This series reminds me why I started liking hockey as a kid. Dudes flying around and scoring plenty of goals. Really an entertaining first two games. Thought maybe the Canucks would go back to Casey DeSmith in net after Arturs Silovs allowed four goals in each of the first two, but Silovs is in there again. Counterpart Stuart Skinner hasn't been any better in this series but had significantly better home numbers during the regular season.

There were oddities associated with Game 3, including a double-minor on the Bruins midway in the second period that gave the Panthers an effective five-minute power play, resulting in two Florida goals. All in all, there were four Panthers power-play goals in their 6-2 win in Game 3. Whatever the dynamics, it looks like Florida has solved Jeremy Swayman, as the Panthers forced him out of Game 2 and peppered him in Game 3, and not sure that a possible switch to Linus Ullmark in goal will help Boston stem the tide. Note that each of the first three games in this series have landed on the "over" side as have ten of the twelve games thus far in the second round. Play Panthers-Bruins "Over"

Is everyone giving up on Boston a bit too soon in this series? This is a big price to be giving the Bruins at home, and Game 3 included some fluky occurrences, such as that double-minor midway in the second period that gave Florida an effective five-minute power play in which they scored twice to put the Panthers up 3-0; the Bruins had to become desperate afterwards in an eventual 6-2 loss. We'll see if Jim Montgomery makes a switch in goal to Linus Ullmark from Jeremy Swayman, and Brad Marchand likely out on Sunday, but Boston is too good on the penalty kill to give up another four power-play goals as on Friday. Play Bruins on Money Line

This will be the first game of this series at Ball Arena, and I fully expect the Avs to push the tempo and try to use the altitude to their advantage on Saturday night. You can count on Alexandar Georgiev allowing at least a couple goals each night, but you can also count on the Colorado attack to make things difficult for Dallas on the other end. I expect a very similar output to what we saw in Game 1 and Game 2 with this contest finishing at 7+ total goals scored.

The Avs got outplayed for two periods in Game 2, but still managed to make things interesting, pulling to within one goal of the Stars in the third period. I expect Colorado to come out firing from the start with the sole intention of trying to avoid falling behind early for the third consecutive game. The Avs were the best home ice team in the NHL this season, and I expect that trend to continue in Game 3. I toyed with taking the Avs at -1.5 on the puck line at +180, but I settled in on the Moneyline as the play at a fairly reasonable price. Bonus: SGP will be posted on Twitter closer to game time.

If it ain't broke. We've been on the over for both games this series, and we've thus cashed two overs. The series heads to Colorado, but I'm more than okay to keep backing goals here. Loving the scoring chances both teams are getting, and as long as these penalties keep piling up, so too should the scoring. At some point this series will tighten up, but I don't see that being in Game 3. Last time these two met in Colorado, they combined for 11 goals.

Such a massive home-ice advantage in Denver and we would see history if Valeri Nichushkin scores again for the Avs. His playoff-opening goal streak stands at seven games, sharing the longest such run in NHL history with Pat LaFontaine. I used to love PLF for some reason back in the day (great last name for sure. LaFontaine! Pat LaFontaine! Shaken not stirred. Does sound like a French James Bond). Wasn't an Islanders fan really but liked their jerseys. No Blackhawks or North Stars (not current Stars at all) or Maple Leafs or Whalers (those were epic), but they were pretty good. Then for a while they changed to that stupid Gorton's fisherman one.

If you can't beat 'em, why not join 'em? We're talking about the spate of high-scoring games in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, which continued last night with a pair of "over" results (9-1 in this round) in Panthers-Bruins and Oilers-Canucks. None of this is news to the Avs, whose games have more resembled sprint relays this postseason, with seven "overs" in a row back to the first round against Winnipeg. Jared Bednar would like a faster start tonight after Colorado fell far behind in each of the first two games vs. Dallas before rallying. But there is so much firepower on the ice, and the Avs clicking, that we're compelled to keep riding this pronounced second-round "over" trend. Play Stars-Avs "Over"

This is my top play for this game. Both teams are outstanding when it comes to keeping the puck out of the net, but I just have a hard time seeing this game staying under six goals. Carolina is playing for their season, but the Rangers have momentum on their side. Look for some fireworks in this Game 4 matchup.

Analytics and stats would suggest that this series being 3-0 in the Rangers' favor is a fluke. Regardless, there is something special about this NYR team. I am going with my gut and taking the Rangers to close this series out on the road with a modest 0.5 unit play here.

Carolina has lost three consecutive games by one goal despite outshooting New York in all three games, totaling 129-87. Closeout games are often difficult to win on the road. I still like the Hurricanes to win and force a game five at MSG!

Find it tough to fathom a team this good would get swept, and that's really all this is. But there's nothing you can rely on in playoff hockey.

Are the Rangers really going to roll unbeaten thru the playoffs? So far, it's seven up and seven down, though New York is leaving little room for error in this series, each win decided by one goal and two of them in overtime. The Canes still look to be in this series, often outskating and outshooting the Rangers, and Frederik Andersen might have played his best game of this matchup in the 3-2 OT loss on Thursday, when the game-winner came early in OT from Artemi Panarin. With thirteen different Canes having scored goals in these playoffs, Rod Brind'Amour is not presiding over a helpless entry. Play Canes on Puck Line

Maybe the marketplace isn't quite yet convinced on the Canucks, who not only earned home-ice edge for this series but showed more grit in the final 25 minutes of Game One than we've seen from the Oilers in the past year combined, rallying from a 4-1 deficit. Rick Tocchet has his troops circling the wagons in front of backup goalie Arturs Silovs, and Vancouver's discipline allowed it to work effectively down low in Game One to keep the pressure on the Oilers and GK Stuart Skinner, both eventually cracking in the third period. Has Edmonton found enough intestinal fortitude to make a deep run for the Cup, or are the Oilers destined to go out at this stage again? Play Canucks on Money Line