NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final between the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes.
Montreal Canadiens (+170) at Carolina Hurricanes (-210)
Total 5.5 (Over, -130)
Canadiens lead series 1-0
8 p.m. ET
The Montreal Canadiens continued their dominance over the Carolina Hurricanes this season following their 6-2 pummeling of Carolina in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Canes are 1-13 in their last 14 games in the Eastern Conference Final. Montreal extended their win streak to four (regular season and playoffs) over Carolina and scored five or more goals in three of the four victories (three goals in the other). Carolina’s game one loss to Montreal on Thursday was their first in nine playoff games this year, and the six goals surrendered by Carolina were more than the five goals they gave up in each of the first two playoff rounds.
The Habs top line of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky combined for three goals and five assists in Game One. In the four games this season versus the Hurricanes, they have 11 goals and 23 points. Montreal’s second line of Jake Evans, Alex Newhook and Ivan Demidov continues to put up points. Evans and Newhook each have points in six of their last seven playoff games, and Demidov has points in all four games this season against Carolina.
When it comes to “eating pucks”, Mike Matheson has had two blocked shots or more in 13 of his last 16 games, and Lane Hutson has had at least two blocked shots in three straight overall and three straight games versus Carolina. Habs goalie Jakub Dobes was well on his way to cashing his saves prop (Over 28.5) in Game One with 23 saves through two periods, but Carolina had just one shot on goal in the final period. I expect the Canes to make the necessary adjustments that made them the highest shot volume team during the regular season. Montreal has scored a first period goal in 13 of their 15 playoff games and in three of the four games this season versus the Canes this season.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Matheson/Hutson 2+ blocked shots each (+100) – 1 unit
Stankoven 2+ shots/Jarvis 3+ shots/Matheson 2+blocks (+128) – 1 unit
Jake Evans Over ½ point (+170) – ½ unit
Alex Newhook Over ½ point (+162) – ½ unit
Ivan Demidov Over ½ point (-104) – ½ unit
Demidov/Newhook/Evans point parlay (+430) – ¼ unit
Montreal Canadiens Team Total Over 2.5 (-102) – 1 unit
Jakub Dobes Over 28.5 (-115) – 1 unit
1st period Over 1.5 (-112) – 1 unit
Montreal Canadiens to score a 1st period goal (-118) – 1 unit
Jakub Dobes 1st period 10+ saves (-110) – 1 unit
