This is a 10* play on the Colorado Avalanche.

The San Jose Sharks are 3-3 in their last six overall, and two of their three wins came in overtime against the last place Arizona Coyotes. They wrap up this road trip tonight in Colorado against an Avs team that might be the hottest in the league. The Avs have won seven straight, and they are 12-3-1 in their last 16 overall. An injury to starting goaltender Semyon Varlamov has opened the door for veteran backup Jonathan Bernier to steal the show. The 29 year old is 5-0 with a 1.33 GAA since the injury to Varlamov. Colorado ranks 5th in the NHL in scoring, and they boast a Top 10 power play unit, and the league's third best penalty kill. The Sharks have lost six straight on the road against teams with a winning home record, and the home team is 26-9 in the last 35 meetings in this series. The way the Avs are playing, I think it's a steal getting them as a home underdog in this spot.

Take COL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Minnesota Wild.

The Calgary Flames come in as winners of three straight, but their last game wasn't pretty. They blew a 2-0 lead in the third period of Saturday's game against the Ducks, but were lucky to score the game winner in the final minute. All three wins came at home, and they have lost three of their last four on the road. The Wild are 11-1-1 at home since November 14, and this Minnesota team has one of the best home records in the NHL over the last several seasons. Star goaltender Devan Dubnyk has gotten much of the credit for their success in the past, but backup Alex Stalock has been stealing the show lately. The 30 year old veteran is 4-2 with a 1.74 GAA in six appearances on home ice. This will be his third start against Calgary this season, and he was 2-0 with a 1.72 GAA in the previous two meetings. The Flames have lost five of their last seven at Minnesota, and they have lost 17 of their last 25 against teams with a winning record.

Take MINNY.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on the Calgary Flames.

The Montreal Canadiens are coming off a 7-5 victory at Vancouver on Tuesday, and while they might have won the battle, they probably lost the war. The win came at a cost, losing their best player (Shea Weber) to a foot injury. Carey Price gave up five goals on on 39 shots while playing in his home city. The former MVP and Vezina Trophy winner has pedestrian numbers this season, going 10-10-2 with a 3.09 GAA. He allowed three goals on 37 shots in a 3-2 home loss to Calgary earlier this month. The Flames are coming off back to back wins over Vancouver and St. Louis, and they out-scored the opposition 8-2 in those games. The Habs have lost eight of their last 10 at Calgary, and the Flames have won 11 of the last 16 meetings overall in this series. Montreal has lost seven of it's last eight versus Western Conference teams, and there are rumors of teammates fighting each other during practice during the week. The loss of their veteran defenseman might just be a death sentence for the Habs, putting their playoff hopes in serious jeopardy.

Take CAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the #LAK.

The Carolina Hurricanes are coming off a 5-4 loss at San Jose, blowing a three goal lead. They were up 3-0 after the first period, and led 4-1 with 2:09 left in the second period. The Sharks scored four unanswered goals, including Brent Burns winner in overtime. The Canes have now lost six of their last eight overall, and four straight on the road. The LA Kings are sitting in first place in the Pacific Division, and they rank #1 in the NHL in goals against. They also have the NHL's top penalty killing unit, and that's not good news for the Canes who rank 29th in the league on the power-play. The Kings are hot, coming into this game as winners of seven straight. They have won six of their last seven home games against Carolina, and 20 of their last 28 versus Eastern Conference teams. Carolina has dropped eight of it's last 10 versus Western Conference opponents. Special teams has been a nightmare all year for the Canes, and they are 0-5 on the power-play in their last two games, surrendering a pair of goals on the penalty kill.

Take LAK.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Anaheim Ducks.

Here is what I said about the Golden Knights before there were blown out in an 8-2 loss at Edmonton: "The Las Vegas Golden Knights shocked the hockey world by winning eight of their first nine games. That had never been done before by an expansion team, but the Knights were fortunate to have a pretty solid roster in their first season. Perhaps their most valuable asset is their starting goaltender Marc Andre Fleury, a veteran with multiple Stanley Cup rings as a starter with the Pittsburgh Penguins. When Fleury went out with an injury, backup Malcom Subban won back-to-back starts. When he went down with an injury, third stringer Oscar Dansk won three straight. Dansk was also lost to injury, leaving the Knights with their fourth string goaltender Maxime Lagace. It's perhaps no surprise that they have lost five of their last seven games, and Lagace's 3.58 GAA ranks 37th in the league." Lagace allowed just two goals on 29 shots in a home win over LA his last time out, but he's 2-5 with a 4.12 GAA in seven starts on the road. The Ducks have won three straight, and starter John Gibson stopped 50 shots in a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers in his last start. Anaheim is getting healthier, welcoming back defenseman Cam Fowler who played over 23 minutes in Monday's win over the Sharks. Fowler had missed the past month with a leg injury, and his return should help the power-play that ranks just 22nd in the league. Anaheim has been one of the league's best teams killing penalties, ranking 5th with an 84.7 percent kill rate. \

Take ANA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Nashville Predators.

