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Stephen Nover NHL Money Lines Picks

Date	Match Up	Rating	Score	Result	Profit	Lead Time	Analysis
06-12-25	Oilers +134 v. Panthers	Top	5-4	Win	134	20 h 1 m	Show
The Stanley Cup finals went seven games between these two teams last year. Edmonton has improved from then. I see the series likely going seven games again. I have faith in the Oilers to even this series after two consecutive losses. The Oilers have a bounce back history and have been outstanding in Game 4 spots before. Take last season. Florida opened a 3-0 series lead, but the Oilers buried the Panthers, 8-1, in Game 4. Edmonton went 4-0 in Game 4's during the postseason last year. The Oilers are 3-0 this season when playing a Game 4. The Panthers held Leon Draisaitl without a shot attempt in Game 3. Connor McDavid managed only two shots and no points. I don't see those two superstars being shut down a second consecutive time. The style has been mostly up-tempo and wide open. That's favorable for the fast-skating Oilers. Edmonton is better than it was last season thanks to improved defense. That defense might improve more if Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch benches erratic Stuart Skinner for veteran Calvin Pickard.
06-06-25	Panthers v. Oilers -122	Top	5-4	Loss	-122	19 h 1 m	Show
I backed the Oilers in Game 1 of this Stanley Cup finals. I like them even more in Game 2 based on their opening game performance. Edmonton showed a lot of poise and resiliency to win, 4-3 in overtime, on Wednesday after trailing entering the third period. That has to give the Oilers a lot of confidence after the Panthers beat them in last season's Stanley Cup finals by opening a 3-0 series lead. Florida was 31-0 in the playoffs when leading at the first or second intermission under Paul Maurice. The Oilers halted that magnificent streak. The Oilers have the two most dangerous scorers in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. They had those two last year against the Panthers. The difference this time around is the Oilers are more physical, playing better defense and Stuart Skinner has become trustworthy in net. Edmonton outshot Florida, 46-32, and was not intimidated by the Panthers' bruising style. Having Evander Kane back from injury is a big key for the Oilers. Kane and Darnell Nurse, who wasn't 100 percent against the Panthers in last year's finals, aren't allowing the Panthers to push around their teammates. Kane is a bully himself. He rammed nine Panthers into the boards during Wednesday's game. The combination of home ice, having two superstar scorers, being healthier and displaying a more physical edge should enable the Oilers to also win Game 2.
06-04-25	Panthers v. Oilers -124	Top	3-4	Win	100	22 h 5 m	Show
The oddsmaker has anointed Edmonton as the Game 1 favorite. I'm in agreement. The Oilers are home, hot with 12 wins in their last 14 games, getting contributions up and down their lineup and have shown a strong defensive commitment sparked by hot goalie Stuart Skinner. Defending champion Florida can never be underestimated. The Panthers held off the Oilers by winning Game 7 after nearly blowing a 3-0 series lead in last year's Stanley Cup finals. The Oilers have the bigger stars and are out for redemption. This is their shot and they don't want to blow Game 1 at home like last season. Superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have been as outstanding as ever, ranking first and second, respectively, in points during the postseason. Unlike past years, though, the Oilers have shown more scoring depth with eight players having scored five goals or more in the playoffs and 20 different plays registering at least a point. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ranks fourth in points during the playoffs while Evan Bouchard is fifth. Sergei Bobrovsky has proven himself to be a big-game goalie for Florida. Bobrovsky is 36, however. It has been the 26-year-old Skinner, who has been red-hot during his past seven games with a 6-1 record, 1.41 goals against average and .944 save percentage with three shutouts.
05-21-25	Oilers v. Stars -124	Top	3-6	Win	100	11 h 32 m	Show
Edmonton ousted the Stars in the Western Conference Finals last season. The Stars won two of the first three games in that series and I see revenge-minded Dallas winning this series opener at home. What I don't see is the Stars going 0-for-14 on the power play, which happened during last year's series against Edmonton. No knock on the Oilers, who have won eight of their last nine games, including blanking Las Vegas in their last two games. However, not playing for a week may hurt the Oilers' rhythm and momentum. Dallas went 2-1 against Edmonton during the regular season. The Stars edged the Oilers, 4-3, in Edmonton during the last meeting on March 26. The Stars are as close to full strength as they have been all season with Miro Heiskanen logging 20-plus minutes a game. I give the Stars a goalie edge with Jake Oettinger. Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner stepped up against the Golden Knights, but I don't trust him. When he runs cold, he's terrible. I also give the Stars the checkmark on the power play. They led the league, after all, in power play goals not Edmonton. The Oilers' power play is less effective on the road, too. It's not Connor McDavid nor Leon Draisaitl who are the playoff leaders and points, but the Stars' Mikko Rantanen. Enough things line up where I can confidently back the Stars in this price range to win this Game 1.
05-12-25	Golden Knights v. Oilers -124	Top	0-3	Win	100	22 h 60 m	Show
Thanks to Reilly Smith's improbable goal with 0.4 seconds left, the Golden Knights nipped the Oilers, 4-3, this past Saturday to cut Edmonton's lead in the series to 2-1. Edmonton didn't play well in that game. Yet the Oilers let a 2-0 lead slip. I'm expecting a more focused Oilers' effort in Monday's game. The Oilers have superstar talent - which the Golden Knights do not possess - are on home ice and are the healthier team. Las Vegas has three key players not at 100 percent in Mark Stone, Brayden McNabb and Pavel Dorofeyev. It wouldn't shock if any of them sat out, especially team captain Stone. In addition, Jack Eichel is not playing well. Perhaps the Oilers got a little too cocky. They had won six straight Stanley Cup games until that defeat. Edmonton has won nine of 12 home playoff games the past two seasons. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl give the Oilers the two best players on the ice. Stuart Skinner is getting ripped for allowing Las Vegas' winning goal. That was a bad play. Skinner, though, has been OK in net. Las Vegas goalie Adin Hill isn't playing great either. I find the Oilers to be the superior team. So this is a reasonable lay price given that Edmonton is home, the healthier team and shouldn't play that bad twice in a row.
05-09-25	Stars v. Jets -135		0-4	Win	100	5 h 28 m	Show
Well, the letdown happened. The Jets lost at home to the Stars in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup series. This came after the Jets defeated the Avalanche in Game 7. If the Jets lose this Game 2 they may not see Winnipeg again because the Stars could sweep them with Games 3 and 4 set for Dallas. I'm fully expecting a much better performance from the Jets. "...That was a game where we weren't at our best," Jets coach Scott Arniel admitted following the loss to Dallas. Winnipeg has Mark Scheifele back healthy and its star goalie, Connor Hellebuyck, plays better at home in the playoffs.
05-08-25	Hurricanes v. Capitals +120	Top	1-3	Win	120	21 h 55 m	Show
This game just might be Washington's season - and the Capitals know it. Carolina controlled Game 1 while outshooting the Capitals, 33-14. Yet, it took overtime for Carolina to win, 2-1, in Tuesday's series opener. The Capitals have a goalie edge with Logan Thompson, home-ice and tremendous incentive knowing they can't fall behind 2-0 in the series with the scene shifting to Carolina following this game. So I'm fully expecting the Capitals to get back to playing their style of hockey, not letting the Hurricanes bottle them up. Washington certainly has the talent, with 44-goal scoring legend Alex Ovechkin, to accomplish this. Thompson has a .926 save percentage and 2.17 goals against average in six postseason games this season. Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen is less consistent and has rust after missing the Hurricanes' opening-round series due to injury. The Capitals failed to test Andersen this past Tuesday. Look for that to change in this Game 2.
05-06-25	Oilers v. Golden Knights -131		4-2	Loss	-131	22 h 28 m	Show
Kudos to the Oilers for taking out the Kings in their first-round series. But Edmonton has too many defensive and goalie weaknesses for me to back them on the road against a well-coached, steady Las Vegas team. The Golden Knights held the Wild to an average of 2.3 goals during the last three games of their opening-round series with two of those games decided in overtime. The Oilers held the Kings to one goal in Game 5 of their series. However, in the other five games, Edmonton surrendered an average of 4.6 goals. The Oilers remain without their best defenseman, injured Mattias Ekholm, and I don't like either of Edmonton's goalies, Stuart Skinner and journeyman Calvin Pickard. Edmonton has had the Kings' number. The Oilers don't have the Golden Knights' number. Las Vegas held Edmonton's superstar duo, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, in check when it eliminated the Oilers in a playoff series two seasons ago on the way to winning the Stanley Cup. Aiden Hill played well in net for Las Vegas in that series with a .934 save percentage. Hill was shaky early against the Wild, but has since settled down and is playing well. Home ice along with a strong defensive and goalie advantage put me on the Golden Knights in this series opener.
05-05-25	Panthers -121 v. Maple Leafs		4-5	Loss	-121	6 h 18 m	Show
The Maple Leafs still could be breathing a sign of relief after nearly blowing a 3-0 series lead against the Senators in their first-round matchup that concluded this past Thursday. It was just the second time in the last 20 years the Maple Leafs won a playoff round. I don't see Toronto getting past the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers. Florida is too physical, has deep playoff experience that Toronto lacks and had a 66-goal plus-minus advantage compared to the Maple Leafs during the regular season. The Panthers also have an extra day of rest and preparation having impressively taken out the Lightning this past Wednesday during their first-round series. Florida went 3-1 against Toronto during the regular season holding the Maple Leafs to an average of 1.7 goals.
