NHL Playoffs Odds & Picks: Saturday (4/27)
It is one of the more exciting times of the year: the Stanley Cup playoffs. What makes the NHL have such a special playoff run is that sometimes, the best team doesn't always win. We have four games, and we'll look at the best bets for each.
Here are my favorite bets in the NHL for Saturday, April 27.
Saturday's NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Boston Bruins (-105) at Toronto Maple Leafs (-115) | O/U 6 (+102/-122)
It didn't take long for the Bruins to respond to the loss and pick up the win in Toronto. In Game 3, the Bruins would respond anytime Toronto was picking up momentum and the crowd was into it. This came especially late in the third when Toronto tied it, then 28 seconds later, Brad Marchand would hit the first of his two goals in that period.
Toronto must feel relief as William Nylander practiced in full and should be on the ice for this game. This is great because, aside from Auston Matthews and Max Domi, the offense has been lackluster.
The defense continues to be below average, but with Nylander’s return, the Maple Leafs should get to Linus Ullmark again. Look for the highest-scoring game of this series.
Pick: Over 6 Total Goals (+102)
Carolina Hurricanes (-185) at New York Islanders (+154) | O/U 5.5 (-102/-118)
Even with the UBS Arena rocking, the Islanders could not come through and are on the brink of elimination. Game 2 was a game New York should have won, and Game 3 was one they could have won. The defense played its best game of the series, holding Carolina to 22 shots and not giving chances at the net, but the offense failed them again.
It just shows how many ways Carolina can beat you. After a dreadful Game 2, Fredrick Andersen bounced back by saving 29-of-31 shots on goal.
Carolina hasn't played their best in this series, but they can still pull out the brooms. It's too late for New York to save their season.
Pick: Hurricanes 60-Minute Moneyline (-110)
Florida Panthers (-125) at Tampa Bay Lightning (+105) | O/U 5.5 (-102/-118)
While these games are close, Florida has looked like the better team, which is why they can close out this series tonight. The problem with Tampa Bay has been the same for multiple years: the blue line. Through the first three games, the Panthers have 52 high-danger scoring chances and scoring six, and the Lightning have not been able to slow them down.
Florida is playing better in every aspect, and if the Bolts didn't have Andrei Vasilevsiky in the cage, this series would be even more lopsided. They've been giving themselves more opportunities, with a 53.10% Corsi percentage and 59.14% of the expected goal share.
Tampa Bay is still a team that has made three of the last four Stanley Cup Finals, so you should never count them out. The last game went over, and you feel like offense is what it will take to either end or extend this series.
Pick: Over 6 Total Goals (-122)
Dallas Stars (-105) at Vegas Golden Knights (-115) | O/U 5.5 (-125/+105)
We knew this wouldn't be your typical 1 vs. 8 matchup, and that's how it's going so far. The Golden Knights were able to win both games and now have the chance to eliminate the Stars at home. They haven't been playing their best hockey but still, Jack Eichel has been great with four points, and Jonathan Marchessault has three. However, other than his goal in the first minute of the series, Mark Stone has been quiet, while Chandler Stephenson and William Karlsson have been left off the stat sheet.
The Stars haven't been badly outplayed; they have a higher expected goal share, more takeaways, and a better expected goal difference. They're just not getting the shots through the net, as Logan Thompson's 2.4 goals saved above expected are second in the playoffs can attest.
The goaltending matchup is looking like the highlight of this series, and getting the Under with plus money is a great value.
Pick: Under 5.5 Total Goals (+105)