Rating: 2 Units

Difficult to have any faith in Houston starter Zack Greinke as he wasn't good in his final three regular-season starts and not particularly good in his one inning in the ALDS vs. the White Sox. He's probably only available for 40 pitches and then followed by Cristian Javier. The Houston bullpen overall is in shambles because the team's starting pitchers have accounted for just 5.1 of the 26 innings pitched in this series. Boston's Nick Pivetta will be making his first career postseason start. He has appeared twice in relief so far in these playoffs, allowing three earned runs and striking out 11 batters in 8.2 innings. The way the Sox are killing the ball right now, simply can't go against them at home.

Rating: 2 Units

The Penguins have been without Sidney Crosby to start the season, but they are a well run organization and they have still been scoring without him. The Stars just lost to the Senators on Sunday and they are nearing the end of a long road trip so I don’t think they will be too motivated if they go down early. Penguins have 15 goals in 3 games this season while the Stars have scored just 6 in 3 games. Take the Pens at home.

Rating: 2 Units

The Blue Jackets have started the season strong, but they are a completely different team on the road. Both these teams have been scoring a lot more than expected to start the season, but Alex Nedeljkovic should be back in net for the Red Wings. He struggled against the Lightning but that is understandable, so I expect him to put together a much better game tonight against a worse offense.

Rating: 2 Units

The Blackhawks have looked terrible to start the season but tonight is their home opener. The Islanders are one of the worst road teams in the league and although they also don’t have a win, they haven’t been able to score enough to get one. They have just 4 goals in 2 games while allowing 11, so this is a good spot for the Hawks to get their first win at home with their newly formed team.

Rating: 4 Units

The Lightning have played 3 games already and have picked up 2 wins in those games. Their last win was a 2-1 win in OT over the Capitals, they had to come back from down 1-0 in that game. They have played close games that were decided in OT their last 2 in a row now, they had to come back from behind in both of those games to win. This is the battle of Florida and the Panthers always play the Lightning with a lot of heart. They won the H2H against them in the regular season last year 5-3. This is also a bit of a revenge spot for the Panthers since the last time they played each other was in the 1st round of the playoffs last year and the Lightning kicked them out in 6 games. I think the Panthers are going to get up for this game so I like them to win here.

Rating: 2 Units

Nathan MacKinnon is expected to play today but Gabriel Landeskog is suspended. The Caps are swapping highly touted rookie for highly touted rookie in Conor McMichael for Hendrix Lapierre and my guess is they will give the young prospect Ilya Samsonov the start. Darcy Kuemper hasn’t been great this season, and the Aves didn’t look as dominant as they usually do at home. The Caps have won 5 of the last 6 games at home in this series and 10 of the last 12 matchups overall. Take the home dog.

Rating: 2 Units

Montreal has scored just one goal in each of its three games so far and yet this total is at 6? That Habs are missing a ton of offense on the injured list. Jake Allen has a 2.05 GAA in his two starts in net, so it's not his fault that Montreal lost both. The Sharks scored four goals in their season opener, but they are going to be offensively challenged all season, especially without Evander Kane, who was suspended 21 games this week. Maybe this is a push, but I don't see how these clubs combine for seven goals. The SportsLine Projection Model has it with 5.1 combined goals.

Rating: 2 Units

Not about to call game No. 3 desperation for any team, but clubs that lose their first three at home like is staring as Nashville, well, things don't usually go well for said team in that season. The Preds lost each by one so it's not like they have been horrible. It's the first road game of the season for the Kings, who are 1-6 in their past seven as dogs. The Predators are 7-1-2 against the Kings in their last 10 meetings at Bridgestone Arena.

Rating: 2 Units

I'm going to jump this line early -- could rise a fair amount depending on what Seattle does Monday in Philly/injuries, etc. -- because it will be the first time in its young history that Seattle will play the second of a back-to-back, and I think the Kraken will be gassed at the end of their five-game cross-country trip ahead of the home opener this weekend. Presuming that Seattle will give backup netminder Chris Driedger his first start as well. The Devils are well-rested, having last played Friday.

Rating: 2 Units

Are the Jets terrible? They lost their first two games at Anaheim and San Jose, two of the league's worst teams, and have yet to score on the power play while killing off just 60 percent of penalties. Winnipeg may not have top winger Blake Wheeler on Tuesday, either, as the captain has entered COVID protocols. Wheeler had 46 points last year and has an assist so far this season. It's the home opener for the Wild, who are 20-6 in their past 26 in the Twin Cities.

Rating: 2 Units

The Dodgers had chances to win each of the first two games and they couldn’t do it, in part because of poor hitting with runners on and in part because of poor managing. They are now down 2-0 headed back to Los Angeles because of it. The Dodgers haven’t lost a home game since August and they have their ace Walker Buehler going. Buehler has a career 2.50 ERA in the postseason and hasn’t allowed more than 3 runs in a playoff start in his last 11 appearances. He pitched 11 innings allowing 1 ER against the Braves in the NLCS last season. Charlie Morton has been solid in his playoff starts and very good in his career in the playoffs, but he allowed 5 ER in 4.1 IP to the Dodgers in his only playoff start against them last season. The Dodgers will be managing this game like it is an elimination game for them while the Braves will be playing to just win at least 1 out of the 3 games, take the Dodgers to stay alive in this series at home.