Feels like I fall into an Oilers trap this time of year all the time simply as a Stanley Cup Final with them in it -- especially against Toronto -- would be so fun to watch. It's certainly possible. Edmonton eliminated Los Angeles in six games last season and in seven games in 2022. The Oilers won three of the four games against the Kings this season, including both at home. All of those were after Kris Knoblauch replaced Jay Woodcroft as Edmonton's coach on Nov. 12.

Double payback chance for the Stars as they lost in the 2023 West Finals to Vegas and lost this season's series 3-0 -- although all three games were in 2023. However, Dallas closed winning 17 of its final 21 overall to earn the West's top seed, and Jake Oettinger was brilliant down the stretch. He's really the play here over the Knights' Logan Thompson, who did have a good season himself but largely due to his home numbers. Away, he was 9-9-4 with a 3.24 GAA. Home teams have been killing it so far in these playoffs. That's usually good for us.

Dylan Cease has been pretty good overall for the Padres but he's still walking a lot of guys, and we have seen from his White Sox days that things can go off the rails quickly for him control-wise. Rox starter Austin Gomber has a 3.60 home ERA. Manny Machado has started to hit a bit for San Diego after a slow start but is apparently not starting.

Twins pitcher Chris Paddack is not very good and thus I can't justify Minnesota runline here, but I think at this price we blindly have to fade the just truly horrid White Sox a little on the road. They may well only win 15 or so road games all year with that putrid lineup.

I don't think the Royals should be home dogs behind ace Brady Singer, who has joined Kevin Appier as the only pitchers in team history to begin a season with 4 starts of at least 5.0 innings, 2 runs or fewer and 5 hits or fewer. Singer's .163 opponents’ average (13-for-80) is tied for 4th best in the majors. Southpaw Yusei Kikuchi has been really good for the Jays, but they also had to travel from the West Coast. KC is 3-1 vs lefties. Normally, I'd hammer the Under 9.5 runs here but that also wouldn't be available normally as winds apparently are blowing out hard at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals have had the better offense so far.

Joel Embiid clearly was not 100 percent entering the series and then tweaked his knee late in the first half of Game 1 and clearly wasn't the same. That questionable listing is stupid as he'll be in there tonight but I don't see Philly winning on the road with him limited. Also fully expect Jalen Brunson to be much better than in the opener when he was 8-for-26 shooting.

The Bruins have owned their Original Six rivals in the playoffs for years and absolutely own the Leafs this season at 5-0, including a 5-1 rout in Game 1. Upgrade this a little again if Toronto forward William Nylander (98 points) misses a second straight game due to an undisclosed injury.

Big number obviously but already up to -250 at some books and I'm not waiting around. Nothing I saw today in the Cavs' easy win makes me believe Orlando can win a road game in the series.

Who knows which Hunter Greene shows up on the mound for the Reds, but he's very capable of dominating with 17 pitches this year at or above 100 MPH, which rank sixth in the majors. The Phils are without Bryce Harper as he landed on the paternity list.

If this weren't a standalone matinee am I playing it? Perhaps not. I do like A's lefty and former Yankees prospect JP Sears but four different Yanks have gone yard off him in their careers despite limited at-bats and clearly these two lineups are not close. Sears is 0-3 with a 7.63 ERA in three career starts against his former organization. Oakland was just swept three over the weekend in Cleveland, losing each by multiple runs.

Vancouver was 3-0 this season vs. Nashville, although each game was in the 2023 portion of the schedule so maybe that doesn't mean as much as it normally would. But home teams easily won both games yesterday. The Nucks were one of the best home teams in the league at 27-9-5. Thatcher Demko has looked sharp in two starts since his return from injury.

Can't say I love the idea of fading the high-powered Avs, but they are likely down two pretty key guys in forward Jonathan Drouin (56 points and is out) and blueliner Samuel Girard (game-time call). But really this is all about the goaltending. Winnipeg should have a massive edge with likely Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck over a struggling Alexandar Georgiev. Over the last six games, Georgiev has allowed six goals twice and four goals three times (including once vs. the Jets). He was yanked from two games.