The Boston Bruins took 2-0 and 3-1 series leads against the Toronto Maple Leafs in their NHL Eastern Conference quarterfinal series, but then the Leafs roared back despite not having Auston Matthews, tying the series at three games apiece and pushing Game 7 into overtime. However, it took the Bruins just 1:54 of overtime to get a goal from David Pastrnak, who took the feed from Hampus Lindholm to end the series. Lindholm also tied the game in regulation, and Jeremy Swayman had 30 saves as the Bruins narrowly avoided losing their second consecutive first-round series after taking a 3-1 series lead. Let’s look at the updated Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket and go over our sports betting thoughts about each second-round series.
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: Eastern and Western Conference Finals Predictions
Dallas Stars vs Colorado Avalanche
The Stars needed seven games to oust the Vegas Golden Knights while the Avalanche sent the Winnipeg Jets home after five games. The Stars are slightly favored going into this series. They come in having averaaged just 2.0 goals per game over their last 10 games, going 6-4. They have permitted only 18 goals during those same contests. However, the Avalanche have scored 4.5 goals per contest in their last ten, posting a 6-3-1 mark in those contests, while permitting 3.5. The Stars need to up their offense if they’re going to keep up with the Avalanche in this series. Jake Oettinger has been terrific for the Stars so far in net. As well as the Stars played this season, they’re legitimate favorites.
NHL Pick: Stars in six
Vancouver Canucks vs Edmonton Oilers
The Canucks won all four of their regular-season meetings with the Oilers, which included an 8-1 shellacking on Opening Night as well as a 6-2 beating. The other games (4-3 and 3-1) also featured the Canucks pouring on the offense. Three of those losses did come in the early part of the season, when the Oilers were really struggling on both ends of the ice. The Oilers are actually the favorites to win this series due to injuries to Thatcher Demko. The Oilers have both Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid humming on offense. In these playoffs, the Oilers lead the NHL on both the penalty kill (100%) and the power play. Even so, I’m actually going with the value here as the Canucks rolled in the first round, even without Demko in net.
NHL Pick: Canucks in seven
Florida Panthers vs Boston Bruins
The Bruins are in the second round of the playoffs for the first time in three years, and they head to Florida without home-ice advantage. However, they have won four of their last six road postseason games, including Games 3 and 4 down at Florida a year ago. They’ve actually struggled more at home, posting a 3-5 home playoff record in their last eight games at TD Garden. The Panthers have a Vezina Trophy finalist in goal, in Sergei Bobrovsky, and they have elite talent on their scoring lines and the blue line. Their run to the Stanley Cup Final last year was a surprise. This time around, it wouldn’t be a surprise. The Bruins need to settle down and play with confidence if they want to get past the Panthers this time.
NHL Pick: Panthers in seven
N.Y. Rangers vs Carolina Hurricanes (Rangers lead, 1-0)
This is the second time the Blueshirts and the Hurricanes have met in the second round in the last three years. The Hurricanes only needed five games to send the N.Y. Islanders home in the first round, and the Rangers swept Washington out. The Rangers beat Carolina two out of three times during the regular season. Igor Shesterkin posted a minuscule 1.75 GAA in the first round, as well as a .931 save percentage, but the Caps didn’t test him as much as the Hurricanes will. Frederik Andersen went 9-1-0 in net for the Hurricanes after returning from blood clotting issues, but in the first round, he permitted a 2.25 GAA and had a .912 save percentage in the first round.
NHL Pick: Rangers in six
Updated NHL Odds Reveal Tight Race for the Stanley Cup
- Edmonton Oilers +420
- Florida Panthers +460
- Dallas Stars +520
- N.Y. Rangers +550
- Carolina Hurricanes +580
- Colorado Avalanche +630
- Boston Bruins +1075
- Vancouver Canucks +1650
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