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3-unit Play Take Florida Panthers/Dallas Stars OVER 5.5 (8:35pm EST) The Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars begin their respective seasons in what figures to be a sloppy affair. Both teams made wholesale changes in the offseason and look completely different than they did a year ago. The Panthers went with some of their younger players to see what kind of talent they have and then signed some veterans towards the tail end of camp to fill out the roster. It will be interesting to see how it all meshes together, but for now we can just call it a mess. As for the Stars, they cut ties with four of their top nine players in terms of time on ice. They did bring in some talented players like Tyler Seguin, Shawn Horcoff and Sergei Gonchar. But once again, it will take time to build up some chemistry so they will likely be a mess on the ice for the first few games. All in all, it's safe to say that there will be a lot of learning going on tonight in the first real game. Expect to see some defensive lapses, breakaway scoring chances and even some rusty goaltender play (especially from Tim Thomas who hasn't played in two years). All signs point to plenty of goals so we're on the Over.

3-unit Play Take Washington Capitals /Chicago Blackhawks OVER 5.5 (8:05pm EST) We outlined above how it might be a difficult spot for the Chicago Blackhawks tonight when they raise the championship banner on Opening Night. However, that shouldn't change their style of play. The Hawks have some of the best skill position players in the league and they make no secret about the fact that they like to play fast when they can. The Washington Capitals don't mind getting up and down the ice as well, so expect plenty of shots on goal in this one. Despite Corey Crawford's sensational season last year, I don't rate him much better than an average goaltender. Caps' goalie Braden Holtby still has to prove himself in this league and may not be starter material. Given the pace and number of shots today, I expect to see some struggles from both netminders. That's enough put us Over the total in this one.

10-unit Play Take Boston Bruins/Chicago Blackhawks UNDER 5 (8:20pm ET) Pivotal Game 5 goes tonight in Chicago as the Blackhawks host the Boston Bruins in a 2-2 series. Coming off the heels of a 6-5 score in the last game, many will look to play this game Over the total. But don't forget that there were only 12 goals scored in the first three games combined and that included four extra overtime periods. The last game wasn't a complete fluke, but besides the last contest the goalies in this series have been magnificent and I expect them to bounce back in tonight's game. They were the top two goalies throughout the entire playoffs and both of these defenses have also done a good job blocking shots and make life difficult on goal scorers. Both defenses also have to be a bit embarrassed about their performance in Game 4, so I expect them to step it up. Take the Under 5 in tonight's game.

5-unit Play Take Chicago Blackhawks/Boston Bruins UNDER (8:05pm ET) What a series it's already been between the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final. With four overtime periods in two games and plenty of drama, it already feels like we should be playing Game 5. Instead it's only Game 3 as the series shifts back to Boston tied up 1-1. There are a couple of things we know from watching these teams go at it for so long already. First, these goaltenders are absolutely amazing. Both teams have had their fair share of scoring chances in both games, but these goalies have put up ridiculous numbers. There have been a total of 179 shots combined in the series and only 10 of made their way to the back of the net. That's an amazing .944 save percentage, especially given the quality of shots we've been witnessing. In addition we've seen that the two coaches, Joel Quenneville and Claude Julien, are great at matching up. Neither coach has been shy about shuffling up the lineups and getting the matchups that they want on the ice. This tactical game of chess will go on the entire series and will make it even tougher to score in my opinion. Given that we've only seen 10 goals in 10 periods of hockey so far, we have to look for another low scoring game tonight. The goalies are just playing too well and the coaches are doing a great job on matchups. Play the Under tonight.

10-unit Play Take Los Angeles Kings/Chicago Blackhawks UNDER 5 (8:05pm ET) The Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks go at it again tonight in the United Center for Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. The Hawks got off to a fast start in the first game and dominated the first period with a 17-2 shots on goal advantage. However, they found themselves down 1-0 at the end of the period and promptly put in two goals in the second period to take the lead for good. The Kings know they can't let the Blackhawks start that fast again and get that many good scoring chances. As a result, I think they'll buckle down defensively right from the beginning in Game 2. Jonathan Quick was very good in yesterday's game as he stopped over 94% of the shots that came his way. He's been doing that in the playoffs for two straight years, so there's no reason to believe anything is going to change in that regard. We also have a rare back-to-back situation in the playoffs for this one. That could slow the game down a bit as these teams are used to have a day or two off between contests. All in all, we have many signs pointing to another tight low scoring affair. Take the Under as our 10-unit Game selection.

4-unit Play Take Chicago Blackhawks/Detroit Red Wings UNDER 5 (8:05pm ET) It's Game 6 between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings tonight in Joe Louis Arena. The Wings lead the series 3-2 after the Hawks stayed alive with a 4-1 win in Game 5 in Chicago. As a series goes deeper and deeper, the teams generally get more physical and tighten up the defense even more as they become more familiar with their opponent. These teams already knew each other very well, so I expect the effect to be even greater today. Premium scoring chances will be hard to come by and that means we should see a low scoring affair, especially since these goalies have been locked in. None of the first five games have gone over the total, so we'll bet that trend continues tonight. Take the Under in this one.

4-unit Play Take Ottawa Senators/Pittsburgh Penguins OVER (7:35pm ET) The Ottawa Senators tried to keep the Pittsburgh Penguins at bay in this series, but they finally exploded in Game 4 scoring seven goals. I think the floodgates are open now and there's just no way to keep the pucks out of the back of the net today. The series moves back to Pittsburgh where 12 goals were scored in the first two games of the series. With the Penguins in control 3-1 and at home, I expect them to dictate the pace and attack the zone at will. Craig Anderson is a great goalie, but even he can't stop 40 quality shots each game. Take the Over in this one.

4-unit Play Take Boston Bruins/New York Rangers UNDER (7:35pm ET) Game 3 goes tonight between the Bruins and Rangers as the series shifts to New York. The Bruins looked impressive in the first two games and it's not desperation time for the Rangers. If it wasn't apparent before the series, the fact that the Rangers can't fly up and down the ice with the Bruins is now a fact. The Rangers stand a much better chance by slowing it down and limiting the quality scoring chances from the Bruins even if it means sacrificing some chances on their end. They've given up a whopping 80 shots in the first two games and allowed eight goals. That is just too much to overcome and I expect the game to be played totally differently in Game 3. This one smells like a 2-1 type game and we like the Under.

3-unit Play Take Detroit Red Wings/Chicago Blackhawks OVER 5 (1:05pm ET) Game 2 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals goes today in Chicago as the Blackhawks look to go up 2-0 on the Detroit Red Wings. The Hawks put the pressure on often in the first game, blasting 42 shots on goal in a 4-1 win. The Red Wings know that they have to slow the game down and limit Chicago's scoring chances, but I just don't think they can do it. The Blackhawks have dominated the Wings over the last couple of seasons winning the last eight matchups overall. They have too much firepower and Detroit won't be able to dictate the pace away from home unless they can get out to an early lead. The Hawks are the best team in hockey right now and they will play their up and down style and help get this game Over the total today.

4-unit Play Take Ottawa Senators/Pittsburgh Penguins OVER (7:35pm ET) Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals goes in Pittsburgh tonight as the Penguins host the Ottawa Senators. Neither one of these teams is shy about getting up and down the ice and I think we'll see a decent tempo here at the outset of the series as the teams feel one another out. These teams were the two highest scoring teams in the NHL this season as the Penguins average 4.17 goals per game and the Sens 4.0 per game. In the last eight meetings, six of them have gone Over the total including a couple of contests that featured 10+ goals. The playoffs are generally lower scoring affairs, but I don't think either one of these teams wants to change their style much. They play best when they play fast and that should lead to plenty of pucks in the back of the respective nets. Let's go Over the total here in Game 1 tonight.

10-unit Play Take New York Rangers/Washington Capitals UNDER (8:05pm ET) The New York Rangers and Washington Capitals go at it in Game 7 of their hard fought series tonight. The Rangers stayed alive in Game 6 by playing excellent defense and limiting the premium scoring chances. Lundqvist was also very sharp and stopped everything that came his way as New York prevailed 1-0. Between both teams there were only 55 shots on goal. I expect Game 7 to be played very similarly as no one will want to make any big mistakes to cost their team a chance to advance. Four of the first six games have stayed Under the total and none of those were even close to going Over. In fact, the two games that went Over in this series were played in New York. The three games in Washington in this series are 3-0 to the Under. No reason to believe that anything is going to change in a crucial Game 7. Play the Under tonight.

4-unit Play Take Detroit Red Wings/Anaheim Ducks UNDER (10:05pm ET) The decisive Game 7 goes tonight in Anaheim as the Detroit Red Wings take on the Ducks. This has been an extremely competitive and evenly matched series as four of the first six games have gone to overtime. Nothing should change tonight, except that no one will want to make any big mistakes in a game that decides who advances. So we definitely won't expect to see many power plays or odd man rushes in this one. Only two of the first six games have gone Over the total in this series. The Under is generally a good bet in Game 7's over the last few seasons, so we'll bet that the trend continues here. Take Under the total of 5 here.

1-unit Play Take Los Angeles Kings /St. Louis Blues UNDER (9:00pm ET) The puck drops on pivotal Game 5 tonight between the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues. The Blues took the first two games at home, and the Kings fired back with two victories on their home ice. Despite what happened in Game 4, goals have been hard to come by in this series. There have been a total of only 14 goals between these teams in four games, for an average of only 3.50 per contest. The intensity in Game 5 will be huge as the winner of this game gets an enormous upper hand in the series. That generally leads to safer hockey with less scoring chances and tighter defense all around. Add in the fact that these teams should know each other very well by now, and you have a strong case for another Under in this one. The bookmakers have adjusted this total downward from 5 earlier in the series, but I still think we get Under the 4.5 total today.

