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Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (4/30)

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It's a busy sports Tuesday, and the massive slate of games includes a four-game schedule in the NHL. All four of these series could end tonight as the Bruins, Hurricanes, Avalanche and Canucks all look to advance.

I'll dive into three of those games from a betting perspective and let you know where I'm laying my cash on the ice tonight. 

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

Tuesday's NHL Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook)

Toronto Maple Leafs (+140) @ Boston Bruins (-165) | O/U 5.5 (-120/+100) 

The Bruins took both games in Ontario last week, meaning they'll return home for Game 5 with a 3-1 series lead. Puck drop for Game 5 is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from the TD Garden in Boston. 

I've been on Boston in each game this series, and the venture has worked out well since they're up 3-1. This is the most expensive moneyline price that we've seen on the Bruins, but the sportsbooks are finally catching up to the fact that Boston is simply the better team. Sure, it's a little more juice than I'd like to lay, but I think Boston winning on their home ice is the safest bet in this game. Let's lay it with the Bruins at home tonight. 

First, it's simply the head-to-head history between the two teams. Boston has owned Toronto in this rivalry, going 9-1-0 over the last 10 meetings! That includes a 6-1-0 stretch this season, where the B's have out-scored their opposition 29-14. The other reason that I like the Bruins is because they've finally decided that Jeremy Swayman is the man to handle the netminding. The 25-year-old has been lights out this series, making 87 saves on 91 shots faced, which equates to a .956 SV% and 1.34 GAA. Let's not overthink this one; lock in the Bruins. 

Bet: Boston Bruins Moneyline (-165)

Colorado Avalanche (-120) @ Winnipeg Jets (+100) | O/U 6.5 (-120/+100) 

The Avalanche, who are the best home team in the NHL, managed to win both games in Denver, giving them a 3-1 series lead. They'll head to the Great White North again tonight, where they'll look to put this series away. Puck drop is slated for 9:30 p.m. ET from the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. 

Entering this series, I thought the Jets had a serious path to advancing into the second round. While I'm not 100% chalking this one up to the Avalanche, it's pretty apparent that they've settled in and found their groove after the 7-6 Game-1 defeat. I'm not sure who wins Game 5 tonight, but there are a couple of constants that should carry over to this do-or-die matchup. 

First, it's the relentless pressure that Colorado's offense wants to play with. The Avs finished the regular season ranked sixth in 5-on-5 SOG (2,074), and they currently lead the way (122) in the same category during the postseason. Jared Bednar wants his team to turn this into a high-flying, trading-chances type of series. That's where his squad has the edge, and that's how they've piled up a 3-1 lead. That should carry over to this game, which is why I think we'll see Connor Hellebuyck rack up a ton of saves. I'm playing the over 29.5 saves for the netminder. 

Hellebuyck has cleared this total in two of the four games, making the following amount of saves in order: 40, 27, 34 and 26. There's a realistic chance that Colorado racks up 30+ SOG regardless of how this game plays out, but if they find themselves trailing, it will be an absolute barrage on Hellebuyck. Being that this is an elimination game, you'd also think that the goalie will elevate his play in this spot, helping guide this prop over the total. Let's lock in Hellebuyck to reach 30 saves tonight. 

Bet: Connor Hellebuyck Over 29.5 Saves (-130)

Nashville Predators (+100) @ Vancouver Canucks (-120) | O/U 5.5 (-115/-105) 

After blowing a two-goal lead in Game 4, the Predators will try to rebound as they make the trip to Vancouver tonight. The Canucks hold a 3-1 series lead as they return home. This is the NHL nightcap, which gets underway at 10:00 p.m. ET from Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia. 

I just don't know how Nashville will respond to blowing that lead in Game 4. Momentum is a real factor in these intense playoff series, and that blown lead is an absolute backbreaker. Add in that Vancouver will now have a chance to advance in front of their home crowd, and that's all I need to see to lock them in as slim favorites in Game 5. 

Like the Jets, I thought the Preds could rely on their excellent goaltending and veteran skaters to potentially pull off the upset in the series. However, Juuse Saros hasn't shown up this postseason, making just 60 saves on 70 shots faced (.857 SV%), which equates to 15 saves per game. We're getting an inflated number for his saves prop tonight, which comes in at 24.5. The Finnish goalie hasn't reached 25 saves once this series (17, 17, 10 and 17). I'll also look for the trend to continue tonight. If Vancouver can get an early lead, we have an excellent chance to cash both of these tickets. 

Bet: Vancouver Canucks Moneyline (-120) & Juuse Saros Under 24.5 Saves (-105)

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

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