Top NHL Playoffs Betting Odds & Picks for Thursday, May 26 (2022)
Game 5 is set to get underway in the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs for two different matchups on Thursday, with some great betting angles to attack. Below, I give out my two best bets for Thursday’s games.
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Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
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New York Rangers (+130) @ Carolina Hurricanes (-155), o/u 5.5 (+115/-135)
The Carolina Hurricanes return home with the series tied at 2-2 following two straight losses to the New York Rangers. After successfully hitting the under on Sunday’s matchup, I am going back to the well once again.
Each of the first four games of this series has seen five or fewer total goals scored, and I expect a similar result to transpire in Game 5 as well. With how slow the pace has been in this series, I see no reason why Game 5 will be any different than the first four.
The story of this series has been the outstanding play of both starting goaltenders. We will first look at Carolina’s starting goaltender Antti Raanta.
Through the first four games of this series, Raanta has stopped 102 of the 111 shots he has faced for a 0.919 save percentage. Amongst the remaining seven starting goaltenders left in the playoffs, Raanta ranks third in five-on-five goals saved above expected (GSAx) per 60 minutes at +0.463.
Across the ice, Vezina trophy favorite Igor Shesterkin continues to be the backbone of the New York Rangers. Through the first four games of this series, Shesterkin has stopped 117 of the 122 shots he has faced for a stellar 0.959 save percentage.
Amongst the remaining seven starting goaltenders left in the playoffs, Shesterkin ranks second in five-on-five GSAx per 60 minutes at +0.756. In front of each of these goaltenders are two offenses that have been incredibly underwhelming in the postseason.
Amongst the remaining seven teams in the playoffs, the Hurricanes and Rangers rank fifth and sixth respectively in five-on-five expected goals for (xGF) per 60 minutes. Between two goaltenders that are locked in and two offenses that have been quiet all postseason, I like the under to hit in this matchup once again.
The juice is too heavy on the under at 5.5 for my liking, however, I am comfortable with taking the alternative under at five. With each of the first four games in this series seeing five or fewer total goals scored, I am willing to take a lower number and back both of these goaltenders at plus money.
Best Bet: Hurricanes/Rangers u5 (+125)
Edmonton Oilers (+135) @ Calgary Flames (-160), o/u 6.5 (-120/+100)
The Calgary Flames return home for Game 5 trailing 3-1 in the series after dropping three straight games to the Edmonton Oilers. There have been eight or more total goals scored in three of the first four games in this series, and I expect this trend to continue in Game 5.
While the story of the Hurricanes/Rangers series was excellent goaltending and poor offense, this series has had the exact opposite ring true. Edmonton’s goaltender Mike Smith was shaky in Game 4 as he continues to have some mind-boggling goals against in the playoffs.
Smith is usually known for careless stick work that leads to goals on the other side, however, his big blunder in Game 4 was allowing Calgary to score from their own zone (!!) while on the penalty kill. Across the ice is the Flames’ projected starting goaltender, Jacob Markstrom.
Despite not allowing any cross-rink goals like Smith in this series, Markstrom has been way worse between the pipes. Allowing four or more goals in each of the first four games of this series, Markstrom’s save percentage now sits at a dreadful 0.850.
Amongst the remaining seven starting goaltenders in the playoffs, Smith and Markstrom rank fourth and sixth respectively in five-on-five GSAx per 60 minutes. Meanwhile, these are the two best offenses left in the playoffs as the Oilers and Flames rank first and second respectively in five-on-five xGF per 60 minutes.
I am taking the alternate total at seven at plus money. I think there is too much value in this number as there have been eight or more total goals scored in all three of the times that the over has hit in this series.
Best Bet: Oilers/Flames o7 (+145)
Best of luck!
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Tony Sartori is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Tony, check out his archive and follow him @tony_sartori.