4-unit Play Take St. Louis Blues/Los Angeles Kings UNDER 4.5 (10:05pm ET) Sometimes you just have to stick with what's working. And so far in this series between the St. Louis Blues and Los Angeles Kings, goals have been hard to come by. In the first three games of the series, there have been a total of only seven goals scored and one of the games went to overtime. These teams both stress shot prevention and are two of the best in the league at it. Throw in a couple of goalies who have looked impressive, and all of a sudden the Under looks like another great play. We cashed twice on the Under in this series and today we'll look to do it again. I expect another 2-1 type battle here tonight.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take Minnesota Wild/Chicago Blackhawks OVER (7:05pm ET) It's Game 2 in Chicago and the Blackhawks weren't too pleased with the way they played in the first game despite winning 2-1 in overtime. The Hawks seemed out of sync for parts of the game and didn't get up and down the ice at the pace that they usually do. This is a smart team and they'll make the proper adjustments to ensure that they don't get roped into playing a tight, low scoring game once again. Josh Harding will also be in the goal again for the Minnesota Wild and he's a downgrade from Niklas Backstrom despite his efforts last time out. We should see the lamp being lit up more than the last game, so we're on the Over here for our 10-unit Game.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take Los Angeles Kings/St. Louis Blues UNDER (9:35pm ET) We played Under the total in Game 1 of this series between the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues, and cashed an easy winner as the Blues won 2-1 in overtime. There's no reason to believe that this game will be much different as these teams are all about shot prevention. The first game was actually a bit sloppier than expected for both teams and we should expect to see them tighten things up as they've had a game to feel each other out. I loved the way both goalies played the last time out and they seemed to find a good rhythm right off the bat. We called the 2-1 score in the last game, and this one seems like it should be similar so we'll say a 3-1 winner. Play the Under once again.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Los Angeles Kings/St. Louis Blues UNDER 5 (8:05pm ET) The NHL playoffs have finally arrived as the defending champion Los Angeles Kings head to St. Louis to take on the Blues. These are two of the league's stingiest teams in terms of shots allowed. The Blues were 2nd in the NHL with only 24.2 shots per game allowed and the Kings were right behind them in 3rd at 25.0. Playing tight defense and not allowing premium scoring chances is how these teams have won, and that will be even more the case in the playoffs. These teams were already ratcheting up the defense down the stretch of the regular season. The Kings only played one game over the total in their last eight contests, while the Blues only had one over in their last 10 games. Expect more of the same today as this has all the makings of a 2-1 game. The Under is the play here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take New York Islanders/Philadelphia Flyers OVER (7:05pm ET) The New York Islanders just clinched a playoff spot. The Philadelphia Flyers have been eliminated for quite some time. Neither one of these teams has anything meaningful to play for tonight. As a result, I don't think we'll see a real intense effort from either squad. That generally leads to more scoring chances as the defenses relax a bit. These teams have met three times this season and a total of 19 goals have been scored. Four straight games have gone Over the total for the Islanders while the Flyers have played Over in four of their last five contests. No reason to believe that tonight will be any different, so we'll look to the Over here again.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take Carolina Hurricanes/Tampa Bay Lightning OVER (6:05pm ET) When the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning go toe-to-toe, the puck finds the back of the net often. The Over is 13-3-1 in their last 17 meetings and seven of the last eight have gone Over in Tampa. Throw in the fact that the season has been over for these teams for quite some time, and I think they'll care even less about playing defense. It will just be another opportunity for everyone to pad their stats a little more today. Carolina has been allowing goals at an alarming rate lately. In their last 10 contests, their goals against average is 4.2 per game. And Tampa Bay isn't a whole lot better at 3.5 over their last 10 games. This one should be a shootout and I expect to see 70+ shots on the net, and with these weak goaltenders we project at least 10 percent of those shots to get past them. That will be enough to get us above the number here for our 5-unit.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take New York Islanders/Winnipeg Jets UNDER (7:05pm ET) Tonight's game between the New York Islanders and Winnipeg Jets will certainly have a playoff atmosphere. And with the playoffs comes lower scoring games. The Islanders have also been playing great defense lately, allowing only 1.69 goals per game over their last 13 contests. They've won seven of nine contests and their defense has certainly been the key. The Jets have come in winners of five straight games and they kept the puck out of the net as well. We should see lots of intensity in this game and I think both sides will play it relatively straight with how much is at stake. Take the Under here as I think goals will be hard to come by in this one.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Columbus Blue Jackets/Anaheim Ducks UNDER (10:05pm ET) We like another Under between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks tonight. The Jackets are currently tied for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference and they've been playing really good hockey of late. Their recipe for success has been limiting shots and playing tighter low scoring games. Over their last eight games they've allowed a total of only 14 goals and their goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been one of the best in the league this season. He currently has a 2.03 goals against average and a .931 save percentage in 33 games. On the other side, the Ducks have been playing lower scoring games lately as the Under is 8-2 in their last 10 games. Take the Under in this spot.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take Montreal Canadiens/Pittsburgh Penguins UNDER (7:05pm ET) Unders have been hitting at a wild rate in the NHL over the last week or so as teams try to position themselves for the playoffs. Lots of these games are featuring playoff-type atmospheres, which is conducive to lower scoring affairs as teams buckle down on the defensive end. The Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins will definitely be taking part in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs as they're #1 and #2 in the Eastern Conference. If Montreal can take today's game, they have a chance to catch Pittsburgh for that #1 seed. As a result, I expect a playoff-type atmosphere in this game and goals should be hard to come by. The Canadiens also surrendered seven goals in their last game to Philadelphia, so I'm expecting a big effort from them on the defensive end tonight. The Penguins are also without Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, so their playmaking ability will be limited. All signs point to an Under here.

4-unit Play Take Vancouver Canucks/St. Louis Blue UNDER (8:05pm ET) There have been quite a few Unders in the NHL recently with things heating up in the playoff races. Today's game between the Vancouver Canucks and St. Louis Blues fits that criteria as neither team has clinched a spot just yet. The Canucks have been playing really well defensively lately. In their last six games, they have allowed a total of only nine goals for a 1.50 average. St. Louis has been even better lately as they've allowed only 11 goals in their last eight games for a 1.4 average per game. This is how these teams are successful and it's no surprise that nine of the last 10 meetings between these teams have featured five goals or less with 8 unders, 1 over and 1 push in that span. Today's game should be no different, so take the Under here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Florida Panthers/Tampa Bay Lightning UNDER 5.5 (7:35pm ET) The scheme has changed for the Tampa Bay Lightning since last week. After firing head coach Guy Boucher, the team has started to pay more attention to defense and the fundamentals under new coach Jon Cooper. They won both games since hiring him, but more importantly only allowed a total of 39 shots in the two games. The Panthers have also been playing at a slower pace of late, going under the total in five of its last six games. These teams usually play at a higher scoring pace, but that's not been the case lately and I don't think that the oddsmakers have adjusted properly. Goals will be hard to come by here tonight and I envision a game with a score around 3-1. Take the Under in tonight's Panthers/Lightning matchup.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take Columbus Blue Jackets/Chicago Blackhawks UNDER 5.5 (8:35pm ET) It's been an amazing year for the Chicago Blackhawks. They set a record by earning a point in 20 consecutive games to start the season (which is still going), and this team just keeps looking stronger and stronger each game. Most people think of this Hawks team as having a ton of firepower on offense with Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp. However, the real key to their success this season has been their play on defense and in the net. Chicago is 6th in shots allowed this season and is number one in goals against average at 1.70 per game. Both of the goaltenders for the Blackhawks have been amazing. Corey Crawford has an unreal .943 save percentage and backup Ray Emery is right behind him with a .932 save percentage. Both of those marks rank in the top five of the NHL amongst goalies with at least eight games played. The Hawks opponent tonight is the Columbus Blue Jackets, and they like to really slow down the game. The Blue Jackets take only 26.1 shots per game and average a measly 2.15 goals per game, which is last in the league. These teams faced off last week in Chicago, and the Hawks won the game 1-0. The pace was slow, as Columbus knows that's the only way they have a chance to win. The Blackhawks played last night in a hard fought game against their rival the Blues. Being that they're on the second leg of a back-to-back, they will probably prefer to play this one at a slower pace as well. We probably won't see another 1-0 final between these squads, but we have plenty of wiggle room to stay under the total of 5.5. Take the Under as our 10-unit Totals Game.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Columbus Blue Jackets/Chicago Blackhawks UNDER 5.5 (7:05pm ET) The Columbus Blue Jackets have quietly been playing some good hockey lately. It hasn't translated into victories in each game, but their games have been tight and they've had a shot to win every contest over the last two weeks. The key to their success has been slowing the game down and reducing scoring chances by their opponents. Since they are usually at a disadvantage as far as talent, the Jackets figure shortening the game gives them a much better chance to win and they're right. As a result, Columbus has allowed only two goals in four of their last six contests. Today they'll face the hottest team in the NHL - the Chicago Blackhawks. While Chicago has plenty of firepower on offense, they don't play at the tempo that most casual observers think. The Hawks like to take their time to set up a high quality shot and that can sometimes take a while, burning up the clock in the process. Backup goaltender Ray Emery has filled in nicely for Chicago, and he should be in net tonight. Emery comes in with a 2.10 goals against average and .930 save percentage, amongst the league leaders in both categories. Shots will be limited tonight and I don't expect to see too many pucks in the back of the net. Take the Under .

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Vancouver Canucks/Nashville Predators UNDER (8:05pm ET) Tonight's game between the Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators has all the makings of a 2-1 grind-it-out kind of battle. That's the style that the Predators like to play and they know that they probably won't be able to beat the Canucks playing this game fast. It also helps that Vancouver is on the second leg of a back-to-back on the road, so they're not going to be 100%. Tired teams generally like to slow it down and save their energy for critical parts of the game. The Canucks beat the Stars 4-3 last night, but the game featured a total of only 47 shots. We probably won't even see that many tonight, and there will be two very tough goalies in net to stop them. Roberto Luongo and Pekka Rinne are two of the very best in the NHL and both are having excellent seasons. Luongo checks in with a 1.63 goals against average and .934 save percentage, while Rinne has similar numbers with a 1.67 goals against average and .935 save percentage. Goals will be very tough to come by and that's why we're on the Under here tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take Vancouver Canucks/St. Louis Blues UNDER (9:05pm ET) The St. Louis Blues head into Vancouver to take on the Canucks in one of Sunday's top games on the NHL slate. Most hockey fans know the Blues play tough, fundamentally sound defense and make life difficult on their opponents. That hasn't changed much this season, but the Blues have had some trouble in the net with goalie Jaroslav Halak suffering from a groin injury. Normal backup Brian Elliott has really struggled to find his way, forcing St. Louis to call up Jake Allen from the AHL. Allen is just 22 years old and has a lot to learn in the NHL, but he's seemingly rejuvenated the Blues defense. They haven't been spectacular, but have managed to allow only five goals in two games against teams with some pretty good offensive weapons (the Red Wings and Flames). It's a step in the right direction and there's no question that this Blues team wants to get back to playing a defense-first type of game.
The Vancouver Canucks have never really been known as a defensive team per se, as they boast plenty of offensive threats on each line. However, this year they've changed up their style a bit and seem to be slowing things down a lot more. In fact, Vancouver is only 19th in shots on goal this season - they were 6th last season. They've also received some great goaltending play out of both of their goalies, but mainly Roberto Luongo. Luongo should be in net tonight and he comes in at 4-0-2 with a 1.45 goals against average and .943 save percentage. Only Craig Anderson has better numbers early on in the season, so opponents have really had to get creative to try and put pucks past the All-Star. I fully expect tonight's game to be a physical, grind-it-out type of game with very few quality scoring chances. With goals being hard to come by, the Under is our 5-unit Game of the Day.

