NHL Picks

The battle of Florida continues with Game 2 in round 1. The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are locked in an exciting series, in which the Panthers own a 1-0 lead. At home again, can the Panthers earn a major 2-0 series lead or will the Lightning tie things up before heading home for 2 games?

The first game was extremely close, and I don’t see that tightness changing at all. Furthermore, I am expecting the same outcome in a win for Florida. On full display again, the depth on the Panthers’ roster is unmatched. They have both skill and grit up and down the entire lineup, with a great showing of all-star talent. Tampa Bay did prove it can hang with them, but overall Florida has shown it is the better team. Having a 2-0 series lead is very important, and Florida will look to make sure it can secure these wins before hitting the road in enemy territory. This should be yet another game that is close until the end, but I’ll ride with the Panthers squeaking out another victory.

Panthers ML at -185 available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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For the game totals, I think we see a higher-scoring game. This matchup is absolutely filled with elite-level talent. Nine players featured in this series had 70+ points in the regular season, including potential MVP Nikita Kucherov — who had more than double that (144). The goaltenders in this matchup are also elite, but I see constant offensive pressure taking over in this one — where we should see more than just 5 goals in Game 1. With both teams likely finding the net multiple times, I’m taking the over.

Over 5.5 available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

The Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets continue what is already an extremely entertaining first-round series on Tuesday. Game 1 between these Central Division opponents was full of fireworks, which included 6 first-period goals and 13 overall. Both teams will be looking to clean up their play in this one, offense aside.

For this showdown I think Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche will earn the win and tie the series 1-1. Even while giving up 7 goals, this team looked like its usual electrifying self. A major issue in their loss was goaltending, and to be quite frank it couldn’t have been much worse. I see a major bounceback defensively for Colorado, which will pose a big issue for a Winnipeg squad that was not one of the top-scoring teams this season. We know how unstoppable Colorado’s offense is, so it could be tough to see a major adjustment from Winnipeg. I see yet another tight finish, but I will give it to the away team in Colorado.

Avalanche ML at -110 available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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In Game 1 between these teams we saw 13 goals scored in regulation — which is sixth most in a playoff game in NHL history. I think it is safe to say we won’t see that many goals scored again on Tuesday, but I expect to see lots. Colorado may have an issue with goaltending, and while Alex Georgiev should improve if he starts the door is still open for Winnipeg’s offense to generate. However, Colorado’s offense has been unstoppable all season long — which should continue in these playoffs. I’m taking the over for the encore.

Over 6.0 available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

The Nashville Predators got off on the right foot in Game 1, as Jason Zucker gave the team a 1-0 lead late in the first period. Elias Lindholm leveled the score early in the second period, but Ryan O’Reilly restored the lead with a powerplay goal late midway through the second period to give the Preds the lead after 40 minutes. But it was all Vancouver Canucks in the third period, as Pius Suter and Dakota Joshua scored 2 goals just 12 seconds apart, flipping the game in favor of the home side. Joshua tacked on an empty-net goal, giving him a 3-point night in the series opener.

While things were looking bleak initially, Vancouver has now won all 4 meetings this season and 5 straight overall in the H2H series. Vancouver has won by 2 or more goals in each of the past 3 following 4 consecutive 1-goal games. The Canucks posted a 27-9-5 record at Rogers Place, and they were one of just 3 teams in the Western Conference that had a single-digit loss total on home ice. The Vancouver crowd was pumped up, and it should spur the Canucks to a commanding 2-0 series lead.

Canucks ML at -165 available at time of publishing. Playable to -175.

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The Predators led 1-0 after one period and 2-1 after 2 periods in Game 1. The Canucks picked up 3 unanswered goals in the third period to secure the victory in come-from-behind fashion. Under bettors were likely feeling pretty good in the first 2 periods, but an empty-net goal by Dakota Joshua at 18:32 of the third period flipped the total from an under to the over.

The over has cashed in 3 straight meetings in this season, with an average of 4.3 goals per game for the Canucks in the 4 wins, while allowing 2.0 gpg. The over is also on a 7-1 run in the past 8 in the series, too. The Predators have registered 3 wins in the past 5 games since April 9, with the over going 6-3 in the past 9 starts for Juuse Saros in between the pipes. For the Canucks, the over has cashed in the past 2 games with Thatcher Demko in the crease and it is 5-2 in the past 7 games since a regular-season meeting April 6 in Los Angeles.

Over 5.5 available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.