I had the Preds in a 5-2 home win over Colorado on Saturday, and here is what I said prior to the opening faceoff: "The Predators have been one of the best home teams in the NHL in recent seasons, and not much has changed in that department this year. Nashville is 5-1 at home, and starting goaltender Pekka Rinne is 5-0-1 with a 2.61 GAA and a .908 save percentage in six home starts." Rinne stopped 29-of-31 shots in the victory, as Colorado scored twice in the final five minutes in a game that Nashville led 5-0 halfway through the third period. The Jets are flying high, coming into tonight's game with the second best record in the Central Division. It's quite the turnaround for a team that missed the playoffs last year. While Winnipeg is surely improved, I am skeptical about the Jets hot start. Their last six wins have come against teams that also missed the playoffs last season. They have always had a tough time winning games in Nashville, losing nine of their last 12 at Bridgeston Arena. The home team has won four straight in this series, and that's a trend that I expect to continue in Music City tonight.

Take NAS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Jose Sharks.

The Vancouver Canucks are in the middle of a rebuild, so it was a little shocking to see them win six of their first 10 games. They have since lost 4-of-6, looking a lot more like the team that had the second worst record in the NHL last season. They will  play on the road at San Jose tonight, and this has been a tough matchup for Vancouver in recent seasons. These teams played five times in 2017, and the Sharks are 5-0 in those games. They out-scored the Canucks 6-2 in their two home games during that span. San Jose ranks 4th in the league in goals against, and they boast the 2nd best penalty killing unit. San Jose has won four of their last five home games, and the one loss during that span came to the league leading Lightning. They have won a whopping 20 of their last 26 meetings with the Vancouver Canucks.

Take SJS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Calgary Flames.

The Flames made the playoffs last season, but crashed out in the first round in a 4-0 series loss to the Ducks. They are still one of the youngest teams in the league, and they appear to have a bright future. The Detroit Red Wings on the other hand missed the playoffs for the first time in 25 years, and they are a team that is still in a rebuilding mode. Calgary is coming to the end of a seven game home-stand, and has won three of five games. Mike Smith started all five of those games, and the veteran netminder was on top of his game, posting a .913 save percentage. Detroit is at the end of a long road trip, during a stretch where seven of their last eight games have been on the road. These teams played twice last year, and the Flames won both games by an identical 3-2 score. The Flames have had plenty of success against Eastern Conference teams, winning 12 of their last 16. The Wings are flying high looking for a Western Canada Hat Trick, but I expect them to come crashing down in flames here in Cow Town.

Take CAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Tampa Bay Lighting.

The Bolts are sitting at the top of the NHL standings, and they are just a slight favorite at home to Columbus tonight. I bet on Tampa in a win over Florida Monday, and here is what I said before the opening faceoff: "Starting goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has won his last eight starts, and he leads the league in wins. Steven Stamkos leads the league in points, and another Tampa player Nikita Kucherov leads the league in scoring with 12 goals in his first 12 games played. The Lightning have been firing on all cylinders on the power-play, converting on almos one of every three attempts." They scored eight goals in a blowout win over the Panthers, but then returned home to lose to the New York Rangers. The Blue Jackets are coming off a 7-3 win at Florida, but I don't like their chances of taking two points away from this game in Tampa. The Lightning have won nine of their last 10 when playing on one day's rest, while Columbus is just 3-10 in their last 13 such situations. 

Take TB.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on the Buffalo Sabres.

It's been a disappointing start to the season for the Sabres, but they have a favorable matchup here at home against the Vancouver Canucks. Buffalo has played five of it's first seven games on the road, but return home to catch the Canucks playing their second game in as many nights. Injuries have taken their toll on Vancouver, with top defenseman Alex Edler and star winger Louie Eriksson both on the shelf. Their blue line could get even thinner, with Erik Gudbranson scheduled to have a hearing with the league to discuss a possible suspension Friday morning. It would be a huge loss for Vancouver, as Gudbranson is among the team leaders in ice time. The Canucks have lost five straight when playing a third game in three nights, and they are 2-5 in their last seven at Buffalo. The home team is 16-5-1 in the last 22 meetings between the two teams.

Take BUF.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Nashville had outplayed the Penguins for the majority of the first two games, but they were down 2-0 in the series heading into Game 3. They seized all the momentum in the series by blowing out the Penguins on home ice in Game 3. Here is what I said prior to the game: "Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals was one of the strangest hockey games we've seen in a while. The Predators played well, and looked like they had jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. The goal was overturned after a lengthy video review, despite what appeared to be inconclusive evidence. Then a controversial 5-3 power play led to the game's opening goal, and after a lucky bounce in the final 16 seconds of the first period, the Penguins were up 3-0. Pekka Rinne wasn't nearly as sharp as expected in Game 1, but perhaps a 37 minute stretch without facing a single shot was enough to throw him off his game. The Predators simply have to come into Game 2 focused on playing their game, trusting it will yield a different result." I expect Nashville to come out like gangbusters again here in Game 4, and with Rinne coming off a huge game, it's Murray who might be struggling with his confidence.

Take NAS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Nashville Predators.

The Predators head back to Nashville down 0-2 in the Stanley Cup Finals, but this series might not be over yet. The Penguins have for the most part been badly out-played, but have had some lucky bounces. Pekka Rinne has had a tough series, and he's going to have to be better here in Game 3. He's 21-6 with a 2.23 GAA at home this season, and he's won seven of eight home starts in the playoffs. Here is what I said prior to Game 2: "Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals was one of the strangest hockey games we've seen in a while. The Predators played well, and looked like they had jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. The goal was overturned after a lengthy video review, despite what appeared to be inconclusive evidence. Then a controversial 5-3 power play led to the game's opening goal, and after a lucky bounce in the final 16 seconds of the first period, the Penguins were up 3-0. Pekka Rinne wasn't nearly as sharp as expected in Game 1, but perhaps a 37 minute stretch without facing a single shot was enough to throw him off his game. The Predators simply have to come into Game 2 focused on playing their game, trusting it will yield a different result." I expect Nashville to come out like gangbusters here in Game 3, and if Rinne can hold it together, they should get back in this series.

