TheSpread.com

Home Ice Provides Advantage

The home team has won every game in the Calgary-Detroit series, and the Red Wings are hoping the trend continues at Joe Louis Arena in Game 5 on Saturday.

``The bottom line is we have to hold serve here,'' Detroit coach Mike Babcock said Friday."

Win or Go Home

All of the Nashville Predators' bold moves and Stanley Cup hopes have come down to this: Win Friday night or go home without winning even one postseason series.

The franchise that signed Jason Arnott and J.P. Dumont last summer, then traded for Peter Forsberg in February to strengthen their chase of the Stanley Cup now finds itself in exactly the same position as a year ago, trailing San Jose 3-1 in their best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series.

Tied Heading in to Friday Night

Like most of the New Jersey Devils, John Madden sat in the players' lounge and watched the New York Yankees' comeback win over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday before coming out to talk about the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The baseball game was mesmerizing. Down by four runs in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, the Yankees scored six times, winning on a three-run homer by Alex Rodriguez.

Sabres Deserve 3-1 Lead

Now Ryan Miller has something to dispute.

The Sabres goalie didn't buy the notion that Buffalo is suddenly relying on luck to take control of its playoff series against the New York Islanders.

Flames Do Whatever it Takes

A few bumps and bruises forced the Flames to get creative with their defensemen in Game 3 against Detroit - and it worked out just fine for Calgary.

The Flames are prepared to do whatever it takes again in Game 4 on Thursday night to get a second consecutive victory against the top-seeded Red Wings and even up their best-of-seven series.