04-25-25	Capitals v. Canadiens +104		3-6	Win	104	7 h 28 m	Show
If there's something we learned about the Canadiens this season it is never to count them out. Montreal has played Washington extremely tight in this series, losing in overtime and by two goals when the Capitals scored an empty net goal with one second left. The Canadiens won 30 times as an underdog this season. They have beaten their last nine Eastern Conference opponents at home. Now the Canadiens get to come home to Bell Centre, one of the best home ice advantages in the NHL. It's the first time the Canadiens will host a Stanley Cup playoff game in front of a sold-out home crowd since 2017. Home teams have won 70 percent of the time going 14-6 in the playoffs so far this season. Washington is 0-6 hitting the road following a victory. I have added confidence in the Canadiens seeing how well goalie Sam Montembeault is playing for them.
04-24-25	Jets v. Blues +105	Top	2-7	Win	105	12 h 40 m	Show
The Blues came close in Winnipeg. But find themselves down 0-2 in their first round Stanley Cup playoff series. Now is the right time for the Blues to break through coming home where they haven't lost since Feb. 23. The Blues have won a franchise record 12 straight games at Enterprise Center. That's the longest win streak in the NHL this season. The Jets scored the winning goal in the third period to nip the Blues, 2-1, this past Monday. Winnipeg also edged the Blues, 5-3, in Game 1 breaking a 3-3 tie with 1:36 left. An empty net goal accounted for the two-goal victory margin. Winnipeg has lost Game 3 of the playoffs each of the past two years after opening with a playoff win. The Blues aren't likely to win this series. But I do like them a lot for this Game 3 returning home in desperation mode.
04-22-25	Panthers v. Lightning -113		6-2	Loss	-113	11 h 36 m	Show
Revenge time for Tampa Bay as it opens at home against the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers, who knocked the Lightning out of the playoffs last season. The Lightning improved this season. Nikita Kucherov led the league in scoring. Tampa Bay played much better down the stretch than Florida. Look for that momentum to carry the Lightning - at least in this Game 1 home matchup. Florida is just 3-6-1 in its last 10 games, averaging only 2.1 goals during the final month of the regular season. The Panthers battled injuries and lethargy. Maybe they can light up the go switch and turn things around. But I don't see that happening here.
04-21-25	Oilers v. Kings -121	Top	5-6	Win	100	22 h 49 m	Show
This season is different starting with this Game 1. The Oilers have eliminated the Kings in the playoffs each of the last three years. Not this time. The Kings are playing better than the Oilers. They are the healthier team, have home ice where they went an NHL-best 31-6-4 and have more confidence, size, experience and depth than in the past. Since Drew Doughty returned from a broken ankle, the Kings have gone 21-9-3. That's 13 points more than the Oilers earned during this time span. The Kings should get much better playoff goaltending, too, from Darcy Kuemper. He might be the second-best goalie in the league, finishing tied for first in goals against average and third in save percentage. Cam Talbot collapsed in net for the Kings during last season's playoffs against the Oilers. I don't see that happening with Kuemper. Edmonton's feared power play, the best in hockey two seasons ago, didn't even rate in the top 10 this season. The Oilers ranked just 11th in scoring. The Kings were the No. 3 defensive team. The Oilers will have back their superstars, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but won't have their top defenseman, injured Mattias Ekholm. The Kings beat the Oilers in three of the four regular season meetings, including two games this month by a combined 8-0 score.
04-19-25	Avalanche -131 v. Stars		5-1	Win	100	11 h 13 m	Show
There's been a huge move to the Avalanche and I have to join the crowd on this one. It's been quite a while since I've seen a good team enter the Stanley Cup playoffs on such a low note. But that's the case with the Stars, who enter this game having lost seven in a row. Dallas has allowed an average of 4.8 goals a game during this span. Making matters worse for Dallas is it just lost second-leading scorer Jason Robertson after he suffered an injury in the Stars' meaningless final game against the Predators. Remember, the Stars remain without their top defenseman, Miro Heiskanen.
04-16-25	Golden Knights v. Canucks +101		4-1	Loss	-100	12 h 6 m	Show
The Golden Knights would rather not play this game. After all, there is no reason. They already have clinched the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Las Vegas played a shootout game last night, losing to the Flames in Calgary, 5-4. The Golden Knights are not excited traveling to Vancouver now for this meaningless game. They likely will be resting key players. Vancouver has won three of its last four games. This is the Canucks' final game of the season. They will be the more motivated team, especially being at home.
04-15-25	Kings v. Seattle Kraken +100		6-5	Loss	-100	21 h 59 m	Show
Seattle is 4-2 in its last six games. The Kraken close their season with this home game. They should catch the Kings flat and resting players. That's because the Kings clinched home ice for their first-round playoff series against the Oilers by shutting out the Oilers, 5-0, at Edmonton on Monday night. The Kings now have to fly to Seattle for this game that they have little interest in.
04-12-25	Blues -146 v. Seattle Kraken		3-4	Loss	-146	6 h 15 m	Show
The Blues are in stop-the-pain mode after consecutive away losses to the Oilers and Jets. Now, though, the Blues are stepping down in class facing Seattle. St. Louis is the better team and has a strong history versus the Kraken. The Blues are 8-2 against Seattle, including five consecutive victories. St. Louis is 2-0 versus Seattle this season winning those games by a combined six goals. The spot isn't good for Seattle either. The Kraken just concluded a five-game road trip two days ago.
04-10-25	Jets v. Stars -116	Top	4-0	Loss	-116	13 h 53 m	Show
The biggest choke job during the past five days wasn't Duke against Houston in the NCAA Tournament. It was the Dallas Stars blowing a 5-2 lead at home to Vancouver by giving up three goals during the final minute and losing, 6-5, in overtime this past Tuesday. Never before had an NHL team scored three times during the final minute to pull out a victory. So not only are the Stars playing to regain their pride, but also to keep alive their chances to earn the top spot in the Central Division and Western Conference. Winnipeg holds a four-point lead over the Stars for that honor. Both teams have four regular season games remaining. The Jets can take a loss knowing they need five points to clinch the West's No. 1 spot and conclude with games against the Blackhawks, Oilers and Ducks. If the Stars lose this game, they would have to win their final three games in regulation and hope the Jets lose their three remaining games in regulation. That's not going to realistically happen. It is a must-win spot for Dallas and the oddsmaker has made the Stars the favorite. I agree. The Stars beat the Jets by two goals when they hosted them earlier this season. Backup goalie Case DeSmith was in net for Dallas against Vancouver. Starter Jake Oettinger is the better goalie and he's projected to be in goal here.
04-07-25	Oilers v. Ducks +130		2-3	Win	130	7 h 51 m	Show
The Oilers carry a heavy fatigue factor. This marks the end of their four-game, seven-day West Coast trip. Starting goalie Stuart Skinner remains out for Edmonton with a head injury. Backup Calvin Pickard has started Edmonton's last five games. But the Oilers are going to rest Pickard here calling up career minor leaguer, Olivier Rodrigue, to make his NHL start in goal. Rodrigue is fade material. He only had an .899 save percentage with Bakersfield in the AHL this season. Remember, the Oilers remain without Connor McDavid and their other superstar, Leon Draisaitl, missed the team's last game and is doubtful for this one. The Ducks have won five of their last eight home games.
04-03-25	Avalanche v. Blue Jackets +131		7-3	Loss	-100	3 h 1 m	Show
The Blue Jackets are playing better with three victories in their last four games. They are going for a playoff spot and play better at home. But why I really like the home 'dog Blue Jackets is the situation. The Avalanche couldn't leave Chicago until this morning after a late night shootout victory against the Blackhawks. That just increases the fatigue factor for the Avalanche, who not only are playing without rest but also for the sixth time in eight days.
04-01-25	Jets v. Kings -111		1-4	Win	100	12 h 4 m	Show
The Jets have been sailing along with a three-game win streak and being four points ahead of the Stars in the Central Division. Now, though, the Jets head into rough waters. They take to the road for the first time since March 20 drawing the Kings in LA. The Kings have the best home record in the NHL. The Kings have won eight of their last nine home games and should be highly motivated for this challenge, especially trying to catch the Golden Knights in the Pacific Division. Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper is right there with Connor Hellebuyck as the top goalie in the NHL this season.
03-26-25	Bruins v. Ducks -128		2-6	Win	100	7 h 42 m	Show
The kick-the-Bruins-while-they're-down tour continues today in Anaheim. Boston has lost six in a row. The Ducks are on-pace for a 20-point improvement from last season. I'm going to ride the Ducks' improvement and the Bruins' continued spiral descent having dealt away a number of key players. This is the Bruins' fourth straight West Coast game following losses to the Kings by five goals, a two-goal loss to the Sharks and a four goal defeat to Las Vegas. The Ducks have had a few days to stew about a 5-2 home loss to the Hurricanes this past Sunday. They should be the more motivated team, are at home and catching the Bruins in a serious downward trend.
