darrell,

3-0 last night and now 7 of last 8 winners. Two picks tonight.

Keep your head up and stick on the ice, darrell!

***CAROLINA -174 over NY Rangers (7:05 Eastern)

New York is down and out right now having lost five straight games. It's a little better for Carolina who has lost three in a row. New York really showed their vulnerability in their loss to lowly Atlanta on the 12th. Carolina should get healthy here and avoid loss #4 as they are 14-3 the last three seasons after having dropped 3 of their last four games. They are also 32-8 as a favorite and 23-5 as a home favorite this season. Finally, favorites off 2 or more consecutive losses facing an opponent off 5 or more consecutive losses are 45-10 (82%) since 1996. Carolina bounces back here with a big win. Hurricanes for three stars.

**NASHVILLE -169 over Vancouver (8:05 Eastern)

Nashville is simply the best home team in the Western Conference. They are 23-7 at home this season and tonight get the struggling Vancouver Canucks who have lost four straight and five of their last six. At home Nashville scores 3.3 per game while holding opponents to 2.4. With Vancouver scoring just 2.2 per game over their last five and Nashville holding their last five opponents to 2.2 per game, don't look for the Canucks to score much tonight. Nashville has won the last two in this series and I look for them to make it three straight tonight. Two stars on the Predators.