NHL Playoffs Picks & Predictions: Friday (4/25)
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.
Friday's NHL Playoffs Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Washington Capitals (-118) at Montreal Canadiens (-102) | O/U 5.5 (-125/+105)
One of the best parts about playoff hockey is that it doesn't matter how you get in; you have a chance. We've seen multiple No. 8 seeds take down the No. 1 seed. The Canadiens will have to stage a huge comeback to do it, but they've played well in both games.
In Game 1, they staged a late comeback after going down 2-0 to force overtime. They even outshot the Capitals and had the face-off advantage. Even during Game 2, they were only down one goal for most of it, continually giving themselves opportunities.
This will be their first playoff game in Montreal in a few years. This could be a great chance to steal a game and make Washington feel uncomfortable.
Pick: Canadiens Moneyline (-102)
Carolina Hurricanes (-175) at New Jersey Devils (+145) | O/U 5.5 (+105/-125)
The Hurricanes showed their usual home dominance against the Devils by taking both games in Carolina. Game 1 was pure Carolina dominance, as they scored the first three goals and outshot the Devils 45-24. The Devils made their adjustments in the second game; they only had two fewer shots and a one-goal deficit for most of the game.
This was expected because New Jersey hadn't beaten Carolina on the road this year, but won both home games. The Hurricanes noticeably play worse on the road, ranking 21st in goals scored per game (2.71) on the road compared to third (3.78) at home. That difference will make it difficult to adjust, and the Devils will cut the series deficit in half.
Pick: Devils Moneyline (+145)
Los Angeles Kings (+124) at Edmonton Oilers (-148) | O/U 6.5 (+110/-130)
The Oilers need a win tonight as they do not want to face a 0-3 deficit. We’re seeing the problem we've seen in previous playoff runs. Sometimes, when the lights are at their brightest, it's too much for goalie Stuart Skinner. He had a few bad performances in the playoffs last year and was even benched for some time. His first two games have not been good, as he's allowed 11 goals with a .800 save percentage.
The goaltending needs to be better because we saw how good the Kings’ defense could be in Game 2. They allowed just 26 shots on goal and went 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. The Kings’ defense was one of the best all season. While they allowed the Oilers to get back in it in Game 1, Los Angeles has allowed fewer than two goals to Edmonton in four out of six games, including two shutouts. Edmonton should fare better at home and keep it close, especially on the defensive side.
Pick: Under 6.5 Goals (-130)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Friday: