This has turned into a goalie series, especially since Joseph Woll stepped in for Ilya Samsonov on the Toronto side for Game Five. Since then, he's posted an 0.86 GAA and .964 saves, and that includes a Boston goal with one-tenth of a second to play in Thursday's Game 6. We'll assume Jim Montgomery sticky with Jeremy Swayman (1.60 GAA and .947 saves in this series) on the Boston side, though he's discarded the usual rotation with Linus Ullmark in this series. Nervous time for the Bruins, at risk of blowing another 3-1 playoff lead, and more likely to see another low-scoring grinder in Game Seven. Play Maple Leafs-Bruins "Under"

Some angles to consider here, including Denver winning all five of its playoff round openers since last season, most recently vs the Lakers (114-103 in the first round). The T-wolves, however, have played the champs tough this season, splitting the four previous games, are off a resounding sweep of Phoenix in the opening round, and have a score to settle from last season's opening round when losing in five. Both teams routinely scoring enough (T-wolves 118 ppg in the Suns sweep; Nuggets 116 pg last ten) to get this above 207.5. Play Timberwolves-Nuggets "Over"

As noted on Friday, the Orioles at short prices are going to get our attention this season. Even a rain delay couldn't slow the Birds last night as Cole Irvin stretched his scoreless innings streak to 20 2/3 and Baltimore moved to an AL-best 9-4 on the road by beating the Reds in a rematch of the 1970 World Series. John Means, who has plenty of experience in the O's rotation, has been recalled and will start in place of the injured Grayson Rodriguez, while the Reds' Andrew Abbott is off of a rough start in Texas, giving up a pair of homers in last Sunday's loss at Arlington. Play Orioles on Money Line

"Your NL Cy Young Award winner for 2024...Ranger Suarez of the Philadelphia Phillies!" That's a hypothetical, of course, but if the voting were to be conducted today, Suarez would have as good a chance as any, already 5-0 with a 1.32 ERA and 0.63 WHIP. He's also working deep into games, with a recent complete-game shutout of the Rockies, and across his last two starts vs. the Reds and Padres, he's allowed one run and five hits thru 15 IP, with 13 Ks and 1 walk. Moreover, the Phils are now an MLB-best 22-11 after last night's 4-3 win. The Giants have also won in the last three starts made by Keaton Winn, but Bob Melvin's offense remains inconsistent. Play Phillies on Run Line

The games in this low-scoring series have all looked mostly alike: tight-checking, positional defense, and solid goaltending both ways. For Vegas, Adin Hill came in for Game 5 after Logan Thompson had fared admirably earlier in the series, and Bruce Cassidy probably can't go wrong with either, but Jake Oettinger has been just a tad better in the nets on the Dallas side. Note that Pete DeBoer's defense has done a good job slowing the VGK attack in the neutral zone, and Vegas has had few quality shot attempts in this series. If the Stars can wrap this up, a 3-2 type of scoreline would not surprise. Play Stars-VGK "Under"

This has an ominous feel for LA, as the abject surrender in Game 5 suggests at deeper problems within the Clippers roster and perhaps with HC Ty Lue. Kawhi Leonard's absences (out again tonight) haven't not helped, but a quick perusal of the previous games provides the direction we seek. For only in the first half of Game One and maybe the first quarter-and-a-half of Game 4 have the Clips got the best of the action; Dallas has mostly dominated the rest of the proceedings. There is a score to settle for the Mavs from the 2021 playoffs, and Luka Doncic's familiar 35 points in Game 5 present quite a contrast with LA's PG & James Harden. Play Mavs

Not often do cite TNT's Paul Bissonnette, but Biz hit the nail on the head a couple of nights ago when noting the Canucks seems to be playing with less reckless abandon as they did in the regular season, perhaps more concerned with building a moat around goalies Casey DeSmith and Arturs Silovs with Thatcher Demko out. Nashville has been outskating the Canucks for most of this series and pulled out a clutch comeback 2-1 win on the road in game 5 to stay alive. Juuse Saros performing well enough in goal, and if not for a few moments of madness late in Game 4, the Preds could be the ones looking to sew up the series tonight. Play Preds on Money Line