Take NAS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Nashville Predators.

Nashville owned the Ducks in Game 3, remaining unbeaten at home in these playoffs. Pekka Rinne is now 10-0 in his last 10 post-season starts at Bridgestone Arena. I expect more of the same here in Game 4. Here is what I said before Game 3: "The Preds jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in Game 2, but once again Anaheim proved it could come from behind on home ice. The Ducks were able to erase a 3-0 deficit with just over three minutes remaining in Game 5 of their second round series versus Edmonton. They went on to win that game by a score of 4-3 in overtime at the Duck Pond, only to go to Edmonton and lose 7-1 in Game 6. The Predators are in a good spot, heading home with a split. They are sill undefeated at home in the post-season, and Rinne is 5-0 with a 1.20 GAA in those games. The Ducks aren't winning many games because of Jon Gibson. He's given up 14 goals in five starts n he road in the playoffs, and he had a losing record on the road during the regular season. He gave up four goals on 18 shots, losing his only start at Nashville this season."

Take NASH.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Anaheim Ducks.

The Predators won Game 1 on the road at Anaheim, just as they did in their previous two series versus Chicago and St. Louis. They swept the Blackhawks, but they lost two of three games on the road in the series versus the Blues. The Ducks will have to treat this as a must win game, while the Predators could suffer a bit of a let down, and really wouldn't be too upset to go back home with a split. Nashville was brutal on the road during the regular season, while the Ducks owned one of the best home records in the Western Conference (33-10-3). The Ducks won both their home games against Nashville during the regular season, and the home team is 5-2 in the last seven meetings between these two teams. The Ducks have proven that they can rise to the challenge, coming back from down 0-2 versus the Oilers, and winning Game 7 of that series at home after getting blown out in Game 6 in Edmonton. Expect the Ducks to be "Flying" tonight.

Take ANA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Anaheim Ducks.

The Oilers are in shambles after blowing a 3-0 lead in Game 5 at the Duck Pond on Friday. They return home for Game 6, looking to force a Game 7. I think it's going to be tough for the Oilers to bounce back from consecutive tough losses. The players and coaching staff have been very vocal about their displeasure with the officiating in the last two games, when they should be focusing on the task at hand. The Oilers defense corps took a pounding on Friday, and they will likely be missing at least one key player on the blue line. The news goes from bad to worse, as Corey Perry is now playing on the first line with Ryan Getzlaf, and he's totaled four points in the last two games. The Oilers are a favorite on home ice, but I like the Ducks to seal the deal here in Edmonton.

Take ANA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Nashville Predators.

The Blues forced a Game 6 in Nashville with a narrow 2-1 victory at home in Game 5. They have lost both games in Nashville so far, and they only scored two goals in those losses. I bet on the Predators in Game 4, and here is what I said before the game: "The Nashville Predators return home with their second round series versus St. Louis deadlocked at 1-1. The Blues won Game 2 by a score of 3-2, and most of the scoring in that game came in the third period. Goals could be hard to come by here in Nashville, as Pekka Rinne leads all goaltenders with a 1.44 GAA and a .949 save percentage in the playoffs. Only one of Nashville's six playoff games has seen more than five goals, and seven of the last 10 meetings in this series has failed to go over the total. Over the years the Blues have a history of playing low scoring games at Bridgestone Arena. The under is 29-7-6 in the last 42 meetings in Nashville. The Predators haven't gone over the total in any of their last five home games. Jake Allen hasn't been as sharp as his counterpart, and that could be the difference in Game 4, and the series." The Predators should clinch here on home ice.

Take NASH.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is 10* play on the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Capitals dominated the Penguins in Pittsburgh in Game 3, but still they needed overtime to sneak away with a 3-2 win. Braden Holtby hasn't played well in these playoffs, but he looked confident in his last start. His confidence must have taken a big hit when he allowed a pair of late goals, allowing the Penguins to tie the game and force the extra period. He was only asked to make one save in overtime, and I think he comes into Game 4 just as fragile as he was after playing poorly in the first two games in Washington. The bookmakers have made Washington a favorite in this game because of the injury to Crosby, but I still think the Penguins should be the favorite on home ice. Crosby is the best player in the world, but Evgeni Malkin isn't far behind. Malkin leads all scorers with 15 points so far in the post-season, and he's stepped up his game when the Penguins have been without Crosby in the past. In 117 career games without Crosby, Malkin has 66 goals and 88 assists. Alex Ovechkin has seven points so far in the playoffs, less than half of Malkin's production.

Take PIT.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Washington Capitals.

The Capitals jumped all over the Leafs in Game 3 at Toronto, scoring twice in the first five minutes to open up a 2-0 lead. Toronto got one back late in the first period, but the Caps extended their lead to 3-1 early in the second. Toronto was fortunate to come back and tie the game, and went on to win it in overtime. Every game in this series has gone to overtime, despite the fact that the Caps were an enormous favorite, expected to win in 4-5 games. Washington ranked 3rd in the league in scoring, and they had the 3rd best power play in the league during the regular season. They allowed fewer goals than any other team in the league, and Braden Holtby ranked second in the NHL in GAA during the regular season, and third in save percentage. This is a game that the Capitals simply can't afford to lose. I expect to see them start fast as they did in Game 3, but this time I don't think the Leafs will be able to come back.

