It's set and forget time in this Edmonton-Los Angeles series, I'm betting the over in every game unless it goes to a Game 7. You can find a flat 6 at a reasonable price, so feel free to do that if you'd like to cover a potential push, but after a 7-4 and 5-4 game, I don't see this pace slowing down. This marks the 16th playoff matchup over the past three years for these teams, and nine of the 15 so far have seen 7+ goals, including five straight going for nine or more. Give me the over, and load up some Adrian Kempe props while you're at it, the man seems to be contractually obligated to shoot the puck against Edmonton.

We saw a glimpse of what this series could become with Thatcher Demko out of the net, and it's not pretty for Vancouver. On just 15 shots, Casey DeSmith allowed three goals for a putrid save percentage of .800. Nashville won 4-1 thanks to an empty netter, and now returning home, they seem set to take control of this series. I was a believer in the value on the Preds before this series began, and I'm surprised we're getting such a reasonable price on their moneyline at home on Friday. Count me in.

A team returning home down 0-2 in the series is very much a system play that I have to trust. These Game 3 situations tend to get the group as motivated as they'll ever be to avoid falling into an 0-3 hole. These two teams met last season in the first round. Carolina took the first two games at home, the series went to New York, and the Islanders won Game 3 5-1. I am bumping this down to a .5u play because the way Game 2 ended could just be so demoralizing for the Isles, but I'm expecting a spirited and aggressive effort to make this a series.

I said before this series began that this had all the makings of a six or seven-game showdown, and I stand by that read. Game 2 went to OT, and Game 1 was also a one goal win for Florida. There's few things I like more than backing a team coming home down 2-0 in a series, especially when that team is as talented as the Tampa Bay Lightning. Grab Tampa to win and make this a series.

I'm expecting more of the same here tonight in Edmonton with goals on both ends. The sample size we have between these two teams in the playoffs is so robust at this point, and it's clear this is the type of series to load up on some player props and hop on the over ride. Over 5.5 is 11-3 between these two over the past three postseasons, with one of those unders being a Game 7 that is historically tight league-wide.

News came out today that Vancouver goalie Thatcher Demko, who allowed just two goals in a Game 1 win, is now injured and questionable for the rest of the series. In his absence, we've got to jump on the Predators ML here at plus-money. Nashville was in the lead heading into the third period on Sunday before a pair of quick goals swung the game. The Preds are pushing to even the series, and without Demko, count me in on a Nashville win.

Listen, I'll go small-brained and bet over 6 in a series that saw 13 total goals in their first game. Winnipeg won 7-6, and now six straight games between the Jets and Avalanche have seen 6+ goals and all four this year. The pace on Sunday night was blistering, and with Colorado likely pushing to avoid an 0-2 hole, I'm expecting another fun game.

NHL playoffs are one of those things where when your Game 1 read delivers, there is rarely a reason to not return to it. Such is the case here with Winnipeg, who grabbed an exciting win over the Avs at home on Sunday night. It's the Jets at home that guides us here once again, as Colorado is now 19-23 on the road this season, while Winnipeg is 28-14 in their own barn. The Jets have poured on 14 goals in their past two meetings with the Avs and are 4-0 against them on the year. Give me the home team again on Tuesday.

We stay on theme with "going back to our winning Game 1 bets" with the under in this Caps-Rangers series again. It was a sweat, but ultimately it stayed under Sunday afternoon with New York winning 4-1. Save for a brief explosion in the middle of the second period, goals were not found, and that still projects to be the case between these two. The average total goals scored in five meetings this year is now just 4.6 goals per game.

Dallas is my favorite to come out of the West, and that starts tonight. The Stars have a deep and loaded forward group that should be able to wear down Vegas, and Jake Oettinger has cleaned things up, allowing two or fewer goals in 10 of his past 11 games. I also like the revenge angle here, as the Knights knocked Dallas out last year in the Western Conference Finals. Vegas is just 18-23 on the road this season.

Winnipeg securing home ice over Colorado could prove to be the difference, as the Avs are 31-10 at home and just 19-22 on the road. The Jets just beat Colorado 7-0 last week and are heading into the postseason on an eight-game winning streak. They've beaten the Avs in all three games this season, and goalie Connor Hellebuyck has the potential to carry this Winnipeg team far. I like them to nab the first game on Sunday.

When I look at this Caps-Rangers series, I'm drawn to the goalies as the most likely storyline to dominate each game. Washington's Charlie Lindgren has been awesome down the stretch, and in three games against New York this year, he allowed just four goals. On the other end is Igor Shesterkin, one of the best goalies in hockey. To me, that is all the makings of a low-scoring series, so give me the under here to get us started. Their four games this year averaged 4.5 total goals per game.

I'm expecting a back-and-forth series between Tampa and Florida, and I think that will get started with a high-scoring showdown on Sunday. The past two meetings between them have seen eight and 11 goals, and both sides are having issues staying out of the penalty box lately. Last time they played, both teams handed out seven power play opportunities. Bring on the goals.

One trend of late among teams with nothing to play for seems to be plenty of goals. Calgary and San Jose both have had nothing to play for for quite some time, and it's showing up in their defensive numbers. Over the last month and a half, the Sharks are allowing 4.3 goals per game on the road and the Flames are allowing 3.8 per game at home. This should be a loose game with plenty of shots and scoring, and six of the past nine meetings have gone for 7+ goals. If you'd prefer a prop look, a parlay of Nazem Kadri and Andrei Kuzmenko points seems like the path to take, both have had a ton of success against San Jose.

ICYMI, the Coyotes are relocating to Utah for the start of next season, making tonight their final game in Arizona. Hosting an Edmonton team that they just beat, and that has nothing to play for and should be resting guys, makes the value play clear in this one. Expect a rowdy and emotional Mullett Arena powering an Arizona win to send the team out in style.