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Las Vegas - Fire up the Zamboni baby, and start growing your beard. The Stanley Cup playoffs have finally arrived and we're ready to skate. And by the way, I CAN skate backwards!

We were ready to jump all over the Lightning as they look to exact their pound of flesh from last season's playoffs when the Blue Jackets knocked 'em out in the first round. Not only did they send Tampa Bay golfing, but it was an EMBARRASSING four game sweep. However, the Lightning are missing one of their main strikers, Steven Stamkos, while defenseman and Norris Trophy finalist Victor Hedman is listed as questionable. Still think that Lightning is gonna strike, but just making this a skinny little wager.

Now we look West to Edmonton, and gonna try my Vegas guys over Chicago. The Golden Knights were floundering, kinda stuck in neutral at 25-24 when they fired Gerard Gallant and replaced him with Peter DeBoer. It took about a month for the Knights to adapt, but starting in mid-February, BOY did they ADAPT! Vegas won 11 of 13 before the league was shut down, then picked up all three wins in the restart. Give the Blackhawks props for sending the Oilers golfing, but the Golden kids from Vegas should be able to post a W in the opener.

Also gonna drop a few pennies on the Angels with Dylan Bundy over the A's and Mike Fiers.

And while I have your attention, there are two pitching changes to note. The Yankees are changing from Happ to Montgomery and the Indians are going from Clevinger to Plutko.

And down in the Orlando bubble, just found out that Luka and Kristaps are now listed as probable for Dallas. The Blazers opened up -4 this morning, and you can watch the line jump toward the Mavericks.

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