Take WAS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Jose Sharks.

The Sharks dominated the first and third periods in Game 3 of this series versus the Oilers, but Zack Kassian broke a scoreless tie late in the third period, and Edmonton went on to win by a score of 1-0. I bet on the Sharks in Game 1, and here is what I said before the opening faceoff: "The Edmonton Oilers finished second in the Pacific Division, just four points ahead of San Jose. They will host the Sharks in the first round of the playoffs, and Game 1 goes Wednesday night at Rexall Place. Both these teams play an exciting brand of hockey, and I expect to see plenty of scoring in the series opener. The over was 3-0-2 in five meetings in the season series, and the two teams combined to score 13 goals in two games in Edmonton. The Oilers captain Connor McDavid led the NHL in scoring with 100 points this season, and the Sharks Brett Burns was the league's top scoring defenseman. The Sharks went all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals last season, and they opened the post-season with a 4-3 win over the Kings. I expect a similar score here in Game 1 in Edmonton. The Oilers are young, fast and loaded with talent, but the Sharks have experienced veterans that have been here before." This is a must win for the home team, and I think the Oilers will be eaten alive at The Shark Tank tonight.

Take SJS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Jose Sharks.

The Sharks return home after earning a split in two games in Edmonton, and they will look to take a stranglehold on this series by winning on home ice in Game 3. This is a veteran squad, with a ton of playoff experience. The Sharks went all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals last season, and this might be their last chance to get a cup for veterans Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. The Oilers are a talented young team with a promising future, but a lack of playoff experience is likely going to prevent them from going deep into the playoffs here this season. The Sharks have a big advantage on the blue line, led by Norris Trophy candidate Brent Burns. The Sharks won eight of 12 home games in last year's playoffs, and they won six of seven home games in the first two rounds.

Take SJS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Buffalo Sabres.

After outscoring opponents 10-1 in back to back home wins, I think the Florida Panthers are due for a let down. They will take their show on the road, visiting a Buffalo Sabres team that has won three of it's last four overall. With the playoffs already out of reach for both teams, I expect the home side to be far more motivated to give the fans something to cheer about. The Sabres boast a solid winning record at home, and the also own the league's most efficient power play converting on nearly a quarter of their man advantage opportunities. Buffalo's leading scorer Jack Eichel scored a pair of goals in Saturday's win over Toronto, and Ryan O'Reilly and Evander Kane also bulged the twine. Florida is missing some key contributors, with starting goaltender Roberto Luongo, veteran forward Jaromir and top defenseman Aaron Ekblad all on the shelf with injuries. That's likely a big reason why the Panthers have lost four of their last five road games, and 11 of their last 16 overall.

Take BUF.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Calgary Flames.

The Flames are on a roll, going 9-2-1 in their last 12 overall. They currently sit in seventh in the Western Conference, six points clear of LA. The Kings will travel to Calgary coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to Minnesota last night, and LA has now lost seven of it's last 10. They failed to score in three of those seven losses. Jonathan Quick is back after missing most of the season due to injury. He made his return on Saturday, and will now make his third start in four nights coming off a long layoff. Johnny Hockey has tallied eight points in his last four games, and that's good news for a Flames team that only averages 2.6 goals per game. The Kings have owned Calgary in recent meetings between the two teams, but this looks like a tough spot for LA. The price is right to back Calgary at home.

Take CAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the NYR.

The Rangers have won three straight, and starting goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has been playing at the top of his game during that span. Lundqvist stopped 43-of-44 shots in a 4-1 win over the Ducks on Tuesday. The Rangers will host Nashville tonight, and the Predators have a losing record on the road this season (11-13-1). The home team is 4-1 in the last five meetings between the two teams, and the Rangers have out-scored Nashville 7-1 in the last two meetings at MSG. New York ranks 2nd in the NHL in goals scored, averaging 3.4 goals per game. The Predators have struggled to score, and they have been shutout twice in their last four games at New York. Nashville has alternated wins and losses in their last seven games, and coming off a home win over Vancouver, I expect that trend to hold true with a loss here in New York.

Take NYR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10* analysis before game time

This is a 10* play on the Vancouver Canucks.

I took Vancouver in last night's win over the Avs, and I think they'll keep on rolling here in Arizona tonight. The Coyotes have won their last two games, but had dropped 13-of-15 before that. They haven't had a lot of success in recent meetings with Vancouver, losing eight of the last nine meetings. The Canucks have won four straight at Arizona, and they are 9-2-3 in their last 14 overall. Starting goaltender Ryan Miller was rested in favor of backup Jacob Marktsrom last night, and he will be ready to go in Arizona. Miller is hot, coming into tonight's game with a record of 7-1-2 (with a pair of shutouts) in his last 10. He's also won four straight versus the Coyotes, and he's only given up three goals in those four victories.

Take VAN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Vancouver Canucks.

