Top NHL Playoffs Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (5/14)
The Stanley Cup Playoffs resume tonight, and the Oilers are looking to be the first team to punch a ticket to the Conference Final round. They'll take on the Golden Knights in Sin City, but before that, the action opens up with a thrilling matchup between the Panthers and the Maple Leafs. Below I'll dive into each game from a sports betting perspective and let you know where I'm laying my money on the ice.
Wednesday's NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of BetMGM)
Florida Panthers (-135) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (+115) | O/U 6.0 (+100/-120)
After dropping the first two games of the series, the Panthers (2-2) bounced back with a pair of home wins over the Maple Leafs (2-2) in Sunrise, Florida. The series shifts back north, and tonight's Game 5 gets underway at 7:00 p.m. ET from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON.
After seeing 26 combined goals through the first three games of this series, we finally were treated to some quality defense in Game 4, with the contest ending 2-0 in favor of Florida. Things are only going to tighten up as the series goes deeper, and this may be the last time we get the chance to bet an under at six goals (i.e., it'll be 5.5 moving forward). I'm taking the under.
In terms of expected goals per 60 minutes during 5-on-5 play, the Maple Leafs are the worst of the 16 playoff teams at just 1.84 goals. Being that Sergei Bobrovsky, who went 23-for-23 (1.000 SV%) in Game 4, is finding his form, I don't anticipate Toronto finding a ton of offensive success in this game. Furthermore, both of these penalty-killing units have been excellent during the playoffs. Florida is third (87.88%), while Toronto is fifth (79.31%). This feels like a game where we have a ceiling of 4-2, but I think we finish closer to the 3-1 or 3-2 range and stay under the total.
Bet: Under 6.0 Goals (-120)
Edmonton Oilers (+105) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (-125) | O/U 6.5 (-130/+110)
The Oilers (3-1) are looking to close out the Golden Knights (1-3) in their barn tonight, and the sports betting market says Edmonton has a pretty good chance (+105) to do so. Game 5 gets underway at 9:30 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
I'm playing the Golden Knights on the Moneyline tonight in Vegas. The Knights were fantastic at home during the regular season, going 29-9-3 (70.7% win rate). This team is also getting healthier, as they welcomed back a top-six forward in Pavel Dorofeyev in Monday's 3-0 defeat. Vegas has a deep roster, and when factoring in their playoff experience, I think they'll manage to eke out a win on home ice.
Furthermore, I'm not convinced that Stuart Skinner, who posted a 23-save shutout in Game 4, has turned the corner and into a championship goalie. The Edmonton netminder has been a liability in the postseason, going 1-3-0 with a 3.95 GAA and an .857 SV%. With the added firepower of Dorofeyev and the roaring Vegas crowd, I expect to see Skinner revert to his old ways and turn in another playoff dud.
Bet: Golden Knights Moneyline (-125)