May 3 COFFEE CLUB

[Thomas]

ING TODAY Tuesday, May 3 On Today's Scorecard Lighting It Up

The final curtain has closed on an NHL regular season filled with high-scoring games and 100-point teams. And with it comes one of the most action-packed times of the year – the NFL Stanley Cup Playoffs, where anything can happen, and it won't be a surprise. According to Axios Sports, teams averaged 3.14 goals per game this season, the highest since 1995-96 (also 3.14) and a nearly 7% increase from last year (2.94). With it, eight teams averaged 3.5 goals or more per game - Panthers, Avalanche, Blues, Maple Leafs, Wild, Flames, Lightning, Oilers. And to no one's surprise, all eight teams made the playoffs. To read more on this NHL Playoff Primer click here.

Trending Today Too Much Champagne

Continuing with our annual escape to paradise - AKA: the NHL Playoffs - we called out in the Coffee Club yesterday that the Florida Panthers earned the President's Trophy with the best regular-season record for the first time in franchise history. They've shown vulnerability of late though. Immediately after winning a league and a franchise high 13 straight games with a 3-2 OT win against Toronto, the Panthers were toppled 8-4 at home the next night against Tampa Bay. And then after cementing the aforementioned President's Trophy in a 4-0 win at Ottawa on Thursday, they were thrashed 10-2 at Montreal the next evening – albeit with a lineup filled with backups and call-ups. Call it the after effects of playing the next day after partaking in too much celebratory bubbly, we're sure. Nevertheless, GM Bill Zito has built something undeniably special in Florida around three franchise-changing draft picks chosen in the top three in early 2010s. In a situation many thought may never materialize, Aleksander Barkov,Aaron Ekblad, andJonathan Huberdeau are suddenly spoiled with complementary talent after having starved for so long.

Grinding Out The Profits Brewing Up A Storm

Milwaukee RH Brandon Woodruffis 11-2 in his career team-starts during May, including 6-0 at home. Meanwhile, Cincinnati's Vladimir Guitierrezis 0-6 in his last six away team-starts. With that, look for the Brew Crew to improve to 10-1 in their last 11 overall division contests tonight.