Sports Handicapper Frank Sawyer's Picks & Predictions

At 10:10 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing the money-line on the Los Angeles Kings (28) versus the Edmonton Oilers (27) in Game Five of their Western Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Los Angeles (50-28-8) has lost two straight games in this series after their 4-3 loss in overtime on the road against the Oilers on Sunday. Edmonton (50-31-5) has evened this series at 2-2.

REASONS TO TAKE THE KINGS WITH THE MONEY-LINE: Darcy Kuemper needs to play better between the pipes — and the Los Angeles blue line needs to make things easier on him. While Kuemper gave up four goals on 48 shots, he did register +1.5 Goals Saved Above Expectation (GSAx). In Game Three, Kuemper struggled with a -2.23 GSAx mark — so he did play much better in Game Four. He posted +22.5 GSAx in the regular season which was the sixth most in the NHL. He should play much better back at home at Crypto.com Arena. On the road, Kuemper had a 2.37 Goals-Against-Average along with a .909 save percentage in 25 starts in the regular season — but in 25 starts in the regular season at home, he enjoyed a 20-3-2 record with a 1.67 GAA and a .935 save percentage. Los Angeles has won 7 of their last 8 games at home after losing to a fellow Pacific Division rival in their last game. They have also won 5 of their last 6 games at home after losing two games in a row. The Kings have won 33 of their 43 games at home this season — and they have won 10 of their 11 games at home when favored up to a -150 price. They have 10 of their last 12 games at home with the Total set at 6 or higher. And in their last 19 games at home against teams with a winning record, they have won 17 of these games. The pressure is on the Edmonton scoring attack because of their suspect goaltending situation. Stuart Skinner struggled in the first two games of this series before getting benched for Calvin Pickard. Pickard stopped 38 of the 41 shots he faced on Sunday — but he did post a -0.15 GSAx mark in that contest. Pickard ranked 93rd in the regular season with a rough -9.1 GSAx mark. He has -1.6 GSAx in this series — and he ranks 17th of the 24 goaltenders that have gotten on the ice in this postseason. The Oilers have lost 9 of their last 14 road games against teams who are winning 51-60% of their games.

FINAL TAKE: The Kings have won 16 of their last 21 games at home when avenging a loss. 25* NHL Pacific Division Game of the Month is with the money-line on the Los Angeles Kings (28) versus the Edmonton Oilers (27). Best of luck for us — Frank.

FRANK’S CUTTING ROOM FLOOR FOR TUESDAY, 4/29:

My “Cutting Room Floor” plays are the situations I considered the closest to being worthy of investment but did not make the “final cut” for my official plays today for subscribers. The last play I cut for Tuesday is with Under the Total in the game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets. Denver (52-34) evened this series at two games apiece with their 101-99 upset victory on the road in Los Angeles as a 7-point underdog on Saturday. The Nuggets have played 7 of their last 11 games Under the Total this month. They have also played 9 of their last 14 games Under the Total against teams winning 60-70% of their games. Los Angeles (52-34) has played 16 of their last 24 games Under the Total when playing for no more than the fourth time in the last ten days. The Clippers have also played 9 of their last 12 road games Under the Total when listed in the +/- 3-point range. Take the Under. Best of luck — Frank.

Frank Sawyer’s Hollywood Sports is on a 14 of 21 (67%) NHL Playoff run with featured 25*/20*/10* plays after DELIVERING their 25* NHL Game of the Month with Vegas on Saturday! Now Frank furthers his 7 of 10 (67%) NHL sides plays run with featured plays of underdogs and favorites NEVER priced higher than -150 with a 25* NHL Divisional Game of the Month for Tuesday night! DO NOT MISS OUT!

At 7:35 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing the Detroit Pistons (503) plus the points versus the New York Knicks (504) in Game Five of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Detroit (45-41) has lost five of their last six games after their 94-93 upset loss at home against the Knicks as a 2.5-point favorite on Sunday. New York (54-32) took a 3-1 series lead with the victory.

REASONS TO TAKE THE PISTONS PLUS THE POINTS: Detroit will have another chip on their shoulder for this game after feeling they got jobbed by the referees for not calling a foul when Tim Hardaway got bumped in his last-second 3-point attempt. The league later admitted a foul should have been called. The Pistons have been very competitive in this series — so they are not lacking in confidence against this Knicks team. They only made 42.9% of their shots in that game which was the worst shooting effort in their last eight contests. As it is, Detroit has covered the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games on the road after losing at home in their last game. They have covered the point spread in 13 of their last 17 games after losing two games in a row including nine of those 12 games played on the road. They have also covered the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games on the road when playing for no more than the fourth time in the last ten days. The Pistons did win in Madison Square Garden in Game Two of this series last Monday — and they have covered the point spread in 25 of their last 42 games on the road. They have also covered the point spread in 8 of their last 11 road games as an underdog of up to six points. Furthermore, Detroit has covered the point spread in 20 of their last 30 games as an underdog getting 3.5 to 9.5 points including 12 of those 19 games played on the road. New York played their best defensive game in their last eight contests by holding the Pistons to 42.9% shooting. While regression on that end of the court is likely, the Knicks are struggling to make baskets against this physical Detroit defense. New York is only making 44.7% of their shots in the four games in this series which has resulted in just 107.3 Points-Per-Game. The Knicks have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 13 games at home when playing for no more than the sixth time in the last 14 days. They have covered the point spread in 11 of their last 18 games at home. Additionally, New York has only covered the point spread in 15 of their last 23 home games against teams with a winning record — and they have covered the point spread in 9 of their last 13 home games against teams winning 51-60% of their games.

FINAL TAKE: Detroit has covered the point spread in 14 of their last 22 opportunities to avenge a loss at home including nine of those 13 games played on the road. They have also covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games when playing with revenge from an upset loss at home as the favorite. 25* NBA Underdog of the Month with the Detroit Pistons (503) plus the points versus the New York Knicks (504). Best of luck for us — Frank.