OVER in Minnesota - The Wild are off a 5-2 win versus Arizona and I fully expect a recent high-scoring trend for Minnesota to continue considering that the Sharks are in town. First off, about the Wild, 4 of their last 5 games have totaled at least 7 goals. San Jose enters this game unable to stop anyone. The Sharks have lost 3 straight and 4 of their last 5 and allowed at least 4 goals in all 4 defeats and they scored 5 goals in the lone win. Additionally, the over is a perfect 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these teams and those games averaged 7 goals per game. We only need 6 to be a winner here and, given the current trending for both these clubs and the fact both are allowing a lot of goals, look for at least 6 goals in this one with 7 plus being more likely! 10* OVER 5.5 goals in Minnesota

ISLANDERS - Yesterday the Bruins embarrassed the Islanders 4 to 1 as they totally dominated the game. Rask was back between the pipes for Boston and even though Varlamov played well in the crease for New York, the Islanders were outplayed by the Bruins all over the ice. That means payback time in this back to back situation and the goalie situation favors the road dog. Boston's Halak is still out so that means, since Rask played last night, it is likely to be Swayman in goal for the Bruins in this one. He has played well but is still unproven but certainly he has been a better option than Vladar of late. However, Swayman still would be making just the 5th start of his NHL career. As for the Isles, they have a much more experienced option in Ilya Sorokin and he is a fantastic 11-3-1 this season. Also, when he is on he is really on strong. Sorokin has a fantastic 1.50 GAA in those 11 victories. The Isles are a strong-minded well-coached team that will come back hard after a game that played out ugly like yesterday's did. 10* NEW YORK ISLANDERS

CANADIENS - Montreal seeks revenge for a 4-1 home loss to Calgary Wednesday. That upset win for the Flames not a huge surprise as the Canadiens were caught flat emotionally after their big 4-2 win over Toronto Monday. What is a surprise is that Calgary has won 4 straight over the Habs. That streak ends here as the Canadiens get some payback on home ice. I know the Flames have won 3 straight but they have NOT won 4 straight games all season long and this 3-game run was preceded by a stretch that saw Calgary lose 8 of 9 games. 8* MONTREAL

Situtational Slaughter - Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach MLB Rotation #929 Friday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Cincinnati Reds vs Cleveland Indians @ 7:10 ET - Sometimes the odds makers are a sports bettors best friend. What I mean by that is that when it appears they are offering something too good to be true it usually is. I already had my eyes on this match-up as a potential over play for Friday but when the total was posted it really sealed the deal. How can this total in a National League park be a 9 when the Indians have had 8 unders in their 11 games this season? Exactly! So the odds makers are going to bait a lot of people into the under here in my opinion but I am expecting this to be an easy over. Even though Cleveland has been a dead under team this season they have some momentum now coming off a win which was their 6th win in their last 8 games. Also, the Indians have scored an average of 5 runs per game in those 6 wins. The Reds enter this game on an under streak of 3 unders last 4 games but now they are back home where they are the top team in the majors offensively so far this season. Cincinnati has hit .320 at home this season and averaged scoring 9.5 runs per game! Indians Luke Allen has struggled early in starts and I look for the home-hot Reds to jump on him early and set the tone in this one. Cincy's Jeff Hoffman is off an unimpressive outing at Arizona in his most recent start and now faces a Cleveland lineup that is starting to grow in confidence. 10* OVER the total in Cincinnati

Big East Beast - Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Rotation #536 Friday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers (-) vs Los Angeles Clippers @ 7:10 ET - I still can not believe that Philadelphia did not cover against the Nets Wednesday night as they let the easy cover slip away late. Much less to worry about here as we have a very small number to work with and the Clippers have injury issues. I know LA comes into this one having won 7 straight but Leonard is questionable (foot) and Ibaka and Beverley are both out with injuries. The Sixers are the much healthier team and also have two off days on deck as they do not play again until Monday. The 76ers are on a 3-game winning streak and are 4-1 this season when they entered a game having won 3 straight. The home team has been the winning team in recent meetings between these teams and here Philly gets revenge for the double digit loss at Los Angeles 3 weeks ago. Situation and injuries strongly favor the home team here. Lay the small number. 10* PHILADELPHIA

Daytime Dominator - Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach EPL Friday 10* Top Play OVER 2.5 goals in Everton vs Tottenham - Both clubs have been struggling recently but both still have top four ambitions in the table for a Champions League position. That said, I do not expect either team to settle for a draw here and I do not expect either team to have a clean sheet either. I know Everton is coming off a disappointing scoreless draw at Brighton & Hove but I am expecting a big response here. Everton has won both meetings with Tottenham this season (one was in English FA Cup action by a 5-4 count!) and I look for plenty of goals again here. In their 4 matches across all competitions prior to the scoreless draw, Everton conceded 7 times including 2 goals in each of 3 matches. Tottenham was held to 1 goal in their loss to Manchester United but that was preceded by them averaging scoring 2.2 goals per match in their 14 preceding games. Tottenham has conceded at least twice in 4 of last 5 matches. I am expecting at least a 2-1 match here but a 3-2 final would not be a surprise. Again, as noted above about the hopes of a top four finish in the league still being alive, neither club wants to settle for a draw here. 10* OVER 2.5 goals in Everton

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach EPL Friday Free Pick Everton Money Line +247 vs Tottenham - Both clubs have been struggling recently but both still have top four ambitions in the table for a Champions League position. That said, we have seen a lot of big dog cashing in recently in EPL and I am expecting another one here. I know one could argue that Everton's form has been worse than Tottenham's of late, but on their home pitch and coming off a disappointing scoreless draw at Brighton & Hove, I am expecting a big response here. Everton has won both meetings with Tottenham this season (one was in English FA Cup action) and I look for them to again find a way here at a big plus money price in this one. Free Pick EVERTON +247