The Canucks will welcome a familiar face on Friday night when Roberto Luongo and his Florida Panthers visit Rogers Arena. The veteran netminder led the Canucks to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2011, but he returned to Florida in 2013. He allowed three goals, losing his only visit to Vancouver last season. He's been struggling lately, losing 10 of his last 15 starts, posting a 2.80 GAA during that span. He's been lit up for eight goals in back to back losses to Calgary and the Islanders. The Canucks are rolling, coming into tonight's game with a record of 7-1-3 in their last 11. Vancouver's starting goaltender Ryan Miller is coming off a shutout win over Nashville, and he's 4-0-2 with a 1.63 GAA in his last six starts. He has very solid home numbers, going 11-4-1 with a 2.04 GAA at Rogers Arena this year. The Panthers are 2-5-1 in their last eight visits to Vancouver, and playing a third game in four nights following games on back to back nights in Alberta looks like another tough spot for the visitors.

Take VAN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Columbus Blue Jackets.

After winning a record 16 straight games, the Jackets have won just three of six overall. Starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky missed two of those three losses, but had a triumphant return stopping 24-of-35 shots in a 4-1 home win over Carolina on Tuesday. Bobrovsky leads the NHL in wins, and ranks in the top 5 in GAA and save percentage. He's an incredible 16-3 with a 1.79 GAA at home this season. The Senators started the season with veteran Craig Anderson and fan favorite Andrew "Hamburlar" Hammond as their top two goaltenders, but both have been sidelined by injury. Former Montreal backup Mike Condon has done a pretty solid job stepping in as their starting netminder, but he has rather pedestrian numbers on the road. Condon is 5-4 with a 2.93 GAA playing in 11 road games, and he's allowed at least three goals in five of his last eight starts.

Take CBJ.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Vancouver Canucks.

The Canucks are now back at .500 after winning four straight games. They are back in the hunt for a playoff spot, trailing LA and Calgary by just three points in the Western Conference wild card race. Veteran goaltender Ryan Miller has started three of those games, and he's now 8-4-1 with a 2.35 GAA at home this season. Miller stopped 35-of-36 shots in a win over Arizona earlier this season, and he stopped 33-of-34 shots winning his only start versus the Coyotes last season. Arizona has lost seven straight, and both goaltenders are struggling. Mike Smith gave up five goals on 31 shots in a 6-3 loss to New York in his last start, and he's been torched for 17 goals in his last five outings, all losses. Backup Louis Domingue gave up four goals on 24 shots in a 4-2 loss to Calgary on Saturday, and he's lost five straight starts. The Canucks have owned Arizona in recent seasons, winning seven of the last eight meetings. The Coyotes are 8-21-1 in their las 30 trips to Rogers Arena.

Take VAN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the St. Louis Blues.

The New Jersey Devils have lost seven of their last nine overall, and they will have a tough matchup tonight on the road at St. Louis. The Blues are coming off consecutive road losses, but they are 7-0-1 in their last eight home games. Starting goaltender Jake Allen has yet to lose in regulation on home ice this season, boasting a record of 10-0-2 with a 1.79 GAA. Allen already has a win against the Devils this year, allowing one goal on 21 shots in the victory. It's tough to win games in the NHL if you can't take advantage of your power play chances, and the Devils have struggled in that department, ranking 22nd in the league with a 15.4 percent conversion rate. The Blues rank in the Top 10 both on the power play as well as killing penalties. St. Louis at home, with a huge advantage on special teams, a superior offense and more consistent goaltending looks solid at this price.

Take STL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

8*

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Minnesota Wild.

The Oilers jumped out to an early lead last night in Philly, but the Flyers came back with three goals in the third period to win by a score of 6-5. It's going to be tough to get up for tonight's game, playing on the road in the final game of this road trip on back to back nights. It's also Edmonton's third game in four nights, and the Oilers have just two wins in their last eight overall. The Wild are 7-3 at home this season, and goaltender Devan Dubnyk has been dominant on home ice. He's 6-3 with a 1.57 GAA in nine starts in Minnesota this year, and he's won seven of eight starts against his former team. The Oilers have lost 21 of their last 26 visits to Minnesota, and they have dropped a woeful 60 of their last 77 when playing on back to back nights.

Take MIN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the St. Louis Blues.

The Blues are hot, coming into tonight's home game versus Winnipeg as winners of seven of their last eight overall. They are 8-0-1 in their last nine home games, and Jake Allen is 9-0-2 with a 1.78 GAA at home so far. The Jets have lost six straight road games, and their starting goaltender has really been struggling. Connor Hellebuyck allowed six goals on 29 shots in a home loss to Edmonton on Thursday, and he's 2-5 with a 3.51 GAA on the road this year. The Jets are at a serious disadvantage on special teams, ranking 25th on the penalty kill and 19th on the power play. The Blues scored three power play goals in a 5-4 win over Tampa on Thursday, and they rank 6th overall converting on 23.3 percent of their chances this season. The Jets are just 3-10 in the last 13 meetings in this series.

Take STL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the St. Louis Blues.

The Blues have won six of their last seven overall, and they are 7-0-1 in their last eight home games. They host the Tampa Bay lightning tonight, and the Bolts have lost three straight. Tampa is really missing Steven Stamkos, who suffered a serious knee injury two weeks ago. He had scored nine goals and totaled 20 points in 17 games prior to the injury. The Lightning haven't had much success against the Blues, losing five straight in this series, and four straight at St. Louis. The Blues starting goaltender Jake Allen is riding an impressive hot streak, he's 11-3-3 with a 2.39 GAA this season, and he's won six straight starts at home. Goaltending has been a sore spot for the Lightning, as starter Ben Bishop owns a losing record (7-8) with a 3.04 GAA. He's lost his last three starts, surrendering 12 goals in those losses. Backup netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy was lit up for five goals on 38 shots in a loss to Columbus on Tuesday.

