NHL Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (5/6)
The second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs continues on Wednesday with a couple of games on the schedule. The Canadiens and Sabres get their series underway in Western New York, while the night wraps up in Sin City, where the Golden Knights will attempt to take a 2-0 lead over the Ducks in their divisional series. I've sifted through the numbers and trends, narrowing in on a best bet for each contest. Let's dive into the odds and key metrics for tonight's games and check out my top NHL picks tonight.
Wednesday’s Best NHL Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of Hard Rock Bet)
Montreal Canadiens (+110) vs. Buffalo Sabres (-130) | O/U 5.5 (-130/+110)
The Canadiens (0-0) outdueled the Lightning in an electric Game 7 on Sunday, ultimately winning and clinching the series in a 2-1 affair. They'll take on the Sabres (0-0) next, who are coming off of a six-game series with the Bruins. Puck drop for Game 1 is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY.
I'll be on the over in the series opener. I think this total is at least 0.5 goals too low. All four of the head-to-head meetings between the clubs this season saw at least six combined tallies, with the games averaging 6.5 goals.
Additionally, these were two of the best offensive teams in the NHL this year. The Sabres ranked fifth in goals per 60 minutes (3.42), while the Canadiens were seventh (3.34).
They were fifth (12.27%) and second (12.93%) in shooting percentage during the regular season, respectively. With all of the young, sharpshooting talent on the ice, and considering it's early in the series, I think we could be in for a higher-scoring game tonight.
Bet: Over 5.5 Goals (-130)
Anaheim Ducks (+130) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (-150) | O/U 6.5 (-105/-115)
Let's head out to the desert to close out the night, where the Golden Knights (1-0) will look to extend their series lead against the youthful Ducks (0-1). Game 1 was a 3-1 victory in favor of Vegas, where Carter Hart made 33 saves on 34 shots faced. Tonight's game is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
I'm locking in the Golden Knights on the Moneyline for Game 2. Vegas continues to impress under head coach John Tortorella, as the team is now 12-2-1 in 15 games under his leadership.
Carter Hart continues his reemergence in between the pipes, entering tonight's game with a 2.49 GAA and a .910 SV% in the playoffs. This is in addition to closing out the regular season with a 1.66 GAA and a .930 SV% in six April outings.
On the other end of the ice, the Ducks' defense remains an issue. Anaheim is just 6-9-2 in its last 17 games overall, allowing 3.8 goals per game over that span. They're 15th in the playoffs in team GAA (3.41) and 14th on the penalty kill (75%).
With Vegas having the home-ice advantage and an edge in experience, I expect them to take care of business against Anaheim's questionable goaltending. Give me the Golden Knights.
Bet: Golden Knights Moneyline (-150)