The Under and Coors Field are seldom mentioned in the same sentence.  None the less, Chase Anderson, a huge surprise for the Rockies this year, has been very hard to produce against in Colorado.  Anderson has a 1.72 ERA in May, and has allowed just three runs in fifteen innings in  his home park.  He'll square off against Logan Webb (5-2, 2.71) off a seven + inning shutout of the Orioles.  The Giants are getting terrific relief pitching lately.  Colorado is missing both Bryant and Cron on offense. While almost any team can put up runs at Coors, with a fairly high total and two tough pitchers, I am going with the Under today.

The Nationals are a poor home team this year, losing four straight, two of them to the Diamondbacks.  They have given up 27 runs in their last three games, and have a bullpen ERA over 6.00 in their last ten games.  As well as Thursday's starter has pitched, Washington hasn't given Josiah Gray much run support.  He pitched very well in May, however his last three starts have been of the shorter variety. Walks have been an issue.  He has almost as many BBs as K's this season.  Gray has an ERA almost two runs higher in home starts.  Arizona right-hander Kelly is improving on early success.  He has given up two or less runs in five of his last six games.  He has been much better on the road; an unbeaten 4-0, with a 1.63 ERA.
The D-backs are getting solid offense and very good relief pitching in their last ten games.  They are very solid road team this year.  Jump on Arizona to win and complete the sweep on Thursday.

After a blow-out loss, the Panthers slink back to Florida for game three.  Location was highly significant for the Panthers in the regular season:  they were a .500 club on the road, and much better at home.  The Knights were actually a better on the road than at home this year.  They played a very different style, tight-checking and composed, and the totals reflected this.  The Panthers are now at critical mass and absolutely must play with more discipline and composure, limiting penalties.  They have had a couple of days of soul-searching.  Vegas, with solid defense and goal-tending from Hill, has been able to limit the Panthers' quality scoring chances.  I believe this will continue on Thursday.  I also believe that the Panthers will rebound and find their composure.  They'll have the final change, so with the right personnel on the ice, perhaps they can cool off the Eichel, Marchessault, Barbashev line.  Look for the return of the Florida forecheck, and a better game from Bobrovsky.  The Total has climbed to six.  Take the Under on Thursday. 10* Playoff TOY

Bobrovsky is going to start.  I agree he deserves at least this but it sure looks like Vegas has figured him out;  screen him and shoot high to the opposite side as he tries to peek around the screen.  Remember, in their last 12 games Vegas has seen the opposing goalie pulled 5 times.  At the other end of the rink, Aidan Hill looks fresh, unflappable and dialed in.  The Panthers can’t screen him to the same extent with all those huge defenders on the Knights’ blueline (6’6’, 6’4”, 6’3”, 6’2” x2, and tiny 6’1’ 209 lb Martinez) boxing them out.

In their last 10 games Vegas has averaged 4.2 goals for and 2.1 goals against while the Panthers are at 2.4 and 2.6 respectively. 

On the injury front Gudas is probable but really?  He was already hurt and that hit staggered him.  His replacement, Fitzgerald exposed the lack of depth on the Panthers’ blueline.  Karlsson is probable with an illness for the Golden Knights. 

The discipline issue is real for the Panthers.  They have had to kill 32 penalties these playoffs compared to 23 for the Golden Knights.  Vegas’ powerplay has come alive at an inopportune time for the Panthers.

The key stat for Vegas though is their ability to play lockdown hockey on the road even when the other team has last change.  The are 32-8 on the road while the Panthers are an OK but less remarkable 27-16 at home.  Vegas has lost only two on the road these playoffs.  Following a win this season Vegas is 26-9 on the road.

It all adds up to taking Vegas on the Money Line.

This rematch of last season’s West semi-final  is a great way to start the season.  Historically, the Stamps have a wide edge in games at McMahon Stadium but so many of those legends have moved on.  Thurman and Orimolade are gone from the interior of a stout defense.  From one of the most outstanding O-lines in recent history, left tackle Dennis is gone and his replacement Coker is on IR.  Left guard Williams is also on IR so Jake Maier’s back is going to be vulnerable.  Starter Jamerson from the secondary is also on IR.  Rick Campbell and his savy staff will have taken notice.

This will also be a new experience for QB Maier as he is the man this year and no longer the eager understudy.  It will be a new kind of pressure.  BC shut him down in the West semi-final.  It will be interesting to see what adjustments are made.

Vernon Adams will have to prove that he can continue to be a solid game manager and not just “Big Play V.A.”  It looked that way last season as he threw for 6 TDs and only 1 interception in the six games he started and went 12 for 12 in preseason.  His trio of 1000+ yard receivers, Rhymes, Whitehead and Hatcher (on IR for this game) are back.  Cottoy, Hollins and McInnis are all superb options that will make up for Hatchers’ absence.  B.C. is also missing an O-line starter as newcomer Schleuger is out.  They are hopeful Couture (from the Bombers) can mesh with his old teammate Chungh on this years’ O-line.

It is sort of traditional to go with the under for at least the first couple of games of the season as defences are ahead of the offences but both of these squads look ready to put up points; especially BC.  That would be the easy play but the hot play is BC to cover the spread by winning the game.