3-unit Play Take Detroit Red Wings/St. Louis Blue UNDER (8:05pm ET) The Detroit Red Wings have a slew of injuries right now, and they've had to change their game plan because of it. Over the first couple of weeks, the Wings have slowed it down a bit in an effort to keep the guys that they have fresh. It hasn't worked as well as they had hoped, but they are hanging in there until everyone is back. As a result, we've seen some games with low shot totals from Detroit. The St. Louis Blue don't let up very many easy goals as they play tight defense and have strong goaltending. I put them in the Under category for sure, and when they play someone they know very well like Detroit, the familiarity generally leads to a much tighter played game with fewer mistakes and fewer scoring opportunities. Everything points to a low scoring affair in this matchup, so we're on the Under in this game.

4-unit Play Take Dallas Stars/Edmonton Oilers OVER (10:05pm ET) The Dallas Stars head into Edmonton to take on the Oilers tonight. Neither of these teams are known as scoring machines, and both have both tabbed as Under teams over the last couple of seasons. However, Dallas added some firepower in the offseason with the additions of Jaromir Jagr, Derek Roy and Ray Whitney (currently injured). That hasn't translated into a ton of offense yet, but they've shown some flashes and are getting more and more comfortable playing together each game. The Oilers have a great young core of players that are offensive-minded and they've certainly been more aggressive this season. It hasn't translated into lots of offense for them yet either, but it's coming on. Both of these should outperform their current numbers offensively so this is a good spot to play the Over on a low total.

4-unit Play Take Carolina Hurricanes/Toronto Maple Leafs OVER 5.5 (7:05pm ET) Tonights' game between the Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs should be a fun one for the fans. Both teams have been pushing the pace a bit lately and feature lineups with lots of offensive weapons. Carolina goaltender Cam Ward has also been struggling mightily in the net this season with a 4.05 goals against average and .867 save percentage. Those numbers put Ward near the very bottom of the league among starting goalies. Toronto goaltender James Reimer has decent numbers so far this season, but he's been a below average goalie in his career. So don't expect either one of these netminders to pitch a shutout tonight. We should see the lamp lighting up quite a bit in this one, so the Over is the play here.

5-unit Play Take Dallas Stars/Phoenix Coyotes OVER 5 (8:05pm ET) The Dallas Stars and Phoenix Coyotes hooked up last night in Dallas in a wild game that saw the Stars prevail in a shootout 4-3. There were lots of quality scoring chances in the game last night and I expect to see more of the same again tonight. We'll also probably see at least one of the backup goaltenders in this game, and I expect these teams to be a bit tired with travel on a back-to-back. Scoring has been up in the NHL this season, making these low totals of 5 very attractive. The last three times these two teams tangled, the total went Over and I like it again here tonight. Play Over 5 as our 5-unit Game of the Week.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take #51 Winnipeg Jets/Washington Capitals OVER 5.5 (7:05pm ET) After a miserable regular season in which the Washington Capitals fired their head coach Bruce Boudreau and replaced him with Dale Hunter, it was time for some fresh blood this season. They hired former NHL great Adam Oates, a move praised by many. Upon taking over, Oates promised to transform the Capitals offensive attack. He immediately moved Alex Ovechkin from right wing to left wing and promised that the offense would be much more aggressive. Defensemen are now encouraged to join the rush and goaltenders will be looking to set up the skaters better. As a result, you could expect higher scoring games from the Capitals and that came to fruition in the first game of the season when they lost to the Lightning 6-3. Tonight the Caps will face the Winnipeg Jets and we should see more of the same. I like what the Jets did in the offseason, adding center Olli Jokinen which should add to their scoring punch. I'm not a big fan of either goaltender in this one, as both are young and unproven. Ondrej Pavelec is 25-years old and Braden Holtby is only 23. We should see lots of shots tonight and I'd be surprised if these two netminders will be able to keep the puck out of the net all night. Take the Over 5.5 goals here.

10-unit Play Take New Jersey Devils/Los Angeles Kings UNDER (8:20pm EST) We're going to stick with what's been working and look at the Under again in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final tonight. We've yet to see an Over in this series and both teams are playing great defense backed by two great goaltenders. The deeper we go into the series, the more it favors the respective defenses as they've seen everything that the opposing offenses can throw at them. These teams know each other pretty well by now and I don't think we'll see any tricks up anyone's sleeves. With shot totals remaining low in each game, the only way we see an Over is if one of the goaltenders turns in an uncharacteristic performance. We haven't seen any evidence of that happening throughout the playoffs and with the series on the line there's very little chance of it today. The market hasn't seemed to adjust to the totals in this series yet, so we'll jump on the Under once again tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take Los Angeles Kings/New Jersey Devils UNDER (8:20pm EST) Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final goes tonight in New Jersey and one thing has been abundantly clear in this series - goals are very hard to come by. Every game of this series has went Under the total and we've only seen 14 combined goals in the first four games - two of which were in extra overtime periods. There haven't been very many good scoring opportunities either as the shot totals have been very low. Only one game featured more than 46 shots on goal, so the goaltenders have had an easier time of it. Jonathan Quick and Marty Brodeur are two of the best in the game, so they definitely don't need much extra help. But if the shot counts are lower, they just get that much better. We have another elimination game tonight, and with New Jersey trying to crawl back into this series, so I think we'll see these teams playing more tight, fundamental hockey. This one feels like another 2-1 or 3-1 type of final, so we'll ride the Under once again in tonight's Game 5 in New Jersey.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take New Jersey Devils/Los Angeles Kings UNDER (8:15pm EST) This could be the end as the Los Angeles Kings hold a 3-0 series lead heading into Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final tonight. It really hasn't been as lopsided of a series as it appears on the surface, but one thing for sure is that Jonathan Quick and the Los Angeles defense has been superb. Los Angeles has only allowed 72 shots in the first three games and Quick has stopped all but two of them. He's definitely elevated himself as one of the best, if not the best, goaltender in the league. New Jersey's defense has been very solid in this series as well, but Marty Brodeur is past his prime and hasn't been able to keep the puck out of the net as often. All three games have gone Under the total in this series and I don't see much changing in Game 4 tonight. Both of these teams play tight, fundamental hockey and I look for another 2-1 or 3-1 type of game.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take Los Angeles Kings/New Jersey Devils UNDER (8:05pm EST) The puck drops on Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals tonight in New Jersey. The first game was a goalie's delight as the game featured a total of only 42 shots including overtime. That is an extremely low quantity of shots considering these teams had not seen each other since October of 2011. Not that Jonathan Quick and Marty Brodeur need many breaks as they've both been absolute brick walls in the playoffs. Quick has an amazing 1.53 goals against average in the postseason and Brodeur has stepped up with the spotlight on him as well. Both teams play sound defense and don't allow many easy scoring chances, which makes it even more difficult for the opponents to score. These playoffs have seen quite a few Unders, and I don't expect anything to change in the Finals. Game 1 was a 2-1 final and that is the kind of score we should see again tonight. Play the Under as our NHL Game of the Month.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take New Jersey Devils/New York Rangers UNDER (8:05pm EST) We've seen some mixed results on the Under in this series so far, but one thing for sure is that goals are not easy to come by for these two teams. This will be the 11th meeting of the season (regular season and playoffs) between the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers and over the first 10 games the combined total has averaged 4.2 goals per game. That's obviously below our total today which is at plus juice and it's much more difficult to score goals in the playoffs. Without a late empty net goal in the last game, it's also Under the total. The Rangers should be able to dictate the pace a little bit more since the game is in Madison Square Garden, and that means it will be slower. The Rangers don't like taking too many chances and tend to rely more on goaltender Henrik Lundqvist to do what he does best and carry the team. Game 5 is a pivotal game for this series and it feels like a 2-1 final, possibly in overtime. Take the Under here tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take New York Rangers/New Jersey Devils UNDER (8:05pm EST) We've been riding a lot of Unders during the NHL playoffs and especially when the New York Rangers are involved. So far it's paid big dividends and tonight we look that way again for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Rangers and Devils. The first three games of the series were extremely physical with both defenses playing well around the net making scoring chances tough to come by. This will be the tenth meeting between these teams on the season and they've only averaged 4.0 goals per game during the first nine. It's safe to say that these rivals know each other very well and you won't see many tricks up anyone's sleeves. That certainly favors the defense over the offense and I'm comfortable playing Under the total again. As I keep saying, goals are going to be tougher and tougher to score as these teams get deeper and deeper into the series.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take Phoenix Coyotes/Los Angeles Kings OVER (3:05pm EST) The Kings have dominated the Phoenix Coyotes this series and look for the sweep this afternoon in Los Angeles. This isn't your typical elimination game as no one is giving the Coyotes any real chance to make this a series and the Kings have already been penciled into the Stanley Cup Finals. However, I don't think the Coyotes will go down without a fight and they'll be much more likely to take whatever chances they need to with the pressure now off. That should translate into more scoring chances and more goals. Believe it or not, we've actually already seen a decent amount of shots on goal in this series already with the average being at 62 per game. That's enough shots to produce more than 5.5 goals per game based on the goaltenders in the net. Since today's pace expects to be a little more frantic, I believe we'll see more shots today and that will give us a great chance to see even more action. This is a very low total and we could get there in the second period today, so take the Over.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take New York Rangers/New Jersey Devils UNDER (1:05pm EST) The first two games of the series between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils were extremely physical with both defenses playing well around the net. As we mentioned for the last game between these teams, that' s what should be expected as defense is what got these teams to where they are now. Neither team surrenders very many breakaways or easy scoring chances and that has resulted in some low scoring matchups between these two. In their eight meetings, including the playoffs, they combine to average under 4.1 goals per game. Goals are going to be get tougher and tougher to score as these teams get deeper and deeper into the series, so we're on the Under again tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take New Jersey Devils/New York Rangers UNDER (8:05pm EST) It's Game 2 in Madison Square Garden tonight between the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers. The first game of the series was very physical with plenty of great defense around the net. We also witnessed a sensational effort by Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist, who stopped all 21 New Jersey shots. None of what happened in Game 1 was very surprising to anyone as this the way that these teams play. In their seven matchups this season, a total of only 29 goals were scored for both teams. That's only 4.1 goals per game and with the intensity being even greater in the playoffs, you can't expect it to be anything but an even tighter game. These teams don't surrender very many breakaways or easy scoring chances. They both play safe, fundamental hockey and that usually leads to low scoring affairs. It's going to get tougher and tougher to score as these teams get deeper and deeper into the series, so we'll be looking to play the Under as much as possible, and it starts with tonight's game.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Los Angeles Kings/Phoenix Coyotes OVER (8:05pm EST) The Phoenix Coyotes and Los Angeles have waited a long time to start their Western Conference Finals series. To be exact, it's been a full week for the Kings and six days for the Coyotes. That's a lot of time for some rust to begin to form and I think that will play a factor in this one. Whenever there is a long layoff, the defense usually suffers the most as there are usually a few mental lapses and missed assignments resulting in easy scoring chances. These Pacific division foes squared off six times during the regular season and scored a combined 25 goals in those games for a 4.17 average. However, all of those matchups occurred before the Kings acquired Jeff Carter and before they had a major resurgence offensively. The Kings were a completely different team down the stretch of the regular season and that carried over to the playoffs as well. The Kings have averaged 3.0 goals per game in the playoffs, which is third best after Pittsburgh and Philadelphia - who played zero defense in their opening round series. I expect the Kings to continue to play aggressively on the offensive end since it's translated into them winning 8 of their 9 playoff games thus far. The Coyotes aren't exactly afraid of getting into an offensive battle either and I think we'll see plenty of shots on goal tonight. Take the Over on a low total in this one.

