NHL playoffs: Goals to keep flowing in Avs-Jets Game 2

Yesterday was a frustrating start to our week, with Paolo Banchero falling one point short and Andrei Svechnikov laying an egg. We flush that performance and move on to a fresh day of postseason action. The NHL has one more game than the NBA tonight, so why don't we just give our full attention to the ice here?

We're totally in for these totals to win

Washington Capitals-New York Rangers under 5.5 (-120 Fanatics)

This series seems likely to be dominated by the goalies, as New York's Igor Shesterkin is one of the best netminders in the league and Washington's Charlie Lindgren has been playing very good hockey of late.

Game 1 was a bit of a sweat if you took the under, but it did indeed stay 4-1 to go below this 5.5 mark, and we like a similar type of score once again.

In five meetings this season, these two have averaged just 4.6 goals per game. Roll with the under as New York looks to build a 2-0 lead before heading to Washington.

Colorado Avalanche-Winnipeg Jets over 6 (-120 BetMGM)

We will happily flex our small brain and bet over 6 in a series that just saw 13 goals scored in Game 1. That's what we got with Winnipeg and Colorado in Sunday night, a 7-6 Jets win, and how do we not bet the over again after that showing?

Six straight meetings between these two have seen at least six goals, including all four this year, with three straight going for 7+. 

The Avalanche should be pushing the pace to avoid going down 0-2, and that should help to maintain the blistering pace we saw on Sunday night.

In the news ...

Sixers blow game late to Knicks; Cavs go up 2-0; Jamal Murray wins it for Nuggets at buzzer — The 76ers were up five points with 47 seconds left and lost to the Knicks, thanks in large part to an unbelievable sequence that culminated with an electric Donte DiVincenzo go-ahead three. It felt like Philly could have had either of these first two games but instead head home down 0-2, and angry. We like the Sixers to take Game 3 and are currently -170 to do it. Cleveland beat Orlando again in what is seemingly shaping up to be a very low-scoring series, and the Magic head home hoping to avoid an 0-3 hole, which we do think they can do. The Magic are -115 to win on Thursday. Out West, the Lakers built up an early lead again but could not hold off a Nuggets comeback. Jamal Murray scored six points in the final minute, including the buzzer-beating shot to deliver Denver a 101-99 win and a 2-0 series lead.

Carolina Hurricanes come back from down 3-0 to win; Toronto evens series — What a fun night in the NHL! Carolina went down 3-0 to the Islanders before storming back and scoring three goals in about 90 seconds to take it 5-3, and go up 2-0 in the series. Elsewhere, thanks to an awesome late goal by Auston Matthews, Toronto was able to knot the series with Boston, beating the Bruins for the first time in their past eight tries. The Leafs are -115 to win Game 3 in their own barn and +100 to win the series. Carolina is -155 to take Game 3 on the road and all but put the nail in New York's coffin. Over in the Western Conference, Vegas and Edmonton took their respective Game 1s over Dallas and Los Angeles. Now is a great time to hop on the Stars to storm back. We still believe in them to be the better team, and they're +145 to win the series.

Zach Wilson traded to Denver Broncos — The New York Jets traded former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson to Denver on Monday for a late-round pick swap. The move gives Wilson a fresh start, and considering the Broncos have no real starting QB on their roster, it's an interesting situation. Is this enough to consider that Denver may not draft a quarterback with the 12th overall pick as has so often been rumored? Probably not. Quarterback is still the favorite to be Denver's first choice at +175, and the Broncos are -130 to be the team that takes Bo Nix. Wilson is now the fourth QB taken in the first round in 2021 (five total) to be traded, just three years later.

Today's Bark Bets is written by Griffin Carroll. Follow him on Substack: griffybets.substack.com.