NHL playoff bets: A bet for each game tonight
This second week of Round 1 is an exciting one. We start to get a feel for the series and how to approach each from a betting perspective. For tonight's NHL slate, we have a bet on a total, a winner, and three player props. We touch 'em all here on Monday's four-game slate.
Bets on a game outcome
Toronto-Tampa Bay over 6.5 (-104 FD)
I could see this game going either way. On one hand, Tampa Bay is still at home and down 2-1, and has shown us year after year they can find that extra gear when it matters most.
On the other, Toronto's constant failure to escape Round 1 has gifted them the inability to feel complacent. Fresh off two wins, the Maple Leafs are likely feeling good, but they know better than anyone that this series is far from over.
Rather than choose a winner, we'll roll with the one constant in this series: goals.
The over has hit in all three games so far and in 13 of the past 16 meetings between these two. Eight straight meetings in Tampa Bay have exceeded 6.5 goals, including all three playoff games last year. We'll sit back and enjoy the game of the night, bring on the scoring.
Winnipeg moneyline (-102 FD)
I'm going to keep this one brief, as we highlighted it this morning in Bark Bets (go subscribe!). I'm encouraged by Winnipeg climbing back out of a 4-1 hole in the third period of Game 3, and while they ended up losing in double OT, it's a performance to build on.
Still at home, and with goalie Connor Hellebuyck playing well, I'm rolling with the Jets to even this series against Vegas.
Player props
Mika Zibanejad goal (+186 FD)
I'm optimistic the Rangers will find more success in Game 4 than they did in Game 3, losing 2-1 in overtime.
New York went 0-5 on the power play in that game, and it had been the man-up advantage generating so many goals in the first two games. Assuming those chances prop up once again, I do like them to deliver a power-play goal tonight.
Now, if Zibanejad wants to score 5-on-5, fine by me, but his presence on the power play — he's leading the Rangers in PP shots this series — is what gives me the confidence to roll with him tonight.
To be honest, this is very much me chasing someone who feels due for a goal. Zibanejad is leading the Rangers in expected goals this series, yet has none to show for it. He is far too talented to go this long without a goal, and at some point he has to get off the schneid. I like taking a chance that that happens tonight.
.5u on each: Devon Toews point (-115 CZR) & Bowen Byram point (-105 CZR)
I can't make up my mind who looks better for a point, so rather than pick and choose, I'm spreading a unit across both of these Colorado defensemen.
Devon Toews has four points in his past two games, and is second on the team in ice time this series. I expect the Avalanche to continue scoring goals as they move to advance past the Kraken. Toews has a point in 14 of his last 23 playoff games, and he's been a force on road ice to wrap the year, piling up 13 points in his last nine.
Meanwhile, Bowen Byram has a point in all three games this series. He's fourth in ice time, and it's his 15 shots on goal, second on the team to start the playoffs, that is making him quite hard to resist tonight at this price. The two skate on different defensive pairings, which helps spread the net a bit as we invest in Colorado finding some goals this evening.
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