Wunderdog
New York Islanders at Florida
3 units UNDER 5.5
Aside from a four game stretch where the Panthers generated 16 goals, this team has had a lot of trouble finding the net. Over their other 12 games, the Panthers have found the net just 25 times or a tick above two per contest. Goaltender Thomas Vokoun has really been hot as well as he has recorded shutouts in three of his last four behind the net. The Islanders were a mess to start the season, but have played much better hockey of late and have actually built a winning record after a disasterous start that saw them find the win column just one time in their first 10 games. The Islanders have seen themselves in tough tight low scoring games, when facing an opponent that allowed two or less goals in their last game and have played four straight to the under off that situation, while the Panthers have been under in four of their last five, and 8-3-1 to the under in Vokoun's last 12 behind the net. I like the UNDER in this one.
Calgary at Toronto
3 units UNDER 6
No matter how you slice it the Toronto Maple Leafs are a poor hockey team and have just one win on home ice to show for eight games. This is a team that allowed three goals or more in 11 of their first 12 played, but things have been getting better as they have now pared that down to just two of their last five. The Flames rarely get into shootouts and for the most part they are in tight games that come down to a big play by one side or the other. That is evidenced by the fact that their last seven games have seen a grand total of 25 goals scored, or just 3.5 a game. That's a long way from the six offered here and it is also the reason they have played in seven straight that have gone under the total. This one is set too high and I'll play it UNDER the total.
Anaheim at Detroit
3 units UNDER 5.5
The Detroit Redwings lost just nine at home all of last season and have suffered just a shootout loss on home ice thus far this season. Just one opponent all season long has topped the two goal mark on the Wings at home, excluding a game in Sweden that was listed as a home game. The Ducks have been on the road for five games over the course of the last five weeks and not a single one has gone over the total as they tend to play conservative on the road and tighten the "D". That has certainly been the case as well when they come to Detroit as this series has seen the under prevail to the tune of a 15-5-1 mark in the last 21 played here. The Ducks have an amazing run when they play with zero days rest as the under has prevailed to a mark of 76-36-11 over their last 123. Hard to argue with the way these teams have approached the games here in Detroit, as well as the Duck's elongated history without rest to play a resounding number of games to the UNDER, which is the call here.
Los Angeles Kings at Tampa Bay
2 units Tampa Bay -1.5
The Tampa Bay Lightning have been bringing it at home where they remain unbeaten at 5-0-3 through their first eight games. The Kings have run hot and cold surrounding a pair of four game winning streaks with the remainder showing just three wins in 11 tries. They are in the worst stretch of the season right now dropping three of four, but the three losses have been by a combined 12 goals. This team has already suffered seven losses on the season by two goals or more and when they are playing poorly they have been totally uncompetitive. Tampa Bay has the hothand at home, the Kings have been getting humiliated of late and the Lightning own a 7-1-1 mark in the last nine here as it is, catching this one just right. I'll go with Tampa Bay on the puckline.