutive losses against an opponent over the last two seasons, as is the case here, outscored by an average margin of 1.4 goals in that situation. Dallas on the other hand has averaged 3.8 goals per game and outscored opponents by 0.4 goals on average after losing four or five of its last six games this season (17-game sample size), which is the situation here. Take Dallas (5*).

My selection is on Buffalo over Chicago at 7:05 pm et on Friday.

I'm not sure you'll find a team less motivated across the league than the Blackhawks on Friday night. Chicago is at the end of yet another disappointing campaign but does enter Friday's season finale in Buffalo off consecutive wins. I don't need to tell you that a late April Friday trip to Buffalo likely has the 'Hawks thinking more about the golf course than proceedings on the ice. The Sabres meanwhile are off a shutout loss in Boston last night but had previously won four games in a row. They certainly played their best hockey down the stretch and check in 5-2 when coming off a loss by 4+ goals against a division opponent this season, as is the case here, and also 5-1 when following a loss by 5+ goals against any opponent over the same stretch. In the latter situation they've outscored opponents by an average margin of 1.6 goals. Chicago is just 3-12 when coming off two wins in its last three games this season, which is the situation here, outscored by 1.3 goals on average in that spot. Worse still, the 'Hawks check in 5-18 when coming off a game in which they scored 4+ goals this season, as is the case here. Take Buffalo (8*).

NHL Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Washington over New York at 7:05 pm et on Thursday.

The Isles got the better of the Caps two nights ago in Washington, skating to a 4-1 win. While Washington's first round playoff matchup is set (it will face Florida), I do think the Caps have some motivation to snap their brief two-game skid before wrapping up the regular season against the Rangers tomorrow night. Here, we'll note that Washington is 28-11 after losing two of its last three games over the last two seasons, outscoring opponents by 0.9 goals in that situation. The Isles are just 9-16 after a win by 2+ goals this season, as is the case here, averaging just 2.5 goals and outscored by 0.4 goals on average in that spot. New York is just 13-23 when coming off a victory of any kind this season while the Caps are 25-14 on the road, outscoring opponents by 0.8 goals on average. Take Washington (10*).

My selection is on Winnipeg over Philadelphia at 7:35 pm et on Wednesday.

The Jets returned home from a brutal late season road trip to defeat the Avalanche 4-1 on Sunday. Despite the down season, they're actually 20-18 on home ice, where they've outscored opponents by 0.5 goals on average. The Flyers meanwhile, check in a woeful 11-29 on the road, having been outscored by an average margin of 1.3 goals. After a brief two-game winning streak that included a victory over the rival Penguins on Sunday, Philadelphia dropped a 3-1 decision in Chicago on Monday. Here, we'll note that the Flyers are a woeful 2-13 when playing their third game in four nights this season, outscored by 1.7 goals on average in that spot. The Flyers did take the first meeting between these two teams this season by a 3-1 score in Philadelphia on February 1st. Note that the Jets are 17-9 when seeking revenge for a road loss by 2+ goals over the last three seasons, averaging 3.5 goals per game and outscoring opponents by 0.9 goals on average in that situation. Take Winnipeg (5*).

My selection is on Dallas over Seattle at 8:05 pm et on Saturday.

It's really only at this point of the season that we tend to reach into this price range to back a moneyline in the NHL but in this particular case it's warranted. In fact, I believe the line could be even higher. The Kraken seemingly ran out of gas last night in Minnesota, jumping ahead 2-0 before falling by a 6-3 score. Now they're playing their third game in four nights, in three different cities, and quite simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Stars are back home after an 0-3 western Canadian road trip. Note that they're 24-13 on home ice this season and check in averaging 3.9 goals per game when coming off four or five losses in their last six games this season, as is the case here. The Kraken average only 2.6 goals per game on the road this season, where they've won just 11 of 38 games. Also note that the Stars are 33-20 when seeking revenge for a loss by 2+ goals against an opponent over the last three seasons, which is the situation here, outscoring the opposition by 0.3 goals on average in that spot. The Kraken skated to a 4-1 home win over the Stars on April 3rd but it's certainly worth noting that they caught the Stars in a favorable spot on that night as Dallas was playing the final leg of a four-game in six-night road trip - one in which it had won the first three games. It's a much different story here. Take Dallas (4*).

My selection is on Los Angeles over Chicago at 10:35 pm et on Thursday.

While we're being asked to lay a heavy price to back the Kings here, I believe it could be even higher. Chicago checks in off an overtime win in Arizona last night. Of course, road wins have been hard to come by for the Blackhawks this season as they're just 14-24 away from home, where they've been outscored by an average margin of 0.7 goals. Worse still, when on the road off a win this season, they've allowed an average of 3.9 goals per contest and have been outscored by 1.0 goals on average. The Kings come into this game off consecutive wins and just skated to a 5-2 victory in Chicago back on April 12th. As their playoff push continues, look for the Kings to grab a much-needed two points on Thursday night. Take Los Angeles (4*).

