NHL Playoffs Best Bets, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (5/3)
It was an eventful night on the ice last night as the Panthers stole another road game, taking a 1-0 lead over the Maple Leafs in their series. The nightcap featured a 5-4 overtime thriller between the Kraken and the Stars.
We’re back at it for what should be an exciting night of playoff hockey. I’m locking in bets on both games tonight, so let’s dive into the matchups!
NHL ‘22-’23 Record: 27-49 (-24.59 Units)
Today’s Best NHL Bets
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
New Jersey Devils (+100) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (-120) | O/U 5.5 (+110/-130)
The Devils took down the Rangers in a seven-game first-round series while the Hurricanes handled the Islanders in six. These two Metropolitan foes will now go head-to-head in a best-of-seven series as they each attempt to punch a ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals. Puck drop for game one is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC.
We saw the emergence of Akira Schmid in the first round for the Devils as the netminder posted a 4-1-0 record to go along with a 1.38 GAA and .951 SV%. He played an integral role in New Jersey’s success and helped limit the Rangers to a 17.9% power play rate.
On the flip side, Frederick Andersen appears to be back in form as the 33-year-old goaltender made his only start in the Game 6 win, allowing just one goal over 66:00 minutes of ice time (0.91 GAA). He made 33 saves on 34 shots on goal (.971 SV%).
This is going to be a whole different test for this dynamic Devils offense. Carolina appears to be a much faster and sharper team overall than the Rangers were. I think we’ll see a lower-scoring affair in Game 1 as these two teams feel each other out in the early going. Let’s lay the juice with the under.
Bet: Under 5.5 (-130)
Edmonton Oilers (-120) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (+100) | O/U 6.5 (-115/-105)
The heavyweight matchup of the night pits the Edmonton Oilers against the Vegas Golden Knights for a series-opening game. This one gets underway at 9:30 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
I’m riding with Vegas on home ice in the opening game of the series. They absolutely dominated an inferior Winnipeg team, winning four straight games down the stretch. The Golden Knights outscored the Jets 18-9 over the four-game sample. Additionally, they’ve seen Laurent Brossoit claim the top spot in net as he’s now 4-1-0 with a 2.42 GAA and .915 SV%.
The elephant in the room in this series is whether or not Vegas can slow down the duo of Leon Draisaitl (7G, 4A) and Connor McDavid (3G, 7A). Well, I expect them to limit the two stars and force them to score at even strength, or completely take them out of the game and make the bottom six forwards step up. Nine of their 21 combined points came on the power play in the first round. Vegas was the least-penalized team in the NHL this year, taking just 196 penalties. To put that into perspective, the next closest was St. Louis at 217.
If Vegas limits their time in the box, they’ll have a huge advantage in this series. Finally, having Mark Stone back in the lineup is huge. He’s a three-time runner-up for the Selke Award and has placed inside the top six on six occasions. Look for him and the Golden Knights to make life miserable for McDavid and Draisaitl. Let’s ride with the home team in this one.
Bet: Vegas Golden Knights Moneyline (+100)
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