All I want is overtime. The Avalanche will be obviously desperate down 3-1. I'm assuming one of their key guys will not be suspended for six months as the puck is about to drop tonight as happened in Game 4 to Valeri Nichushkin. Hadn't heard of that before. But blueliner Devon Toews is back after missing that injured. Never would have played Colorado ML in Game 4 had I known those two were out. The big reason I'm gonna try this, though, is Dallas will be without Roope Hintz (30G, 35A in RS). Hintz has two goals and six points in nine playoff contests. I deserve this after the Rangers' third-period fiasco the other night.

True, we didn't see Boston lay down in Game 5 last night at Florida, digging in deep to keep the series alive. Assuming the same for the Avs tonight in Big D, however, might be a bit of a stretch, after that absolute collapse over both Games 3 and 4 at home for Colorado that has put it on the brink of elimination. The Nichushkin suspension compounded matters prior to Monday's 5-1 loss and underlines the plight of the Avs, who have also leaked too much on defense in this series, exposed by the Stars' clinical execution. The margin also risks expanding late if Colorado is trailing and Jared Bednar pulls Alexander Georgiev much sooner than he normally might. Play Stars on Puck Line

Close-out games in the Stanley Cup playoffs sometimes look like what happened to Tampa Bay in Game 5 at Florida, when the Lightning got desperate in the final minutes trying to make up a multi-goal deficit, and the scoreline kept expanding. Colorado looks a candidate for the same tonight as we hardly see the Avs becoming involved in any defensive stalemate after numerous breakdowns in the playoffs in front of Alexander Georgiev. Though muffled in Games 3 and 4 at home and minus key cog Valeri Nuchushkin, Colorado however still retains Nathan MacKinnon and loads of firepower, and with the Stars executing as well as they have in this series, there are lots of ways this game can clear 6.5 goals. Play Avs-Stars "Over"

Rest assured that switching goalies in the middle of this series is not what Kris Knoblauch had in mind on the Edmonton side. But Stuart Skinner has been so subpar in this matchup that Knoblauch pulled him after the 2nd period of Game 3 and tonight goes with little-used backup Cal Pickard at the outset. Pickard kept a clean sheet in the 3rd period on Sunday but Vancouver wasn't putting any pressure on him as they defended with the multi-goal lead (only 7 shots the last two periods). Goalie Arturs Silovs has been heroic in relief for Rick Tocchet's Canucks, who have won 6 of 7 from the Oilers. So, why this big price? Play Canucks on Money Line

I simply don’t see either team scoring 4 goals. Sure, there is always a chance for an empty netter (or two….or three) but I’ll basically play against that. Love the first period under as we have been CRUSHING that bet in the Eastern conference

Sam Bennett continues to haunt the Bruins in a variety of ways in this series, so we'll see if Boston continues to get unnerved by his presence. But the Bruins should have been ahead further than 2-0 in Sunday's Game 4, wasting several golden chances to pad the lead thanks to Sergei Bobrovsky's acrobatics in the Florida goal. And despite the fact the Panthers can wrap up the series tonight, remember the road team is 3-1 in this series. It looks like no Brad Marchand again for Boston, but the Bruins appeared to circle the wagons effectively minus him on Sunday, and Jeremy Swayman remains capable in goal of getting this matchup back to TD Garden. Play Bruins on Money Line

I'm going to chalk Game 3 up as an anomaly. Both goaltenders were very good -- Georgiev allowed two goals (two of Dallas' goals were empty-netters, and Oettenger was simply phenomenal in allowing one. I expect both teams to be better offensively on Monday night. Look for an extreme sense of urgency out of the Avs and the likes of MacKinnon, Rantanen, Makar, and Nichuskin. Colorado may also be welcoming back Jonathan Drouin, who has missed the entire postseason. As usual...SGP will be posted on Twitter.

While this isn't technically an elimination game, the Avs simply cannot afford to lose both home games and fall behind 3-1 in the series. Colorado not only lost in Game 3, but they were thoroughly dominated in doing so. It's hard for me to fathom another lackluster performance from MacKinnon, Rantanen, Makar, and Nichuskin. I love Dallas' team and its depth, but the Avs were the best home team in the NHL this season and I expect that to show on Monday night.

Colorado cannot afford to drop both games at home and head back to Dallas down 3-1, and I expect them to step up and avoid such a fate. The Avs were 31-10 at home in the regular season and are 2-1 in Colorado this postseason. I just think this Avalanche team is too good to go down without a fight, so give me a big Nathan MacKinnon game and a Colorado win this evening.

Dallas is excellent, but it still would be moderately surprising for the Avs to lose back-to-back home playoff games. Nathan MacKinnon (9-12—21 in 18 GP), Mikko Rantanen (6-15—21 in 18 GP) and Cale Makar (2-14—16 in 12 GP) have plenty of experience in games where the Avalanche trailed in a playoff round. And Colorado might get back injured forward Jonathan Drouin tonight. He scored a career-high 56 points in 79 games this season but was hurt in the RS finale. Drouin is a game-time call.

Including the playoffs, Colorado is 33-11 at home. They need. They have McKinnon. This seems like a seven gamer.

Though the Avs were involved in their first "under" of the postseason in Saturday's loss to the Stars at Ball Arena, they had scored a whopping 35 goals across their first seven Stanley Cup games this spring. A bit manic, this Colorado, perhaps explaining the 2-1 deficit it must overcome vs. Dallas, but a good flag-bearer for the "over" trend in the second round that now stands 11-3 into Monday's games. Dallas precision has allowed it to score 12 goals across the first three games of this series, so a return to the higher-scoring trends in Game 4 would be no surprise. Play Stars-Avs "Over"

I understand that both teams in this matchup excel on the defensive end, but this number is still too low in my opinion. Three of the four games in this series have hit 7 total goals, and I've seen no reason to believe that will change on Monday night.

MSG will be rockin for this one, and I'm taking the Rangers to close things out on Monday night. New York took Carolina's best punch in Game 4 and hung tight until the end. The difference in this one is the advantage that comes from playing in the Garden. The Rangers have yet to lose at MSG in the playoffs and I expect that to continue.

This price is obviously stupid, but I can't believe the Rangers are home dogs up 3-1 and unbeaten at MSG in these playoffs. Happily take the +1.5 gift. Our max is two units, so that's the play. You can definitely count on this being part of my new daily Twitter (will never say X) parlay as well Monday, but I'm fine solo. While I'm certainly not ruling out the Canes winning (couldn't care less who wins), I would be quite surprised if it's by multiple goals barring some empty net nonsense and that's obviously the risk. Igor Shesterkin has won eight straight home starts dating to the regular season.