Take STL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Montreal.

The Habs sit at the top of the NHL standings with a record of 14-3-2. Montreal's hot start comes as no surprise to me, as this is the team I picked to win it all before the season started. Here is what I said just a few weeks ago:

"The Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup a record 24 times. Last year they started off well, winning their first nine games, and going into November with the league's best record. An injury to starting goaltender Carey Price derailed their season, and it was all downhill from there. Price was 10-2 with a 2.06 GAA and a .934 save percentage prior to the injury, and those stats would have led the league if he played enough games to qualify.

If you're thinking to yourself: "that's a small sample size", keep in mind that he led the NHL in GAA, wins and save percentage the previous season (2014-15). Price is clearly the best goalie in the world, and he proved that once again while winning gold with Canada in the World Cup of Hockey in September.

Shea Weber was the anchor on defense for team Canada in the tournament, and he replaces P.K. Subban on the Habs blue line. What Weber might lack in terms of raw talent (compared to Subban), he makes up for it with maturity and leadership.

And what might prove to be the biggest off-season pick up by any team, they added 2015 KHL scoring leader Alexander Radulov. He returns to the NHL at the age of 30, and he looks like he's grown up a lot since he was benched in the playoffs when he played for Nashville in 2012. He's looked great in the pre-season so far, and he has the potential to be the team's leading scorer.

Given that the Habs went to the Conference Finals two seasons ago, and they have the NHL's best goaltender, I think it's fair to call them a contender. I like their chances a lot better than teams like St. Louis, Dallas, Nashville, LA, or San Jose, and the payout is much higher on Montreal."

They host the Carolina Hurricanes tonight, and this is a game that Montreal needs to get back on track. The Canes might be a little complacent after winning five straight. One of those five wins came here at Montreal, adding a revenge angle here for the Habs.

Take MTL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Leafs are coming off a 2-1 loss at Montreal on Saturday night, but on a positive note, Frederik Anderson had another strong start. Toronto has plenty of firepower, ranking 3rd in the NHL in scoring, but poor goaltending proved costly early this season. Anderson though has been playing much better lately. He's won three straight home starts, and he's 7-2 overall at Air Canada Center. The Leafs host Carolina tonight, and the Canes have really been brutal on the road. While they've won four straight home games, the Canes have just two wins in nine games on the road so far. The Leafs have won six of their last seven home games, and they are 2-0-1 in the last three meetings in this series. I like the price we get on the home team, especially given how well Toronto has played since Babcock made them skate in the dark following a 7-0 loss to the Kings two weeks ago.

Take TOR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Nashville Predators.

After a slow start to the season, the Preds have won three straight. The scary thing for Leafs fans is that Pekka Rinne is coming off a 27 save shutout, and has conceded just two goals in his last three starts. Toronto's goaltending situation has been a complete nightmare, with Frederik Anderson really struggling. The former Anaheim Ducks starting netminder has conceded 11 goals while losing two of his last three starts, and he has an unsightly 3.42 GAA in 13 games played. Toronto ranks 28th in the league allowing an average of 3.6 goals per game. Nashville should be able to take advantage of the Leafs defensive shortcomings, especially on the man-advantage. The Preds boast the league's 5th best power play, converting on roughly 25 percent of their chances. Nashville has won three straight, and four of their last five at Toronto.

Take NAS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 7* play on the Anaheim Ducks.

The Ducks opened the season with four straight losses, but have gone 5-2-1 in eight games since. They are coming off a 5-1 blowout win at home over Arizona on Friday, and they host a struggling Calgary team playing on the back end of a back to back at the Duck Pond tonight. Calgary was shutout in a 5-0 loss to the Kings at the Staples Center last night, and they have lost three of their last four overall. The Flames special teams play has been brutal, ranking 28th on the power play, and 29th on the penalty kill. The Ducks goaltender Jon Gibson stopped 21-of-22 shots in the win over the Coyotes, and he has owned the Flames in recent meetings. He was 4-0 with a 0.83 GAA in four starts versus Calgary last year. The Ducks have a long history of dominating Calgary, going 9-0-1 in the last 10 meetings, and 28-1 in their last 29 home meetings with the Flames.

Take ANA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Edmonton Oilers.

Oilers have been stockpiling #1 draft picks for the better part of a decade, and it finally appears to be paying dividends. Edmonton's 19 year old captain Connor McDavid leads the NHL in scoring with 12 points in eight games. The Oilers have won five straight, and boast a 7-1 overall record. They host Ottawa Sunday, and the Senators are coming off a 5-2 loss to Calgary on Friday. Ottawa has lost 2-of-3 on the road so far, and they rank near the bottom of the league on special teams. Cam Talbot has been solid between the pipes for the Oilers, allowing just two goals in his last four starts. The Sens have lost 21 of their last 31 on the road, and I think we get a good line backing the red hot home team here in Edmonton.

Take EDM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the St. Louis Blues.