4-unit Play Take New York Rangers/Washington Capitals UNDER 4.5 (7:35pm EST) The Under in Game 6 gave us an easy winner on Wednesday and we'll be riding it again tonight in the decisive Game 7. As we mentioned last time out, goals have been very hard to come by for both teams in this series and it always gets tougher as the series goes on. Except for the triple overtime Game 4, these teams haven't had many scoring chances and are playing some unbelievable defense. There have been a ton of blocked shots and some great saves by both goalies. Elimination games are usually played a little bit safer and that should depress scoring even more with both teams' playoff lives on the line. We haven't had an Over yet in this entire series and absolutely no reason to believe that we see one tonight. I called the 2-1 final in the last game and tonight's game should be very similar.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take New York Rangers/Washington Capitals UNDER 5 (7:35pm EST) What a great series we've experienced so far between the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals. Every game has been tight and Game 5 takes the cake as the best game of the playoffs so far as the Rangers tied it with six seconds left in regulation and then won it in overtime. Goals have been very hard to come by for both teams in this series and it gets tougher as the series goes on. Except for the triple overtime Game 4, these teams haven't had many scoring chances and are playing some great defense. There have been a ton of blocked shots and some great saves by both goalies. Elimination games are usually played a little bit safer and that should depress scoring even more as the Rangers look to land a knockout punch tonight. Tonight's game feels like a 2-1 final so we'll gladly take the Under 5 as I don't see much of a chance of six goals being scored in this one. Take the Under as our Game of the Day.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-unit Play Take Phoenix Coyotes/Nashville Predators UNDER (9:05pm EST) The puck drops on Game 3 of the second round series between the Phoenix Coyotes and Nashville Predators. The series has headed back to Nashville after the Coyotes took care of business on their home ice winning both contests in two rather high-scoring affairs. The Predators are desperate for a win tonight and I think they'll dictate the pace and play their game at home tonight. The Preds made some uncharacteristic mistakes in the first two games that led to some easy chances for Phoenix. They generally play very disciplined hockey and you have to earn your goals against them. Giving up nine goals in the first two games of this series should motivate them to get back to their old ways, as it's the only way they're going to creep back into this series. Don't let the first two games fool you, as the Under is the right play in this one.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Washington Capitals/New York Rangers UNDER (7:35pm EST) Game 1 of this series went Under the total pretty easily with the Rangers winning 3-1 Tonight we like the Under to strike again in Game 2 of the series. The first game featured a grand total of only 32 shots! That's right, only 32 shots on goal in the entire game - 18 for Washington and 14 for New York. While tonight's game will surely see a few more shots this time around, both of these teams are comfortable playing this style and I think we're going to see a lot of low scoring affairs in this series. Henrik Lundqvist is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL and he can be a one-man brick well when he's on his game. Washington doesn't have a true #1 goalie, but the Rangers offense doesn't have as many weapons as some of the other teams remaining in the playoffs, so they can get by with what they have. Bottom line, scoring chances will be at a premium tonight as I expect another slugfest between the Caps and Rangers, so take the Under.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Ottawa Senator/New York Rangers UNDER (7:05pm EST) It's been a great series between the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers but all good things must come to an end and it will tonight in Game 7. The Senators have hung in there nicely for a #8 seed going against a #1 seed and it's mostly been due to solid defense and great goaltending by Craig Anderson. They knew they would have to play that way to win this series and it's gotten them all the way to Game 7. I think tonight will be more of the same with scoring chances being very hard to come by. Game 7's are notoriously lower scoring and since only one of the first six games went Over the total, I think it's safe to assume that we won't see a shootout here. Take the Under and enjoy a tight defensive battle to advance to the next round.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Detroit Red Wings/Nashville Predators UNDER (8:05pm EST) It's do or die time for the Detroit Red Wings as they are down 3-1 in the opening round series versus the Nashville Predators. These teams know each other very well since they play in the same division and that generally leads to less quality scoring chances. None of the of the games in this series have gone Over the total and there's no reason to think that tonight's game will either with so much on the line. In fact, none of the previous eight meetings have gone Over. When the Red Wings play a team with a winning record, the Under is 19-4-6. Bottom line, they buckle down when they play the good teams. I expect a high level of intensity tonight and the goalies to be on high alert. This isn't the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia series, so no one is going to be taking any big chances in fear of committing a turnover or costing their team a power play opportunity. The Under is the right side here tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Phoenix Coyotes/Chicago Blackhawks UNDER (7:35pm EST) Tonight's Game 4 is a huge game for both of these teams at Phoenix currently leads the series 2-1. The first three games in this series all went into overtime and were 3-2, 4-3 and 3-2 scores. In fact, during the last game, three of the five goals scored were during a 4-on-4 situation within a one minute span. Both teams have been playing fairly cautious hockey and ensuring that they don't make any huge mistakes. The goaltenders in this series have also been phenomenal, stopping a ton of shots on goal. I expect the shot counts to come down a little with the series getting more intense tonight. Marian Hossa is out tonight for the Blackhawks and that is a huge loss offensively for the Hawks. The Coyotes also have some guys who are banged up and won't be 100%. I think we'll see another physical battle that could potentially go to overtime again, but it should be Under the number.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take New York Rangers/Ottawa Senators UNDER (7:35pm EST) The puck drops on Game 4 of the series tonight between the New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators. The Rangers lead the series 2-1 and things have gotten a little chippy as we've quite a few scrums so far. Things only get more intense as the series progresses, so we can expect more checks, more fights and more physicality period. As long as no one gets a big lead, this increased intensity should keep the scoring low. The last game was a 1-0 Rangers win and I really think it's going to be the same type of game again in Ottawa. Goalie Craig Anderson and the Ottawa defense have really stepped up their play in this series to try and match the great work of Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. New York doesn't have a ton of weapons on offense that scare you, so that should continue. I expect a 2-1 or 3-1 final score in this one, so play the Under here tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take Pittsburgh Penguins/ Philadelphia Flyers UNDER (3:05pm EST) It's desperation time for the Pittsburgh Penguins as they trail 2-0 in the series heading to Philadelphia. No one imagined that they'd be in this predicament when the playoff started, but now they face a game that they must win. It's clear that the defense has let Pittsburgh down in the first two games as they allowed four goals and seven goals, respectively. In order to get back into the series, defense is going to be their number one initiative and I expect it to be a lot better today with everything on the line. Philadelphia knows that they need to be play better on the defensive end as well with all the weapons that the Pens possess. In all honesty, the scores of the first two games were a bit deceiving based on the shots on goal. The first game only had 54 shots on goal and the second game had only 59. As a result, the goaltenders are as much to blame as the defensemen. Collectively, the goalies are stopping only 83% of the shots taken overall. That's a horrible rate and it really can't get any worse than that. I expect more focus in this game as it means a lot more. That should lead to a more fundamentally sound performance on defense and less scoring chances overall. Take the Under here as I see a 3-2 final in this one.

