Scott Rickenbach

Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach NHL Rotation #21 Tuesday 8* Philadelphia Flyers Money Line (+) @ Calgary Flames @ 9:05 ET - The Flames are off back to back losses and, in regulation time, Calgary has totaled just 5 goals in its last 3 games! The Flames have given up a total of 9 goals in its past two games, both losses, and now takes on a Flyers team that is fired up after their first loss of the season. While Philadelphia has had plenty of rest early this season (only 3 games thus far), Calgary is in a 3 games in 4 nights situation here after visiting Vegas Saturday and San Jose Sunday. The Flyers have announced they will start top goalie Carter Hart in Edmonton on Wednesday. That means the back-up, Brian Ellliott, will get the start here. However, Elliott is certainly not a big drop-off between the pipes. The veteran netminder is 127-68-22 in his NHL career with a 2.41 GAA and a .915 save percentage. I liked what I saw him from in the preseason too! The Flyers special teams work has been excellent early this season and, off a shootout loss, Philly is going to be highly motivated after having the past two days off. They want to get right back into the win column and continue their hot start to the season. Their puck possession and overall structured game has looked great early this season.  The road team has won 3 of the last 4 meetings between these teams and the Flyers offer strong underdog value in this spot. Calgary has lost 22 of 38 when off a game in which they were held to 1 goal or less. 8* PHILADELPHIA

Earliest Cash - Rickenbach NHL Rotation #15 Tuesday 8* OVER the total in Toronto Maple Leafs vs Minnesota Wild @ 7:05 ET - The Wild played back-up goalie Alex Stalock yesterday and finally got their first win of the season and it was a surprising shutout. Stalock is unlikely to play the 2nd game of a back to back and, if he does, I wouldn't expect good results as that is not something he has done a lot of in his career. The more likely netminder tonight is Devan Dubnyk and he is 0-4 this season with a 4.56 GAA and an .862 save percentage. Those are ugly numbers and facing a very talented Maple Leafs team is unlikely to help matters. The Leafs are off a 5-2 win over the Red Wings Saturday. Toronto is averaging 4 goals per game this season but also had allowed an average of 4 goals per game this season prior to the win over Detroit. That is why I am fully expect both clubs to have plenty of success finding the back of the net in this non-conference match-up Tuesday! Last season both meetings between these teams totaled at least 7 goals and I expected a total of 6.5 to be posted on this game. Getting a 6 is offering great value here. The Maple Leafs, when playing against a team with a losing record in the first half of the season, are 27-15 to the over. More of the same expected here. 8* OVER the total in Toronto

Total of the Month - Rickenbach MLB Rotation #913 Tuesday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Washington Nationals vs St Louis Cardinals @ 8:05 ET - Pleasant temperatures and a light southeast breeze and a pitching match-up that should lead to plenty of runs. The Nationals exploded for 8 runs in last night's home win and they should have another big night at the plate tonight against a young hurler whom had some struggles in his first post-season start. The key to the value with tonight's over is that I also expect the Cardinals bats, for the first time in this series, to finally get going. That's because St Louis is facing Patrick Corbin. Though the Nationals southpaw enjoyed success against them at Busch Stadium last month, he gave up 6 earned runs in 5 innings in his lone home start against the Cardinals this season. Also, Corbin has had some post-season struggles this year in his first ever playoff action. Corbin's lone start had strong overall numbers but saw him walk 5 in 6 innings. Then in his 3 bullpen appearances, the Nationals southpaw had one that was just to retire one batter (in this series) and then in the prior series versus the Dodgers he had a solid 1 and 1/3 inning stint but a disastrous 2/3 inning stint. Look for the Cardinals to get to Corbin early and often but note that St Louis starter Dakota Hudson is also likely to struggle here. The young right-hander was quite shaky in his first-ever post-season appearance last week. Also, the Nationals are getting a 3rd look at him this season and just saw him a month ago. The Nats are a very confident team right now as they have won 5 straight games and averaged scoring 5.2 runs per game in the process. In home games, the Nats have averaged 6.4 runs per game their past 13 contests! But, as noted above, I don't see the Cardinals going away quietly in this series and this is an elimination game for them. Against Corbin, the St Louis bats come back to life. 10* OVER the total in Washington