NHL Playoffs Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (4/26)
The NHL playoffs are one of the most exciting events in sports, as sometimes you just need to get in to make a run. We've seen lower seeds come away with upsets and even hoist the Stanley Cup. Let's look at a couple of those potential teams with today's NHL best bets.
Saturday's NHL Playoff Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Tampa Bay Lightning (+114) at Florida Panthers (-135) | O/U 5.5 (-115/-105)
The champs have asserted their dominance in this series by containing the Lightning to just two goals in two games, including a shutout in Game 2. This is the same Tampa Bay offense that led the league in goals per game during the regular season (3.56) and has the regular season points leader, Nikita Kucherov (121).
The big difference in this series so far has been the special teams. The Lightning are just 1-for-8 on the power play, while the Panthers are 3-for-6. The metric shows that at even strength, the Lightning are the better team with a 55% expected goals share, but when calculated across all situations, that plummets to 41%.
It's tough not to pick the Panthers at home, especially when that blue line and Sergei Bobrovsky have contained this potent Bolts offense.
Pick: Panthers Moneyline (-135)
Toronto Maple Leafs (-108) at Ottawa Senators (-112) | O/U 5.5 (-115/-105)
For the second game in a row, the Senators staged a late comeback to send the game to overtime, but for the second time, the Maple Leafs pulled off the win. The surface numbers all support Toronto, but if you want to dive deeper, the Senators look like the better team. They have led all three games in Corsi and Fenwick rate, which means they are getting more shot opportunities, but they're not getting quality shots and have the third-fewest high danger shots in the playoffs (6).
Credit has to go to Toronto goalie Anthony Stolz, who has been phenomenal in this series, with a .926 save percentage and 1.95 goals allowed per game. The Senators have lost two heartbreakers, and when they've presented their best, it hasn't been good enough. This is an excellent chance for the Leafs to end this series early and get rested for Round 2.
Pick: Maple Leafs Moneyline (-108)
Dallas Stars (+150) at Colorado Avalanche (-180) | O/U 6.5 (+110/-130)
This series has been exciting, as the last two games have needed to be settled in overtime.
Momentum might have shifted to Dallas' side, as they have gotten the win in both games. Game 3 had a couple of elements that the Stars have lacked over the last few weeks. This was one of the best defensive efforts we have seen from them recently; they kept Colorado under 30 shots on goal, and Jake Oettinger had a .964 save percentage.
It's rare to contain the Avs to one goal in Denver, and with Gabriel Landeskog, they should bounce back, and we should get back to the high-scoring games.
Pick: Over 6.5 Goals (+110)