10-unit Play Take Ottawa Senators/New York Rangers UNDER (7:05pm EST) Game 1 of the series between the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers begins tonight. I think this is going to be a much better series than anticipated as I think the Senators can fight and hang in there with the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference. If they're going to do it, however, they're going to need a heck of a performance by goalie Craig Anderson. The Rangers don't have the most explosive offense but the key is to limit premium scoring chances and I think Ottawa can do that. On the Rangers side, their probably isn't a goalie in the NHL that I would want to ride with in the playoffs more so than Henrik Lundqvist. He's carried New York through several stretches throughout the season and can win you tough playoff contests. These teams played four times in the regular season and there were two Unders, one Over and a push. I expect the Rangers to play it close to the vest and lean heavily on Lundqvist so we should see a lot of 2-1 type games in this series. As a result, the Under is the play for tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take Carolina Hurricanes/Ottawa Senators OVER (7:35pm EST) Not a whole lot to play for tonight as the Carolina Hurricanes square off against the Senators in Ottawa. The Hurricanes have been out of the playoff picture for months and are just going through the motions as the season wraps up. The Senators are all but locked into the #7 spot in the Eastern Conference where they've been hanging out for quite some time. Both of these teams like to play aggressive hockey and get tons of shots on goal, and I see no reason why anything will be any different tonight. Ottawa's last four games have seen a total of 35 goals scored, all of them wins. This team was built around the offensive weapons and it's the only way that they know how to win. The Hurricanes are 26th in the NHL in defense and their identity hasn't changed much throughout the season either. The Over is 19-7 in Carolina's last 26 road games against teams with winning records. The Over is also 6-2-1 in the last nine meetings between these clubs. The lamp will be busy tonight in Ottawa, as the play is the Over.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Anaheim Ducks/Phoenix Coyotes UNDER (9:05pm EST) We should see a fairly close to the vest type contest tonight between the Anaheim Ducks and Phoenix Coyotes. The Coyotes are sitting in the 8th spot in the Western Conference playoff picture right now and there are only four games remaining in the season. They can't afford to make any major mistakes so they'll play fundamentally sound hockey and will be sure to limit any breakaway chances and premium scoring opportunities. We saw this style in their last two games, which saw a total of only six goals combined. The Ducks are out of the playoffs but they've continued to play hard in their role as the spoiler. Being a division rival, you can be sure that they'll be up for this one and be fighting to the end. These two have had an interesting season series. In their first five meetings, three of the games went Over the total but only one game saw more than 50 shots on goal. That means we just saw some poor goaltender play or random luck in those games on the offensive end. This game will be played even tighter and I don't expect a lot of shots on goal again. Everyone should be focused, including the goalies, so play the Under here tonight.

The New York Rangers visit Winnipeg to take on the Jets in what has the makings of an ugly game. These are two fairly scrappy teams that play hockey the right way and don't give up a lot of good scoring chances. Winnipeg plays a lot better on their home ice and is very stingy on the defensive end there, while the Rangers have probably the best goalie in the NHL in Henrik Lundqvist. These teams have played seven times over the last two years and six of them have gone Under the total. The Jets are fading fast in the playoff race but they're not eliminated yet and should still be fighting hard, while the Rangers are trying to hold onto the top spot in the Eastern Conference. I expect a hard fought, low scoring affair in this one.

Tonight we get playoff hockey when the Washington Capitals host the Buffalo Sabres. These teams are in a virtual tie for the eight playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 84 points each. Washington coach Dale Hunter called Tuesday's game "like the seventh game of the playoffs." Capitals winger Troy Brouwer expanded on that sentiment, according to the Washington Post, "It's an exciting time of year, obviously a very important game and guys know this," Brouwer said. "We had a good showing (Sunday) night against Minnesota but we're playing a pretty tough team that's playing really well. We feel that this (Tuesday's game) is going to be a very big determination whether we're going to make the playoffs." With so much on the line for these teams, we should see a very fundamentally sound game with very few turnovers or breakaways. Good scoring chances will be hard to come by, and we have two goalies playing at the top of their respective games when the chances do come. It's very difficult to imagine this game becoming any kind of shootout, so the Under is the only way to play it for our Game of the Week.

3-unit Play Take Pittsburgh Penguins/Ottawa Senators OVER (7:05pm EST) The Pittsburgh Penguins have been goal-scoring machines ever since the return of Sidney Crosby. In the last five games since his return, the Pens have averaged five goals per game and they've been dominating their opponents. They run into an Ottawa Senators team tonight that doesn't mind playing an up-and-down type game. The Senators average 2.89 goals per game and allow 2.87 on the season, not exactly a conservative bunch. They're not going to back down to Pittsburgh and their style, so we should see some serious goal-scoring tonight. The last four times these teams have met, the score has gone Over the total as well. This one is pretty simple, as we should see quite a shootout again tonight.

3-unit Play Take Washington Capitals/Philadelphia Flyers UNDER 5.5 (7:05pm EST) Tonight's matchup between the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers will have a playoff-like atmosphere. The Capitals are trying to hold onto the #8 spot in the Eastern Conference while the Flyers are jockeying for position as they still have an outside chance at the #1 seed in the East. There are only nine games left for these teams and the intensity is growing by the day as the end of the season approaches. The Flyers have really tightened things up defensively recently and their last 10 games have all gone Under the total as a result. That's right - 10 straight Unders! The Flyers have surrendered only 13 goals over their last 10 games as goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov is finally starting to earn the big money that Philadelphia is paying him. One of those 10 games was against the Capitals when these teams squared off on March 4th. The Flyers won that game 1-0 and that was the start of their streak. Washington's games have been going Over the total lately, but there haven't been a ton of shots on goal and that generally means that the trend will start reversing. I don't expect another 1-0 game again tonight between these squads, but I also can't envision seeing six goals. The Under is the play as Philadelphia goes for 11 straight below the number.

4-unit Play Take Phoenix Coyotes/Dallas Stars UNDER (7:05pm EST) It's going to be a playoff-like atmosphere tonight when the Phoenix Coyotes take on the Dallas Stars. Both teams are tied atop of the Pacific Division with 83 points, but they are also both one point away from missing the playoffs entirely. San Jose and Los Angeles are both only one point away, so each game from here on out is vitally important for these squads. This will be the sixth meeting of the season between these clubs and they know each other very well. None of the previous five meetings have gone Over the total, and most weren't even close. In fact, there has not yet been an Over in this series during the last nine meetings. With the increased intensity of the playoff chase, we usually see more focus on the defensive end of the ice and less good scoring chances. These teams already limit the scoring chances when they hook up, so it will be very difficult to imagine many goals getting by the netminders tonight. This game has all the makings of a 2-1 affair, so the Under is the clear play in this one.

10-unit Play Take Winnipeg Jets/Pittsburgh Penguins OVER (7:05pm EST) Tonight we have one of those situations where absolutely everything points in one direction, and it's the Over in the game between the Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins. Since Sidney Crosby has returned to the lineup five days ago, the Penguins have been playing with a renewed vigor and he's given them the late season boost that they needed. Although Sid the Kid hasn't put any goals into the back of the net himself, he's assisted on five of them in three games and has given the defense another weapon to think about on the ice. There's no doubt that this is a different Penguins team with him here and it simply means that there will be more scoring. The Pens will also be going with their third-string goaltender tonight as starter Marc-Andre Fleury is getting some rest and normal backup Brent Johnson is injured. The Jets come into this game having played in some high-scoring affairs lately as well, seeing a combined 27 goals in their last four games. There have been plenty of shots on goal and they've seemed to break out of their usual mold of playing a bit conservatively. Additionally on the road, their defense just isn't as good and it's been that way all season long. "At home we play great defensively, and then you get your chances and then you score the goals," Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec told the Winnipeg Sun. "It's simple enough. We can do it at home, but we are not able to do it on the road." The last time these two teams hooked up in early February, the Penguins won 8-5. While I don't expect to see 13 goals again, we'll get plenty of them tonight to get us Over the total making this our Game of the Day.

3-unit Play Take Buffalo Sabres/Tampa Bay Lightning UNDER (7:35pm EST) The Buffalo Sabres are making one last push to try to squeeze their way into the Eastern Conference playoffs as they head into Tampa Bay tonight. Over their last 14 games, the Sabres are 9-2-3 and they've been wining primarily due to an increased focus on the defensive end. During this current stretch, they have allowed only 2.21 goals per game and several of their contests have gone into overtime and shootouts. Goaltender Ryan Miller has been in the net in all but one of those games and it seems like he may have regained his form from past seasons. With only 10 games left on the schedule and Buffalo only 2 points out of the playoffs, I expect them to keep up the defensively intensity. Tampa Bay's season is all but over after dropping five of their last six games in ugly fashion - only one game was decided by one goal. They haven't been as crisp on offense and with Buffalo's latest surge in their own zone, I don't expect Tampa to get too many scoring chances. This should be a tight, low scoring affair so the Under is the play in this one.

3-unit Play Take Colorado Avalanche/New York Rangers UNDER (7:05pm EST) The New York Rangers had been and Under machine this season, and most of that had to do with having one of the best goalies in the NHL - Henrik Lundqvist. However, he's been out of the lineup a little more recently missing four of the last nine games. Over the last nine games, the Rangers have not had a single Under. There have been six Overs and three pushes. However, Lundqvist should be back in the net tonight and the Rangers are aware that they need to pick it up defensively. After a 5-2 loss against the Penguins last time out, defensemen Marc Staal had this to say. "You always have to look at your own game and how you're playing," Staal said. "I thought certain plays could have had better reads and better decisions. With a skilled team like that, you have to be sharper in your end zone, and we weren't." The Rangers have been a very consistent team all season long and I think they get it straightened out defensively real quick. They draw a tired opponent in the Colorado Avalanche in this one. This will be Colorado's third game in four nights on the road and their last four contests have all gone to overtime. New York will be able to dictate the pace at home in this one and that means it will be a slow, grind-it-out style. Take the Under at plus-juice as New York will get back to playing hockey the way they've won all year long.

4-unit Play Take St. Louis Blues/Tampa Bay Lightning OVER (7:05pm EST) The St. Louis Blues are in the middle of a seven-game road trip and they haven't looked very comfortable in their first three contests. They've dropped two of those games and have had some major problems on the defensive end yielding 110 shots on goal over the last three. Defense has been this team's calling card all season but it's a long season and every team gets in a funk every now and then and long road trips do that to teams. They still have surrendered only seven goals over those three games but their sloppy play will eventually catch up with them and they get a dangerous opponent tonight in the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning have a potent offensive attack and five of their last seven games have gone Over the total. They play an aggressive style and being at home they should be able to dictate the pace against a Blues team that usually likes to slow it down. The last time these teams hooked up in Tampa, the Lightning won 4-3 and there were 72 total shots on goal. We get some plus-money on the Over today and that's too generous.

