NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Philadelphia Flyers (+180) at Carolina Hurricanes (-220)
Total 5.5 (Over, -122)
Game 1
8 p.m. ET
The Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers are the first two teams to kick off round two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. For the Hurricanes, it’s their first game since eliminating the Ottawa Senators just a week ago. For the Flyers, the layoff has been much shorter following their 1-0 overtime win on Wednesday over the Pittsburgh Penguins in game six of their opening round series. The Metropolitan Division rivals met four times during the regular season, with all four games going past regulation. The Hurricanes won three of the four games and have won 16 of the last 18 head-to-head meetings.
One of the questions coming into game one of the series is whether it will take the Hurricanes some time to get going, and with that, can the Flyers take advantage of the Canes being rusty and strike first for a goal in the opening 20 minutes? I say yes and will play a quarter unit on the Flyers to score the first goal of the first period, the Flyers to score a first period goal, and the Flyers first period money line. I am aware that the Flyers did not score a first period goal in their opening round series with Pittsburgh, but I am banking on the Flyers ability to jump on a “rusty” Hurricanes team that has been off for seven days. When it comes to playing a total, I will look to the Under and parlay the alternate total of 6.5 with no goals scored in the first five minutes.
There are a pair of Carolina props that I will have on the card for this game. The Hurricanes are a high shot volume team. I will play Flyers goalie Dan Vladar Over his saves prop over 26.5. Andrei Svechnikov and Logan Stankoven led the Canes in the opening round, each with 18 shots on goal, and I will parlay the two to register at least three shots on goal. The Canes are expected to have both Nikolaj Ehlers and Alexander Nikishin back in the lineup. Ehlers missed game four of round one with a lower-body injury, and Nikishin suffered a concussion in game four.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Philadelphia Flyers first goal/first period (+165) – ¼ unit
Philadelphia Flyers first period goal (-125) – ¼ unit
Philadelphia Flyers first period money line (+145) – ¼ unit
No goals first 5 minutes/Under 6.5 (-103) – 1 unit
Dan Vladar Over 26.5 saves (-125) – ½ unit
Svechnikov/Stankoven 3+ SOG parlay (+184) – 1/2 unit
Series Plays
Philadelphia Flyers (+260) at Carolina Hurricanes (-330)
The Carolina Hurricanes dominated the Ottawa Senators in sweeping them away in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, giving up just five goals in the process. The Flyers were the best team post-Olympic break and continued their strong defensive play as they dispatched the Penguins in six games.
This is going to be a big step up for the Flyers in this second-round matchup with Carolina. The Hurricanes are relentless, always on the attack, whereas the Penguins just want to skate up and down the ice and play a wide-open style. The Flyers can draw upon the fact that they played Carolina as tough as anyone during the regular season, with all four games going past regulation (Canes won three of four). I do like Carolina to win the series in four or five games, so instead of laying the big series price (-330), I will play the Hurricanes to win the series in both four and five games as well as taking Carolina on the series spread (-1.5 games).
I do feel the Flyers have a chance to win game one, so I will sprinkle on the Flyers to win game one and Carolina to win games two, three, four and five. I am also going to make a “pizza money” bet on the Flyers to win in six games (+850), just in case.
When it comes to player props, it’s all about Carolina. Give me Andrei Svechnikov to lead the series in goals and shots on goal. Svechnikov was held without a goal and a point in the opening round despite being tied for the team lead (with Logan Stankoven) in shots on goal.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Carolina Hurricanes -1.5 games (-142) – 2 units
Carolina Hurricanes win series 4-1 (+300) – .25
Carolina Hurricanes win series 4-2 (+320) – .25
Philadelphia Flyers win series 4-2 (+850) – .10
Flyers win game 1, Hurricanes win 2-5 (+1600) – .10
Andrei Svechnikov to lead the series in goals (+950) – .20
Logan Stankoven to lead the series in goals (+1000) – .20
Andrei Svechnikov to lead the series in shots on goal (+650) – .20
Sebastian Aho to lead the series in points (+360) – .20
Taylor Hall to lead the series in points (+3500) – .10
