This is a 10* TOP SATURDAY TOTAL on the OVER Hurricanes/Lightning.

All season long the talk was about how scoring was up around the NHL, but now that we're in the thick of the playoffs, we're starting to see a lot of lower-scoring games.

Both of Friday's game went well UNDER the number.

The first three games of this series have all gone UNDER. Tampa's now seen the total go UNDER in five straight.

Carolina has seen the total go UNDER in three of its last four.

Yes, defense and goaltending have been dominating the NHL playoffs of late, but in my opinion, everything finally points to more of a wide-open affair between these two heated rivals.

Both are fantastic defensively, but also among the best offensively.

Carolina averages 3.13 GPG, which ranks 11th, while Tampa averages 3.21, which ranks ninth.

The Lightning have also seen the total go OVER the number in seven of their last ten in trying to avenge an OT home loss against an opponent.

Carolina needs to continue to push the pace here to even things up, as a 3-1 hole would likely be just too much for the Canes to climb out of against the defending champs.

I see a faster-paced, wide-open shootout here in Game 4. The play is the OVER.

Good luck, NP