The Blues opened the season winning three straight, but have since won just once in five games. Goaltender Jake Allen has played well, with a 3-1-2 record and a 2.13 GAA. He stopped 26-of-27 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss to Detroit on Thursday. The Kings are down to their third string goaltender after starter Jonathan Quick and backup Jeff Zatkoff went down with injuries early in the season. They have won four straight with veteran backup Peter Budaj between the pipes, but all four of those wins came after regulation. It's going to be tough to keep that streak alive here on the road in St. Louis. The Blues have a huge edge on special teams, with the second best penalty killing unit in the league, and an above average power play. The home team is 11-4 in the last 15 meetings between the two teams, and the Kings have lost eight of their last 11 on the road.

Take STL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Montreal Canadiens.

After just five games, the Habs have the best record in the NHL. The are tied with St. Louis with nine points overall, but the Blues have played one more game. Montreal's hot start comes as no surprise to me, as this is the team I picked to win it all before the season started. Here is what I said just a few weeks ago:

"The Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup a record 24 times. Last year they started off well, winning their first nine games, and going into November with the league's best record. An injury to starting goaltender Carey Price derailed their season, and it was all downhill from there. Price was 10-2 with a 2.06 GAA and a .934 save percentage prior to the injury, and those stats would have led the league if he played enough games to qualify.

If you're thinking to yourself: "that's a small sample size", keep in mind that he led the NHL in GAA, wins and save percentage the previous season (2014-15). Price is clearly the best goalie in the world, and he proved that once again while winning gold with Canada in the World Cup of Hockey in September.

Shea Weber was the anchor on defense for team Canada in the tournament, and he replaces P.K. Subban on the Habs blue line. What Weber might lack in terms of raw talent (compared to Subban), he makes up for it with maturity and leadership.

And what might prove to be the biggest off-season pick up by any team, they added 2015 KHL scoring leader Alexander Radulov. He returns to the NHL at the age of 30, and he looks like he's grown up a lot since he was benched in the playoffs when he played for Nashville in 2012. He's looked great in the pre-season so far, and he has the potential to be the team's leading scorer.

Given that the Habs went to the Conference Finals two seasons ago, and they have the NHL's best goaltender, I think it's fair to call them a contender. I like their chances a lot better than teams like St. Louis, Dallas, Nashville, LA, or San Jose, and the payout is much higher on Montreal."

They host Philly Monday, and the Flyers come in ranked 25th in goals against, and 21st on the penalty kill. The home team has won 20 of the last 26 meetings in this series, and Philly has lost four straight at Montreal.

Take MTL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Edmonton Oilers.

The Carolina Hurricanes finished 10 points out of a playoff spot last year, and they lost the heart and soul of their team in the off-season. Eric Staal was traded to Minnesota, as the Canes look to start a rebuild. Starting the season with six straight road games isn't ideal for Carolina, and earning points in their first two games should be considered an achievement, despite losing both games in OT.

They are in a tough spot here in Edmonton, facing a young Oilers team that can really fly. The Oilers scored 12 goals in back-to-back wins over Calgary to start the season, but then suffered a let down in a 6-2 loss to Buffalo. The loss caused head coach Todd McLellan to cancel a scheduled off-day, getting the players back on the ice at practice.

Connor McDavid has an NHL best six points so far, and he should get his fair share of chances against a Carolina team that conceded nine goals in two games so far.

Take EDM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Hawks will play the second game of a home and home series versus Nashville on Saturday, and they are still looking for their first win of the season. They lost 3-2 at Nashville last night, setting up a nice revenge angle here in Chicago. The Blackhawks had one of the best home records in the league last year, going 26-11-4 at the United Center. Nashville has lost seven of it's last eight games at Chicago.

Patrick Kane led the league in scoring last year, but has yet to record a single point in two games this season. I expect a much better effort from Toews and Kane, and the entire Chicago team as they look to avenge last night's loss. The Predators have lost four straight on the road, and they are just 18-38 in their last 56 games when playing on back-to-back nights.

Take CHI.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Jose Sharks. 

The Penguins have out-played the Sharks for most of this series, and they had a chance to clinch the Stanley Cup in Game 5 on home ice. The Sharks had other ideas though, jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead, and holding on to win 4-2. Now the series shifts back to California for Game 6, and the Sharks can smell blood in the water. The last thing the Penguins want is to return home for a winner takes all Game 7, but the Sharks are a dangerous team an they have now seized the momentum. Goaltender Martin Jones stood on his head for the final 40 minutes of Game 5, stopping all 31 shots he faced. The Penguins defense continued to protect Matt Murray, as the rookie faced just 21 shots, making 18 saves. With such high stakes, I expect Game 6 to be a tightly contested battle, with the home team emerging victorious. 

Take SJS. 

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Jose Sharks. 

The Sharks return home down 0-2 after losing back to back one-goal games in Pittsburgh. This is a must win, as they know it will be impossible to come back from an 0-3 deficit in the Stanley Cup Finals. During the regular season, home ice was not a big factor for San Jose, but that has changed here in the playoffs. They've won six of their last seven at the Shark Tank, and Martin Jones has two shutouts during that span. Jones has been rock solid at home, with a record of 7-2 and a stellar .934 save percentage. Joe Pavelski leads all scorers in the post-season with 13 goals, and he alongside Logan Couture and Brent Burns are 1-2-and-3 in playoff points. San Jose owns one of the NHL's most potent power-plays, converting on 22.5 percent of their chances, while the Penguins rank below average clicking at around 18 percent. The Sharks are likely to be flying tonight, and it's going to be tough for the Pens to match the intensity of a team that is fighting for survival. 

