Buster Sports
Vancouver at Arizona
Play: Arizona +105
The Arizona Coyotes have had a rough year but they are a young hockey club and they have been playing well of late winning 2 out of their last 3 games and beating the powerful Washington Capitals in their last home game. Today they face a Vancouver Canucks club that has called it a season. The Canucks have lost 5 in a row and 10 out of their last 12 games. The last time the clubs meet at Gila River Arena, they were on the wrong end of a 3-0 Arizona victory. We see a similar result tonight. We are getting a little plus money at the time of this writing and we have a real live dog here in the Coyotes.
Dave Essler
Blue Jays / Rays Over 7.5
I took this last night because it's my primary job to see that we get the best # more often than not. At 8 it's still doable because it can only push, not lose. Anyhow, I've always felt that Stroman was a bit over rated, but rather than just my instinct, he has been pedestrian on the road and the Rays have seen tons of the kid. Toronto is clearly once again without Osuna, and of course they traveled late last night. Snell (Rays starter) has a tremendous upside but he's very prone to control issues - and the Rays' pen isn't that stellar to begin with, let alone the fact that most of their good arms were used last night. In the end I expect both teams to contribute enough to get this to where it needs to be, and we're getting a decent number strictly because the Trop is historically and under venue.
Bruce Marshall
Wild / Avalanche Over 5.5
Minnesota has suddenly rediscovered its scoring punch, and just in time as the Wild has stabilized and will have home-ice in the opening-round series vs. either the Blues or Preds. Zach Parise has returned to the lineup for Minnesota, which has scored 5 goals in each of its last two games, one of those a 5-2 win over the lowly Avs, whose 3.4 goals allowed pg is the worst mark in the NHL. Colorado is also "over" 7-2 in its last nine.
Scott Rickenbach
Brooklyn vs. Orlando
Play: Brooklyn +2.5
Both teams are eliminated from post-season contention but the comparison ends there because Brooklyn is still playing hard but Orlando certainly is not. The Nets have won 3 straight and covered 13 of their last 17 games. The Magic have lost 5 straight and they've covered just 3 of their last 13 games. Orlando does have a home game on deck with Indiana and they may "rise up" in a game like that since they may be able to hurt the Pacers post-season chances. However, in a game like this, there is simply no reason for the Magic to be excited as they host a team they've beaten in 5 of the last 6 meetings. As for the Nets, not only are they still giving some strong effort on the floor, they are motivated by the late-season visit here last year where the Magic pummeled them 139-105 in a game where Orlando did not seem to let up. Look for the Nets to return the favor on the road this time around. The Magic have failed to cover 12 of their last 13 games against teams that allow 106 points or more per game. Also, on the season, Orlando is 1-7 (SU and ATS) in games with a posted total of 220 points or more. The Nets are 10-5 ATS in their last 15 games with a posted total of 219 points or more and I look for a road upset in this one but will grab the available points.
Harry Bondi
Brooklyn +2 over Orlando
We have cashed a couple of FREE WINNERS on the Brooklyn Nets over the last two weeks and back them again tonight as they are playing their best basketball of the year to finish the season and are the better team getting points against Orlando tonight. Magic are on a five-game losing streak and have been the worst home team in the NBA going 12-25 ATS at home this year! Brooklyn has covered 9 of their last 10 road games and get the outright win tonight.
Carmine Bianco
Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks
Play: San Jose Sharks -123
These sides are likely to meet up in the first round of the playoffs so you can expect both to try and sent the tone for what should be a very entertaining match up. With a win tonight the Sharks would move past the Oilers and into 2nd in the Pacific division. These sides have splt their 4 games this season winning once home and away. The Oilers come in having dropped 4 of their past 6 away from home while the Sharks are on a good 7 of 10 run at home. Thornton misses tonight's game but should be back for the first round but the Sharks have enough talent to fill the void and get the points tonight.