6-unit Play Take Boston Bruins/Tampa Bay Lightning UNDER (7:35pm EST) The Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning square off in a game that might not play out like most observers think. Getting inside the heads of the teams is important in handicapping, and based on the results of the last several games for these teams it appears that both teams are looking at this matchup as a big game. The Bruins come into this game off of two straight losses - 5-2 to the Penguins and 4-3 to the Capitals. It's not very often that Boston surrenders nine goals combined in back-to-back games, especially with Tim Thomas in net. He should get another chance to redeem himself tonight and I don't expect him to fail for the third game in a row being one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. The Lightning have lost three straight games and given up 14 goals in the process. Rookie goalie Dustin Tokarski has been in the net for the last two games and he's slated to get another chance again in this one. I'm confident that the defense will step up in this one and provide a little more support than usual to protect him. With both teams coming into this game on losing streaks, the intensity will be high and that generally leads to more checking and better effort defensively. Even though both teams have surrendered a ton of goals lately, I have little doubt that they'll buck the trend and play a tight, fundamentally sound game tonight. That's why the Under in this one has been pegged as our Game of the Day, especially at a nice plus-juice price.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Calgary Flames/Minnesota Wild OVER (6:05pm EST) The Calgary Flames invade Minnesota to take on the Wild in a game that promises to have plenty of mistakes and defensive lapses. Both of these teams have been struggling mightily in their own zone of late; turnovers, mental lapses, poor goaltender play and whatever else you can think of. Calgary has given up at least 38 shots in three of their last four games, including 45 in their last contest against Winnipeg. The Flames have struggled offensively for most of the season, but they've taken more chances on the offensive end lately and it's paid off as far as goal scoring. However, they have sacrificed defensively and have given up a few more breakaways and odd-man rushes than usual. The Wild have also been an absolute mess defensively, ever since starting goalie Niklas Backstrom went down with an injury. They've allowed 22 goals in their last five games between their two backup goaltenders. Backstrom is still out so it won't be any prettier tonight. The Over is also 5-0-2 in Calgary's last seven games as a favorite. All signs point to plenty of scoring opportunities, so the Over looks enticing at only 5 tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take Dallas Stars/Anaheim Ducks OVER 5 (7:05pm EST) The Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks have both been playing some really aggressive hockey recently. The last three games for the Stars have seen 83, 60 and 78 shots respectively and they've made an effort to get good scoring chances and have compromised a bit defensively. Their last game against San Jose was an absolute shootout, literally and figuratively, and I expect some carry over to occur in this one. The Anaheim Ducks had a stretch earlier in the season where they couldn't score a goal to save their lives, but they've looked a little bit better recently and a lot of that has to do with some shuffling on the lines and getting some guys back healthy. When these teams get together, the game generally has a faster pace and that has translated into six overs in the last eight matchups. I'd be shocked if we don't at least get a push on the Over in this game, and more likely will get a winner. Play the Over here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take New Jersey Devils/New York Islanders UNDER 5 (7:05pm EST) Small number for the total in this game between the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders but that shouldn't scare anyone off the Under in this one. This is the second of a home-and-home between these teams and the third meeting in a week. New Jersey has been one of the top defensive teams in the NHL for the last few seasons and they've locked it down even tighter lately. Over their last four games, they've only allowed a total of four goals. They also have the better of their two goaltenders in net tonight in my opinion - Johan Hedberg. The Islanders have surrendered quite a few goals lately but they've actually been able to keep shot counts down and I expect them to bounce back after allowing five goals against the Devils on Thursday. I like playing the Under when teams play each other twice in a row, as they generally learn the other team's tendencies and the defenses clamp down. That should be the case tonight, especially with these squads seeing one another for the third time in a week. There has also only been one over in the last seven meetings, so the play is definitely the Under again tonight.

3-unit Play Take Minnesota Wild/Colorado Avalanche OVER (9:05pm EST) Based on the final scores of the last few games played by the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche, you'd be hard pressed to pull the trigger on the Over in this spot. However, a closer look inside the numbers shows that the Over definitely has some value today. The Wild have been shut out in three of their last four games but two of those games still went Over the total and the Wild still put quite a few shots on goal in three of the games. They've been dealing with a lot of injuries lately but the guys out there understand that they can't focus on that. "We've used that excuse already -- injuries, injuries, injuries," right winger Devin Setoguchi said. "If the effort's there then we can be satisfied if we lose the game or if we play hard, but if the effort's not there and the mentality isn't there to play the game right -- even with all the injuries -- then that's not an excuse, win or lose." The Avalanche have only scored a total of three goals in their last three games, but they too have put a healthy amount of shots on net but haven't been able to put many in. These teams have been playing aggressively, but have just had a bit of bad luck lately. In addition, Minnesota will be going with its backup goalie Josh Harding as Backstrom is still sidelined with a strained groin. That's a huge drop off in the net, and we could see a couple of easy ones get past Harding as he's struggled with consistency in his starts. The value is with the Over tonight.

4-unit Play Take Phoenix Coyotes/Columbus Blue Jackets UNDER (7:05pm EST) This is the second game of a home-and-home series between the Phoenix Coyotes and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Three days ago in Phoenix the Blue Jackets came out on top 5-2 in a final score that was a little bit deceiving. Columbus scored an empty net goal with a minute left and there were a total of only 58 shots on goal for the game, so this one could have easily gone Under the total. I like playing Unders in the second game of a home-and-home matchup as the teams generally tighten up the defenses after seeing each other for the second time in a matter of days. Additionally, the Under is 10-4 in the last 14 games for the Coyotes and they've really seemed to be focused on the defensive end of the ice recently. Last night they played a tight 2-1 game against the Penguins. I think we get a little extra value based on the score of the last game between these two, so the Under is the play tonight.

3-unit Play Take Minnesota Wild/Detroit Red Wings UNDER (7:35pm EST) The Minnesota Wild square off against the Detroit Red Wings in another game that might be considered a yawn fest for goal scoring enthusiasts. In their last six meetings dating back to December 2010, five of the games have gone Under the total and most haven't been close. The Red Wings have had some wild games lately, but I expect things to tame down some now that it looks like goaltender Jimmy Howard is back in the net for good. In addition, Detroit's best offensive player Pavel Datsyuk is out with a knee injury and that will have a trickle-down effect on every scoring line. The Minnesota Wild have some injuries to some of its skill position players including center Mikko Koivo. This should turn into a grind-it-out type of battle and I wouldn't be surprised to see one of these talented goaltenders pitch a shutout tonight. Take the Under in this spot.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take New York Rangers/Tampa Bay Lightning UNDER (7:35pm EST) The New York Rangers have been an Under machine this season as their games have gone Under in 28 of 49 games this season (not including pushes). Their games are even lower scoring when goalie Henrik Lundqvist takes the net, as he has established himself as one of the best goalies in the league. Defensively, the Rangers rank 7th best in shot prevention and they've been especially adept at that lately. Last night they held the Hurricanes to 23 shots and the game before they held the Devils to a paltry 13 shots on net. It's tough to score against a team when you can't even get shots off and no question it will be an uphill battle for the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning come off two games in which there were only 84 shots on goal combined and they generally play to the Rangers style when these teams hook up. Three of the last five meetings have gone Under and I have a hard time believing that there will be enough shots to get too many goals tonight.

3-unit Play Take Ottawa Senators/Boston Bruins OVER (7:05pm EST) This will be the fifth meeting of the season between the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins and all four previous meetings have gone Over the total - by a wide margin. In fact, the teams have combined to score 30 goals in the four games, for a whopping average of 7.5 goals per game. Ottawa has been an Over team all season long and nothing has changed lately as they've had five straight Overs in their last five games. In addition, Ottawa is going with backup goaltender Robin Lehner again tonight, and he has yet to prove himself in the NHL. The Bruins have had a surprisingly great offense this season and only the Flyers average more goals per game than they do. On the defensive side, goalie Tim Thomas is still a monster in the net, but his numbers have not been nearly as good as last season and he has the occasional off game. I expect a fast-paced game with lots of shots on goal and that should get us the Over tonight.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

6-unit Play Take New York Islanders/Ottawa Senators UNDER 5.5 (5:05pm EST) The New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators meet up for the second time in a week tonight. The Senators got the upper hand in the first meeting in a dominating 6-0 victory on Long Island this past Monday. After being thoroughly embarrassed, especially on the defensive end, I expect the Islanders to buckle down here and make it a grind-it-out type of game. The Islanders offense has also been struggling lately and has averaged only 1.9 goals per game over their last 10. So they know that they'll need to step it up on the defensive end to win this game. The Under is 10-4 in the last 14 games in which the Islanders have been underdogs. While the Senators are an offensive-focused team, the Under is 5-2 in their last seven games with no rest. They played last night and surrendered five goals in a loss to the Bruins, so I think they'll be focusing their efforts on defense tonight also. There is a lot of public money on the Over in this one, providing us great value in playing the Under as our Game of the Month.

3-unit Play Take Chicago Blackhawks/Los Angeles Kings UNDER 5 (8:05pm EST) Here's another game tonight that will be difficult to watch if you're looking for great offensive play. The Los Angeles Kings are an Under machine recently, seeing only two Overs in their last 17 games - a pretty amazing statistic. They yield the fifth fewest shots on goal per game and have one of the best goaltenders in the league in Jonathan Quick, a deadly combination. The Chicago Blackhawks have been very streaky lately and haven't had more than 29 shots on goal in any of their last five games. Goalie Corey Crawford has also seemingly found some rhythm after a rough stretch a few weeks ago. The icing on the cake is the recent matchup history between these teams. The Under is 10-1 in their last 11 meetings spanning the last three years. This one has the potential to be a 1-0 type of game very easily, and don't be surprised if we see less than 50 total shots in this one. The value is with the Under once again.

3-unit Play Take Buffalo Sabres/New York Rangers UNDER 5 (7:05pm EST) If you like tons of shots and aggressive play, then tonight's game between the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers probably won't be for you. When these teams get together, it's usually a grind-it-out style that leads to tight lowing scoring affairs. As a result, the last five meetings between these two clubs have gone Under the total. The Rangers will be playing a back-to-back game tonight as they were beaten by the Islanders 4-3 last night in a shootout. After surrendering four goals, I expect their defense to really step it up tonight. In addition, their starting goaltender Henrik Lundqvist will be back in the net after a night off last night. He's one of the best in the business and usually arises to the occasion when he needs to. The Rangers have been struggling lately, so they'll be leaning on their leader in this one. Despite a couple of high scoring games lately, the Sabres games have been playing at a fairly slow pace and low shot rates. They battled the Bruins to a 2-1 victory last night in a shootout. The Rangers prefer that conservative style most of the time as well since they are a chip and chase team, so don't expect too many odd-man rushes. The Under is the safe play tonight.

