I had the Rangers on Saturday and I'm going back to them here. This is a tough spot for Minnesota playing its fourth straight road game. The Wild have scored just four goals in the first three and things won't get any easier on Monday against New York's defense. I'll back the Rangers at -120 to win their second straight game.

I'm going to buy low here on the Rangers after losing three straight. Defense hasn't been the issue. New York allowed just five goals in those losses and only none overall in six games this season. Montreal has won three straight, all by one goal. The Rangers have been good away from home early in the year, beating Pittsburgh and Buffalo, and losing to Toronto 2-1 in OT. I think there is some value with New York at plus money.

I thought we had a good look in Game 4 with Mikko Rantanen over 2.5 SOG but three of his shots missed, and we landed on two. Despite scoring just once, I thought Dallas' offense performed better in Game 4 with Roope Hintz back in the lineup. They moved the puck well and got good looks but Stuart Skinner has been a wall in the last three games, stopping 86 of 88 shots. I do think Skinner is playing a bit over his head and I expect the Stars to fight hard at home with their season on the line. I laid -1 at plus money with all four games in the series being decided by 3+ goals but like Dallas ML too.

Mikko Rantanen attempted only three shots in the last two games and he hasn't scored in six straight. That won't cut it for Dallas' $96 million man. The Stars have scored just once since their 5-goal outburst in the third period of Game 1. With the season essentially on the line Tuesday, I expect Rantanen to once again be a big factor in Dallas' offense. Rantanen has attempted at least three shots on goal nine times so far in the playoffs. With the Stars' offense sputtering and top center Roope Hintz likely out again in Game 4, look for Rantanen to be a lot more aggressive.

Those who follow my picks regularly know I'm a patient bettor. I wait for spots and strike. Sometimes that works out, sometimes I kick myself. The Panthers in Game 3 is an example of the latter. I was so close to playing Florida, I actually started a writeup, then pulled back. Here was the first line, "This looks like a sweep." Well, that hasn't changed with the Panthers up 3-0. This is just a bad matchup for Carolina. The Panthers swept them in the 2023 EC Final and are now 14-5 in the last 19 meetings. I'll lay -162 early before the number moves. I think the line closes around -180.

I almost pulled the trigger on Edmonton in Game 2 but decided to wait until they returned home. I think the Oilers are the best overall team in the NHL. Whether or not they win the Stanley Cup will ultimately come down to goaltending. That wasn't an issue in Game 2 when Stuart Skinner stopped all 25 shots. Dallas' center Roope Hintz might miss Sunday's game and he is a huge loss for their offense. I expect a spirited effort from the Stars but think Edmonton prevails at home to take a 2-1 series lead.

I took Winnipeg in Game 5 because I thought the Jets were in a great spot at home. They are not in a great spot on the road, where Winnipeg is 0-5 in the playoffs. Connor Hellebuyck was fantastic in Game 5, stopping all 22 shots. However, the road has been a different story for Hellebuyck in the playoffs were he is allowing just under 6.0 goals per game. I think the Stars are the better team in this series and I like Dallas to close it out at home on Saturday night.

The Jets’ playoff road woes continued when they dropped both games in Dallas. Winnipeg is now 0-5 away from home this postseason, getting out-scored 25-8. Luckily for the Jets, they return home for Game 6 where Winnipeg is 35-8-4 this season. Jets’ goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is happy to be back on home ice. Hellebuyck has been shelled on the road in the playoffs, but is 5-1 with a 1.99 goals against at Canada Life Centre. Winnipeg is getting killed on the power play in this series (1-of-16) but they have played well in 5-on-5. I expect a big effort from Hellebuyck and the Jets in a must-win game at home. I think Winnipeg forces a Game 6.

I really like Toronto in this spot. This feels like a seven-game series and I expect the Leafs to continue the trend of the home team winning all four games. Joseph Woll will be in goal again for Anthony Stolarz and while Woll lost Game 4, I think he is coming off the best performance of his career with 35 saves on 37 shots. It's Toronto's offense that needs to get going after getting blanked in Game 4. I expect that to happen. The Leafs scored a total of 13 goals in the first three games. I like Toronto in Game 5, then I'll probably come back with Florida in Game 6. Would anyone be disappointed if this series goes seven games?

I'm a little surprised we are getting the Oilers at -120 in Game 3. Edmonton is the hottest team in the NHL Playoffs right now and this feels like it might be a sweep. The Oilers were a minute away from going down 3-1 to the Kings in Round 1. Since that dramatic comeback, Edmonton has won six straight. Vegas losing Game 2 in OT puts them in a tough spot. The Oilers have out-shot the Golden Knights 65-50 in the two games but Vegas is winning the power plays, three goals to zero. If Edmonton can clean that up, I think they go up 3-0 in front of a raucous home crowd Saturday night.

I'm taking the Jets in a must-win game at home where they are 34-8-4 this season. I expect this series to go seven games with the home teams having a lot of success. The first game was pretty even across the board, although the Jets did have seven more shots on goal and 22 more hits. I'll take Winnipeg to even up the series then look to back Dallas in Game 3 at home.

I came into the second round of the NHL Playoffs a little surprised both Toronto and Washington were home underdogs in Game 1. I'm going to jump on Washington +1 (-154) at BetRivers. Carolina is just 17-21-5 on the road this season. While I lean the Canes to win the series, they are a bit overvalued in Game 1. Washington and Carolina split their four regular-season games, with both teams winning their games on home ice. However, Washington goaltender Logan Thompson played just one period vs. the Canes due to injury. Thompson was excellent vs. Montreal with a 2.23 goals against and .923 save percentage. If you can't get Washington +1, consider taking the Caps on the ML for a half unit.

I mentioned when I took Winnipeg in Game 5 that I would likely be coming back on Friday with the Blues at home. I thought from the jump this series would go seven games and I haven't changed my mind. The Blues won both games at home by a combined score of 12-3 and now Winnipeg will be without captain Mark Scheifele, who was injured early in Game 5. St. Louis goaltender Jordan Binnington is 10-4-1 over his past 15 starts with a .909 save percentage and 2.26 goals-against average. I think he gets the job done here and the Blues force a Game 7 back in Winnipeg.

I love this spot for Winnipeg. Despite being outscored 12-3 in the last two losses, Winnipeg must feel good about its chances in Game 5. The Jets are 32-7-4 at home this season and forward Gabriel Vilardi is expected to be available for the first time since March 23. I get that no one will confuse Connor Hellebuyck for Patrick Roy in the playoffs, but I expect a big effort from the Jets' goaltender after being pulled in Game 4. I think this series goes seven with the home teams winning every game. I'll back Winnipeg here and probably look to take St. Louis at home in Game 6.

I love that Edmonton won both games at home to even the series heading into Game 5. That creates value on the Kings, who went an NHL-best 33-6-4 at home this season. This series was close to being a sweep but the Kings have blown three late leads, losing two of those games and surviving another. Los Angeles is the deeper team with an edge at goaltender and they have been more productive on power plays in this series. I'll back the Kings to go up 3-2 heading back to Edmonton.