03-20-25	Jets +113 v. Oilers		4-3	Win	113	9 h 25 m	Show
The Jets are an underdog for only the second time since February. Winnipeg is 47-18-4 and has an NHL-best plus 77 point differential. Yet the oddsmaker has installed Edmonton as the favorite because the Oilers are home, riding a three-game win streak and Winnipeg is off a bad loss. Note that the Oilers have built their win streak against Utah, the Rangers and Islanders. It's also worth noticing that Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman and Mattias Ekholm didn't participate in Edmonton's Wednesday practice. So it wouldn't be shocking if any of them missed today's game. Even if all four of these key players are in the lineup, I still like the prideful Jets to bounce back after an embarrassing, 6-2, road loss to the Canucks two days ago. The Jets had won five of their previous six games before that defeat.
03-08-25	Canadiens +122 v. Flames		0-1	Loss	-100	20 h 40 m	Show
Not only have the Canadiens been outstanding following the break, but they catch the Flames in a vulnerable situational spot. Montreal is 5-1 coming off the 4 Nations tournament. The Canadiens' lone loss during this span came to the Oilers on the road in overtime this past Thursday. The Flames just concluded a six-game road trip, their longest of the season, with an overtime loss against the Stars in Dallas this past Thursday. All together, the Flames' flew nearly 7,000 miles on their road swing. This will be their fifth game in eight days. Calgary hasn't played a home game since Feb. 23. Not only could the Flames' concentration be off since they were gone from home for so long, but they carry a high fatigue rating and are having trouble putting the puck in the net. If you discount a six-goal performance versus the defensively-challenged Flyers, the Flames have scored just three goals in their past four games. They have scored three or fewer goals in 11 of their last 12 games. Montreal, by contrast, has scored four or more goals in five of its last six games.
02-24-25	Golden Knights v. Kings -108	Top	2-5	Win	100	21 h 31 m	Show
As good as the Golden Knights are, I don't see them beating the Kings in LA. The Kings have the best home record in the NHL at 18-3-2. The price certainly is low enough to back the Kings. Los Angeles ranks sixth defensively and sixth in penalty killing. Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper is having a big season with a .917 save percentage, 2.22 GAA and a 12.1 goals saved above average. The Golden Knights rank seventh defensively, but are 22nd on the penalty kill. Las Vegas also is without one of its better defensemen as Shea Theodore is week-to-week with an upper body injury suffered during the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. Las Vegas is riding a three-game win streak. Prior to that, though, the Golden Knights had dropped four in a row. Las Vegas also is just 3-6 during its past nine road games.
02-23-25	Avalanche -140 v. Blues		1-3	Loss	-140	4 h 20 m	Show
The Avalanche buried the Blues, 5-0, in the first meeting between the two teams. Colorado has been solid on the road going 17-13 while the Blues have a losing home record. Both teams played on Saturday and lost. The Avalanche outshot Nashville, 32-17, yet still lost, 2-1. Colorado is 4-0 the past four times when playing without rest. I like the Avalanche to bounce back.
02-22-25	Jets v. Blues +110		4-3	Loss	-100	10 h 37 m	Show
Backup Eric Comrie has been confirmed as the starting goalie for Winnipeg. Joel Hofer is probable to start in net for St. Louis. I like the goalie matchup enough for St. Louis that I'm going to back the home underdog Blues. Comrie is journeyman of limited talent. It's a monster drop-off from Connor Hellebuyck to Comrie. Hofer is from Winnipeg. He's going to be extremely motivated. Hofer stopped 22 of 23 shots when the Blues beat the Jets, 4-1, in Winnipeg this past December.
02-22-25	Stars +100 v. Devils		4-2	Win	100	9 h 39 m	Show
The Stars are likely to catch a big break as I don't think Jack Hughes, the Devils' leading points producer, is going to play after his participation in the 4 Nations tournament that didn't conclude until late Thursday night. Dallas has defeated New Jersey in six of the last nine meetings. The Stars also have beaten the Devils four consecutive times on the road. As road chalk, the Stars have won 13 of the past 20 times.
02-22-25	Avalanche v. Predators +118		1-2	Win	118	9 h 38 m	Show
I'm backing the home underdog Predators in the belief the Avalanche will be resting their two major stars, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. Those two played in the 4 Nations tournament and would only have one day of rest before having to suit up again. Colorado plays at St. Louis on Sunday. So it makes more sense to rest MacKinnon and Makar on Saturday.
02-08-25	Maple Leafs v. Canucks +125	Top	1-2	Win	125	17 h 6 m	Show
Goalie Thatcher Demko is looking like his old self. That's great news for Vancouver. Demko has given up only five goals in his last four starts. Vancouver has yielded two or fewer goals during regulation in six of its last seven games. The Canucks are 5-1-1 during this span. Yet the Canucks find themselves home underdogs to Toronto. I get it. The Maple Leafs have the better record and are 3-0 on their current road trip with victories against the Kraken, Flames and Oilers. This is the finale of their four-game road swing. Vancouver, though, beat the Maple Leafs, 3-0, at Toronto on Jan. 11. The Canucks also defeated the Maple Leafs at home last season. The Canucks are off an ugly road win against the Sharks from Thursday. They should play much better here. The Maple Leafs are fat and happy. This marks their third road game in five days. I don't see them sweeping their road trip.
01-29-25	Penguins v. Utah Hockey Club -134		3-2	Loss	-134	19 h 51 m	Show
Not only are the Penguins just 8-14-5 on the road, they've only scored one goal in four of their last five games. If the Penguins aren't scoring goals, they're doomed because they rank 32nd defensively giving up 3.6 goals a game. The Penguins are struggling as they conclude their seven-game, two-week road trip with this game against Utah. This marks Pittsburgh's fourth game in seven days, all at different arenas. The Penguins have lost their last three games by an 11-to-3 margin falling to the Sharks, Kraken and Ducks. Pittsburgh is 3-11 in its last 14 overall games. Making this even more of a road challenge for the tired Penguins is this game is being played at an elevation of 4,265 feet, which is around 3,500 feet more than what the Penguins are used to in Pittsburgh. Utah has had two full days of rest to get ready for this home matchup after losing its past two games at Ottawa and at Winnipeg. Utah ranks 16th defensively, 16 spots higher than Pittsburgh. Utah also has won its past two home games, beating the Jets and Blues.
01-23-25	Sabres v. Flames -120	Top	2-5	Win	100	14 h 6 m	Show
The Kings and Jets are the only Western Conference teams with fewer home losses than Calgary. The Flames are 14-6-3 at home this season. They last played on Saturday and have had a couple of strong practices in anticipation of this matchup. Buffalo, by contrast, is playing its third road game in four days. The Sabres are giving up 4.2 goals per game in their last five games. Calgary has allowed two or fewer goals in five of its last six games. The Flames are the superior team, are home and have a far better situational edge going. The price is low enough to back them.
01-04-25	Predators v. Flames -111		4-1	Loss	-111	5 h 55 m	Show
This is a good price to get the Flames at home where they play much better. Calgary is 13-5-3 at home compared to 5-8-4 on the road. Nashville is playing without rest after shutting out the Canucks, 3-0, at Vancouver last night. Juuse Saros was in net for the Predators in that one so backup goalie Justus Annunen is expected to be in goal tonight. The Predators lost, 5-3, to the Wild on the road in Annunen's last start five days ago. The Flames won't lack motivation after a 5-3 home loss to Utah two days ago.
01-01-25	Devils v. Kings +107		0-3	Win	107	7 h 45 m	Show
This is the lone New Year's Day hockey game and it is worthy of an investment because of the price and good situational spot for the Kings. Los Angeles is an impressive 12-2-1 at home. The Kings have been in LA the past few days. They are rested having last been in action three days ago. The Devils, on the other hand, are playing for the fourth time in six days. They lost to the Ducks last night in Anaheim. Now they have to play again today, perhaps not fully adjusted to West Coast time. This game also starts earlier than normal Kings' home games. The Kings won't lack motivation. They lost to the Devils, 3-1, on the road on Dec. 12. That halted their six-game win streak. Now the Kings get the tired Devils on their home ice.
12-22-24	Kings v. Capitals -149		1-3	Win	100	6 h 50 m	Show
Have to fade the Kings, who are playing their seventh road game in 12 days. This is the last game of the Kings' long road trip. It's LA's third game in four days and second in two days after losing in overtime to the Predators in Nashville on Saturday. This is a day time start, too, which doesn't help the Kings' fatigue factor. The Capitals are 10-4-2 at home and have a better record than the Kings.
12-03-24	Islanders -132 v. Canadiens	Top	1-2	Loss	-132	14 h 10 m	Show
The Islanders are the better team and this spot sets up well for them. New York last played this past Saturday, shutting out Buffalo, 3-0. Montreal will be playing for the third time in four days. The Canadiens are the worst defensive team in the NHL giving up an average of 3.8 goals a game. They also are the third most penalized team in the league, while the Islanders have drawn the fewest penalty minutes. The Islanders have a huge edge in net, too, with Ilya Sorokin, who has a 2.52 GAA and a .915 save percentage.