NHL Non-Conference Game of the Year. My selection is on Anaheim over Philadelphia at 7:35 pm et on Saturday.

The Flyers were in a favorable spot two nights ago in Columbus, seeking quick revenge in the back half of a home-and-home series against the Blue Jackets. It's a different story here, even if Philadelphia is once again in a 'revenge' spot. These two teams haven't squared off since back in the first week of January - not exactly a game that is fresh in either team's mind at the end of a long, trying season for both. The Ducks check into this game off an unsuccessful two-game homestand that saw them drop games to the Oilers and Flames. A step down in competition should help their cause here. Note that Anaheim has allowed just 2.0 goals per game, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 1.0 goal when coming off 16 or more losses in their last 20 games over the last two seasons (six-game sample size), as is the case here. The Flyers check in a woeful 4-18 when coming off a game against a divisional opponent this season, outscored by 1.7 goals on average in that spot. Worse still, they're winless at 0-6 when coming off a victory over a division foe, which is also the case here, outscored by an ugly 2.5-goal margin on average in that situation. Additionally, Philadelphia is 1-10 after giving up one goal or less in its previous game this season, outscored by an average margin of 2.0 goals in that spot. That strong defensive effort on Thursday was a recent anomaly for the Flyers given prior to that they had allowed 6, 5, 4, 6, 3 and 4 goals over their last six contests. For the Ducks, this might be the lone winnable game on their current road trip, which will continue with stops in Carolina, Florida and Tampa. Take Anaheim (10*).

My selection is on Carolina over New York at 7:05 pm et on Friday.

The Hurricanes bring some positive momentum into Friday's matchup with the Islanders after rallying for a 5-3 win over the Sabres last night. That's notable as they've allowed just 1.9 goals per game and outscored opponents by an average of 1.5 goals when playing at home off a win over the last three seasons (42-game sample size). The Isles, meanwhile, have averaged a woeful 1.8 goals per game and have been outscored by 0.9 goals on average when playing on the road seeking revenge for a loss by 3+ goals against an opponent over the last three seasons (19-game sample size), which is the situation here as well. You would have to go back six meetings here in Carolina to find the last time the Islanders defeated the Hurricanes. Take Carolina (5*).

NHL Revenge Game of the Month. My selection is on the Rangers over the Islanders at 7:05 pm et on Friday.

The Islanders are playing some of their best hockey of the season right now but the fact is, it's too little, too late. The Rangers come in playing well also, winners of four games in a row, scoring 18 goals in the process. The Blueshirts will have revenge in mind here after they dropped a 2-1 decision at home against the Isles back on March 17th. Note that the Isles are just 7-14 when coming off a win by two or more goals this season, as is the case here, outscored by 0.5 goals on average in that situation. Meanwhile, the Rangers are 13-4 when coming off a game in which they allowed 4+ goals, outscoring the opposition by 1.0 goal on average in that spot. Take the Rangers (10*).

My selection is on Minnesota over Vancouver at 8:05 pm et on Thursday.

We'll fade the Canucks off last night's stunning 3-1 win in Colorado. Keep in mind, Vancouver is just one game removed from losing at home against Buffalo. There really wasn't anything special about the Canucks performance in Colorado last night. The Avs quite simply looked flat. Here, the Canucks are unlikely to benefit from such a lifeless opponent as the Wild are making up for lost time, winners of three games in a row, outscoring the opposition 10-3 along the way. Minnesota has been a terrific positive momentum play, having gone a perfect 9-0 when playing at home after allowing two goals or less in consecutive games this season, as is the case here, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 2.3 goals in that situation. The Wild check in an incredible 21-4 when playing at home off a home win over the last two seasons, averaging 4.0 goals and outscoring the opposition by 1.6 goals on average in that spot. The Canucks, meanwhile, are 3-17 when playing the second of back-to-backs over the last two seasons, allowing 4.3 goals on average and outscored by an average margin of 2.0 goals in that situation. Take Minnesota (6*).

My selection is on New York over New Jersey at 7:05 pm et on Tuesday.

The Rangers just came up with an impressive sweep in Tampa and Carolina, on back-to-back nights no less, but it's all for not if they can't complete the perfect road trip with a win in New Jersey on Tuesday. New York has to feel pretty good about itself after bolstering its roster with a number of savvy pre-trade deadline moves. I expect that confidence to manifest itself on the ice on Tuesday as the Rangers face the reeling Devils before enjoying a couple of days off and then hosting the Penguins on Friday. Note that New York checks in 7-1 after scoring two goals or less in consecutive games this season, as is the case here, outscoring opponents by 1.5 goals on average in that situation. The Devils return home following a disastrous western Canadian road swing that saw them lose three consecutive games by identical 6-3 scores. Here, we'll note that New Jersey is a woeful 13-31 when playing at home after losing four or five of its last six games over the last three seasons, as is the case here, outscored by 0.7 goals on average in that spot. Take New York (8*).

NHL Revenge Game of the Month. My selection is on Carolina over Washington at 7:05 pm et on Friday.

Both of these teams played last night with the Capitals defeating the Blue Jackets 7-2 and the Hurricanes falling by a 3-2 score in Toronto. That makes it consecutive losses for the Canes but I like their chances of bouncing back here, as they look to earn their first victory in three tries against the Caps this season. Note that Washington is just 6-12 when coming off a road win this season, allowing 3.5 goals per game and outscored by an average margin of 0.3 goals in that situation. Worse still, the Caps check in 3-9 when coming off consecutive games in which they scored 4+ goals this season, as is the case here, allowing 3.7 goals per game and outscored by 0.5 goals on average in that spot. The Canes, meanwhile, have allowed just 1.9 goals per game when playing at home after losing two of their last three games over the last two seasons, outscoring opponents by 0.8 goals on average in that situation (16-game sample size). Carolina has of course been terrific at home this season, going 23-6, outscoring opponents by 1.4 goals on average while allowing just 2.0 goals per game. Here, the Canes could benefit from facing struggling Caps goaltender Ilya Samsonov after Vitek Vanecek started the last three games, including last night's contest in Columbus. Samsonov owns an ugly .860 save percentage over his last four starts. Meanwhile, Canes backup Antti Raanta may get the start in this game. He's actually been their better goaltender lately, posting a terrific .945 save percentage over his last four starts with Carolina winning three of those contests. Take Carolina (10*).

My selection is on Ottawa over Arizona at 7:35 pm et on Monday.

The Coyotes have picked up four of a possible six points through their first three games on this road trip but I look for them to stumble on Monday in Ottawa. After scoring 22 goals over a three-game stretch, the 'Yotes were held to just two in Boston on Saturday. It's worth noting that Arizona hasn't lost consecutive games since February 11th and 19th. It has gone nine games without dropping two in a row - by far its longest such streak of the season. I see it ending here as the Sens stay home off a disappointing 6-3 loss against Chicago on Saturday. Given they entered that game off consecutive wins, I think they may have gotten ahead of themselves after building an early lead against the Blackhawks. I like the spot for the Sens here, noting that they've gone a perfect 5-0 when playing at home after allowing 6+ goals in their previous game over the last two seasons, outscoring opponents by 1.8 goals on average in that situation. They're also a solid 16-10 when playing at home off a loss by 2+ goals over the last three seasons, as is the case here, outsoring opponents by an average margin of 0.3 goals in that spot. The Coyotes check in averaging 2.6 goals per game this season but that number drops to 2.1 when coming off a loss. They've been outscored by 1.2 goals on average when following up a loss this season. To make matters worse for the 'Yotes, they'll be without one of their best players in defenseman Jacob Chychrun for an extended period of time due to a lower body injury. Take Ottawa (5*).

My selection is on New York over Anaheim at 7:35 pm et on Sunday.

The pressure is off and it shows. The Islanders are essentially out of playoff contention but check in playing some of their best hockey of the season, having won back-to-back and three of their last four games overall. The Ducks are at the opposite end of the spectrum, having lost six of their last eight games and in a tough back-to-back spot here after last night's 2-1 shootout loss against the Devils. Note that Anaheim is a woeful 1-18 the last 19 times it has sought revenge for a loss against an opponent by 3+ goals, as is the case here, outscored by 2.2 goals on average in that spot. Worse still, the Ducks are 0-10 when seeking revenge for a loss by 4+ goals against an opponent over the last two seasons, which is the case here after the Isles skated to a 4-0 win in Anaheim last month. New York checks in having allowed just 1.9 goals per game when playing at home for at least a fourth straight game this season (11-game sample size), outscoring opponents by 0.7 goals on average in that spot. While the Isles will turn to a red hot Ilya Sorokin in goal tonight. He has posted a terrific .961 save percentage over his last four starts with New York winning three of those games. Meanwhile, the Ducks will likely be forced to go with a struggling John Gibson after Anthony Stolarz started in last night's shootout loss in New Jersey. Gibson has recorded a .856 save percentage over his last four starts with the Ducks losing three of those four games. Finally, I'll point out that the Isles are as healthy as they've been all season, recently welcoming back both Mat Barzal and Zdeno Chara. Take New York (6*).

My selection is on Tampa Bay over Edmonton at 10:05 pm et on Saturday.

