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NHL Playoffs Best Bets, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (4/29)

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All potential closeout games tonight, with some big swings in momentum in all of these series. One team will try to end it for the second time while others get their first shot. Let’s see if there are eliminations or winner-takes-all.

Let’s dig into Friday’s Game 6s with my same-game parlay picks.

Saturday’s Best NHL Bets

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

Toronto Maple Leafs (-105) at Tampa Bay Lightning (-113) | O/U 6.5 (-110/-110)

The Maple Leafs had their first elimination game of this series, and they could not get it done as the Lightning are now 2-1 in Toronto.

If you don’t believe in ghosts, this might change your opinion.  The spirits of playoff past are being relived as Thursday’s loss was the Leafs’ tenth consecutive defeat in a possible elimination game. They need their superstars to step up. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Williams Nylander, and Morgan Reilly now have a combined -11 plus/minus in elimination games.

Vasilevsky has struggled throughout this series, but as decorated champions do, he stepped up and saved 28 of 30. That defense depends on him because he’s had a below-average blue line all season.

In this series, neither Vasilevsky nor Ilya Samsonov has been as good as they were in the regular season. The over missed on the hook in the last game, but we will see an offensive-heavy game like the series has been.

Pick: Over 6.5 (-110)

New Jersey Devils (+106) at New York Rangers (-128) | O/U 5.5 (+100/-122)

The game has changed, and the Rangers went from being up 2-0 heading home to now being on the brink of elimination.

The problem has been that the offense, which scored ten goals in the first two games, has fallen by scoring just two in their last three. Their top players from the beginning of the series have been missing –Adam Fox and Vladimir Tarasenko have zero points in their previous three, and Chris Kreider has one.

The move that changed everything was putting Akira Schmid between the pipes. He’s been a wall in the last three games with a .989 save percentage on unblocked shots and 5.0 goals saved above expected.

The Rangers should be able to step up and win, but we thought the same thing the first time they were in MSG. Both defenses have played well throughout the series, and we’ll continue to ride the under.

Pick: Under 5.5 (-122)

Edmonton Oilers (-164) at Los Angeles Kings (+136) | O/U 6.5 (-134/+110)

We finally saw a blowout from one of these teams as the Oilers top scoring offense came out in Edmonton with a 6-3 win.

The Kings’ blue line did not do well at putting pressure on the Kings in their zone, allowing the Oilers to move the puck and get open shots. Jay Woodcroft made a lineup change and paired Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, which was a great move.

McDavid has been taken a backseat to Draisaitl, who has six goals to McDavid’s two, but he’s still getting involved with six assists.

The Oilers have needed this offense to step in because the goaltending hasn’t been great. Stuart Skinner has just a .884 save percentage and -1.2 goals saved above expected. He hasn’t been winning games but is doing enough to support the offense.

The Oilers have won in LA, and this line combo with Draisaitl has made them look dominant. They have everything needed to close out this series.

Pick: Oilers 60 Min Moneyline (-110)

Check out our other best bets for Saturday:

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