The setup: The Rangers are 2-1 and the Devils are 0-6. Clearly the home side has issues, but I believe New Jersey risks life and limb to try and get off the schneid tonight. Alexandar Georgiev is expected to be between the pipes for the Rangres, while Cory Schneider will get the nod for New Jersey. New York has been off since a 4-1 home loss to Edmonton on Saturday and I think that rest is going to lead to rust here vs. this determined/desperate home side.

The pick: Note that New York has struggled in this spot for bettors as well, going just 5-10 (-2.8 units) when playing with three or more days rest. I don't think that the Devils are as terrible as their win/loss record would indicate. I'm banking on the more desperate team delivering the goods.

10* TOP-SHELF DESTROYER on the New Jersey Devils.

The set-up: Carolina is 6-1-0 this year after its 2-0 win in LA just last night. The Hurricanes face a difficult task though in my opinion vs. the well rested Sharks team that hasn't played since a 3-1 win over the Flames at home on Sunday. The Hurricanes also get caught looking ahead to two more tough road contests at Anaheim and Columbus up next.

The pick: As mentioned off the top the Sharks have had a couple nights off and then they enjoy two more nights off after this one before a home game vs. the Sabres. This one sets up beautifully for the rested home side, which started the year injured and without a couple of key players (Evander Kane), but who have since returned. This is the very definition of "great line value" in my opinion.

10* play on the San Jose Sharks.

The set-up: Buffalo is 5-0-1 and it won't be taking the Ducks by surprise, who are 4-2 to open the new season. This is a big test for the Sabres and I think they're going to falter. They're coming off three straight victories at home, but their next five games present their most difficult of the year so far, with a contest in LA tomorrow night, followed by a home and home set with San Jose, before then playing on the road vs. the Rangers.

The pick: The Ducks lost 4-2 in Boston on Sunday afternoon, but they return home confident with three tough games ahead of them, with the Sabres tonight, followed by Carolina and Calgary. The Ducks also play with revenge here after falling 3-0 at Buffalo last Decenber 22nd. I think it's a great situational play, but also note that Buffalo is a terrible 1-4 (-2.8 units) after shutting out their opponent in its previous game and only 8-13 (-3.9 units) in its last 21 after playing three straight at home, while Anaheim is 5-0 in its last five at The Pond. All things considered, a great price in my opinion.

8* play on the Anaheim Ducks.

The set-up: The Flyers are off a 3-1 loss in Calgary last night. Previous to that they lost 3-2 in a shootout in Vancouver. After tonight the visiting side enjoys two whole nights off before a home game vs. the struggling Stars. I think the Flyers come in tired from last night's setback, while also getting caught looking ahead to their time off and more favorable home matchup.

The pick: The Oilers have had a night off to digest their first loss of the season, a 3-1 setback vs. a then winless Hawks team. With a night off before a game vs. the lowly Red Wings up next, the home side comes in fully focussed on the task at hand. From a situational stand point, this one sets up great for the home side (and the price is right too!)

8* play on the Edmonton Oilers.

The set-up: South Alabama is 1-5 and Troy is slightly better at 2-3. Both teams enter off their respective bye weeks. A closer look at South Alabama's schedule though reveals a very difficult one in the early going (Nebraska, Memphis). Jaguars' second year coach Steve Campbell has his team moving in the right direction despite what the win/loss record says. Note that South Alabama held Nebraska to just 2.2 yards per carry. QB Cephus Johnson averaged 12.9 yards per throw and had two TD's and no INT's in his last game. Additionally note that South Alabama is 4-0 ATS in its last four conference contests.

The pick: Troy senior QB Kaleb Barker is under center now after starter Brandon Silvers left before the season started, and in his last start Barker had only 92 yards passing on 26 attempts with two INT's. The Trojans rank 124th out of 130 FBS teams in passing yards allower per attempt at 10.22. Note as well that Troy is a terrible 2-9-1 ATS in its last 12 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. In my opinion, this one has "nail-biter" written all over it. Grab the points.

10* PLAY-BOOK on South Alabama.

The set-up: The Wings are off to a successful 3-2 start, but they're off a terrible 5-2 loss at home to the Leafs. The Wings start their Western swing in Vancouver and they'll be looking to get the trip started off quickly. Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard had his hands full with the Leafs high-powered attack, but now he faces the Canucks' anemic offense.

