Top NHL Picks & Predictions: Sunday (4/26)
The Stanley Cup Playoffs continue today with four more contests. I've got you covered from a sports betting angle, as I've narrowed in on a duo of best bets from the seemingly endless postseason betting board. Here are my top NHL picks and bets for Sunday, April 26th.
Sunday's Best NHL Bets
Postseason: 1-2| Last: 4-3 | Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Tampa Bay Lightning (-115) vs. Montreal Canadiens (-105) | O/U 5.5 (-130/+110)
The Montreal Canadiens finished the regular season with 106 points and 48 wins. The Tampa Bay Lightning ended up with 106 points and 50 wins. Those 50 wins led to Tampa's home-ice advantage in this matchup, and Montreal has not cared at all as they lead the series, 2-1.
The Habs went 7-3-0 to finish the regular season while dropping their final game. Meanwhile, the Bolts limped to the finish line 5-5-0. These two squads split their four head-to-head matchups this season, 2-2. Each team won a road game and a home game in the season series, with Montreal taking the most recent two matchups on March 31 and April 9, giving them the better head-to-head form heading into this series. That form has held true to this point.
Montreal will send out Jakob Dobes to man the crease. The 24-year-old Czech went 29-10-4 this season, while carrying a 2.78 GAA and .901 save percentage. Andersen went 10-4 in his final 14 starts, which included a seven-start winning streak capped off by a 3-1 win over this Lightning squad on April 9.
Tampa Bay will send out Andrei Vasilevskiy to guard the net on their end. The 31-year-old Russian finished the regular season 39-15-4, with a 2.31 GAA and .912 save percentage. Vladar went 4-2 in his last six starts, including wins in his last four home starts.
Getting nearly even odds or the Habs to win at home, something they have done seven times in their last eight games at Centre Bell, is simply toooo good.
Pick: Canadiens Moneyline (-105)
Buffalo Sabres (-108) vs. Boston Bruins (-112) | O/U 5.5 (-130/+110)
Alex Tuch has recorded at least one point in five straight games and eight of his last nine. He also has seven points in his last five games, including points in four straight away from his home KeyBank Center ice.
Tuch has three goals and three assists this year against the Bruins, including two of each in this series.
Tuch has 35 goals and 35 assists, including the playoffs, for 70 points. 32 of those 70 points (.457) came on the road, so expect more of the same.
Let’s again lean on our old karaoke standby: "I ain't asking for much...I'm just looking for some Tuch.”
Pick: Alex Tuch 1+ Points (-170)