The young Magic might have lost the battle in Game 5 at Cleveland but they well could have won the war, finally staying competitive in a road playoff game, the next step in the maturation process of an emerging contender. Orlando has already proven it can bop the Cavs at Kia Center, where the Magic romped in Games 2 and 3, and is now 31-12 as a host. Paolo Banchero certainly seems ready for the moment after scoring 39 on the road in Game 5, and Cleveland will again be minus C Jarrett Allen and his defensive presence in the middle. Note the Cavs have only broken 100 points once in this series, that in the 104-103 win on Tuesday night. Play Magic

The Giants aren't going to get the same boost (at least we don't think) as they did on Thursday at Fenway Park, when Mike Yaz saw grandpa Yaz at the ballpark and promptly hit a homer in the 3-1 SF win. The Phils are another challenge entirely for SF at Citizens Bank Park, especially against Aaron Nola, who spun a 2.06 ERA in April when Philly won all five of his starts. As for Jordan Hicks, he's pitched in some bad luck on the Giants' side, allowing just 4 ER across 16 IP in his last three starts, but SF losing in each of those, and only 6-10 on the road this season. Play Phils on Run Line

The Orioles at a slight plus-price will always get our attention this season, and no different tonight at Cincy in this rematch of the 1970 World Series. No Brooks Robinson needed this time as a vacuum at third base, especially with Cole Irvin pitching superbly in recent starts, and not allowing a run across 13 2/3 IP in his last two starts against he Royals and A's. Just off of winning a midweek set vs. the Yankees, Baltimore brings an AL-best 8-4 road mark into tonight. Play Orioles on Money Line

This series reached new levels of wildness in Game Five when the Sixers, staring down the barrel of elimination, made up a six-point deficit in the last 30 seconds to force overtime, with Tyrese Maxey hitting for 7 of his game-high 46 points (including an and-1 on a triple) to throw Philly a lifeline. Now back home (though many NY fans will be there), Maxey, Joel Embiid & Co have new life. What we have liked about Philly in this series is something we haven't always seen, as the likes of Tobias Harris, Kelly Oubre Jr, and even Kyle Lowry are capable of more scoring. Meanwhile, the Knicks seem to be leaning harder on Jalen Brunson as this series progresses. Play Sixers

Indicative of Houston's pitching issues (mostly injury-related) this season is the presence in the rotation of Spencer Arrighetti, who normally would be in AAA but instead starting games for the Astros and getting pummeled, as his 10.97 ERA and 2.34 WHIP in three starts (all Houston losses) suggests. Logan Allen has had a bit of a bumpy start on the mound for Cleveland, but not like Arrighetti's troubles, and a look at the AL standings might have you thinking the wrong team is favored tonight at Minute Maid. Play Cleveland on Money Line

Bruins backers might be thinking "here we go again" after the Tuesday loss to the Leafs, similar to last spring's playoff first round vs Florida, when top-seeded Boston failed to wrap up the series in the same OT manner in Game Five, eventually losing the series on another OT decision in Game Seven. Bruins players have been hearing the comparisons ad nauseum since Tuesday, when even a sans-Auston Matthews Toronto managed to stay alive. The Leafs, however, have a litany of playoff failures longer than the Bruins, and we'll see how long GK Joseph Woll delivers for Toronto. The Leafs have also yet to solve Jeremy Swayman, though Jim Montgomery loses little if opting for Linus UIllmark tonight. Play Bruins on Money Line

Doc Rivers is saying there is a chance that both Giannis and Dame Lillard might feature ("very, very, very close") for the Bucks in Game 6 after they stayed alive in Game 5. Worth noting, however, that the Pacers have matched up very well with the Bucks, beating them four of five in the regular season and now leading this series 3-2. Milwaukee has alternately had problems slowing all among Pascal Siakam, Tyrese Haliburton, and Myles Turner. It's also worth noting that Indiana hasn't lost back-to-back spread decisions in almost two months, and entirely within its personality to bounce back tonight and end this series in an emphatic manner. Play Pacers

This has not been a fun-filled trip for the Giants to Fenway Park, as they've lost two in a row by a combined 10-2 scoreline. The offense has been struggling for longer than just this series in Beantown, however, now held to a mere 13 runs across the last seven games. And while Kyle Harrison responded on the mound last Friday when shutting out the punchless Pirates thru 6 IP, San Francisco did lose in his three previous starts. The Bosox are on a nice 8-3 uptick, and Josh Winckowski has been effective getting thru the opposing batting order once before Alex Cora removes him in recent appearances. Play Bosox on Money Line