Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (5/8)
I'm heading back to the ice after a perfect 2-0 night with last night's NHL best bets! The league rolls out another two-game slate as the Bruins (1-0) square off against the Panthers (0-1), while the Oilers (0-0) open up their second-round series in Vancouver against the Canucks (0-0).
Let's dive into each of these games from a betting perspective and lock in a couple of bets.
Wednesday’s NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook)
Boston Bruins (+145) @ Florida Panthers (-175) | O/U 5.5 (+100/-120)
The "rust" category in the "rest vs. rust" argument gained another tally on Monday as the Panthers, who were idle for seven days, got smoked 5-1 by the Bruins in Game 1 of their second-round matchup. The two sides are back at it tonight, and puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET from Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla.
After seeing six combined goals in Game 1, I was hoping to get a discounted price with the under in this game. It doesn't appear that'll be the case, as most sportsbooks, including BetMGM, have the under 5.5 juiced at -120. However, I still think this is a great buy-back spot on the under. Three of the four regular-season meetings finished under this total of 5.5 goals. Those head-to-head matchups include BOS W: 3-2, BOS W: 3-1, BOS W: 4-3 and BOS W: 3-2.
During the regular season, these were two top-three defenses in the league. Florida ranked first overall in 5-on-5 goals against (120), while Boston was third (135) in the same category. Meanwhile, Jeremy Swayman continues to put up insane numbers this postseason. The 25-year-old is 5-2-0 with a 1.42 GAA and .955 SV%. On the other hand, Sergei Bobrovsky (3.00 GAA, .890 SV%) hasn't been as sharp, but we've seen him make a ton of big saves throughout the early parts of the postseason. I expect him to lock in for Game 2 tonight.
Finally, it's also worth noting that Boston has stonewalled Florida's power play this season. Over the five head-to-head matchups, the Cats are now 0-14 (0%) on the man advantage. Goals should be at a premium in Sunrise tonight, and I'll lay the -120 juice with the under 5.5 goals.
Bet: Under 5.5 (-120)
Edmonton Oilers (-130) @ Vancouver Canucks (+110) | O/U 6.0 (-115/-105)
The Oilers and Canucks open up their second-round series tonight, and Vancouver gets home ice after winning the Pacific Division in the regular season. Game 1 is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. ET from Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Vancouver smashed Edmonton during the regular season, going 4-0-0 against them and outscoring the divisional foe 21-7. However, three of those games occurred before Kris Knoblauch took the reins of the Oilers' bench, and the fourth saw Connor McDavid sidelined toward the end of the year. So, I'm not putting a ton of stock in those regular-season matchups.
On that note, I'll lock in the Oilers to win Game 1 tonight. For starters, they have the best player on the ice in Connor McDavid. He racked up 12 points (1G, 11A) in five first-round games, leading Edmonton's power play to a 45% success rate (9-20). Defensively, Edmonton has really tightened things up since Knoblauch took over. After a horrid start to the regular season, the Oil climbed all the way to eighth in 5-on-5 goals against per 60 minutes (2.26). They also shut down all 12 Los Angeles power-play opportunities (100%) in the opening round.
Finally, factor in that Vancouver is relying on a third-string goaltender in Arturs Silvos, and I think Edmonton should take care of business tonight. Silvos (1.70 GAA, .938 SV%) looked great against Nashville, but dealing with Edmonton's high-octane offense will be a completely different beast.
Bet: Edmonton Oilers Moneyline (-130)