Top NHL Playoffs Betting Odds & Picks for Friday, May 13 (2022)
Game 6 is set to get underway in three different series in the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, with some great betting angles to attack as three teams face potential elimination. Below, I give out my two best bets for Friday’s games.
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Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Calgary Flames (-165) @ Dallas Stars (+145), o/u 5.5 (+115/-135)
The Calgary Flames look to close out this series as they travel to Dallas to take on the Stars following Wednesday’s 3-1 victory. Calgary finally turned the series around over the last two games as they have won and covered the puck line in each of those contests, and I expect that trend to continue in Game 6.
While Dallas has played Calgary extremely tough, I believe they gave the Flames their best shot over the first three games. However, between the last two games, the Stars have a -4.08 expected goals for (xGF) differential.
This differential should not be surprising as Calgary ranks higher than the Stars in both xGF and expected goals against (xGA) this season. Add to the fact that the Flames’ starting goaltender has been playing his best hockey recently, the Stars should struggle mightily in Game 6.
Jacob Markstrom has been phenomenal over those two games as he produced a 0.964 save percentage and 1.00 goals allowed average. Generating a game average of +1.73 goals saved above expected (GSAx), Markstrom is as dialed in as he has been all season.
Best Bet: Calgary Flames -1.5 (+150)
New York Rangers (-115) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (-105), o/u 6.5 (+100/-120)
We have a potential series-clinching matchup as the New York Rangers travel to Pittsburgh with a 3-2 series deficit to take on the Penguins following Wednesday’s 5-3 win. The total has gone over 6.5 in each of the first five games in this series, and I expect that trend to continue in Game 6.
Both offenses have been on fire as the Rangers are averaging 3.8 goals scored per game while the Penguins are averaging 4.6 goals scored. I am not too worried about offensive regression as the Rangers and Penguins have generated 3.07 and 5.30 expected goals for (xGF) respectively this postseason.
Meanwhile, both starting goaltenders have had a tough go so far. Over his last four starts, Rangers starting goaltender Igor Shesterkin possesses a game average of -0.37 goals saved above expected (GSAx).
Across the ice, the Penguins are forced to go with their third-string goaltender once again as Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith remain injured. Goaltender Louis Domingue has had a very tough task with filling in as he possesses a mere 0.887 save percentage and 3.75 goals allowed average over his four starts in this series.
Over those four games, Domingue possesses a game average of -1.09 GSAx. Overs have been a great bet not only in this series but in the entire postseason, and I expect this game to keep that trend going.
Best Bet: Rangers/Penguins o6.5 (+100)
Best of luck!
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