Kris Knoblauch is apparently going back to Stuart Skinner in net for the Oilers in tonight's Game 6, a bit risky considering how poorly Skinner was seeing the puck earlier in this series. But the overarching theme of the second round is much like the first round league-wide as scorelines have reduced toward the end of the round, and Edmonton at least kept a tighter defensive shell in front of Cal Pickard the past two games by curbing some of its aggressiveness. We'll see tonight, but it seems here as if Rick Tocchet is dictating the tempo of this series, and Vancouver's ability to shadow Connor McDavid (only 5 points), mostly with JT Miller, has defined this matchup. Play Canucks-Oilers "Under"

As this series has progressed, the Mavs have gradually figured out how to slow the Thunder, whose offense at times seems reduced to SGA going solo and trying to keep OKC in the game by himself. Indeed, save for late in Monday's Game 4, Dallas might have already wrapped up this series. Defense has been surprisingly good for the Mavs, who are also very happy to play the sort of halfcourt game that suits Luka Doncic and his sore legs quite well in mid-May. The emergence of PJ Washington and Derrick Lively as new threats have allowed Jason Kidd's offense to function even with lower usage rates by Luka & Kyrie, and signals this series might be ready to end tonight. Play Mavs

Performance basics are not always very complicated...especially if a team isn't scoring runs. "Unders" then become the default recommendation, and why not when it comes to the A's, whose offense has completely stalled in the past ten days, including six losses in a row. In the last five of those, Oakland has scored only nine runs, prompting us to look "under" at every opportunity. Especially tonight, as KC's Seth Lugo 6-1, 1.66 ERA) has been hard to hit for anyone, much less a slumping foe. Our only issue here is if Ross Stripling and the A's bullpen can keep the Royals in relative check. Play A's-Royals "Under"

Lots of us have been waiting almost two months for the buy signal on the Astros and now that we see it, let's continue to ride it. That's now wins in six straight and eight of nine for Houston after winning the opener of this weekend matchup vs. the Brew Crew last night, and now we get a chance to back Justin Verlander, who looks to have quickly rounded back into form after his last start, a sparkling seven innings of 2-hit, shutout ball at Detroit last Saturday. The Astros have outscored foes 36-11 in this win streak, while the Brews are 1-5 their last six away. Play Astros on Run Line

While we don't expect the Knicks to simply wave the white flag and save their energy for Game 7 the way the Nuggets did last night in Minnesota, there is something to be said for leaving something in reserve. The significant home edge in this series (host has won all five outright) and Indiana now 5-0 at Gainbridge (nee Conseco) Fieldhouse in the playoffs suggests that maybe Tom Thibodeau should save his weary troops for one more big effort at MSG in Game 7. NY is still shorthanded (OG Anunoby already again ruled out, along with Bojan Bogdanovic, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson), and the Pacers will recall being embarrassed on Tuesday when also outrebounded 53-29. We'll respect the home trends here. Play Pacers

This looks like the buy signal we have been waiting for with the Astros, who have surged with wins in five straight and seven of eight as they look to put their abysmal first month in the rear-view mirror. Pitching has excelled in the recent uptick and Hunter Brown is off of arguably his best effort of the season last week at Detroit when allowing only 1 run thru 5 IP, though that would be the only Houston loss in this current stretch. On the Brewers side, note Freddy Peralta has struggled in his last two starts on the road, allowing 8 runs thru 9 2/3 IP. Play Astros on Money Line

It's happening again for the A's, as their offense has once again gone on the blink, and losses are piling up. That's now setbacks in five straight for Oakland after getting swept four in Houston; worse yet, the A's didn't have a chance as they scored only a paltry four runs across the entirety of the series. Perfect opportunity, it would seem, for KC's Cole Ragans to get back on the beam after a difficult outing on Saturday at Anaheim, though remember he had allowed only four runs across 17 1/3 IP in his three previous starts. The Royals have been a bit sluggish themselves since the weekend, so 8.5 looks a rather high bar to clear. Play A's-Roya's "Under"

This has turned into a very taut series featuring solid defense and good goaltending. We actually started to see that in Game 3 until a fluky double-minor in the second period against the Bruins gave the Panthers an effective extended power play in which they scored twice to change the complexion of the game. The following Games 4 and 5 followed more predictable low-scoring paths, and worth noting that Boston hasn't solved Sergei Bobrovsky for more than two goals since Game 1. This Bobrovsky vs. Jeremy Swayman matchup in goal sets up as another 2-1 or 3-2 grinder. Play Panthers-Bruins "Under"

It would certainly help the Boston cause if Brad Marchand (a game-time decision) is available for tonight. But the Bruins have circled the wagons pretty well minus their captain the past couple of games, unfortunate to let a 2-0 lead slip away at home in Game 4 and then passing the gut-check of Game 5 to stay alive on Tuesday night in Sunrise. Jeremy Swayman still proving tough to solve in goal, and the Bruins have been about some drama in the postseason, already going seven games in the opening round vs. the Leafs before advancing in a nervy OT. Will we have another Game 7 to look forward to on Sunday? Play Bruins on Money Line

We saw similar things from the Canucks in the opening round vs. Nashville, when they played at a bit slower pace to build a better defensive fence around backup goalie Arturs Silovs. Fast forward to the second round, and noted much the same from Edmonton in Tuesday's Game 4, as the Oilers were not their usual swashbuckling selves, playing a more cautious game as they tried to help their own backup goalie, Cal Pickard, who delivered a much-needed win. The pace thus seems to have slowed in this series that now features an unlikely pair of goalies who were facing off last spring in the AHL playoffs. Play Oilers-Canucks "Under"

Must acknowledge how the Oilers seemed to circle the wagons around backup goalie Cal Pickard in Game 4 after Stuart Skinner's flameout earlier in this series. Still, even as Edmonton has leveled matters, must note the Canucks have won six of the last eight meetings, and managed to claw their way back even at 2 on Tuesday before Evan Bounchard's very late game winner for the Oilers. Vancouver's own backup goalie, Arturs Silovs, seems to be gaining more confidence as the playoffs have progressed, and still believe Rick Tocchet is squeezing more from his troops than Edmonton counterpart Kris Knoblauch. Play Canucks on Money Line