Matt Fargo

This is a play on the VANCOUVER CANUCKS as part of our NHL Thursday Hat Trick. Carolina has won three straight games to improve to 19-11-1 on the season and is now ties with the Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division with 39 points. In their most recent game after building a three-goal lead against the Oilers, the Hurricanes allowed the next three goals. However, they responded with three more goals of their own for a 6-3 victory. Carolina is 29-61 against the money line in its last 90 road games after having won four of their last five games. The Canucks are coming off a 4-1 home loss to Toronto on Tuesday night which snapped a two-game winning streak. They are just three points out of the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Here, we play against road teams against the money line after two straight blowout wins by three goals or more going up against an opponent after scoring one goal or less in their previous game. This situation is 36-11 (76.6 percent) over the last five seasons. 9* (20) Vancouver Canucks

This is a play on the ST. LOUIS BLUES as part of our NHL Thursday Hat Trick. St. Louis has lost three straight games and while the Blues do have two other losing skids of three or more, they still earned points for going into overtime during those runs. This is the first time the Blues have suffered three consecutive regulation losses. After playing six of its last eight games on the road, St. Louis begins a four-game homestand where it is 8-4-3 on the season. The Blues are 10-4 in their last 14 games against teams with a losing record. Vegas snapped a two-game slide with a 5-1 win over Chicago on Tuesday. The Golden Knights have earned points in six of their last seven games (5-1-1) but only once as an underdog. The Golden Knights are 5-21 in their last 26 games as an underdog. Here, we play on teams against the money line after allowing five goals or more going up against an opponent after a blowout win by four goals or more. This situation is 95-57 (62.5 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (14) St. Louis Blues

This is a play on the FLORIDA PANTHERS as part of our NHL Thursday Hat Trick. Florida continues its season-long nine-game homestand as it looks to bounce back from a 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The Panthers are 9-5-2 at home and they are 5-2 in their last seven games after scoring two goals or less in their previous game. New York is coming off a 5-1 win at Tampa Bay on Monday but even with that, the Islanders are 2-5 in their last seven road games. This game is strength on strength. The Islanders GAA of 2.38 ranks third in the NHL, and that defense will be tested on Thursday by the much-improved Panthers offense that ranks fifth in the league at 3.27 gpg. The Islanders have defeated the Panthers the two times they have played this season, both coming at home, so the Panthers will be out for revenge. Here, we play on home teams when the money line is -100 to -150 revenging a loss where team scored one or less goals, off a loss against a division rival. This situation is 86-39 (68.8 percent) over the last five seasons. 9* (2) Florida Panthers

This is a play on the BOSTON CELTICS for our NBA Thursday Star Attraction. We played against Boston last night and had its four-game winning streak snapped in a 122-117 loss to the Pacers but the Celtics return home in a great bounce back spot. Boston is one of three NBA teams still undefeated at home, a list that includes the 76ers (13-0), who are 5-7 on the road, however. The Celtics are 10-0 here and going into tonight, both teams have 17 wins while the Celtics are ahead by 2 in the loss column. The 76ers were expected to be a top defensive team, and they are. However, the Celtics are tied with them in Defensive Rating at 103, good for 3rd in the league. What separates these teams at the moment is on the offensive side. The Celtics are ranked 7th while the Sixers (who struggle with spacing) are only 13th. While the 76ers enter having won three straight and seven of eight, Boston has revenge on its side as well. Boston got thumped in the first meeting, losing by 14 points in the season opener. The total margin of defeat in the other five losses the Celtics have taken is 18 points, making the Philadelphia loss far and away their most lopsided of the season. Here, we play against road underdogs after beating the spread by 24 or more points total in their last three games, with a winning record on the season playing another winning team. This situation is 103-55 ATS (65.2 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (524) Boston Celtics

This is a play on the IOWA ST. CYCLONES for our CBB Thursday Enforcer. Iowa St. is coming off a win on Sunday over Seton Hal which avenged a loss to the Pirates 10 days prior in the Bahamas and now the Cyclones will be out for revenge against their hated rival. The home team has won four straight in this series including an Iowa win by 14 points last season in a game that Iowa St. was actually favored in on the road. Iowa St. is 5-0 at Hilton Coliseum this season and puts its 12-game non-conference home winning streak on the line Thursday. Taking care of the ball has been the key to success for the Cyclones as they have had fewer turnovers than their opponent in all nine games this season and the starting guard trio of Tyrese Haliburton, Rasir Bolton and Prentiss Nixon own a 2.1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Overall, the Cyclones rank 18th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio, ninth in turnover margin and 21st in turnovers per game. Iowa comes in at just 1-2 on the road and going back, the Hawkeyes are just 5-18 ATS in their last 23 road games. Here, we play on home favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points in a game involving two teams outscoring opponents by 8.0 or more ppg, after two straight wins by 10 points or more. This situation is 87-47 ATS (64.9 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (664) Iowa St. Cyclones