3-unit Play Take Minnesota Wild/Florida Panthers OVER 5 (7:35pm EST) The Florida Panthers come into tonight's game losers of three straight games and the main culprit has been lack of goal scoring. They've only scored three goals combined in their last three games but it's not due to lack of aggressiveness as they've put 98 shots on goal, but have been a bit unlucky. They should come into tonight's game even more focused on the offensive end of the ice so I expect them to put close to 40 shots on net tonight and that should hopefully lead to three or four goals. As for the Minnesota Wild, they are coming off of a 2-0 shutout against the Boston Bruins. They did, however, yield 48 shots on goal in that game and didn't look too stellar in their own zone. Goaltender Niklas Backstrom has posted very solid numbers this season but hasn't looked as good as he did back in October and November. The Panthers should be able to get a few past him tonight. The Wild offense hasn't been as consistent as it needs to be, but I expect them to take advantage of a Florida team that is clearly going to be focused on the offensive end of the ice rather than on its defense. This definitely feels like good value and with the way we've been nailing our totals all season long, I think we have a good edge here again tonight on the Over.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

2-unit Play Take Washington Capitals/Carolina Hurricanes OVER 5.5 (7:35pm EST) Tonight we have a matchup of two teams that might be a little bit more tired than usual. The Washington Capitals will be playing their third game in four nights, all of which have been on the road. All of their recent games have been tight and have featured a lot of shots on goal, but not too many goals are finding the back of the net. The Carolina Hurricanes are also playing their third game in four nights and they have scored at least three goals in each of their last four games. They've had five straight games that have seen 60+ shots on goal in the game combined. I expect to see some fatigue setting in for both teams, especially as the game wears on, and that usually leads to sloppy defense and some easy goals. Seeing how aggressive these teams have been playing lately, the pressure will be on the goalies in this one and so far this season neither goaltender has been able to step up and deliver. Take the Over tonight.

3-unit Play Take Washington Capitals/Tampa Bay Lightning OVER (7:05pm EST) Neither one of these teams is proud of the season that they've had so far, but a matchup between the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning is always sure to have some fireworks. They are currently 9th and 12th in the Eastern Conference, respectively, and both are fighting for their playoff lives. These rivals have always played up-tempo styled-games evidenced by Overs going 6-1 in their last seven meetings. Tampa Bay's defense has been hideous over the last several games as they've given up a ton of shots and 13 goals over their last three contests. They surrendered 50 shots on goal in their last game against San Jose, which was actually a 6-5 win in overtime. Washington has been putting a lot of shots on net lately but they've had problems finding the back of the net consistently. I don't expect that to be a problem tonight with Mathieu Garon in net for the Lightning. He's had a down year and has been even worse over the last couple of weeks. Tomas Vokoun hasn't really been any better for the Capitals so don't expect any shutout performances from tonight's goalies. I think we'll see close to 70 shots on goal in this game and with two struggling goalies, and that should be plenty to get us Over the total tonight.

5-unit Play Take San Jose Sharks/Carolina Hurricanes OVER (7:05pm EST) We've been locked in on totals of late and tonight presents another great opportunity as the San Jose Sharks head into Carolina to take on the Hurricanes. Both of these teams have been playing at a faster pace since the All-Star break and have been firing away plenty of shots on goal. For San Jose, seven of their last 8 games have gone Over the total and the last two games have seen an average of 76 shots on net. For Carolina, their last three games have seen a minimum of 67 shots on goal and two games were easily Over the total. Neither goaltender is having that great of a season and I think it's going to be a long night for Antti Niemi and Cam Ward. The last five matchups between these two teams have gone Over the total as well. On top of all that, San Jose is coming off of an overtime game last night and will surely be a bit winded for this game, which usually translates to some hiccups on the defensive side. All signs point to an easy Over here tonight, and that's why this is our Game of the Day.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take Buffalo Sabres/Philadelphia Flyers OVER (7:05pm EST) When the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers get together, there's usually plenty of action on the ice. We have seen six Overs in the last eight meetings between these clubs and five of the games featured at least seven goals. These teams know each other well and it seems like they can break down the opposing defense with ease each time out. It appears that Ryan Miller will be in net for the Sabres and that bodes well for Philadelphia, unlike in past years. While Miller has played a bit better of late, he is struggling through his worst season yet with a 2.75 goals against average and 0.909 save percentage. The Flyers counter with goalie Ilya Bryzgalov who is going through a tumultuous season of his own putting up even worse numbers. As a result, neither goalie can be trusted to fully shut down these offenses. Bottom line, these teams know that this will be a shootout coming into the game and we should see plenty of scoring chances. Throw in two struggling goaltenders and getting to six goals should be rather easy. Take the Over in tonight's Buffalo-Philly game.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Anaheim Ducks/Pittsburgh Penguins UNDER 5.5 (7:05pm EST) Over the last four five weeks or so, the Anaheim Ducks have actually played pretty good hockey. They've come a long way since having the worst record in the NHL in early January, and now have hopes of contending for a playoff spot. How did they do it - great defense and stellar goaltending. This team has started to play a different style hockey lately and it's worked out well for them. They'll have a good challenge tonight as they face a high-powered Pittsburgh Penguins squad. But the Penguins have scored 12 goals in their last two games and I can see the offense losing a little bit of its edge and resting on its laurels tonight. Jonas Hiller has been amazing in the net for the Ducks and he usually gets up for the big games. Unders are 8-2 in Anaheim's last 10 games and I expect a tight, low scoring affair again in this matchup.

4-unit Play Take New York Islanders/Winnipeg Jets UNDER (7:05pm EST) I like this Under spot primarily because the Winnipeg Jets got blasted 8-5 by the Penguins last night in Pittsburgh. It was an embarrassing loss, especially on the defensive end of the ice and I don't think they let it happen two games in a row, especially with this one being at home. In fact, the Under is 8-0 following a Jets' loss of three or more goals this season. Winnipeg has also been a much better team at home this season (16-8-2), and they usually control the tempo at home - which usually means it will be slow. The New York Islanders haven't exactly been a juggernaut on offense lately either, averaging only 1.83 goals per game in their last six contests. In their last nine games in the underdog role, the Islander games have had a record of 8-1 on Unders. Finally, the last four times these teams have met have all resulted in Unders also. This one feels right as I just can't see these teams getting to six goals unless we see some unusual breaks.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take San Jose Sharks/Washington Capitals OVER (7:35pm EST) The San Jose Sharks invade Washington to take on the Capitals in this matchup tonight. The Sharks are coming off a loss to the Blues yesterday in which they were shutout 3-0, so I expect the offense to get extra aggressive tonight to prove a point. That may take the edge off a little on the defensive end, especially on a back-to-back situation, so we should see some action on both sides. It looks like Washington will be going with backup goaltender Michael Neuvirth, who has had an awful season with a 3.07 goals against average and 0.894 save percentage. That should make things even easier for the Sharks if they can put enough shots on the struggling netminder. These teams faced off about a month ago and the Sharks won 5-2 and there were a total of 69 shots on goal. I expect this game to be very similar, and if that's the case, our Over should be a solid play.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Boston Bruins/Buffalo Sabres OVER (7:35pm EST) Tonight's matchup is between Northeast Division rivals who know each other very well - the Boston Bruins versus the Buffalo Sabres. In this series, the offenses have definitely gotten the best of the defenses as the Over is 7-0-4 in the last 11 meetings between these two clubs. It's been almost three years since we've seen an Under in this series and based on the way these teams have played post-All Star break, there's no reason to believe that anything will change. While the scores haven't really indicated it, the Bruins' four games since the break have seen plenty of action. In those contests, there has been an average of 66 shots on goal per game and none of the games have seen overtime. The Sabres have played three games since the break and their games have seen even more shots, averaging 68.7 shots on goal. Again, you have to look deeper than the final score to see how the games have been played, and I think we get some good value given how aggressively these squads are playing on the offensive end right now. Take the Over in this spot.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take St. Louis Blues/Ottawa Senators OVER (7:35pm EST) These teams haven't seen each other in almost 15 months, but when they face off tonight I expect to see some aggressive fast-paced action. The St. Louis Blues are coming off of a 3-1 loss to Nashville on Saturday night in which they had 43 shots on goal but could only put one in the back of the net. The Ottawa Senators had an even rougher time of it on Saturday as they lost 5-0 to Toronto in a game that they were able to get an amazing 49 shots on goal without scoring. Even though neither team could put goals on the board, I like the aggressive play and that should translate to some goals tonight. St. Louis was a huge Under team during the first half of the season (28 unders vs. 12 overs), but that trend tends to regress to the mean over the course of the season so I expect more Overs in the second half. Take the Under 5 in tonight's matchup that should see plenty of action.

3-unit Play Take Detroit Red Wings/Phoenix Coyotes OVER (8:05pm EST) The Detroit Red Wings and Phoenix Coyotes hook up in a game that promises to see aggressive play. Detroit is coming off a 5-4 loss in Edmonton on Saturday in a contest that saw 71 shots on goal. This is the last game of a 4-game road trip for the Wings and their defense has looked worse and worse as the trip has progressed. The All-Star break has definitely thrown them off their rhythm and to make matters even worse, the Wings have lost their star goalie Jimmy Howard to an injury for a few weeks. As a result, they'll have Ty Conklin in the net, which is a significant downgrade as he's one of the weakest backups in the NHL. The Coyotes were also involved in a thriller in their last game as they won 5-3 versus San Jose. The Over is 7-3-3- in the last 16 games that Phoenix has played on one day of rest. They should come out aggressive knowing that they have a weak opponent in the net. Finally, the Over is 6-2 in the last eight meetings between these squads. All signs point to an Over tonight and that's where your money should be especially with plus juice.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Dallas Stars/San Jose Sharks OVER (10:35pm EST) When the Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks get together, we usually see quite a bit of action. In fact, over their last four meetings in the series, the game total has averaged 6.75 goals. More importantly, both of these teams have gotten plenty of shots on goal during their recent matchups, so there's no reason to believe that this trend will end. In addition, the Over is also 6-1-1 in the last eight road games for the Stars. I also think that both starting goalies had a little bit better first half of the season than expected, and that they will come back down to earth a bit in the second half. This game should see close to 70 shots on goal, so the goalies will get plenty of work, and I expect them to falter tonight. Play the Over 5.5 goals as we get some nice plus juice to boot.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Dallas Stars/Anaheim Ducks UNDER 5.5 (8:35pm EST) If this game were played two weeks ago it would have had a completely different feel. The Ducks were in dead last in the conference and had very little hope for the playoffs back then. However, they are 8-0-1 in their last nine contests and have currently moved to within 11 points of 8th place in the West. The Dallas Stars have been struggling mightily of late losing six consecutive contests, and are now in 11th place in the conference but only four points away from the last playoff spot. With these teams going in opposite directions and both looking up at the playoffs right now, I feel like this game will have a lot of energy and have a playoff-like atmosphere especially considering this will be the fourth meeting of the season already for these two. As a result, I expect a good fundamentally-played tight matchup with few mistakes, which should keep scoring down. The last two meetings between these two saw the total go Over, but that's only because the goaltenders had poor efforts. There weren't many shots on goal in either game and if we can just get them to play an average game in net we should have no problem keeping the total below the number today.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take Detroit Red Wings/Dallas Stars OVER (8:35pm EST) This is an easy Over to pull the trigger on as we have two very suspect goaltenders between the pipes in this matchup between the Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars. Ty Conklin of the Wings is simply one of the worst backups in the NHL and his 0.888 save percentage backs that up. Richard Bachman of the Stars is a rookie that's only played 10 games this season and is still learning to play the net in this league. It's safe to say that both teams will be aggressive tonight against weaker goaltenders and knowing that their own goalies may be giving up a few tonight. On top of that, these two teams have combined for 31 goals in their last four matchups, for an average of 7.75 goals per game. The Over is the clear play in this one as we should see a shootout.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

