Both games stayed UNDER the total, and that could be the best way to go on Saturday, but I will still take the Flyers in a game they desperately need to win.

Each team in this matchup is winning some big games down the stretch to help their postseason plans, but my lean on Saturday is with Los Angeles on its home ice.

Saturday night's matchup is a situation where I will stick with the hot hand, especially with Nashville playing on its home ice.

This is another pick where I am going against the hotter side in favor of betting on a very good team winning at home.

Betting on the hot hand is a viable strategy in any sport, but so is betting on a very good team ending an extended slump in front of the hometown crowd, so I am taking Philly in this one.

Playing in an outdoor environment in front of a capacity crowd in prime time should bring out the star power in each of these teams to take the total OVER a projected 5.5-goal total line.

I like the Stars at home, but I am betting that this game stays UNDER a probable 5.5-goal total line.

Despite the Lightnings' 21-6-2 record at home this season, playing three games in four days takes its toll in another Philadelphia win on the road.

Los Angeles has outscored the Oilers 10-2 in two previous meetings this season and it is going to outscore them again on Saturday night in what could be a solid play on the -1.5 puck line.

Given that the Islanders are giving up an average of 3.6 goals a game, this matchup is another strong candidate to go OVER a probable six-goal line.

I like Toronto at home in this matchup, but I am betting that the total goes OVER a probable 5.5-goal line.

You have to stick with the hot hand in this one by taking Boston against one of the worst teams in the Pacific Division.

The lean would be with the Penguins winning again at home, but I am betting that the total goes OVER in this Eastern Conference showdown.

Minnesota is tied for the second-most home victories this season in the Western Conference. Given Thursday’s setback, I feel confident that the Wild quickly respond to an off night at the Xcel Energy Center with a win on Saturday.

With Wednesday’s 3-2 shootout victory against Nashville as -115 home favorites, the Maple Leafs have now won seven of their last nine games as part of a 32-19-5 record that has them eight points behind Tampa Bay for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. Auston Matthews continues to lead an offensive attack that is averaging 3.2 goals a game with 43 total points. With three goals and three assists in his last five starts, I think he will be the difference on Saturday in another Toronto win.

Tampa Bay has won six of its last seven games to hold the lead in the division with a league-high 77 points. It knocked off Vancouver 5-2 on Thursday night as a heavy -257 home favorite to improve to 18-5-1 at home this season. The Lightning are the most complete team in the NHL with a 3.6 goals per game average that is ranked first complementing a defense that is sixth in goals allowed (2.6). The Kings should get past Florida on Friday night; However, they make a great team to go against in back-to-back games. 

The Rangers are facing the wrong team at the wrong time to try and steal a win on the road.

With Colorado’s pair of road losses to their division rivals earlier this season, and I like the Jets’ chances to take full advantage of the road weary Avalanche this time around.

While I am not sure which of these division foes wins this game, I do like the total staying UNDER even if the line dips to five.

Even though the Penguins may have the champagne on ice to celebrate a second-straight NHL title, you have to believe that Nashville will be able to find a way to force a Game 7 with a victory in Game 6 given how the home team has dominated play the past few games.

The a bolder bet for Sunday night would be to roll the dice on Nashville and the -1.5 puck line at +200 betting odds given how the favorite has won by two or more goals in the first five games of this series.