NHL Picks – Syndication Server

WATCH: Stanley Cup Final – Montreal Canadiens At Tampa Bay Lightning, Game 2

Analyzing the Canadiens at Lightning Game 2 Stanley Cup Final matchup.

The Montreal Canadiens have defied the odds throughout the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs by winning three consecutive series as the underdog. In two of their previous series, they lost Game 1 but responded by taking Game 2.

They’re in the same situation after dropping Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-1. Game 2 is Wednesday night, and this time the trends aren’t all that favorable for Montreal.

Consider:

– The Canadiens have a seven-game losing streak in the Lightning’s rink (Amalie Arena).

– The Lightning have won Game 2 in six consecutive playoff series, which is among the reasons why Tampa Bay is the reigning Stanley Cup champion.

– The Canadiens are 9-3 in their past 12 games as underdogs, but one of those three losses was Monday in Game 1.

These factors help add up to the money line, via BetMGM, being Canadiens +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Lightning -225 (bet $225 to win $100).

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Florida Panthers vs. New York Islanders odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Florida Panthers at New York Islanders NHL Playoffs Qualifier Round sports betting odds and lines, with NHL betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Florida Panthers and the New York Islanders tangle Saturday in Game 1 of their best-of-five NHL Playoffs Qualifier Series round at 4 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, one of two hub locations for the NHL restart. We analyze the Panthers-Islanders sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Florida Panthers vs. New York Islanders: Projected starting goalies

Sergei Bobrovsky vs. Thomas Greiss

Bobrovsky, who made the start in Wednesday’s preseason game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, registered a 23-19-6 record, 3.23 goals-against average and .900 save percentage across 50 games (49 starts). It wasn’t exactly the type of production the team hoped they’d get from Bobrovsky after backing up a Brink’s truck to his house last offseason. However, he can wash all of those buyer’s remorse feelings away with a strong postseason run. It might be tough, however, as he was 0-2-0 in two starts against the Isles, although he had a respectable 2.05 GAA and .938 SV%.

Greiss was the backstop in a 2-1 exhibition win over the rival New York Rangers on Wednesday night, a good sign he’ll be manning the crease in Game 1 against the Cats. While “Bob” was pretty good against the Isles this season, Greiss was just a little better against the Panthers. Greiss posted a 2-0-0 record, 1.00 GAA and .972 save percentage in two regular-season starts, stopping 69 of the 71 pucks he faced.

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Panthers vs. Islanders: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated Wednesday at 10:45 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Islanders 4, Panthers 2

Moneyline (ML)

The ISLANDERS (-121) have won four consecutive meetings with the Panthers (+100), so there is a lot of confidence for the boys in blue and orange. In addition, the favorite has cashed in five of the previous six meetings in this series. New York is trying to wash a bad taste out of its mouth after being swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the postseason a year ago. Florida will be getting its feet wet, returning to the postseason since 2016. That invaluable experience last season for the Isles, albeit brief, will be the difference, as well as having Barry Trotz behind the bench.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Islanders to win returns a profit of $8.30, while a $10 wager on the Panthers results in a profit of $10.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

It might be a good idea to go lightly on ISLANDERS (-1.5, +225) on the puck line. Keep in mind, though, that while New York won each of the previous three regular-season meetings, one win came in a shootout, and the other in a 2-1 win in regulation on the Island. Either way, the moneyline cashed twice, and the puck line did not. So tread lightly.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 5.5 (-110) is a slam-dunk play in this one. Expect the skaters to look like they’re pushing in sand early in the qualifiers after a long layoff, taking at least a game or two to knock off the rust. Plus, the first three meetings between these clubs each cashed the under. Look for more of the same.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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NHL Picks and Best Bets: 2019-20 Stanley Cup Champions

Looking at the NHL betting odds to win the 2019-20 Stanley Cup Final, with NHL futures picks and best bets.

The 2019-20 Stanley Cup will be up for grabs later this summer as the NHL season resumes with a 24-team playoff structure. The expanded postseason has opened up the odds, providing greater profit margins for sports bettors. Below, we’ll look at the Stanley Cup futures odds, and make our picks and best bets at BetMGM.

2019-20 Stanley Cup Champions Odds: Favorite

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list.
Odds last updated Thursday, May 28 at 2:40 p.m. ET.

St. Louis Blues (+1000)

The defending Stanley Cup champions finished the abbreviated regular season atop the ultra-competitive Central Division at 42-19-10 for 94 points through 71 games. They scored 225 goals and allowed just 193, all without star RW Vladimir Tarasenko (shoulder) for the majority of the season.

Tarasenko will return following the break and unlike most teams who try to defend a Stanley Cup title, the Blues are plenty rested after going the distance in 2018-19. The pressure has also faded, at least slightly, due to the prolonged break.

