Per usual, the NHL playoffs are living up to its reputation as highly unpredictable — which is fun to watch, but hard to bet. But fear not because we’ve analyzed NHL playoff odds available right now and hand-picked the best bets of the first-round Game 4’s. We have three picks on tap so stick with us if you need betting help!
We finally have ourselves a series in this rivalry matchup. The Rangers won both Game 1 and Game 2 by the scores of 5-1. But even with the series back in New York City, the Devils gutted out a 2-1 overtime win in Game 3. As it stands, the Rangers are -155 on the moneyline to take Game 4. We’re more interested in the New York-New Jersey over/under, which is set at six goals. Here are the odds for each side:
Even in a loss, Igor Shesterkin was as sharp as ever. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner stopped 26 of 28 shots in Game 3. For the series, he’s surrendered a mere four goals on 79 shots. We have a tough time imagining Shesterkin letting up on his home ice in Game 4, so expect New Jersey’s offensive struggles to continue.
Does the question become how New York’s offense fare will? They seemed to have met their match in Game 3 with 22-year-old netminder Akira Schmid. He got the start over Vitek Vanecek last time out. Schmid, making his postseason debut, turned aside 35 of 36 shots in the matchup. That’s a hell of a performance given the circumstances — a 2-0 series deficit and a road game at the ever-hostile Madison Square Garden.
Schmid will almost certainly start Game 4. Maybe he’s not nearly as perfect, but a performance even in that range could be enough to keep this game to an under since Shesterkin will surely do him on the opposite side. We’re confidently taking the under in this one.
Yes, we’re getting a classic between these two formidable foes in the Eastern Conference. Tampa Bay struck first, winning Game 1, but Toronto has strung together two straight wins — including Game 3 in overtime. Going into an all-important Game 4, it’s not a surprise that the top NHL betting sites have Lightning-Leafs moneyline as a pick ‘em:
Game 3 was the type of matchup that Toronto typically loses — a high-pressure game they needed to win (and were trailing with one minute left in regulation). But goaltender Ilya Samsonov was the difference-maker. He bested Tampa’s Andrei Vasilevskiy with the likes of Auston Matthews and Ryan O’Reilly out of the game for fighting. Samsonov stopped eight shots in overtime.
Still, we can’t help but feel that Toronto’s goaltender can’t possibly play like that again in Game 4. Tampa Bay dominated most of Game 3. The defending conference champions controlled the puck and outshot the Leafs 81-42 on five-on-five. Even one more offensive breakthrough on Monday could help them even the series score, which is what we’re betting happens.
Plus, you can’t ignore the Bolts’ championship experience, either. During this run that includes three Stanley Cups Finals trips, they’ve played with their backs against the wall. Based on that, expect the Lightning to play with confidence and not panic in Game 5.
We wanted to up our risk level for our third pick of Monday. Never mind the moneyline, we’re going for it with the Colorado-Seattle spread. Here are your two betting options:
ALL the momentum appears to be on the Avs’ side going into Game 4. They led comfortably most of Game 3 despite being in a hostile environment — it was the Kraken’s first-ever playoff home game — and ended up 6-4. Seattle kept coming back, but Colorado kept striking right back. The Avs fired 34 shots and won face-offs at a 51 percent rate. The reigning champions could’ve scored more, too, if not going 0-3 on power plays.
We’re betting that Colorado handily wins Game 4, covering the spread in the process. Seattle’s defense has been middle-of-the-road all season long, and they’re even more vulnerable now, given the Avalanche’s high-powered attack. The champs should be able to win Game 4 by at least two goals.
We absolutely love the three NHL playoff bets listed above; however, there are plenty more. If you want a complete list of postseason wagers — from now until the Stanley Cup Finals — we’d encourage you to visit one of the online bookmakers featured in the table below. Moneylines, over/under, props, futures, you name the type of bet, and these sites offer ‘em.
Last thing before we let you go, you can be assured these betting sites are safe to use. Online gambling doesn’t always have the best reputation — like any industry, there are some bad apples — but we’ve reviewed each. They’re legit and go-to places for all things NHL betting.
