NHL Playoff best bets for the weekend of May 29-30 feature two games on Saturday and potentially two games on Sunday. Let's look at three of those games and weekend NHL Playoff Best Bets.
NHL Playoff best bets for the weekend of May 29-30 feature two games on Saturday and potentially two games on Sunday. The East Final opens up on Saturday with the New York Islanders taking on the Boston Bruins, while the West Final begins on Sunday with the Colorado Avalanche hosting either the Vegas Golden Knights or Minnesota Wild. We also get a Game 6 in the North on Saturday night between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. Let's look at all three of those games and weekend NHL Playoff Best Bets.
Saturday, NHL Playoff Best Bets
Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens (Game 6)
Toronto leads this best-of-seven game series 3-2, but Montreal is coming off an overtime win in Game 5 in Toronto and now they can force a Game 7 if they can win this game at home on Saturday night. Is it possible that the Maple Leafs could actually lose this series to Montreal? It seemed unthinkable before the series began, but Toronto has all the looks of a team that could choke. Keep in mind this is a team that has not won a Stanley Cup since 1967 and has not won a playoff series since 2004. Toronto is 0-5 in the last four seasons in games where they had a chance to win a series.
Even though the Maple Leafs are on the verge of blowing a 3-1 lead in the series and facing huge pressure, I think that going on the road to Montreal actually helps them. They will still have great pressure to win this game, but at least it won't be in Toronto where everything is magnified. And although I like some of the young players for Montreal, there is no question that Toronto is the better team. I think Campbell will shine on Saturday night and the Leafs will finally get some production from Matthews and that they will close out this series.
Stanley Cup Playoff Best Bet - Maple Leafs in Game 6
New York Islanders at Boston Bruins (Game 1)
NBC will be broadcasting this game on Saturday night in prime time and it figures to be an excellent matchup between these East rivals. The Islanders are coming off an impressive win against Pittsburgh in the previous round, while the Bruins rolled over the Capitals. The Islanders are extremely well coached, are getting excellent goaltending from Sorokin, while the Bruins are balanced and getting solid goaltending from Rask. It looks like a very even matchup.
If you look at the regular season series between the teams it was all Islanders early, as they went 3-0-2, but after the trading deadline it was all Bruins, as they went 3-0 and outscored the Islanders by a combined margin of 10-3.
I think this series is so even that it comes down to which team gets production from their top player. Mathew Barzal did next to nothing against the Penguins, notching just three assists, but no goals. Boston's David Pastrnak wasn't great against Washington, but at least he scored twice. For the Islanders to win this series I think they need Barzal to step up in a big way.
I think we could see more goals than some people expect in this series, so I will take Game 1 over the total.
Stanley Cup Playoff Best Bet - Over 5
Sunday NHL Playoff Best Bet
Vegas or Minnesota at Colorado (Game 1)
NBC will also be broadcasting this game in prime time on Sunday night. The Avalanche have been waiting at home for the winner of Vegas vs. Minnesota, as Colorado swept away the Blues in four straight.
Since we don't know what the exact matchup will be, I will just look at a series bet to begin this series. Regardless of whether it is Vegas or Minnesota, the Avalanche have a decided edge. Colorado has more scoring than either of those two teams and they also can outplay each team in terms of defense. You can also make a case that Colorado has the better goaltending, as Grubauer has been outstanding all season.
Stanley Cup Playoff Best Bet - Avalanche to Win Series
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