The set-up: I play plenty of underdogs, totals and favorites. Sometimes I feel that laying a larger price is warranted and this is one of those occassions. Ottawa has been playing a lot better over the last couple of weeks, but it enters off a hard-fought 2-1 win at home over Philadelphia just last night.

The pick: Buffalo looked like the team to beat in the early going this season, but the Sabres come in desperate, as they've lost six in a row. If not now, when for Buffalo? Note that the Sabres are 22-8 in their last 30 games as a favorite in the -151 to -200 range, while Ottawa is a poor 19-42 in its last 61 as an underdog. The situation warrants a play of this size, so lay the price with confidence.

10* COACH'S CORNER on the Buffalo Sabres.