Top NHL Parlay Odds & Picks for Friday, May 20th (2022)
There are a pair of game two’s tonight on the ice in the second round of the NHL Playoffs. The New York Rangers look to bounce back after an overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes before we head out west, where the Battle of Alberta adds another installment to the historic rivalry. The Calgary Flames picked up a 9-6 win in game one over the Edmonton Oilers in a game that had a little bit of everything.
If you’re like me, you’ll want a little bit of betting action on these games tonight. Here’s a two-leg parlay paying +358 that I’m locking in for the games tonight:
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Bet $10, Win $200 if Either Team Scores a Goal >>
New York Rangers (+150) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (-175) O/U 5.5
(Puck Drop: 8:00 p.m. ET)
In Game One, it took just 3:12 into the overtime period for the Canes to sneak one past Igor Sheshterkin and take the 1-0 lead in the series. Ian Cole picked up the goal in the 2-1 game to inch Carolina one win closer to hoisting the Stanley Cup. Game two is set for 8:00 p.m. ET tonight from PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC.
I’m expecting another close, low-scoring affair tonight in Raleigh as the Rangers try to even up the series against the Hurricanes. I’ll be adding the under on 5.5 goals as the first leg of our parlay for tonight. In my opinion, it’s evident that this series is all about goaltending and defense. The Rangers will only go as far as Vezina finalist Igor Shesterkin will take them. He’s been the backbone of New York this season, and he’s the reason they’ve gotten this far. The Russian-born netminder has an inflated 3.42 GAA this postseason, but his SV% is sitting at 0.911, entering tonight’s action.
Shesterkin’s counterpart, Antti Raanta, has stepped up since taking over the starting role for Carolina. The 32-year-old goaltender has seven appearances this postseason, and he’s posted a 2.13 GAA and 0.933 SV% so far.
These two teams each ranked in the top three as the stingiest defenses in the league this regular season. The Canes were second in goals allowed per game (2.37) while the Rangers were right behind them at 2.44. Additionally, both penalty killing units have found success this postseason, killing off at least 75% of their opponent’s man-advantage opportunities. All things considered, I like there to be less than six goals tonight in this one.
Leg 1: Under 5.5 (-115) NYR/CAR
Edmonton Oilers (+150) vs. Calgary Flames (-175) O/U 6.5
(Puck Drop: 10:30 p.m. ET)
The second game tonight is another edition of the Battle of Alberta as the Flames gear up to host the Oilers for game two of the series. A high-flying Game One saw Calgary emerge in 9-6 fashion once the dust finally settled. Matthew Tkachuk netted a hat trick in the contest for the Flames, while Connor McDavid added four points on a goal and three assists Wednesday night. Puck drops for game two tonight at 10:30 p.m. ET in Calgary.
The Oilers’ goaltending woes seem to have returned, and not at an ideal time for them. There was goaltender drama throughout the early part of the regular season for Edmonton, but that died down once veteran Mike Smith returned to action in February. The Oilers actually went 9-0 in April with Smith in net, and he boasted a 1.66 GAA and 0.951 SV% over the nine-game span. However, the Flames got to him early and often in game one, scoring three goals in the first 6:05 of the game. In the first period, he was yanked from the net and replaced by Mikko Koskinen, who allowed another five goals on 37 shots faced throughout the next 53+ minutes. The last note that I’ll add here is that this wasn’t the first time Smith was pulled against the Flames this year. He gave up four goals against Calgary on March 26th in a 9-5 loss at the Saddledome.
Whoever the Oilers decide to go with for this game, I like the Flames’ potent offense to give them trouble. All year, goaltending and defense have been a negative focal point for Edmonton, and they’re being exposed against a dominant scoring team like the Flames. The Oilers always seem to default to playing an up-and-down ice game at the first sign of struggle, and I love the Flames’ chances to cover the puck line if that’s the route they choose. Calgary was the best team in the league during the regular season on defense, allowing just 2.37 goals per game. Suppose you’re telling me this turns into another game where these teams wind up trading chances all night. In that case, I’ll gladly take my chances with Vezina finalist Jacob Markstrom and his 2.08 postseason GAA over Smith/Koskinen every time. While the Oilers may be a bit more flashy with their top line, the Flames have more depth, they’re better when it comes to fundamentals, and they have arguably the best netminder in the league in their crease. Take the Flames to cover the puck line as the second leg of this parlay.
Leg 2: Flames -1.5 (+145)
Total Odds: +358 via DraftKings Sportsbook
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