The Lightning certainly want to salvage something from their western Canadian road swing but so far, not so good as they fell by a 7-4 score in Winnipeg and 4-1 in Calgary. I do look for them to get back in the win column on Saturday as they head to Edmonton to face the Oilers. Here, we'll note that Tampa Bay has gone 17-3 after being held to one goal or less in its previous game over the last two seasons, outscoring opponents by 1.5 goals on average in that spot. The Lightning average 4.2 goals per game while outscoring opponents by 1.6 goals on average when coming off a road loss this season (10-game sample size). The Oilers are 15-12 on home ice this season but have actually been outscored by 0.2 goals on average here in Edmonton. They managed to snap a three-game losing streak with a 4-3 overtime win over Washington last time out but it's worth noting that they caught the Caps in a tough back-to-back spot, not to mention the fact that Washington started struggling goaltender Ilya Samsonov in that one. The Oilers have already announced that Mikko Koskinen will start in goal on Saturday. While that could be considered a positive as he's performed relatively well lately, the Lightning have had his number in two previous games against him, securing 6-3 and 5-2 wins. Things won't get any easier for Tampa Bay on this trip as it will head to Vancouver for a tough back-to-back and three-in-four spot tomorrow. I look for the Lightning to make the most of their opportunity to snap their mini-skid in Edmonton on Saturday. Take Tampa Bay (8*).

NHL Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Tampa Bay over Calgary at 9:05 pm et on Thursday.

The Lightning are in a prime bounce-back spot here off a 7-4 loss in Winnipeg two nights ago. Note that Tampa Bay has gone 57-22 when coming off a loss over the last three seasons, outscoring opponents by 1.0 goal on average in that situation. Better still, the Bolts are 33-10 when coming off a loss by 2+ goals over the same time frame. We've seen Tampa Bay average 4.6 goals per game and outscore opponents by 2.2 goals on nine previous occasions in which they've come off a road loss this season. Even better, in five games in which they've played on the road after a loss by 3+ goals this season, as is the case here, they've averaged a ridiculous 6.4 goals and outscored the opposition by an average margin of 4.2 goals. The Flames took full advantage of a favorable schedule in February but have cooled off recently. Calgary lost only once from January 24th until February 21st (a 13-game stretch) but has now dropped three of its last seven games since, including a 5-4 loss here at home against Washington two nights ago. Note that the Flames have allowed 4.3 goals per game and have been outscored by 1.5 goals on average on six previous occasions when they've sought revenge for a loss against an opponent in which they scored one goal or less this season, as is the case here after they dropped a 4-1 decision back on January 6th in Tampa. Take Tampa Bay (10*).

NHL Western Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on Nashville over Dallas at 8:05 pm et on Tuesday.

The Preds snapped out of a two-game skid with a resounding 8-0 win in San Jose on Saturday. It's all for not, however, if they can't follow it up with another victory back home against Dallas on Tuesday night. I look for them to accomplish that with Dallas checking in off consecutive wins to open this three-game road trip. Note that the Stars are still just 12-15 on the road this season, outscored by 0.6 goals on average along the way. I'll also point to the fact that the Stars are 0-5 when playing on the road off consecutive wins over division opponents over the last two seasons outscored by a whopping 2.2 goals on average in that situation. In the long-term picture, they're just 58-84 when coming off four or more consecutive wins, as is the case here. Meanwhile, the Preds have been an excellent positive momentum play, going 8-1 when coming off a road win in which they scored 4+ goals this season, which is the case here, outscoring opponents by 1.2 goals on average in that spot. Take Nashville (10*).

My selection is on Minnesota over New York at 8:05 pm et on Tuesday.

The Wild are in desperate need of a spark right now, and fast as they have fallen all the way into a tie for third place in the Central Division just a few points above the first team out in the Western Conference playoff picture. I do look for Minnesota to bounce back on Tuesday as it looks to begin the turnaround following a 2-8 skid. Here, we'll note that the Wild are a perfect 8-0 after giving up 5+ goals in consecutive games over the last three seasons, outscoring opponents by 2.2 goals on average in that spot. They also check in 11-2 when coming off a home loss by 3+ goals over the same stretch, which is the case here, outscoring the opposition by 1.1 goals in that situation. The Rangers are riding a three-game winning streak including a 4-1 victory in Winnipeg on Sunday to open their current road trip. It's not as if they've been dominant on the road this season though, only outscoring opponents by an average margin of 0.2 goals in 29 games. They check in averaging only 2.8 goals per contest away from home, compared to the Wild who put up 4.3 goals per game here at home this season. Here, we'll note that New York is a woeful 2-10 when on the road after scoring 3+ goals in three or more consecutive games over the last two seasons, as is the case here, averaging just 1.9 goals and outscored by 1.7 goals on average in that spot. Take Minnesota (8*).