NHL Best Bets
Before I get to my NHL best bets, Last night was a tough one for the Winnipeg Jets. I’m not quite sure what is going on with Connor Hellebuyck, who has now allowed 11 goals against in just two games in the NHL Playoffs. That wasn’t a game that the Jets needed, but it would have been huge if they could have gone up 2-0 on the Avalanche with this series heading back to Colorado. What an exciting two games it’s bee, though.
Tonight, we have three games to watch, including one in Toronto, the mecca of hockey.
Boston at Toronto (-112, 6)
The Boston Bruins came up short in Game 2 back at TD Garden. Now, we have a pivotal Game 3 to look forward to tonight in Toronto. This series is all knotted up at 1-1, but there might be a different look tonight on both sides from what we saw on Monday night.
Jeremy Swayman is expected to be back in the blue paint for Boston after Linus Ullmark got the nod in Game 2, and for the Leafs, William Nylander is expected to make his playoff debut after missing the first two games.
Swayman was dominant in Game 1 of this series as he faced 36 shots and only allowed one goal, skating to a .972 save percentage. His performance made it a very difficult decision for Jim Montgomery to start Ullmark, but the Game 2 loss was not his fault by any means. That said, now that this series is in Toronto, the Bruins will have to do everything in their power to slow down the Leafs and try to take the crowd out of the game. Thanks to Auston Matthews, the Leafs are coming off of a game they can feel great about, and you know they’ll be fired up to be back on home ice. As good as they may have looked offensively, Boston is still a difficult team to score on.
While there may be a lot of chatter about how great Swayman is, Ilya Samsonov played a pretty damn good game as well. He boasted a .929 save percentage in Game 2, allowing two goals against on 29 shots, and if it weren’t for him, this series would be 2-0 Boston.
That game should give Samsonov a massive confidence boost, especially since it was the first time that Toronto had beaten Boston this season.
Typically, when a series shifts to a different city, there is another feeling-out process that is similar to Game 1. To that note, I see this game being played a little tighter defensively while both goaltenders stand strong. I’m expecting a great showing from both teams.
NHL Best Bet: Under 6 -118 (play to -130)
Los Angeles at Edmonton (-192, 6)
If the Edmonton Oilers have learned anything from their previous two postseason against the Los Angeles Kings, they need to do everything in their power to put this team away early. This is the third straight year that these two teams have met in round one, and the previous two have gone to a minimum of six games. The Oilers are the much better team, in my opinion, and they should be able to put away the Kings in five games or less, so tonight feels like they need to make a statement win.
Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, and Evan Bouchard led the way in Game 1. McDavid notched five assists, Draisaitl added a goal and assist, Hyman had a hat trick while also mixing in an assist, and Bouchard had five helpers of his own. The Oilers just have too much firepower for Los Angeles. I don’t see them being able to keep up with Edmonton’s pace.
If the Kings are going to have a shot, they’re going to need a much better performance from their blue line and from Cam Talbot. Talbot allowed six goals against on 44 shots faced. I don’t think his night will be any easier in Game 2.
Stuart Skinner had a solid start to Game 1, but as it progressed, the team in front of him got a little more careless with the puck, which made his job a little more difficult. Skinner gave up four goals on 37 shots. I don’t trust either netminder to shut it down tonight. Both teams put up north of 35 shots on goal. The game was somewhat of a track meet, which I think we’ll see again tonight.
The Oilers will feed off the energy of their crowd and feel confident from their Game 1 win. I like them to keep that momentum going.
NHL Best Bet(s): Edmonton Oilers to win in regulation -115 (play to -130) | Over 6 -112 (play to -125)
April Record: 19-10 (+6.64 units)
2023-24 record: 148–142 (-24.10 units)
