The NHL playoffs continue over the weekend with some interesting matchups, and with most of the teams now having played twice in the postseason, we have some form to go on for our latest NHL betting picks.
In the futures betting to win the 2022 Stanley Cup, the Colorado Avalanche are the +300 betting favorites.
The Avalanche killed off any doubts that they had gone off the boil in the regular season by hammering the Nashville Predators 7-2 in their opening playoff match on Tuesday. The win sees the odds on Jared Bednar’s team shortened to +300.
The Avalanche’s closest rivals in the betting now are the Panthers and the Flames, both at +600.
| 2022 Stanley Cup Winner Odds |  |
|---|---|
| Colorado Avalanche | +300 |
| Florida Panthers | +600 |
| Calgary Flames | +600 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +1000 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1100 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +1200 |
| New York Rangers | +1200 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +1400 |
| Boston Bruins | +1600 |
| Minnesota Wild | +1800 |
| St. Louis Blues | +2000 |
The matches tonight we are looking at are nicely set up and evenly balanced.
The series between the Maple Leafs and the Lightning is all square at 1-1, as is the series between the Blues and the Wild, and the Kings against the Oilers.
Of tonight’s matches, only the Carolina Hurricanes go into the third match of their series with a 2-0 lead. So far they have dominated the Boston Bruins, winning 5-1 and 5-2 respectively.
The NHL playoffs started on May 2nd, the day after the end of the regular season. 16 teams are taking part in the 1st round, in a head-to-head best of 7 series.
There is then a 2nd round for the 8 winning teams, followed by the Conference Finals, and ultimately, the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Stanley Cup is scheduled to be completed in full by June 30th, and that will be the official end of the playoffs, and the 2021/22 NHL season.
A popular futures bet on the playoffs is betting to win the Conference Playoff Finals. In this market you bet on who you think will win the Eastern Conference playoffs, and who will win the Western Conference playoffs.
In addition to this, you can also bet on who will prevail from the mini-series held in each round. These are bets that differ from regular season markets.
The usual Moneyline, Handicap, and Total Goals spread markets are also available to bet on in the individual playoff matches.
Now, let’s take a look at tonight’s action and get some picks.
The mini-series stands at 1-1 after two matches, both in Toronto. This is the first of a doubleheader in Florida after the first two matches were held in Canada.
The doubleheader offers the Lightning the chance to build on the foothold they gained by winning the second match at the Scotiabank Arena.
And boy did Jon Cooper’s team need Wednesday’s 5-3 win after losing the opening match 5-0 on Monday. That result sent seismic tremors through the NHL playoffs odds.
Match 3 Betting
Moneyline
Handicap
Total Goals
The betting on the Moneyline looks pretty tight and therefore is decent value. Lightning is just the favorite in this market.
If a wager on the Lightning is to be struck, then the Las Vegas NHL odds of +205 on them winning on the Handicap looks like the bet to be made.
They won by that margin in Match 2. So rather than just back the Lightning to win with home advantage, I’m going all in and betting on Tampa Bay to win on the Handicap market.
The Bruins are already 2-0 down to the Hurricanes and are in dire need of a win at TD Garden tonight.
The two defeats came in Carolina, and they were big ones! They lost 5-1 in the opener on Monday, and fared slightly better, only losing 5-2 on Wednesday.
So, this looks like a drink in the last chance saloon already tonight for Bruce Cassidy’s team.
There’s also a good bit of added spice going into the potentially decisive showdown, with Hurricanes’ coach Rod Brind’Amour indicating he believes Bruins forward David Pastrnak intentionally targeted Carolina goalie Antti Raanta in the second match.
Raanta had to leave the rink for treatment after the incident and didn’t return to the action.
Match 3 Betting
Moneyline
Handicap
Total Goals
I believe that the Hurricanes are up for this match and have the measure of the Bruins.
I don’t see any value in backing the visitors on the Handicap. But I can see them winning and I’m making the Hurricanes win on the Moneyline at +115 my betting pick for this match.
As an additional bonus betting pick, as I’m expecting a feisty match with plenty of attacking play, I’m also going to have a small wager on Over 5.5 Total Goals at -120.
