We take home teams in Game 7, that simple. And we are covered in the event of an overtime loss. I hope to heck this goes to OT simply as a fan ... but then naturally Maple Leafs winning. They haven't been to the conference finals since 2002 when they got there with a Game 7 home win in the semifinals to face Carolina in the ECF. And of course, the Hurricanes are there waiting this year. Toronto forward Matthew Knies (58 regular-season points, +7 rating) was in some question with an injury but will play. This might be a homer pick because I'm not much interested in a Florida-Carolina East Finals matchup.

It has not been a great MLB weekend in large part because of the Padres, so I must be a glutton for punishment going back to them again. I just can't believe they will get swept at home in a supposed rivalry series. Seattle's bullpen is pretty taxed. Young starting pitcher Bryan Woo is darn good, but his road/day splits are significantly worse than his home/night ones. San Diego's Michael King has a 1.64 ERA at home. The Padres bullpen is in good shape. And any lineup of theirs without Jason Heyward (.177) in it is a better lineup. He's sitting today.

Definitely lost on the Padres on Friday, but this just makes me like them better on Saturday. Yeah, one game in theory should not influence the next, but I think it depends. It was a bad loss and the bullpen got reset for SD. Punt game. I honestly had forgotten this is the "Vedder Cup" series. Dunno, I don't like coffee or flannel. But I do like Pearl Jam (who doesn't?): "I'll ride the wave where it takes me." I try to live my life that way ...

Get asked often why I generally only play home teams (any sport). I just think guys feel comfortable with the background/rink/field, no travel, etc., and it's easier to stage a comeback at home than away. The Jets' Connor Hellebuyck is the definition of back at home/fade away in these playoffs. He pitched a second home shutout in the series Thursday but is 0-5 with a 5.84 GAA on the road. Winnipeg -- and Hellebuyck -- has lost nine straight playoff road games overall. So, yeah, the Jets are probably due and as someone who wants a Canadian team to finally win the Cup, I'd prefer they win. But I can't ignore the numbers.

This play flopped yesterday, but I'm going back as the scorching-hot Twins are without three regulars due to injury, etc. Ty France is the cleanup hitter today and Kody Clemens is in the 5 hole. I don't think Kody Clemens batted in the top five of the order at his own family softball gatherings. Who the heck is DaShawn Keirsey? He's the starting center fielder today and DaBad (not to be confused with Da Bears) offensively: hitting just .116. I might play Twins TT Under 4.5 looking at this motley crew today. Which means they will score 15. Do I even have to say this would be unlucky win No. 13 in a row for Minny? If you believe in such things ...

Seems a little light on the Padres, who have been one of the best teams in the majors at home. Seattle is starting to show its flaws -- i.e. can't hit -- in a 3-7 run. Rookie pitcher Logan Evans was torched in his lone road start. Anyone who has Miles Mastrobuoni in their starting lineup as Seattle does should lose. If this were my Best Friend's Fat Greek Wedding or something, maybe I want Miles around. Although Mastrobuoni is probably Italian. OK, Nonnas then (good flick).

The Twins are absolutely on fire but it seems like both Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa will sit today after they collided on Thursday in Baltimore and landed in the concussion protocol. And the bullpen is pretty thinned-out having played a DH on Wednesday and then having to use their two top guys again Thursday. I tend to think the 11-game skid ends here but obviously we don't turn down +1.5. Milwaukee was off Thursday and is 12-7 at home.

Good for the Celtics in winning Game 5 without Jayson Tatum to save their season temporarily. But that was probably all adrenaline from the home crowd ... and clearly the New York players somewhat took things for granted. I believe reality without Tatum kicks in big time back at Madison Square Garden for Boston on Friday. It's the Knicks' biggest home game in 25 years. So maybe give the good seats to a true regular fan and not a Kardashian/Jenner ...

I like to look at mismatches -- at least in my mind. So I generally avoid great pitching matchups like we have Friday ... but there is no absolute way I am not playing the "Former White Sox Bowl" of Chris Sale vs. Garrett Crochet. We also call it the "Red Sox Ripped Us Off" game. Guess we shall see on Crochet but not looking great so far in terms of the ChiSox's return. The Red Sox had the benefit of being off Thursday, while the Braves played and used all their key relievers. Not saying not available today, but it doesn't hurt in regards to this pick. But I will admit this is partially for my anti-Jerry Reinsdorf entertainment.

I can't not bet the first White Sox-Cubs game of the season. I am a fan of both. Yep, I know, not supposed to be. But I root for "Chicago." If these teams ever meet in Game 7 of the World Series, then I'll pick a side. And die happy regardless. I'd say there's a decent chance the Pope is watching today as he apparently had an in-home Sox-Cubs rivalry (only 8:20 p.m. in Rome start time). Although he might be busy. I can't justify the full-game ML price of -230, and I'm not planning to play -1.5 all season (may change mind). I would really like -1 full game if offered. Winds are howling out at Wrigley today -- total is up to 12.

We backed a desperate home team last night looking to avoid elimination -- and that didn't pan out. But Vegas certainly played with a lot more intensity, especially on the defensive end. Carolina has dominated this series for the most part and really this play is simply hoping for a possible letdown with the Canes knowing that Game 6 is back in Raleigh if needed. In the regular season, Washington was excellent after a loss -- immediately its 31 defeats, the Caps averaged 3.94 goals per game, roughly half a goal a game over their per game average of 3.49 goals per game throughout the RS. They followed their only first-round loss with a win.

Hope I'm not forcing this simply because I don't like much today. I would play F5 Under 5 if offered here, but we are only seeing 4.5s. I do like Jays starter Kevin Gausman, who is 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA at home in three starts. One of the few Rays with good career splits off him is Yandy Diaz, who isn't available in the series due to passport issues. Tampa starter Zack Littell has a 4.92 ERA in four day starts. The Jays have woken up offensively of late, hitting .285 over the past two weeks.

I'm not super-confident on this so will limit to a half unit, but this is a division champion facing elimination in a home game. We love desperate, good teams at home. Vegas did lose the first two there of this series but was 29-9-3 at home during the RS. Good for Edmonton's Stuart Skinner for snapping out of his slump with the very unlikely Game 4 home shutout. But he was blowtorched his two road starts in the first round in LA and then benched. Knights netminder Adin Hill a 1.02 goals-against average and a .957 save percentage in two career elimination games.

Obviously would much prefer 5.5 ... but would much prefer a lot of things (taller, younger, wealthier, etc.). Really same reasoning as us winning easily on Under 5.5 in this matchup yesterday: The Sox can't hit lefties and the Reds don't hit much at home. Cincy managed one run in 10 innings in Tuesday's loss. They start another good lefty today in Nick Lodolo (3.23 ERA). Any winds will be blowing in slightly.

I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express tonight but I did just finish the excellent medical show "the Pitt" on Max, which is basically ER 2.0. I mention because if Celtics star Jayson Tatum didn't tear his Achilles' tendon in tonight's loss in NY, it's an upset. Every internet doctor is sure projecting that. I mean, we saw Paul Pierce also leave in a wheelchair years ago for Boston and return, but all he had to reportedly do was "sit on the throne" for a bit in Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals. Such a bummer for Tatum. Maybe the C's scrape out a home win to save their season, but the team has to be gutted. The Knicks are now East favorites.