The pick: Vancouver is now 2-2 after holding on for a 3-2 shootout win over the Flyers in its last outing. So far Vancouver netminder Jacob Markstrom has shone in the early going, as he comes in with a solid .926 save percentage and 2.23 GAA. I think these two non-conference teams which struggle to score at times play to a low-scoring under on Tuesday night.

10* TOTAL OF THE WEEK on the UNDER Wings/Nucks.

The set-up: I had the Cards in Game 3. Clearly I'm surprised at the lack of production from St. Louis right now. Washington is on the verge of moving onto the World Series, but I think the feisty visiting side avoids the sweep and notches at least one victory in this series. At the very least, in a contest which I see being decided late or even in extra time, I'm going to lay the reasonable mid-sized price for the extra 1.5 runs of insurance. Daniel Hudson goes for the visitors, while Patrick Corbin goes for the home side.

The pitchers: Hudson (16-7, 3.55 ERA) looked sharp in his only start in the post-season, holding the Braves to one run over five innings.

Corbin (14-7, 3.25) took back-to-back losses vs. the Dodgers in the NLDS, before having a pair of short no-decisions.

The pick: Now or never. Do or die. Corbin has been volatile and Hudson has been solid. I'm banking on the visitors on keeping this one alive for one more game.

10* U OF U (B OF B) on the Cardinals RUN LINE.

The set-up: The Lightning are 2-2-1 this season, while the Habs are 2-1-2. Andre Vasilevskiy is the starter in net for TB, while Carey Price gets the nod for the home side. The Bolts have beaten up on the Eastern Conference at a prodigious rate over the last three years, but now teams can smell the blood in the water. The Lightning come to town looking very beatable, most recently falling 4-2 on the road in Ottawa, its third setback in their last four games.

The pick: Montreal broke a two-game slide with a resounding 6-3 win over the defending champion Blues. The Habs are well rested and they have the Wild coming to town on Thursday night. Montreal has struggled with poor starts in each of the past two seasons, but it comes in healthy to this one and I expect it to pour it on here as it looks to kick this floundering Lighting team while its down.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on the Montreal Canadiens.

The set-up: Houston lost 7-0 in Game 1, before then rebounding with a 3-2 extra innings effort in Game 2. With the shift in venue, I'm finally expecting a higher-scoring game here. The Astros were 47-26 on the road this year, but they lost both road games to the Rays. Clearly they'll be out to end that trend. Gerrit Cole gets the nod for the visitors, while Louis Severino toes the slab for the home side.

The pitchers: Cole (20-5, 2.50 ERA) has been exceptional this season and so far in the playoffs, but I think he finally takes a step back here. Note that he's 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA in two starts vs. the Yanks.

Severino (1-1, 1.50) is 1-2 with a 5.33 ERA in seven career postseason starts.

The pick: Note as well that Houston has seen the total go "over" in 35 of its last 60 after two or more consecutive home games, while New York has seen the total go over the number in 14 of its last 21 after allowing three runs or less in four straight games. The Yanks have to be thrilled with the split they earned over the first two games and now they're in the drivers seat. I think this one creeps over this tiny number once it's all said and done.

10* TOTAL OF THE WEEK on the OVER Astros/Yankees.

The set-up: Detroit is 2-1-1 and Green Bay is 4-1. The Lions have looked decent on both sides of the ball, with wins over the Chargers and Eagles and nearly getting by the Chiefs last time out. Green Bay smoked the Cowboys in Dallas last weekend, but after the Cowboys lost to the Jets yesterday, I'm taking that victory with a proverbial "grain of salt." Detroit also comes in focussed and healthy after its bye week.

The pick: The Lions defense has been impressive, shutting down Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, while also holding Patrick Mahomes without a TD. Green Bay has been terrific defensively as well, so I'll call that department a "wash." I think that Lions' veteran QB Matt Stafford has enough tricks up his sleeve to put the pressure on Aaron Rodgers and company. In a game which I envision being decided by whichever of these hungry teams has its hands on the ball last, I'm going to grab the points.

10* COACH'S CORNER on the Detroit Lions.