NHL playoff bets: Two point props for Game 3 of Carolina-Florida
We begin a new week in the NHL with Game 3 between Carolina and Florida, with the Hurricanes down 0-2 and now on the road. Will we ever get a high-scoring game between these teams? The first two games have seen just eight total goals, and during the regular season, two of the three meetings saw less than four goals.
The numbers suggest likely not, but if ever a game was going to find some goals, I'd expect it to be one of these held in Florida, where the Panthers offense tends to push the pace. Florida home games have averaged 6.8 goals per game this postseason, while Carolina road games have seen an average of 7.0 goals per game.
While we shouldn't get our hopes up, I'm seeing enough to take a chance on two points props, both of which are at plus-money.
Jordan Staal point (+145 DK)
Jordan Staal was ripping shots in Game 2, finishing with seven shots on goal on an equal seven attempts. Multiple times in that game it looked like he was set to bury one, so much so that I sprinkled on him to score in overtime. He didn't of course, but I'm going to roll with him to log a point tonight at juicy odds, and his +460 price to score a goal is quite enticing as well.
Staal is on a line with Teuvo Teravainen and Martin Necas, the former of whom has been able to ramp back up since missing a few weeks and should be more effective tonight with a pair of games under his belt.
The Hurricanes captain has three points in his past two road games and tallied six points in five games last round. He has yet to get on the scoresheet this series, but very much based on the eye-test of Game 2, Staal has the makings of a guy that should get involved sooner before later. At this price, I'll bite.
Anthony Duclair point (+121 CZR)
Anthony Duclair has been a friend in these playoffs, and while he failed to record a point in Game 2, I'm going right back to him.
I've been betting Duclair to get a point for what feels like a few weeks now. He's on the top line along with Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe, so to get his point at plus-money just feels like a gift.
Duclair has a point in seven of his last 10 games, including two of his last three at home. He had two points in Game 1 and has piled up nine points in his last six games against Carolina, including five in the past two held in Florida.
I'm right back on the Duke train tonight.
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