Take SJS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Jose Sharks.

The Sharks can punch a ticket to their first ever Stanley Cup Final with a win at home in Game 6 of the West Final tonight. The Sharks suffered a let down at home in Game 5, after out-scoring the Blues 7-0 in consecutive shutout wins in Games 2 & 3. After more than a decade of disappointment in the playoffs, this year's squad appears destined to hoist Lord Stanley's Mug.

Joe Pavelski leads all scorers in the post-season with 12 goals, and he's just one of three Sharks that rank in the top 5 in points scored. The old saying goes like this: "To win in the playoffs, you need your best players to be your best players." That's certainly been the case for the Sharks, but Blues leading scorer Vladimir Tarasenko has been held off the scoresheet in this series so far.

Take SJS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Jose Sharks. 

The Sharks were a little unfortunate to lose Game 1 of this series in St. Louis. Martin Jones let in a soft goal that proved to be the difference in a close game. I took San Jose in Games 2 & 3, and here is what I said prior to Game 2: "The difference in the game was a bad goal against allowed by netminder Martin Jones, who has been stellar so far in these playoffs. I expect a much better effort from Jones tonight, and the Sharks are likely to come out flying." Jones was brilliant, stopping all 26 shots he faced. He's since recorded consecutive shouts, and has only allowed two goals in his last four starts. Joe Pavelski leads all scorers in the post-season with nine goals, and he's just one of three Sharks that rank in the top 5 in points scored. The Blues leading scorer Vladimir Taresenko did not play particularly well in Game 1, and he's been unable to solve Martin Jones so far in this series. The Sharks should prove to be an Apex Predator here in Game 4, moving in four the kill when they smell fresh blood. 

Take SJS. 

GL,  

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Jose Sharks. 

The Sharks were a little unfortunate to lose Game 1 of this series in St. Louis. Martin Jones let in a soft goal that proved to be the difference in a close game. I took San Jose in Game 2, and here is what I said prior to opening faceoff: "The difference in the game was a bad goal against allowed by netminder Martin Jones, who has been stellar so far in these playoffs. I expect a much better effort from Jones tonight, and the Sharks are likely to come out flying." Jones was brilliant, stopping all 26 shots he faced. The Sharks owned the puck in the 4-0 win, controlling the play for the entire 60 minutes. Joe Pavelski leads all scorers in the post-season with nine goals, and he's just one of three Sharks that rank in the top 5 in points scored. The Blues leading scorer Vladimir Taresenko did not play particularly well in Game 1, and he's been unable to solve Martin Jones so far in this series. The Sharks have complete control of this series heading back to San Jose, and I don't like the Blues chances in Game 3. 

Take SJS. 

GL,  

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Jose Sharks. 

The Sharks came into this post-season with a lineup loaded with veteran players and a ton of playoff experience. They also bring a reputation for choking under pressure, and a long history of post-season failure. This might well be the last kick at the can for players like Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton, and so far we've seen a team that appears to be focused on putting it's previous failures behind them. 

They lost Game 1 in St. Louis by a score of 2-1, but they dominated play in the third period, and out-shot the Blues 32-23 in the game. The difference in the game was a bad goal against allowed by netminder Martin Jones, who has been stellar so far in these playoffs. I expect a much better effort from Jones tonight, and the Sharks are likely to come out flying. 

Joe Pavelski leads all scorers in the post-season with nine goals, and he's just one of three sharks that rank in the top 5 in points scored. The Blues leading scorer Vladimir Taresenko did not play particularly well in Game 1, and he missed the pre-game skate because of the birth of his child. He's expected to play, but might have other things on his mind, and likely hasn't gotten much sleep. 

Look for this series to be tied heading back to San Jose. 

Take SJS. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the St. Louis Blues. 

The Blues failed to close out the Stars at home in Game 6, but they get another crack at it tonight in the series finale in Dallas. The Stars jumped out to an early lead in the last game, but St. Louis carried the play, out-shooting them 37-14. Brian Elliot was beaten three times on just seven shots, which was totally unexpected after he stopped 27-of-28 shots in a 4-1 win at Dallas in Game 4. He should be able to bounce back here in Game 7. 

Dallas has really missed Tyler Seguin in this series, and leading scorer Jamie Benn has only found the net once heading into Game 7. Dallas was 0-for-2 on the power-play at home in Game 5, and they have only scored twice in 17 opportunities with the man-advantage in the series. The Blues are bigger, stronger and far better defensively, and Dallas is lucky to have lasted this long. St. Louis should be able to escape with a win here in Game 7.  

Take STL. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

The Caps avoided elimination with a 3-1 home win in Game 5 of this series versus Pittsburgh, but the Pens get another chance to close out the series on home ice tonight. The President's Trophy winners have lost both games in Pittsburgh, although each game was close. Matt Murray stymied the Caps in Game 3, stopping 47-of-49 shots. He was great again in Game 4, and I expect he'll rebound from a shaky performance in the last game in Washington. He's 9-2-1 with a 2.00 GAA since stepping in to replace Marc Andre Fluery, and he's won four of five starts at home. The Pens are tough to beat on home ice, and they've won 21 of their last 26 games at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins dynamic duo of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have been pretty quiet in this series so far, but that should be of little comfort to the Caps, who still find themselves on the verge of being ousted from the post-season. You can bet that Crosby will have his best game of the series here in Game 6. 

Take PIT. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule