NHL playoffs picks: 4 best bets for Thursday
Andrew Berkshire picks out his four best NHL bets for Thursday, with three first-round matchups entering Game 5.
All the latest NHL lines can be found on the Betway sportsbook. Before finalising your online sports betting selections, make sure to check out our expert’s NHL picks and NHL predictions.
Thursday night could be a historic one for the city of Toronto. The Toronto Maple Leafs are up 3-1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a situation the Leafs found themselves in just two seasons ago against the Montreal Canadiens where they failed spectacularly. Not only can the Leafs slay their demons and win a playoff series for the first time in 19 years, they can set the tone and be the first team to advance out of the first round. Can they do it?
Morgan Rielly to score 1+ points vs Tampa Bay Lightning
When the Maple Leafs lost the first game of this series, there was some very sketchy officiating that would have been very easy to fixate on and blame, considering the Leafs themselves played pretty well overall. Rielly, the longest tenured Leaf, was the one who spoke out and essentially said the team had to move past it, along with the incoming suspension to Michael Bunting, and just play their game.
The following game, it was Rielly who stepped up to lead the team on the ice as well, notching four assists, and he followed that up the next game by scoring the dagger in overtime to take the series lead. In Game 4, it was Rielly again who scored late in the third period to tie the game for Toronto and send it to overtime. He’s been a leader in every way, and I expect that to continue.
Nick Paul to score anytime vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Pointless in the series so far, Nick Paul has been a thorn in the side of opponents since the Lightning acquired him around last season’s trade deadline. Last season, Paul scored both goals against the Leafs in Game 7 as the Lightning eliminated the Leafs.
That ability to show up in big moments is incredibly important in the playoffs, and Paul has been getting his chances in this series so far, without much to show for it. With some likely nerves among the Leafs on the verge of making some history, Paul could once again come up big for the Lightning.
Jack Hughes and Chris Kreider to both score 1+ goals
The two best goal scorers in this series and, between these two teams, the best goal scorers all season, have been excellent for their respective teams. Hughes has a lot more pressure on him to be the guy, as the Devils’ secondary and depth scoring really hasn’t shown up yet through four games, but nothing seems to stop the young phenom.
Kreider meanwhile, is just a savvy veteran who is surrounded by talent that can find him in the right spots, and he has the willingness to get his hands dirty to finish off plays that many players couldn’t. Both players have an extremely good chance of striking again in this one.
Winnipeg Jets to beat Vegas Golden Knights
The Winnipeg Jets are up against it, facing elimination while dealing with injuries that would put almost any team on the edge. Losing Josh Morrissey alone might have been the death knell for the Jets, but losing Mark Scheifele at the same time, with Nikolaj Ehlers still questionable, it’s just a lot to deal with while fighting for your life.
With that said, when your back is against the wall, sometimes unexpected players step up in crunch time, and Connor Hellebuyck has yet to steal a game in this series, something we all know he’s capable of doing. In all situations combined, this series has been more even than the series looks on the surface, so I think the Jets have one more game in them.