The Blues are only sixth by the odds to win the Cup despite finishing first in the Western Conference and receiving a Qualification Round bye. They’re a strong pick as the first team with odds of 10/1 or higher.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Blues to win the Stanley Cup returns a profit of $100.

Get some action on the NHL playoffs by placing a legal sports bet (in NJ, IN, CO and WV) at BetMGM.com.

2019-20 Stanley Cup Champions Odds: Contender

Edmonton Oilers (+2300)

The extended mid-season interruption will help level the competitive playing field for all 24 teams in the expanded playoffs. For this reason, it’s smart to trust the Oilers, who are led by C Connor McDavid and C Leon Draisaitl. Draisaitl and McDavid finished 1-2 in both points and assists in the regular season, and they’ll be able to take advantage of any team showing signs of rust defensively.

Believe in the raw talent of the Oilers’ two stars as they’ll look to outscore the competition in what’s sure to be a more wide-open playoff-style than to which we’re accustomed.

2019-20 Stanley Cup Champions Odds: Long shot

Florida Panthers (+6500)

Alternatively, look at the Panthers as your Stanley Cup dart throw. They ranked sixth in the Eastern Conference with 231 goals in the regular season while going 35-26-8. G Sergei Bobrovsky, a marquee free-agent addition, struggled through 50 games to post a .900 save percentage and a 3.23 goals against average.

The two-time Vezina Trophy winner is the biggest X-factor in this new playoff structure. The break has given him plenty of time to regroup and move past his regular-season struggles. If he can return to form, the Panthers could be vaulted into a long postseason run.

Want some action in the 2019-20 NHL Playoffs? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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NHL Picks and Best Bets: 2019-20 Western Conference Champions

Looking at the NHL futures betting odds to win the Western Conference, with picks and best bets for the 2019-20 NHL playoffs.

The NHL betting odds to win the Western Conference have been shaken up following the league’s announcement of a 24-team playoff format set to begin later this summer. Below, we make our picks and best bets to win the Western Conference and advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

2019-20 NHL Western Conference Odds: Favorites

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list.
Odds last updated Thursday, May 28 at 2:20 p.m. ET.

TEAM	ODDS
Colorado Avalanche	+325
Vegas Golden Knights	+350
St. Louis Blues	+450
Dallas Stars	+650

Colorado Avalanche (+325)

The Avalanche sat first or second in the Central Division for much of the 2019-20 campaign and finished the abbreviated regular season with 92 points in 70 games (42-20-8). Their plus-46 goal differential was the best in the Western Conference and their 237 goals scored were nine more than any other team in the conference.

The Avs were one of the most-heavily injury-ridden teams in the league at the time of the pause. C Nathan MacKinnon (lower body), RW Mikko Rantanen (upper body), C Nazem Kadri (lower body) and G Philipp Grubauer (lower body) were just a few who may have been in jeopardy for the beginning of a mid-April postseason. All are now expected to be back to full health.

The favorites in the West are well worth backing. A $10 bet will return a profit of $32.50 is they advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

Vegas Golden Knights (+350)

Like the Avalanche, the Golden Knights are heavy favorites to make it out of the West. Las Vegas is a finalist to be named as a hub city for the postseason, potentially giving the Knights a key home-ice advantage.

Vegas went 39-24-8 through 71 games to finish atop the Pacific Division. RW Mark Stone (lower body), LW Max Pacioretty (lower body) and C Chandler Stephenson (upper body) should all be back in the lineup, giving the Golden Knights one of the deepest forward groups in the league.

Get some action on the NHL playoffs by placing a legal sports bet (in NJ, IN, CO and WV) at BetMGM.com.

2019-20 NHL Western Conference Odds: Long shots

TEAM	ODDS
Edmonton Oilers	+1000
Calgary Flames	+1400
Nashville Predators	+1400
Vancouver Canucks	+1700
Minnesota Wild	+1800
Arizona Coyotes	+2000
Winnipeg Jets	+2400
Chicago Blackhawks	+5000

Edmonton Oilers (+1000)

I chased value in my Eastern Conference picks, targeting strong goaltending and long shots with inflated odds. In the West, it’s all about the favorites with the odds being much more condensed.

C Leon Draisaitl and C Connor McDavid finished 1-2 in both points and assists in the regular season. They’ll draw the 12th-seeded Blackhawks in the Qualification Round and are heavily favored to advance to Round 1 of the 16-team playoffs.

Want some action in the 2019-20 NHL Playoffs? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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NHL Picks and Best Bets: 2019-20 Eastern Conference Champions

Looking at updated NHL futures betting odds for the 2019-20 playoffs, with picks and best bets to be crowned Eastern Conference Champions.