11-30-24	Flyers v. Blues -127		3-2	Loss	-127	2 h 58 m	Show
The Blues are 2-0 since Jim Montgomery took over as head coach. The Blues scored 3-0 and 5-2 road victories against the Devils and Rangers in this span. Now the Blues come home and their fans are sure to be fired up. The visiting Flyers are in a letdown spot after upsetting the Rangers at home on Friday. It's also the Flyers' fourth game in six days.
11-27-24	Jets v. Kings -105	Top	1-4	Win	100	3 h 58 m	Show
The Jets have cooled off going a mediocre 3-3 in their last half dozen games. This marks Winnipeg's fourth road game in six days so the Jets face a fatigue factor. The Kings are out for redemption after an embarrassing, 7-2, road loss to the Sharks two days ago. The Kings were huge favorites in that game. Before that defeat, the Kings had given up only four goals in their previous four games. Note, too, that teams are 5-1 following a loss to the Sharks this season.
11-21-24	Utah Hockey Club v. Bruins -134		0-1	Win	100	1 h 29 m	Show
The Bruins have gotten low enough where I feel comfortable backing them in their first game since Jim Montgomery was fired and popular Joe Sacco was named interim coach. Money poured in on Utah because Boston is going with Joonas Korpisalo in net instead of Jeremy Swayman. Korpisalo, though, actually has the better numbers with a 2.74 GAA compared to Swayman's 3.47 GAA. Utah is a mediocre team and is 1-3 in its past four games.
10-15-24	Panthers v. Blue Jackets +138	Top	4-3	Loss	-100	7 h 30 m	Show
This isn't an ordinary home opener for the Blue Jackets. The team and fans are going to honor the lives of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who were tragically killed by a drunk driver. It's going to be highly emotional - and I want Columbus going for me in this spot. The defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers just nipped the Bruins, 4-3, in Boston on Monday. So it's a back-to-back situation for Florida. Sergei Bobrovsky was in net against the Bruins. That means the Blue Jackets will see backup goalie Spencer Knight. The Blue Jackets catch another break in that Matthew Tkachuk is ill and won't play for Florida. The Blue Jackets showed they are capable of pulling upsets as they defeated the Avalanche in Colorado, 6-4, this past Saturday in their last game.
06-21-24	Panthers +101 v. Oilers		1-5	Loss	-100	10 h 26 m	Show
The Oilers are the flashier team and of course they have Connor McDavid. Credit to them for not giving up after the Panther won the first three games of this Stanley Cup Final. But I don't see Florida losing three in a row to Edmonton. The Panthers are the strongest road team in the NHL with a 33-13-5 record. They have won 70 percent of their away games during the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Oilers have drawn 11 penalties in the last two games. Sergei Bobrovsky has cooled off in net. Look for the well-coached Panthers to curb their penalties and for Bobrovsky to regain his earlier elite form. That will prove enough for the Panthers to get out of Edmonton with the series-clinching winner.
06-13-24	Panthers v. Oilers -131		4-3	Loss	-131	9 h 44 m	Show
The bad news for the Oilers is they are down 2-0 in their Stanley Cup Final against Florida. The good news is they finally get to play in Edmonton and 11 of the past 14 Stanley Cup finalists who trailed 2-0 in a series won Game 3. The Oilers have played better than the final scores in the first two games indicate. Sergei Bobrovsky has been a difference-maker in goal for the Panthers. He can't play better, only worse and now he's on the road. Edmonton is 0-for-7 in power play opportunities in the series. I don't see that continuing. I regard the Oilers' power play as the most deadly in hockey. The situational factor is more than just Edmonton getting to play at home. The Oilers have been in Edmonton for the past two days while the Panthers' flight was delayed three hours by storms. They didn't arrive in Edmonton until this morning. That's not ideal traveling.
06-10-24	Oilers +121 v. Panthers	Top	1-4	Loss	-100	10 h 46 m	Show
I get that Sergei Bobrovsky is a problem for Edmonton, a serious problem. He's an outstanding goalie and he's hot having given up two or fewer goals in 11 of his last 12 games. But I want the Oilers at an underdog price going for me in this Game 2. Yes, the Panthers and Bobrovsky shut out the Oilers, 3-0, in Game 1. But there are takeaways from that game that have me believing the Oilers are an excellent value here. Edmonton outshot Florida, 32-17. That's not a surprise since the Oilers led the NHL in shots on goal. However, the Oilers showed they were the faster skating team and dangerous on the attack where the Panthers are more counter punchers. The Oilers had breakaway chances and opportunities in the slot. Florida caught a lot of luck in that game. The Oilers also have the stars in Connor McDavid, Leon Draisitl and Zach Hyman. I don't see them coming away empty for a second straight game.
06-08-24	Oilers v. Panthers -138		0-3	Win	100	10 h 22 m	Show
The Oilers lack the Panthers' Stanley Cup Championship Series experience. The Panthers have the superior goaltending with Sergei Bobrovsky and are the better 5-on-5 team. They've gone against stronger goaltending in the playoffs, too. Home ice can't be discounted either with the Panthers' getting the last line change. The Oilers only were 21-20 on the road during the regular season. I don't trust them for this opening game of the finals being the road team.
06-01-24	Rangers +150 v. Panthers		1-2	Loss	-100	9 h 19 m	Show
So far in the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Rangers beat the Capitals twice on the road and also defeated the Hurricanes two times on the road. They defeated the Panthers earlier this series in Florida and certainly are capable of doing it again. The Rangers are 5-2 in playoff road games. They are resilient and due to break out of a 1-for-14 power play slump having ranked third in the NHL in power play percentage. Florida actually had a better road mark than home record during the regular season. Each of the last four games in this series has been decided by one goal, with three games going into overtime. So at this plus price, I'm going to back the Rangers.
05-31-24	Oilers +113 v. Stars		3-1	Win	113	10 h 8 m	Show
This Western Conference Stanley Cup Finals is tied 2-2 with the teams now playing in Dallas. But I'm convinced the Oilers are the better team. I backed them in Game 4 and they came through scoring five unanswered goals in a 5-2 home victory two days ago. I'm riding with the Oilers as an underdog for this Game 5. Edmonton is 5-3 on the road in the Stanley Cup with all of the losses being extremely close. The Oilers have dominated shots on goal in this series and I give them a big edge on special teams. Edmonton hasn't surrendered a power play goal in its last eight games and has a deadly power play. Then there's the matter of Dallas defenseman Chris Tanev. He suffered a foot injury in Game 4 and could be out.
05-29-24	Stars v. Oilers -128	Top	2-5	Win	100	22 h 51 m	Show
The Oilers have been down this road before. They trailed the Canucks, 2-1, in their previous Stanley Cup playoff series. Edmonton won that crucial Game 4. The Oilers also won Game 4 in their opening-round series against the Kings. I like the Oilers to even the series with a home victory here against the Stars, down 2-1 in the best-of-seven series following a 5-3 home loss to Dallas this past Monday. Edmonton has taken more shots on goal than Dallas in each game of the series. The Oilers have the deadlier power-play and Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evander Kane are past due for big performances. They've combined for just one goal in the series after combining for 83 goals during the regular season. I respect the Stars' ability to win on the road. The Oilers, though, are averaging 4.75 goals during their past eight home games. Their defense is better than it showed in Game 3 when they allowed five goals, one on an empty-netter, after giving up a 2-0 first period lead. Edmonton had allowed just eight goals in their previous four games, an average of two per game during that span.
05-03-24	Stars -108 v. Golden Knights		0-2	Loss	-108	11 h 16 m	Show
Dallas finished with the best record in the Western Conference and the Stars have taken over this series against Las Vegas winning three in a row. The defending Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights are on the verge of elimination now. I don't see them getting up to make the count. Las Vegas hasn't been able to get its attack in gear. The Golden Knights are going against a hot Jake Oettinger and haven't scored more than two goals in any of the last three games. The Stars had a season-best 26-10-5 road mark. They look fresher and more confident than Las Vegas.
05-02-24	Bruins +100 v. Maple Leafs		1-2	Loss	-100	11 h 50 m	Show
Credit Toronto with a gutty, 2-1, road win against the Bruins in Game 5 to stay alive in their Stanley Cup series. But do you trust the Maple Leafs to follow up that victory with a home win? I don't. Toronto is 1-5 in its last six home games, including 0-2 during this series. The Maple Leafs were 1-5 at home in Stanley Cup action last season. The Bruins didn't play up to their standards in Game 5 yet still almost won. The Maple Leafs are averaging only 1.8 goals a game during the series and could be minus Auston Matthews, the NHL's leading goal scorer. He's questionable due to illness.
04-25-24	Panthers v. Lightning -105		5-3	Loss	-105	9 h 37 m	Show
After a pair of one-goal road losses to the Panthers, the price is right to back the Lightning at home for Game 3 of their Stanley Cup Series. The frustrated Lightning probably should have won Tuesday's Game 2, but were defeated in overtime. Florida lost second-line center Sam Bennett in its Game 2 victory. Tampa Bay is 25-11-4-1 on home ice. The Lightning have the top power play unit in the NHL. It's hard to imagine Sergei Bobrovsky being as good in net as he was in Game 2 when he was absolutely spectacular for Florida.
