Writing Thursday and Saturday this week, I can both smile that I picked DFS players from all four winning squads in my last article, and also take my lumps having missed any winning bets.   Game props might be easier….or not.

Gold selection:  Colorado Avalanche @ Seattle Kraken – Pick:  Avalanche to win (-155 ML)

The interesting thing about this series is that Colorado hasn't played nearly at their best yet – and is it the energy and swarming forecheck from the Kraken, or do the Avs simply need to turn on the afterburners?  Thursday, Bowen Byram was the best skating defenseman for the Avs, and that's fine, but if Cale Makar and Devon Toews match that tonight, it will massively help their forwards… and those guys already have the talent advantage. Seattle has achieved their goal for this year, and although a home win would certainly be wonderful, I don't see it.  

Silver selection: New Jersey Devils @ New York Rangers – Pick:  Nico Hischier, power-play point (+255)

Why Hischier? Three reasons. One, he's been all over the offensive ice in the first two games of this series. Five shots in the first game, then deceptively none on Thursday, although seeming to be just as dangerous until the score got out of hand. Add to this, Nico had 11 assists in his last ten regular season games. Not cold. Two, he's the Devils' captain for a reason – to lead on the ice. There's no bigger game for this team, even if they go out this round. And three, they're overdue. This isn't the Islanders team whose man-advantage stats have been consistently poor.  Jack Hughes, Timo Meier, Jesper Bratt, and Dougie Hamilton along with Hischier are a quality PP-1, so this quiet won't last. The Rangers have a stranglehold on this series with two road wins, but this game result is more likely 4-3 or even 5-4.  

Bronze selection: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Tampa Bay Lightning – Pick: John Tavares, over 3.5 SOG (+115)

Another captain, but a far different story. Tavares' hat trick Thursday is just one measure of how playoff hockey is so different from the regular season. Tips in front of the goalie, jamming the puck within the blue paint, those greasy effort plays while you're being dragged sideways… Tavares may not score tonight, but he's a far more important part of the Leafs' offense in the postseason. With 19 combined goals in two games of this highest-scoring matchup, there have been plenty of opportunities from in close.

Side bet: Lightning over Leafs (+100 ML)

Final regular season stats:

2-4 from April 8

Gold 10-5

Silver 7-7-1

Bronze 8-7

Side bets 28-14