5-unit Play Take San Jose Sharks/Chicago Blackhawks OVER 5.5 (7:05pm EST) There are lots of reasons to favor a high goal-scoring game in this matchup between the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks. For starters, the Sharks have been ambushing opponents with shots over the last couple of weeks. In their last 10 games, the Sharks have averaged an amazing 37.5 shots on goal per game (tops in the league). Goaltending isn't one of the strengths of the Blackhawks and with that many shots, I expect a few to get past the likely starter Corey Crawford. The Blackhawks offense is on a roll as well, as they've scored 12 goals in their last three games and have looked sharp. They will likely be going against former teammate Antti Niemi, which always adds a little extra motivation. The last time these teams hooked up about a month ago, the Hawks won 3-2 but there were 71 shots on net, which tells us a lot about how these teams play against one another - aggressively. Another telling trend is that the Over has gone 12-4 in the last 16 games in which the Hawks were playing a back-to-back situation, as they are today. It's also the third game in four nights for both teams, and tired teams generally slip on defense when they're tired. Play the Over as our Game of the Week.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Carolina Hurricanes/Tampa Bay Lightning OVER (7:35pm EST) We have two struggling clubs matching up tonight as the Carolina Hurricanes invade Tampa Bay to face the Lightning. The Hurricanes have dropped four of five games, but four of those games went Over the posted total. In addition, there were a ton of shots put up in those contests so it's clear that the Hurricanes are continuing to play aggressively despite losing efforts. The Tampa Bay Lightning have lost four in a row and are staying fairly aggressive too. The last 10 meetings between these two teams have either gone Over the total are have pushed. The Over is also 21-7-2 in Tampa Bay's last 30 home games overall. Expect to see some more goals tonight as the Over is definitely the play based on the trends and how these teams have been playing of late.

3-unit Play Take Pittsburgh Penguins/Washington Capitals UNDER (7:35pm EST) Both the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins come into this matchup struggling. The Penguins have dropped a season-high five straight games and have only scored a total of six goals over that span. This is partly due to some significant injuries but also due to some bad luck running into some hot goaltenders. Washington has dropped their last two games by the same score of 5-2, games in which they were absolutely dominated by the Sharks and Kings. It's been an odd season for the Capitals, but they have to get things straightened out sooner than later as they are currently 10th in the Eastern Conference. One of the biggest problems has been the poor season by goalie Tomas Vokoun, which I can't imagine lasting an entire season. He has been one of the better goalies in the league during his tenure, but currently has a 2.66 GAA and 0.912 save percentage this season (both well below his career numbers). The last six times these squads have hooked up, the total has went Under and most of them have not even been close. I like this one to stay low scoring as well as both teams try to clamp down and get a much needed victory.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take Minnesota Wild/Vancouver Canucks OVER (10:05pm EST) Even though the Vancouver Canucks have been on an unbelievable run over the last month or so, their defense has been suspect over the last couple of weeks. They've been able to cover it up by putting plenty of goals on the board offensively and the fact that they have two great goaltenders. However, they're allowing way too many shots on goal and it's only a matter of time before that catches up to them. The Minnesota Wild have been struggling a bit on the offensive end of the ice recently, but I liked the way that they've moved it around the last couple of games. They should be getting right-winger Devon Setoguchi on the ice after missing a month, which will be a big boost to the offense. The Over is 9-4-1 in the last 14 meetings between these teams. When these teams met last month, the final score was 4-0 Vancouver, but there were a total of 66 shots on goal. If we get that many again tonight, I like our chances to get over the total.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Ottawa Senators/Buffalo Sabres OVER 5.5 (7:05pm EST) The Buffalo Sabres are back home tonight after only scoring two goals combined in their two games on a brief road trip the last few days. With their struggles on the road, I think they'll look to get aggressive tonight at home to put some goals on the board. Being at home, they should be able to dictate the pace a little better and get up and down the ice. It also doesn't hurt that their opponent is the Ottawa Senators. The Senators allow 3.40 goals per game, which is dead last in the NHL by a wide margin. They prefer to play at a quicker pace and take some chances when they can. In the last six meetings between these clubs, the average total has been 6.2 goals. I don't envision too much defense being played in this matchup, especially with the focus possibly being more on the New Year's Eve festivities than the game itself for some of the players. Take the Over in this game.

4-unit Play Take Phoenix Coyotes/Minnesota Wild OVER 5 (6:05pm EST) We have overrated goalies in both nets in this matchup between the Phoenix Coyotes and Minnesota Wild. The combination of Jason LaBarbera and Mike Smith for the Coyotes has vastly exceeded expectations, combining to allow only 2.60 goals per game this season (10th in the NHL). Neither of these goalies has any indications in their career that they can sustain these numbers and I expect to see more goals getting past them going forward. It looks like LaBarbera will get the nod in the net tonight. Niklas Backstrom has been even better for the Minnesota Wild, posting a 2.34 goals against average and a 0.924 save percentage so far. He has single-handedly carried the Wild at times this year. While he has more upside and is more talented than the pair for the Coyotes, Backstrom still is playing a bit over his head. Neither of these teams is gifted offensively, but they should be able to get enough pucks in the back of the net against these overrated goaltenders. Take the Over with a very low total of 5 tonight.

10-unit Play Take Los Angeles Kings/San Jose Sharks OVER 5 (10:35pm EST) It's no secret that the Los Angeles Kings have struggled to score goals over the last 15 games, as they have averaged only 1.80 goals per game over that span. However, that statistic is very deceptive as the Kings have actually gotten off a ton of shots recently, but have just found some bad luck as they haven't hit the back of the net very often. Over their last eight games, Los Angeles has averaged a whopping 36.5 shots per game but has only scored 15 goals in those games. So the team is playing aggressively and it's only a matter of time before some of those shots turn into goals. They go up against another team that has been firing away lately in the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks have put up 15 goals in their last three games and have 114 shots in that span. Neither one of tonight's goaltenders has been anything better than average this year so I don't expect any dominating efforts that will hurt us tonight. The Over is also 5-2 in the last seven games in San Jose overall. I feel very confident that we'll see aggressive play in this one and plenty of goals getting past the netminders. That's why Over 5 is our Total.

3-unit Play Take Vancouver Canucks/ Minnesota Wild OVER (10:05pm EST) The Vancouver Canucks have been on a very nice run for the last few weeks, and their offense is the number one reason. Over their last 22 games, the Canucks have averaged 3.55 goals per game. They've been getting contributions from a variety of their players on different lines, and have managed to come together despite being pretty banged up. This is the Vancouver team that struck fear into the NHL last year. They're the fourth best offense in the league this year, and I wouldn't be surprised if they keep climbing up the charts into the number one spot by year-end. They face a Minnesota Wild squad that is in a mini-slump, losing their last three games and only scoring a combined four goals. They've vowed to play a little more aggressively after three straight lackluster performances on the offensive end. "There should be more urgency and desperation in our game," coach Mike Yeo said. "I'm understanding of the fact that we have guys out ... but right now, I'm a little edgy just because I expected something different. The Over is 9-3-1 in the last 13 meetings between these teams. I expect to see lots of pucks in the back of the net again tonight, so take the Over here.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Calgary Flames/Chicago Blackhawks OVER (7:05pm EST) Things have changed in Chicago since the beginning of the season. Ray Emery has taken over as the starting goaltender for the time being while previous starter Corey Crawford is riding the bench due to poor results. Since the change about two weeks ago, the Blackhawks have gone 5-1 and have been playing a little bit more aggressively. I'm not sure if it's because they feel that they need to give some support for the new goalie, but the Hawks have definitely been on the attack more frequently and have scored at least three goals in seven straight games. Tonight they face Miikka Kiprusoff and the Calgary Flames. Kiprusoff is past his prime and is not having a particularly good year, which has also put more pressure on the Flames offense. The Over is 11-4 in Flames last 15 in the third game of a 3-in-4 days situation, which they face tonight. For the Blackhawks, the Over is 13-6-1 in Blackhawks' last 20 home games. I expect to see two very aggressive teams on the ice tonight, leading to a high scoring affair.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Edmonton Oilers/Phoenix Coyotes OVER (8:35pm EST) This is an automatic play on the Over based on overrated goaltender performance alone. The total on this game is set at a low number of five because Nikolai Khabibulin of the Edmonton Oilers and Mike Smith of the Phoenix Coyotes have been absolutely amazing this year. Khabibulin has a 1.95 goals against average and a 0.933 save percentage while Mike Smith is at 2.49 goals against and a 0.923 save percentage. However, these numbers are simply not sustainable for these goalies for the entire season based on their numbers the last few years. Khabibulin is past his prime and Smith has never been a good netminder. Bottom line, we will see some regression and their numbers will come crashing back down to earth. Both of these squads allow over 30 shots per game, which makes it even tougher on the goalies. I look for a big score tonight as at least one of these goalies will melt down.
Best of Luck - Doc's Sports