04-24-24	Bruins v. Maple Leafs -107		4-2	Loss	-107	8 h 17 m	Show
Normally I don't care to back the Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup playoffs given their sad postseason history. But this is a good spot for Toronto. The Maple Leafs' confidence is up after they evening the series at 1-1 with a 3-2 victory against the Bruins this past Monday. That victory also snapped an eight-game losing streak to Boston. Now the Maple Leafs are at home. They could get William Nylander back. That would be huge. Nylander, second on the team in goals and points, has missed the first two games because of injury. The Bruins are down a defenseman in their rotation with Andrew Peeke suffering an injury.
04-21-24	Predators +129 v. Canucks		2-4	Loss	-100	10 h 51 m	Show
There's a lot of built-in pressure on the Canucks hosting their first Stanley Cup game in nine years. I believe the Predators - an excellent road team at 24-14-3 - can steal this first one in Vancouver. I have a lot of faith and respect for forward Filip Forsberg, defenseman Roman Josi and goalie Juuse Saros, all of whom rank among the best at their respective positions. Vancouver did sweep Nashville, 3-0, during the regular season. However, all three of those victories came before Christmas. The Predators became a much stronger team during the second half of the season.
04-21-24	Avalanche v. Jets -104		6-7	Win	100	7 h 53 m	Show
The oddsmaker is giving Colorado too much respect with this line. The Avalanche is a much better home than road team. Winnipeg is a blazing 8-0 in its last eight games. This includes a 7-0 road win against the Avalanche just eight days ago. That victory also meant a season sweep against Colorado for Winnipeg. The Avalanche enter Stanley Cup play with a losing record during their last 11 games. I don't see the Avalanche having a big scoring game on the road against the Jets, who tied the Panthers for fewest goals allowed during the regular season at 2.4 per game.
04-20-24	Maple Leafs v. Bruins -120		1-5	Win	100	10 h 59 m	Show
Boston owned Toronto during the regular season winning all four games, including capturing the last two meetings by three goals apiece in each game. Toronto has a sad playoff history and enters this opening game matchup on a four-game losing streak giving up 22 goals during this span. Defense always is a key especially in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Bruins ranked sixth defensively. They held Toronto to one goal each during the previous two meetings. The Maple Leafs were 21st defensive and 23rd on the penalty kill.
04-18-24	Blackhawks +312 v. Kings		4-5	Loss	-100	12 h 47 m	Show
At this price, I'm going to take a shot on the Blackhawks. The Kings have clinched a playoff berth. So they could be resting players to get ready for the Stanley Cup. The Kings still could clinch third place in the Pacific Division if they win and somehow the visiting heavily underdog Ducks upset the Golden Knights. But even if that were to happen, the Kings would meet the Oilers in the first round. That's not an ideal matchup for the Kings, who have been eliminated in the first round by Edmonton each of the past two seasons. Chicago has lost five in a row. Prior to that, though, the Blackhawks upset the Stars. The Blackhawks also played the Golden Knights tough in Las Vegas during their previous game. Chicago trailed by one goal late in the game before pulling its goalie and losing by two goals when the Golden Knights scored an empty net goal.
04-17-24	Oilers v. Coyotes +156	Top	2-5	Win	156	11 h 23 m	Show
I'm going to accept this price on the home underdog Coyotes, who are likely playing their final game in Arizona. The team is expected to move to Salt Lake City next season. The Coyotes are 4-2 in their last six games. Playing at 5,000-seat Mullett Arena on the Arizona State campus is tough enough for opponents, but it should be especially difficult for the Oilers because of the Coyotes' added motivation. "We want to play our last game with class, with respect and give the best effort that crowd can expect," Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny was quoted as saying. "We want to make sure we are remembered as a group who fought with every last ounce we have in our body." The Oilers have had a wild ride this season. But they have secured home-ice advantage for the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. This is just their second road game in two weeks.
04-08-24	Golden Knights +106 v. Canucks		3-4	Loss	-100	12 h 28 m	Show
Vancouver is leading the Pacific Division. But the Canucks have been struggling since losing their top goalie, Thatcher Demko, to a lower body injury. The Canucks are 2-4 in their last six games and 5-6 in their past 11 games. None of the victories during this span have been against a playoff team. The Golden Knights are the best team the Canucks have played in this time frame. Las Vegas is going to be highly motivated after shockingly blowing a 4-1 lead to Arizona in a stunning, 7-4, road loss to the Coyotes this past Friday. The Golden Knights had the weekend to stew about that defeat. That loss snapped a three-game Golden Knights' win streak. Las Vegas is 6-2 in its last eight games. The Golden Knights will get a boost, too, with Tomas Hertl in the lineup for the first time since he was acquired from the Sharks a month ago. He had been out with a knee injury. Las Vegas has scored four or more goals in four of its last five games. The Canucks have allowed 13 goals in their last three games. There's a huge drop-off from Thatcher to backups Casey DeSmith or Arturs Silovs.
04-03-24	Canucks v. Coyotes +130		2-1	Loss	-100	9 h 28 m	Show
The Coyotes have a winning record at Mullett Arena. They've won five of their last seven home games. Vancouver is not in good form. The Canucks have lost three of their last four games, including a bad, 6-3, road loss to the Golden Knights last night. Third-string goalie Arturs Silovs is expected to be in net for the Canucks today. This would only be his second NHL start of the season. Arizona has scored 19 goals in its last three games.
03-26-24	Golden Knights v. Predators -139	Top	4-5	Win	100	20 h 42 m	Show
Nashville is a blistering 15-2 in its last 17 games with five consecutive victories. The Predators are riding a franchise-record 17-game point streak. The Predators are home and have had ample rest and preparation time. Their last game was this past Saturday in Nashville. Las Vegas has won three in a row, but played bad offenses during this stretch and have a high fatigue rating. The Golden Knights also could be starting third-string goalie Jiri Patera. This is the Golden Knights' fourth game in six days and second in two nights. Their three straight victories have been against the Blues (26th in scoring), Blue Jackets (31st in scoring) and Kraken (29th in scoring). The last time Las Vegas played a strong offensive team was four games ago in a 5-3 home loss to the Lightning. The Golden Knights just got through nipping the Blues on the road, 2-1, in overtime Monday night. Logan Thompson was outstanding in goal for Las Vegas. Las Vegas, though, brought up Patera this past Sunday with the expectation that he likely would be in net for this game since Thompson played last night and Adin Hill was injured this past Saturday. Patera has by far the highest goals against average of Las Vegas' three goalies at 3.75. Patera has made five appearances this season and has a 1-3 record. The Predators rank 12th in scoring and have allowed only five goals during their past five games.
03-25-24	Golden Knights v. Blues +134		2-1	Loss	-100	4 h 3 m	Show
The home 'dog Blues are not getting enough respect here. All the Blues have done is go 6-1 in their last seven games with the only loss during this span coming to the Avalanche by one goal. St. Louis has scored at least three goals in each of its last seven games. The Golden Knights' defense is down from last season.
03-19-24	Avalanche v. Blues +188		4-3	Loss	-100	3 h 28 m	Show
Colorado is fat and happy having won the first three games of its road trip. This is the Avalanche's final game of that road trip. The Avalanche also are going with backup Justus Annumen in net. The Blues are playing well having won four in a row. They've given up only six goals during this four-game span.
03-08-24	Red Wings -133 v. Coyotes		0-4	Loss	-133	5 h 59 m	Show
This is more than a fair price to back the Red Wings, off an embarrassing nationally televised road loss to the Avalanche two days ago. You couldn't ask for more of a step down spot for Detroit as the Coyotes have dropped 16 of their last 18 games. Arizona is playing without rest and the team is in a transition stage due to trades.
02-14-24	Panthers v. Penguins +118		5-2	Loss	-100	8 h 7 m	Show
Florida is coming on again, playing well. But I'm going to take a plus price to back the Penguins at home in a very important game for them. The Penguins are getting to a crucial stage following consecutive one-goal road losses to the Wild and Jets. They need this game - and they've had three full days to get ready. Pittsburgh is 9-2-3 in its last 14 home games. I trust the Penguins' resolve - at least for now. Florida doesn't figure to be as desperate as Pittsburgh after shutting out the Avalanche, 4-0, in its last game.
02-08-24	Canucks v. Bruins -129		0-4	Win	100	6 h 30 m	Show
No disrespect to the Canucks, who have been playing great hockey. But I want the Bruins going for me after their coach, Jim Montgomery, was highly critical of his team following Boston's 4-1 loss to the Flames coming off break. Prior to that defeat, Boston had gone 7-1 in its last eight games and had only dropped two games all season in regulation to Western Conference opponents. Vancouver wasn't that sharp either in its return from break. But the Canucks got past the Hurricanes, 3-2, on the road despite being outshot.
02-06-24	Avalanche -109 v. Devils		3-5	Loss	-109	3 h 47 m	Show
The Avalanche are the No. 1 scoring team in the NHL. They were held to just one goal by the Rangers last night coming off break. Colorado got the rust off with that game. The Devils, though, haven't played in 10 days. They ranked 27th defensively. New Jersey also has a losing home record.
