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NHL Playoffs Picks & Predictions: Monday (5/12)

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The NHL Playoffs continue to be amazing, and we've already seen the Hurricanes-Capitals and Oilers-Golden Knights have some memorable matchups.

We'll break down both games in their respective series tonight and share with you our best NHL bets for Monday, May 12th.

Our NHL Prop Bet Cheat Sheet assists bettors by comparing lines from leading sportsbooks with our daily projections >>

Monday’s NHL Best Bets

Washington Capitals (+225) at Carolina Hurricanes (-278) | O/U 5.5 (-105/-115)

The Hurricanes are a whole different beast when they play at home. They had one of the best home records during the regular season (31-9-1) and are 4-0 in the playoffs. Their 4.00 goals per game are the most among teams still alive, and their 1.50 goals allowed per game rank second.

They won dominantly in Raleigh, shutting out the Capitals 4-0 in Game 3. It was the second straight game they held Washington to 21 shots or fewer, and they are now averaging 18.6 shots allowed per game in this series. Washington’s defense needs to be on par with Carolina’s, but it hasn't. The Hurricanes are +67 in shot attempts, +6 in high-danger shots and have a 58.83% expected goal share. 

The Carolina offense plays fast. Washington hasn't been able to keep up, and it showed in the last game. They have no problem dumping off the puck and taking shots from anywhere in their offensive zone. The defense has been tight, and there have been very few scoring chances on both sides. We should expect to see continued physical play, and another low-scoring game is possible.

Pick: Under 5.5 Goals (-115)

Vegas Golden Knights (+102) at Edmonton Oilers (-122) | O/U 6.5 (-142/+120)

The Oilers once again led a comeback after trailing late in the game. They were down 3-2 before Connor McDavid scored a goal with three minutes left. It looked like they were heading to overtime before Reilly Smith hit a shot that was going wide, but it went off Leon Draisaitl's skate and into the net with 0.3 seconds left. 

Edmonton still holds a 2-1 series advantage, and the offense continues to be one of the better units in the playoffs. Draisaitl and McDavid are second and third in playoff points, respectively, continuing to be the driving force. However, they are still getting contributions throughout this lineup, including from defenseman Evan Bouchard (11 points), Corey Perry (five goals) and Connor Brown (four goals).

The Oilers might need all of that offensive power with Stuart Skinner back in the net, as Calvin Pickard will miss this game with an undisclosed injury. We've seen games hit the over, and it should continue to do so.

Pick: Over 6.5 Goals (-142)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Monday:

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