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NHL Playoffs Best Bets, Picks & Predictions: Friday (4/28)

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We have a great slate of hockey on Friday as four Game 6s are set to take place in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Below, I give out my two best bets for Friday’s NHL slate.

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Today's Best NHL Bets

Odds via BetRivers Sportsbook

Dallas Stars (-109) at Minnesota Wild (-109) | O/U 5.5 (+114/-137)

Game 6 of this Western Conference series is set to get underway with the Minnesota Wild hosting the Dallas Stars. With a 3-2 series lead, Dallas can punch its ticket into the next round with a victory on Friday evening.

Minnesota forward Joel Eriksson Ek remains questionable for Game 6 due to an undisclosed injury. Eriksson Ek is a massive loss for this club that is already thin offensively, as he does all the dirty work in front of the net and is probably the best defensive forward on the roster.

Not only are the Stars a much deeper team, but they are better both offensively and defensively. Since the Christmas break at 5-on-5, Dallas ranks 18th in the league in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) and second in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).

Meanwhile, over that same stretch, the Wild rank six spots lower in xGF/60 and 14 spots lower in xGA/60 at 5-on-5. Both Oettinger and Gustavsson are tremendous in net, although that matchup is likely a wash while the Stars are better both offensively and defensively, meaning Minnesota’s season is likely to come to an end on Friday.

Best Bet: Stars Moneyline (-109)

Boston Bruins (-180) at Florida Panthers (+150) | O/U 6 (-114/-107)

Game 6 of this Eastern Conference series is set to get underway with the Florida Panthers hosting the Boston Bruins. Boasting home-ice advantage, Florida has the opportunity to force a decisive Game 7 back in Boston.

The most significant concern with the Bruins is that they are primed to regress. At 5-on-5 since the Christmas break, they ranked second in the league in GF/60 and first in GA/60.

However, over that same stretch, they ranked 13th in xGF/60 and 12th in xGA/60. Meanwhile, the Panthers’ powerhouse offense continues to present a problem for anyone in their path.

At 5-on-5 this year, Florida ranks first in the league in xGF/60. The two main worries for the Panthers in this contest is defending their own zone and goaltending, but with home-ice advantage, it is worth taking a shot on them to force a Game 7 at +150.

Best Bet: Panthers Moneyline (+150)

Best of luck!

Check out our other best bets for Friday:

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Tony Sartori is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Tony, check out his archive and follow him @tony_sartori.

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