01-31-24	Senators v. Red Wings -106		3-2	Loss	-106	6 h 2 m	Show
This is a huge revenge game for the Red Wings. They lost 5-1 to the Senators on Dec. 9 when Dylan Larkin was injured. The Red Wings haven't forgotten about that. Detroit has been playing much better since then going 9-2-1 this month. Ottawa, by contrast, is 5-7-2 this month. The Red Wings have been idle since Saturday, while the Senators are in action for the fourth time in seven days.
01-29-24	Predators +101 v. Senators		3-4	Loss	-100	9 h 18 m	Show
Nashville is one of the better road teams in the NHL and has a goalie edge with Juuse Saros back in net. Saros was rested in the Predators' last game, a 4-1 loss to the Oilers this past Saturday. Edmonton has won 16 in a row. The Predators held the Oilers to only 21 shots on goal. That was the second-fewest shots Edmonton took all season. Ottawa is just .500 at home. The Senators pulled their goalie, Joonas Korpisalo, in their last game, a 7-2 loss to the Rangers two days ago. The Senators rank third-from-the-bottom in defense and in penalty killing. The Predators have dominated this series going 10-1-3 during the last 14 meetings.
01-26-24	Kings v. Avalanche -140		1-5	Win	100	10 h 6 m	Show
The Kings are becoming a near auto-fade under Todd McLellan as the All-Star break draws near. LA is 2-12 in its last 14 games. The Kings just lost at home as huge favorites to the Sharks and Sabres this past Wednesday blowing a 3-1 lead. I don't see the Kings bouncing back against the Avalanche, winners of 12 of their last 16 games. I see the Kings as a dead team going into break and McLellan perhaps getting fired. Colorado is averaging 4.6 goals a game in its last 11 games. The Kings are averaging just two goals a game during their past five games.
01-21-24	Stars v. Islanders -101		2-3	Win	100	9 h 43 m	Show
The Islanders are home, off a frustrating overtime road loss to the Blackhawks from two days ago and most important now have a new head coach. The Islanders fired Lane Lambert after the loss to the Blackhawks. Patrick Roy will make his New York coaching debut in this game. That's the major part of my handicap - backing the home Islanders in their first game under their new coach. Obviously a strong, motivated effort should be forthcoming from the Islanders. Dallas is the better team, but it's not a great situational spot for the Stars. They are playing without rest and a bit fat and happy after a 6-2 road win against the Devils on Saturday. It's also the Stars' fourth game in six days and fourth straight game at a different arena.
01-20-24	Stars -130 v. Devils		6-2	Win	100	9 h 6 m	Show
I'm looking for a strong bounce back game from Dallas after the Stars lost, 5-1, to the Flyers at home two days ago. That was the Stars' most lopsided defeat since Dec. 9. Dallas is a strong road team - 12-5-2-1 - and the third-highest scoring team in the NHL. New Jersey ranks 28th defensively. The Devils also carry a high fatigue rating. They beat the Blue Jackets, 4-1, in Columbus last night. So they are playing without rest and also for the fourth time in six days.
01-18-24	Predators +135 v. Kings	Top	2-1	Win	135	23 h 60 m	Show
This is a mystifying line. Since when is a team that has lost nine of their last 10 games, carries a high fatigue rating and is in a terrible situational spot a mid-sized favorite against an above .500 quality opponent? I can't say never because of this line where the Kings are fairly strong favorites against Nashville. So I'll gladly take this plus price with the road underdog Predators. Los Angeles is 1-9 in its last 10 games. The Kings just completed a rough six-game, 10-day trip that concluded in Dallas where they got crushed, 5-1, by the Stars this past Tuesday night. That was a horrible spot for the Kings. This one isn't any better. It's LA's third game in four days - all at different arenas - and fourth game in six days. The Kings just returned home on Wednesday after being gone for the past 10 days. So their focus and concentration could be off given the traveling circumstances and reuniting with their families. Nashville has a winning road record. The Kings are just a .500 team at home. The Predators will be rested and ready having last played on Monday against the Golden Knights. That was a day game in nearby Las Vegas - just an hour flight from Los Angeles. The Predators lost to Las Vegas, but they had won their two previous games. This included an impressive, 6-3, upset road win against the Stars in Dallas this past Friday.
01-15-24	Predators +105 v. Golden Knights		1-4	Loss	-100	6 h 47 m	Show
Losers of eight of their last 11 games and thin at center without injured leading scorer Jack Eichel, the Golden Knights can not be favored. Certainly not here against Nashville. The Predators are 5-2 in their last seven games. They are 6-1 in their last seven road games and have scored 3 or more goals in each of their last eight games. The Golden Knights are averaging only 1.7 goals in their last nine games.
01-05-24	Hurricanes v. Capitals +152		6-2	Loss	-100	9 h 31 m	Show
Carolina is riding a four-game winning streak. But I'm going to step in against the Hurricanes based on the spot. This is the Hurricanes' final game of a three-game road swing in which they secured victories against the Rangers in an underdog role and Maple Leafs. Carolina returns home following this matchup only to meet the Blues there for a Saturday game. Carolina has a right to feel fat and happy, while also anxious to get home for the first time in a week. The Capitals are in a more desperate state, having lost five of their past six games. This includes a 6-3 loss to the Devils in the first of a five-game homestand two days ago. Washington had upset the Penguins on the road in its previous game. The Capitals also beat Carolina on the road in the team's lone meeting this season.
01-04-24	Flames +105 v. Predators		6-3	Win	105	8 h 16 m	Show
I'm going to ride Calgary, which is 5-2 in its last seven games and getting excellent net play from Jacob Markstrom, who has a .936 save percentage in his last six games. The Flames have given up two or fewer goals in five of their last seven games. Nashville is 2-3 in its past five games. The Predators have permitted five goals in four of their last nine games. They've been without defenseman Tyson Barrie during their past four games.
12-27-23	Panthers v. Lightning +100	Top	3-2	Loss	-100	8 h 17 m	Show
Tampa Bay has been inconsistent, but coming out of the Christmas break this is a good spot for the Lightning. The price is right to back them. Tampa Bay has been better at home and Andrei Vasilevskiy is coming around to his superstar form in his return from back surgery. The Lightning have won four consecutive home games, including defeating Dallas and Las Vegas. Tampa Bay is on a three-game win streak after edging the Capitals on the road this past Saturday and has won four of its last five overall games. Vasilevskiy is playing much better. He's 7-2 with a .925 save percentage in his last nine games. The Lightning are a top-10 scoring team and have an elite goalie. Florida ranks 24th in scoring. The Panthers are off a highly-satisfying, 4-2, victory against the Golden Knights this past Saturday. The game was played in Sunrise, Fla. The Golden Knights had defeated the Panthers in the Stanley Cup finals. Before that victory, though, the Panthers had lost four of their previous five games.
12-22-23	Oilers v. Rangers -145		4-3	Loss	-145	20 h 8 m	Show
The Rangers are hot and in an excellent situational spot here. New York is riding a three-game winning streak, including scoring impressive consecutive road victories against the Maple Leafs and Bruins. New York last played on Tuesday. So the Rangers have had ample time to get home and be ready for this matchup. Edmonton beat the Devils on the road, 6-3, Thursday night. This will be the Oilers' third game in four nights and second in two days. The Oilers are potent offensively, but have holes defensively. They are giving up an average of 4.5 goals in their last four games. The Oilers rank 26th defensively compared to the Rangers, who allow the eighth-fewest goals per game.
12-19-23	Golden Knights v. Hurricanes -128		3-6	Win	100	7 h 13 m	Show
This is a circle-the-wagons game for the Hurricanes. They've been pointing to this marquee matchup and I believe they get it done. Carolina has dropped the first two games of its homestand losing in a shootout and in overtime. Both of Las Vegas' goalies, Adin Hill and Logan Thompson, are nursing injuries. This also is the Golden Knights' first road game in 10 days.
12-16-23	Canucks v. Wild -107		1-2	Win	100	12 h 33 m	Show
Vancouver is playing well with four wins in a row. However, those were all at home. The Canucks haven't played a road game in two weeks. This is only their second away game since Nov. 25. It's a tough situational spot for the Canucks. They just played Thursday night and had to make the long trip to Minnesota. They are not helped by the early start time here. Minnesota also is playing well with two consecutive victories. The Wild has really tightened their defense since the coaching change, giving up two goals or fewer in seven of their last eight games. The Wild also have short revenge for a 2-0 road loss to Vancouver nine days ago.
12-15-23	Predators +151 v. Hurricanes	Top	6-5	Win	151	19 h 1 m	Show
These teams are closely matched. Nashville is the better defensive team. But Carolina is a solid favorite because of being the home team. Yet that home ice is negated by this being just a brutal spot for the Hurricanes. It's Carolina's first game back from a six-game road trip that consisted of around 6,000 miles and culminated with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against the Red Wings on Thursday night. The Hurricanes get no rest. They haven't been home in nearly two weeks and immediately have to play this game against the rested Predators, who last were in action three days ago. It's also Carolina's third game in four days. The Hurricanes come back fat and happy, too, having closed their road swing with consecutive victories. The Predators are going to have fresh legs and be fully prepared. The same can't be said for Carolina. The Hurricanes carry a high fatigue rating plus their concentration is likely to be altered arriving home early in the morning and trying to catch up on personal things having been gone for nearly two weeks. Nashville is playing well also, winning five of its last six games. The Predators are 4-1, too, during their past five away contests. Expect Juuse Saros to be in net. The Predators have won nine of Saros' last 10 starts, including the past five.
12-07-23	Stars -135 v. Capitals		5-4	Win	100	10 h 13 m	Show
When you have to count on Tom Wilson to do most of your goal-scoring your offense is in trouble. That's what's going on with the Capitals, who rank second-to-last in goals scored at 2.2 per game. Wilson, more goon/enforcer than scorer, has produced four of Washington's last six goals. I don't like this situational spot for Washington either. This is the Capitals' first home since Nov. 24. They just concluded a five-game road trip that finished with a 4-1 loss to Las Vegas this past Saturday and a 6-0 defeat to Arizona this past Monday. Washington's concentration could be off having been gone from home for so long. The spot also sets up well for Dallas. The Stars are off a poorly-played 5-4 road loss to Florida. The Stars had lost to Tampa Bay in their previous game. You have to go all the way back to last February to find the last time the Stars lost three straight games.
12-06-23	Golden Knights -158 v. Blues	Top	6-3	Win	100	10 h 36 m	Show
I want the defending Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights in this short revenge spot. St. Louis nipped the Golden Knights, 2-1, in overtime at Las Vegas on Monday. Las Vegas had a number of good looks, but were thwarted by Jordan Binnington's excellent goaltending. I know the Golden Knights will play strong defense here. They've allowed three goals in regulation during the last three games and haven't given up more than two goals a game in six of their past seven games. I can't say the same for the Blues and Binnington. Both are extremely inconsistent. St. Louis had allowed an average of 4.3 goals in its previous six games before Monday's narrow victory.
11-14-23	Lightning -125 v. Blues		0-5	Loss	-125	8 h 40 m	Show
The Blues are 4-1 in their last five games. They stunned Colorado, 8-2, on the road in their last game this past Saturday. Tampa Bay lost its last two games, both at home to the Blackhawks and to the Hurricanes in their last game four days ago. Yet the Lightning are a solid road favorite here. The oddsmaker is telling you Tampa Bay is the better team. I agree. The Blues have been playing above their heads. Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper is really stressing the importance of this road matchup following two straight home defeats. The Lightning didn't have star scorer Nikita Kucherov against Carolina. Kucherov was ill, but he returned to practice yesterday and is expected to play.
11-13-23	Islanders v. Oilers -152		1-4	Win	100	7 h 11 m	Show
The Oilers are off to a slow start this season after leading the NHL in goals last season. I see things starting to turn around for them after they beat the Kraken, 4-1, in their last game this past Saturday and now have made a coaching change to Kris Knoblauch. Connor McDavid is off to a slow start, too. But being reunited with Knoblauch, his old coach, should ignite him. The Oilers draw the struggling Islanders, who have lost four in a row and could be on the verge of making their own coaching change. The Islanders have scored the third-fewest goals in the league. The spot and opponent set up well here for Edmonton.
11-04-23	Canadiens +104 v. Blues		3-6	Loss	-100	9 h 53 m	Show
The Canadiens are improved this season. They are 4-3 in their last seven games with two of those losses during this span occurring by one goal. The Canadiens catch the Blues playing without rest after St. Louis upset the Devils, 4-1, last night. St. Louis is 0-6 when playing on zero rest. The Blues are expected to go with backup Joel Hofer in net.
10-30-23	Panthers v. Bruins -159		2-3	Win	100	7 h 39 m	Show
The Bruins are off to a great start at 7-0-1. They rank first defensively giving up the fewest goals per game. They also have the No. 1 penalty kill unit. That alone would be enough to back the Bruins. But Boston has had this matchup circled ever since the Panthers pulled a major upset by knocking the Bruins out of the playoffs last season. The Panthers match up well to Boston. But I want the Bruins going for me in this spot.
10-28-23	Golden Knights +103 v. Kings		4-3	Win	103	13 h 13 m	Show
The Kings figure to get the Golden Knights ''A'' game tonight and the situation isn't ideal for them. Las Vegas suffered its first loss of the season blowing a 2-0 lead at home against the Blackhawks on a rare Friday afternoon game. That defeat stopped the Golden Knights' seven-game win streak to open the season. The Kings were in Tempe, Ariz. last night where they quickly fell behind the Coyotes, 4-1. Much to their credit, the Kings rallied for an improbable, 5-4, victory scoring three goals in the final period. That took a lot of effort and grit from the Kings, who had to fly back home in the wee hours of the morning. So Vegas will be the more rested team. The Golden Knights are the far superior defensive team and they will have had more rest. The Kings rank 25th defensively. The Golden Nuggets give up the second-fewest goals per game.
10-26-23	Rangers -125 v. Oilers	Top	3-0	Win	100	22 h 58 m	Show
The Rangers were outstanding on the road last season going 24-9-8 and they've started off well this season winning three of four away contests. I like the Rangers to keep hot on the road against the struggling Oilers. New York stays in the same time zone after defeating Calgary, 3-1, on Tuesday. That was the Rangers' first win at the Saddledome in six years. Now they get the 1-4-1 Oilers, who aren't likely to have Connor McDavid. He suffered an upper-body injury in the Oilers' 3-2 overtime loss to the Jets this past Saturday. McDavid missed the Oilers' last game. That was a 7-4 road loss to the Wild. The Oilers looked clueless without their superstar. Three times the Oilers were whistled for having too many men on the ice. Edmonton might have allowed even more than seven goals if it weren't for goalie Jack Campbell making several spectacular saves. Edmonton ranks second-to-last in scoring defense allowing 4.5 goals per game. The Oilers have a bigger game on deck when they play against rival Calgary in the Heritage Classic outdoors at Commonwealth Stadium on Sunday night. The Oilers are hoping McDavid will be ready for that game. So it's highly unlikely they would rush him into the lineup against the Rangers.
10-22-23	Flames -129 v. Red Wings		2-6	Loss	-129	7 h 60 m	Show
The Red Wings are the home team. But it's Calgary that has been practicing at Detroit's home facility. While the Flames were in Detroit on Saturday, the Red Wings were pulling off an impressive upset against the Senators in Ottawa on Saturday. Detroit doesn't have a good record when playing without rest. The Red Wings have lost 69 percent of the past 62 times in that situation. The Flames have defeated the Red Wings in nine of the last 12 meetings. This is the final game of their five game road trip that has been disappointing so far at 1-3. The Red Wings are expected to start backup James Reimer in net.
10-21-23	Islanders v. Sabres -117		1-3	Win	100	10 h 46 m	Show
Early revenge spot here for Buffalo. The Islanders scored a goal with fewer than seven minutes left to nip the Sabres, 3-2, at home last Saturday. The Sabres have been home since that game. The Islanders emptied the tank trying to beat the Devils at home last night, but fell, 5-4, in overtime. The Islanders have been missing defenseman Scott Mayfield. This is the Islanders' first road game and first game without rest. The Islanders gave up nearly a goal more on the road than at home last season. New York also has lost its last five road games to the Sabres.
10-19-23	Coyotes v. Blues -109		6-2	Loss	-109	10 h 50 m	Show
I like the spot and low lay price for the Blues. St. Louis has been idle since Saturday. Arizona, though, is playing its third road game in four days. The Coyotes have lost 44 of their last 55 away games. The Coyotes are struggling to score and get shots on net. They've managed only one goal in their last two games. They only had 14 shots on goal against the Islanders on Tuesday. Jordan Binnington has looked much improved in goal for St. Louis stopping 63 of 65 shots he's faced this season.
10-17-23	Lightning v. Sabres -108		2-3	Win	100	10 h 44 m	Show
The 0-2 Sabres are due to get their first win. The situation sets up for them here drawing the struggling Lightning, who still could be missing team captain Steve Stamkos. Tampa Bay is playing its third road game in four days. The Sabres have been idle since Saturday. The Lightning are struggling in net without Andrei Vasilevskiy allowing 4.67 goals per game. Tampa Bay's defense hasn't helped its inexperienced goalies, Jonas Johansson and Matt Tomkins. The Lightning have given up the most shots on goal and third-most high-danger scoring chances. The Lightning are off consecutive road defeats to the Red Wings and Senators. The Sabres are better than those two teams.
10-11-23	Avalanche -110 v. Kings	Top	5-2	Win	100	19 h 24 m	Show
Colorado won't have team captain Gabriel Landeskog as he still is recovering from knee surgery. But I like the rest of the makeup of the Avalanche as they begin the season highly motivated after an early playoff exit last season. The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup two seasons ago keyed by elite talents and strong depth. Colorado improved their depth in the off-season and still have superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. They give the Avalanche easily the two best players on the ice in this matchup. Colorado also holds a big edge in net. I don't like any of the Kings' goalies. The Avalanche know how to win on the road, too, going 31-11-2 in away games last season.
