NHL Picks & Predictions: Sabres vs. Canadiens (Saturday)
The Stanley Cup Playoffs continue today with only one game on the docket: an international Game 6 in Montreal between the Sabres and Canadiens. I've got you covered from a sports betting angle, as I've narrowed in on a duo of best bets from the continuously shrinking postseason betting board. Here are my top NHL picks and bets for Saturday, May 16th.
Saturday's Best NHL Picks & Bets
Last: 1-1 | Postseason: 9-7 | Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Buffalo Sabres (+145) vs. Montreal Canadiens (-148) | O/U 6.5 (+102/-122)
The GIFT has cashed in each of the first five games of this series. 5-0 and the longest any of those have made any of those bettors wait was the 6:32 mark of the first period of Game 4. In the other four games, the GIFT has cashed at: 4:31 (G1 – Doan), 1:36 (G2 – Newhook), 0:53 (G3 – Thompson), and 2:00 (G5 – Zucker). In fact, when you list those out you notice that Game 4 was the only game that the GIFF (Goal in First Five) didn’t cash (4-1 this series).
Additionally, the GIFT cashed in the final three games of the Sabres previous series with Boston, so GIFT has hit in eight straight Sabres games this postseason. The GIFT cashed in eight of the Canadiens last 11 games this postseason, including five of the last six on their home Bell Centre ice.
During the regular season, Buffalo was 51-31 (.622) cashing the GIFT and cashed it in four of their final five games heading into the playoffs. Montreal was 48-34 (.585) and that percentage jumped to 63% at home.
Buffalo has reportedly forgone practice and film study prior to Game 6 so expect them to come out just slinging rubber at Jakub Dobes from the drop.
A 5-0 series record has juiced the GIFT, but a +170 return on a prop that is 4-1? You sure about that? YES. Oh, just do it! YOU’RE RICH!
Pick: GIFT (-166) & GIFF (+170)