The 2019-20 NHL regular season is officially over and hockey fans now wait for a 24-team playoff format to begin later this summer. The interruption in the NHL has created a never-before-seen wrinkle in the hunt for the Stanley Cup. Below, we’ll look at the betting odds to win the Eastern Conference and make our picks and best bets to make it to the Stanley Cup final.

2019-20 NHL Eastern Conference Odds: Favorites

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list.
Odds last updated Thursday, May 28 at 1:30 p.m. ET.

TEAM	ODDS
Boston Bruins	+300
Tampa Bay Lightning	+300
Philadelphia Flyers	+450
Washington Capitals	+450

Tampa Bay Lightning (+300)

The Lightning suffered one of the worst playoffs collapses on memory a year ago. The Presidents’ Trophy champions were swept in four games in the first round by the Columbus Blue Jackets while being outscored 19-8.

The lengthy pause in the 2019-20 NHL season has allowed C Steven Stamkos (abdomen) and D Victor Hedman (lower body) to return to full health. Heavily-used starting G Andrei Vasilevskiy will also be well-rested and back in top form after seeming to tire out in last year’s postseason.

The Lightning led the league with 245 goals scored in 70 games. Only the Bruins (plus-53) had a better goal differential than the Lightning’s plus-50. Look for them to use the extended time off and a Qualification Round bye to correct their wrongs from 2018-19.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Lightning to win the Eastern Conference returns a profit of $30.

Get some action on the NHL playoffs by placing a legal sports bet (in NJ, IN, CO and WV) at BetMGM.com.

2019-20 NHL Eastern Conference Odds: Long shots

TEAM	ODDS
Pittsburgh Penguins	+1100
Toronto Maple Leafs	+1700
New York Islanders	+2200
New York Rangers	+2200
Carolina Hurricanes	+2400
Blue Jackets	+2800
Florida Panthers	+2800
Montreal Canadiens	+5000

Columbus Blue Jackets (+2800)

The Blue Jackets loaded up at the 2018-19 NHL trade deadline and went on to win the franchise’s first playoff series since entering the league in 2000-01. Things seemed to fall apart in the offseason, as C Matt Duchene, C Ryan Dzingel and G Sergei Bobrovsky all departed via free agency.

The Jackets may have been destined to miss the playoffs under a normal 16-team format, as they sat at 33-22-15 through 70 games. They suffered a league-worst 15 overtime losses, including a 0-4 record in shootouts.

The goaltending tandem of Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins will be the biggest key to a long postseason run. They posted save percentages of .911 and .923, respectively, in the regular season. They’ll be matched up against the Maple Leafs in the Qualification Round, but they may have the home-ice advantage as a final contender to be a postseason hub city.

Florida Panthers (+2800)

The free-agent addition of Bobrovsky in goal was supposed to help turn the Panthers around and make them a frontrunner in the Eastern Conference for the better part of the next 10 seasons. However, the former Vezina Trophy winner played to a save percentage of just .900 with a 3.23 goals against average across his first 50 games of the season and the Panthers sat at 35-26-8 at the pause.

A good Bobrovsky is still a top-four goaltender in the East and the Panthers have one of the deepest forward groups in the conference. Trusting goaltending and backing long shots will be the key to turning a profit at the sportsbooks in these unprecedented NHL playoffs.

Want some action in the 2019-20 NHL Playoffs? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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San Jose Sharks at Chicago Blackhawks odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Wednesdays Sharks at Blackhawks NHL matchup, with NHL betting odds, picks and best bets

The San Jose Sharks (29-35-5) visit the Chicago Blackhawks (31-30-8) in a Wednesday-night (8 p.m. ET) contest at the United Center. We analyze the San Jose-Chicago odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.

Sharks at Blackhawks: Projected starting goalies

Martin Jones vs. Corey Crawford

Jones owns a 3.00 goals-against average and an .896 save percentage through 41 games. The 30-year-old veteran has been solid of late, posting a 2.25 GAA and .918 SV% in nine games since the All-Star break. Jones last appeared in a game on Sunday, allowing the Avalanche four goals on 24 shots in a 4-3 loss in San Jose. He is making his first road start since Feb. 23.

Crawford has recorded a 2.79 GAA and .916 SV% in 39 games this season. Injured the last two seasons, his 40th game tonight will mark his most since 2016-17 (55). Crawford has been sharp since becoming the Blackhawks’ definitive No. 1 netminder after the trade of Robin Lehner to Vegas. He’s carded a .927 SV% over his last 10 games. Crawford has been particularly sharp at home over that stretch (.939 SV% in four games).

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.