10-10-23	Seattle Kraken +149 v. Golden Knights	Top	1-4	Loss	-100	23 h 11 m	Show
It will be a festive opening night of the hockey season for the Las Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. There will be a special ceremony prior to the game raising the Golden Knights' Stanley Cup banner. The Vegas players will enter on a special gold carpet. This pomp is all very nice, but also very distracting. The Golden Knights are playing the wrong opponent for all this pregame hoopla. Seattle is one of the few teams that can come close to matching the Golden Knights' four-line depth. The Kraken are a hard-working team strong on the forecheck. The Kraken beat the Golden Knights in Las Vegas last season and can do it again on Tuesday especially if the Golden Knights get caught up in all the pregame celebrations. The Kraken knocked off the defending Stanley Cup champion Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs last season and then took the Stars to a Game 7 in the next round. They were one win away from meeting the Golden Knights in the Western Conference Finals.
06-10-23	Golden Knights +105 v. Panthers	Top	3-2	Win	105	27 h 41 m	Show
The Cinderella Panthers raced through the East knocking off the Bruins, Maple Leafs and Hurricanes. But the Golden Knights are turning the Panthers' carriage into a pumpkin, exposing Florida for the eighth-place team it was in the Eastern Conference during the regular season. Las Vegas clearly has established itself as the superior team. If it weren't for getting some fortunate breaks in Thursday's Game 3 the Panthers would be down 3-0 in the series. The Panthers being favored in Saturday's Game 4 puts me on the underdog Golden Knights. The Golden Knights are the deeper team able to keep the pressure on Florida without a break having four strong lines. Florida can't match that. Las Vegas also has the better defense, special teams and hasn't made nearly as many mistakes as Florida has. Las Vegas has proven itself on the road, too, winning 15 of its last 21 away games. Las Vegas dominated the first two games, outscoring the Panthers, 12-4. The Panthers needed a late goal after they had pulled their goalie to force overtime in Game 3. The Golden Knights had a 15-8 advantage in scoring chances. Vegas shots hit the crossbar and post. Sergei Bobrovsky had his best game of the series by far for Florida. A metric showed Bobrovsky stopping 1.89 goals above expected. Bobrovsky is better than he showed in the first two games, but it's probably a reach to expect him to produce another ''A'' game. The Panthers, constantly stymied by the Golden Knights' tall and physical defensemen, managed only four shots on goal during the third period in Game 3. The Panthers continue to take stupid penalties. The Golden Knights have made them pay for this scoring on six of 17 power play chances for 35 percent. Florida, on the other hand, has yet to produce a goal in 12 power play opportunities against Las Vegas.
06-08-23	Golden Knights v. Panthers -118	Top	2-3	Win	100	22 h 13 m	Show
Is there a zig/zag in this Stanley Cup Finals with Las Vegas traveling to Florida up 2-0 in the series? Yes. Key signs point to a Panthers' victory. The home team has won 11 of the last 12 in this series. Florida has beaten Las Vegas four of the past five times it has hosted them. The Panthers have won 69 percent of their past 109 home games. Those are strong trends, but it takes more than trends to fully get behind the Panthers, who were dominated in a 7-2 Game 2 loss this past Monday. The Panthers have proven their resilience overcoming a 3-1 series deficit to eliminate the Bruins, the record-setting regular season points leader. Florida could have won Game 1 in Las Vegas. Here's an interesting quote from Florida coach Paul Maurice, ''We feel that our best hockey is still ahead of us. We certainly haven't controlled the game at times, but in the first game we didn't feel it was controlled against us either.'' The Panthers have gotten quality looks and shots on goal. They've been hurt by lack of discipline on the defensive end and Sergei Bobrovsky's mediocre play in net. Bobrovsky was pulled after 27 minutes in Game 2. I expect a strong performance from the prideful Bobrovsky in this Game 3 along with a much cleaner defensive effort from the Panthers, who will get back defenseman Radko Gudas, who missed much of Game 2. Bobrovsky went into this championship series with a collective 18.95 saved goals above expectations. That was the best playoff mark since 2008. Las Vegas has scored four power play goals in 11 chances for a 36.3 percentage. The Golden Knights were below average on power play percentage during the regular season at 20.3 percent. So I'm expecting a reduction there. I'm also expecting the Panthers to produce their ''A'' game.
05-27-23	Stars v. Golden Knights -142	Top	4-2	Loss	-142	22 h 25 m	Show
Down 3-0 against the Golden Knights in their Western Conference Finals series, the Stars went all out at home this past Thursday to stay alive. They fired 42 shots on goal, received an outstanding goalie performance from overdue Jake Oettinger and out-hit the Golden Knights, 46-23. The Stars won - barely. They prevailed in overtime, 3-2. Now the scene shifts back to Las Vegas where I see the Golden Knights ending the series. Teams that have taken a 3-0 lead in the playoffs before the Stanley Cup final round are 47-0. The Golden Knights are 11-1 after scoring two goals or less during their previous game. Dallas is 1-4 in its last five road games and also 1-4 following a victory. The Golden Knights outplayed the Stars in the third period in Game 4. They outshot the Stars, 14-8, in the third period and looked like they were going to win in regulation. So even taking the Stars' best shot, the Golden Knights nearly clinched the series on the road. The Stars can't match the Golden Knights' four-line depth - especially missing suspended team captain Jamie Benn and injured right winger Evgenii Dadonov - nor can they match Las Vegas' solid core of six reliable defensemen. Adin Hill has also outplayed Oettinger in net. Las Vegas is an NHL-leading 6-2 at home during the postseason. Unlike Game 4, the Golden Knights will be in control of the matchups having the final line say being the home team. These many edges are too much for the Stars to overcome.
05-22-23	Hurricanes -102 v. Panthers		0-1	Loss	-102	19 h 32 m	Show
Down 0-2 to the Panthers - with both losses occurring at home and in overtime - it's maybe best for the Hurricanes they go on the road now. Carolina has to be totally focused and unfazed. The Hurricanes have outshot the Panthers, 103-86, and had good scoring looks. But bad luck and unexpected strong goaltending from 34-year-old Sergei Bobrovsky, who hasn't been nearly that good up to this point of the season, has stymied the Hurricanes. I see that changing in this Game 3, however. Florida is on a tremendous roll winning nine of its last 10. But the Panthers haven't been dominant. They are 6-0 in overtime games during this time frame. Despite the two losses in a row, the Hurricanes are 50-24 in their last 74 games. They also are 7-3 during their past 10 visits to the Panthers. I'm not convinced that the Panthers are the superior team. I certainly don't see Florida sweeping. This is Carolina's game to win.
05-20-23	Panthers +137 v. Hurricanes		2-1	Win	137	11 h 47 m	Show
Price and value. That's what this Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals comes down to. Florida has played once in eight days. Carolina has played once in nine days. But the last game these two teams played was this past Thursday night/early Friday morning in Carolina. It went within 12 seconds of going into a fifth overtime. The road underdog Panthers won it. Now there's a huge randomness factor with the teams not just playing only once in more than a week, but how they react to that epic four overtime game. Florida is on house money leading 1-0 in the series. The Hurricanes have to be down both physically and more important emotionally. They have little time to regroup. And the pressure is all on them. I see this game as a toss-up. So getting this nice plus price on the Panthers makes sense. The Panthers have more than proven themselves on the road in the postseason winning seven of eight away playoff games. They are on a seven-game road win streak having defeated the Bruins three consecutive times in Boston and Maple Leafs three times in a row in Toronto entering this series. Florida is 13-3 in its last 16 road contests. The Panthers also have beaten the Hurricanes six of the past eight times.
05-09-23	Hurricanes v. Devils -145		6-1	Loss	-145	8 h 18 m	Show
I'm going to ride the Devils in their Game 4 series matchup hosting the Hurricanes following their 8-4 home win this past Sunday. That win greatly boosted the Devils' confidence after they lost the first two games of the series in Carolina. I'm expecting a strong carryover effect for New Jersey. I'm not sold on any of Carolina's goalies following that Devils' four-goal victory. Frederik Andersen played so poorly in Game 3 he was pulled. Antti Raanta has been sick. He's also been much worse on the road where he's 1-6 the past seven times in net with an .884 save percentage. The Devils were able to establish their speed game at home in Game 3, something they weren't able to do in Carolina when they were too tentative. New Jersey has won eight of its last 10 home games. The Devils also have beaten the Hurricanes seven of the last nine times when hosting them.
05-08-23	Golden Knights +153 v. Oilers		5-1	Win	153	20 h 9 m	Show
The Oilers have one of the great power plays of all-time. They are home now and coming off an impressive 5-1 road victory against the Golden Knights this past Saturday to even this playoff series at 1-1. But I find the underdog Knights an outstanding value play. Las Vegas has proven resilient all season. The Knights are an excellent road team, much deeper than the Oilers and better than the Oilers when the teams are at full strength. Only twice have the Knights lost two consecutive games since the All-Star break. They are 10-2 after giving up five or more goals in their previous game. Las Vegas tied for the second-most road points during the regular season and are 11-3 in its past 14 away games. The Knights have outscored the Oilers, 5-3, in the series when the teams were skating five-on-five. The Oilers can't match Las Vegas' tremendous depth. The Knights are one of the few teams with four strong forward lines and three solid defensive pairings. Edmonton's strength is its tremendous power play unit. The Knights, though, were the least penalized team in the NHL during the regular season. So the Knights have the right antidote to the Oilers' greatest strength.

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Chip Chirimbes	$476
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