Top NHL Playoffs Odds & Picks: Tuesday (4/23)
The NHL playoffs continue tonight, and the league rolls out another four-game slate for us to bet on. Below, I'll break down three of the games from a betting perspective and let you know where I'm laying my money on the ice tonight.
Tuesday’s Best NHL Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Washington Capitals (+220) @ New York Rangers (-275) | O/U 5.5 (+100/-122)
The Rangers won Game 1 on Sunday, cruising to a 4-1 victory at home. The two sides are back at it tonight, and this Metropolitan Division clash is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden in New York.
Washington kept the game scoreless through the first period on Sunday before New York exploded for two goals in 33 seconds in the second period. Rather than credit the Capitals for playing quality defense in the first, I think it was more of a shaking-the-rust-off period for the Rangers. We saw their true potential as the game progressed, and there's clearly a massive skill gap between the two sides. That said, I'll lay the 1.5 goals with the Rangers at home.
New York has an edge in basically every major statistical category. The Rangers finished the regular season ranked third on both the power play (25.42%) and penalty kill (84.48%), while the Caps were 18th (20.61%) and 19th (78.97%), respectively. New York also has a sizable advantage in-net with Igor Shesterkin, who has 29 career playoff starts under his belt (.929 SV%), compared to Charlie Lindgren, who just made his postseason debut last time out (.871 SV%). The Blueshirts should come out flying tonight and bury this inferior opponent.
Bet: New York Rangers -1.5 (+104)
Colorado Avalanche (-110) @ Winnipeg Jets (-110) | O/U 6.5 (+104/-128)
There was no shortage of scoring in Canada on Sunday, as the Avalanche and Jets combined for 13 goals in a 7-6 Winnipeg victory. Game 2 features a 9:30 p.m. ET puck drop from the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Game 1 was a back-and-forth barnburner, but as the game continued, it was clear that Colorado had a massive disadvantage in the crease. Alexander Georgiev got lit up for seven goals (.696 SV%) on just 23 shots against. The 28-year-old goaltender finished the season going 1-3-1 in April, posting a 5.21 GAA and .853 SV%.
Included in that five-game stretch is a 7-0 home beatdown at the hands of the Jets. This win, along with the Game 1 shootout, moved Winnipeg to 4-0-0 against Colorado this year, where they've out-scored the Avs 24-10. Connor Hellebuyck should bounce back tonight. The likely Vezina Trophy winner (2.39 GAA, .921 SV%) is just too good to have a second straight letdown. With the head-to-head stats, a massive edge in goaltending and home ice, I think it's a bargain to only lay -110 juice with the Jets on the moneyline.
Bet: Winnipeg Jets Moneyline (-110)
Nashville Predators (+134) @ Vancouver Canucks (-162) | O/U 5.5 (-112/-108)
The Canucks got the job done in Game 1 on Sunday, notching a 4-2 victory over the visiting Predators. Game two is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. ET from Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Colombia.
Sunday's game was much closer than the two-goal margin of victory suggests. Nashville held a slim 2-1 lead into nearly the halfway point of the third period before Vancouver scored twice in 12 seconds to take the lead. They added an empty-netter to stretch the lead out to two goals.
This Vancouver club didn't finish the season playing dominant hockey, going just 13-12-2 over their final 27 games. If there is one game on tonight's schedule where we could see an upset, I think it's this Western Conference clash. The Predators finished the season playing well, and they have a veteran top line that can take advantage of an inexperienced Vancouver team. Let's take a flier on the Predators with a plus-money payout.
Bet: Nashville Predators Moneyline (+134)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Tuesday: