Well, we definitely learned one thing during the first full week of NHL playoff wagering: There are 15 really good clubs chasing one über-talented juggernaut. And those 15 really good clubs appear to be losing ground
The second week of the postseason begins Monday with four games on the NHL playoff odds board. Three of those contests involve teams looking to duplicate what four squads did Sunday: tie their best-of-7 first-round series at 2-2.
The other contest involves the aforementioned juggernaut, the Colorado Avalanche. The clear-cut favorite to win the 2022 Stanley Cup returns to the ice in Nashville looking to sweep the Predators and become the first team to advance to the second round.
Props.com breaks down NHL playoffs odds and action for each of Monday’s quartet of games.
Odds via DraftKings and WynnBet, and updated as of 5:45 p.m. ET on May 9.
NHL Playoffs odds: Panthers Vs Capitals (Game 4)
Puck Drop/TV: 7 p.m. ET/TBS
Moneyline: Panthers -185/Capitals +150
Puckline: Panthers -1.5 (+140)/Capitals +1.5 (-160)
Total: 6.5 (Over -130/Under +110)
Best-of-7 series: Capitals lead, 2-1
Adjusted series odds: Panthers -135/Capitals +115
Slap shots: After the teams split the first two contests in Florida, the Capitals returned home for Game 3 on Saturday and cruised to a 6-1 victory as a consensus +160 underdog. Washington scored the final goal with 42 seconds left on the clock to send the game Over the 6.5 total. The first two games stayed Under.
Betting nuggets: All three games have been decided by multiple goals, after all four regular-season meetings were one-goal results. … Going back to the second regular-season matchup on Nov. 27, the teams have alternated wins and losses in seven straight clashes. … In the season series, the favorite is 5-2, the home team is 6-1, and the Over is 5-2. … Florida has lost consecutive games just once since the end of February (32 games). … With the Game 3 win, Washington is still just 20-16-6 at home (25-11-6 on the road). Meanwhile, the Panthers are 15-6 in their last 21 road games.
Prediction: Panthers 5, Capitals 2
NHL Playoffs odds: Rangers Vs Penguins (Game 4)
Puck Drop/TV: 7 p.m. ET/ESPN
Moneyline: Rangers -115/Penguins +105
Puckline: Rangers -1.5 (+200)/Penguins +1.5 (-250)
Total: 6 (Over -115/Under +105)
Best-of-7 series: Penguins lead, 2-1
Adjusted series odds: Penguins -170/Rangers +150
Slap shots: Pittsburgh built a 4-1 first-period lead in Game 3, then surrendered it away by allowing three goals in the second. However, the Penguins regrouped, tallying three goals in the final nine minutes for a 7-4 victory in what was a consensus pick ’em contest. The game flew past the 5.5 total before the midpoint of the second period. The Over is now 3-0 in the series (25 goals), after the Under went 3-1 in the regular season (15 goals).
Betting nuggets: Going back to the final regular-season contest on April 7, the teams have alternated victories in their last four head-to-head battles. … Of the 25 goals scored so far in the series, 11 have come in the second period. … New York is still 8-3 in its last 11 road games, but 1-8 in its last nine postseason contests. … Pittsburgh is on positive runs of 5-1 at home, 13-5 as a home underdog and 6-1 when hosting the Rangers. … The home team has won 12 of the last 16 series meetings and the favorite has taken 10 of the last 14. … The Over in this rivalry is on runs of 24-8-5 overall and 11-3-3 in Pittsburgh.
Prediction: Rangers 3, Penguins 2
NHL Playoffs odds: Avalanche Vs Predators (Game 4)
Puck Drop/TV: 9:30 p.m. ET/ESPN
Moneyline: Avalanche -250/Predators +210
Puckline: Avalanche -1.5 (+100)/Predators +1.5 (-120)
Total: 6.5 (Over -120/Under +100)
Best-of-7 series: Avalanche lead, 3-0
Adjusted series odds: Avalanche -30,000/Predators +3000
Slap shots: After escaping with a 2-1 overtime victory at home in Game 2, Colorado rolled to a 7-4 rout Saturday in Game 3. The Avalanche cashed as consensus -210 road favorites. Colorado broke open a 3-3 game with two goals 39 seconds apart in the later stages of the second period, then tacked on two more in the third. With Game 2 easily hurdling the 6.5-goal total, the Over is now 6-1 in seven Predators-Avs meetings this eason.
Betting nuggets: Entering this series, the Predators had won three straight against Colorado. The winning team has potted at least five goals in six of the seven games (lone exception being Game 2). … Nashville is 1-7 in its last eight overall (three overtime losses). It has allowed at least five goals in six of those contests. … Colorado is 11-1 in its last 12 first-round playoff games. … The teams combined to go 6-for-8 on the power play Saturday, after cashing in just three of 17 combined chances in the first two games in Colorado. … The Over is 18-7-1 in the last 26 series meetings in Nashville.
Prediction: Avalanche 5, Predators 3
NHL Playoffs Odds: Flames Vs Stars (Game 4)
Puck Drop/TV: 9:30 p.m. ET/TBS
Moneyline: Flames -160/Stars +140
Puck line: Flames -1.5 (+165)/Stars +1.5 (-200)
Total: 5.5 (Over +105/Under -125)
Best-of-7 series: Stars lead, 2-1
Adjusted series odds: Flames -110/Stars -110
Slap shots: Trailing 2-1 midway through the second period of Game 3, Dallas got back-to-back goals from veteran Joe Pavelski on the way to a 4-2 victory as a consensus +145 underdog. The Stars got an empty-net goal with one second remaining to push the game over the 5.5 total, after the first two games stayed low.
Betting nuggets: Since dropping the series opener 1-0 in Calgary, Dallas has outscored the Flames 6-2. … The teams have now split their six head-to-head meetings, with Calgary favored in each contest. The winning team has scored exactly four goals in four of the six games. … Prior to the Stars cashing as big underdogs in the last two contests, the favorite had been on a 6-1 roll in this rivalry. … Dallas is 27-11 in its last 38 home games. … Four of the nine goals scored in the series have come in the first period.
Prediction: Flames 3, Stars 1
NHL Playoffs Odds & Action Updates
Panthers vs Capitals
UPDATED 5:45 P.M. ET MONDAY: DraftKings installed Florida as a -180 favorite for Game 4, and the moneyline has since bounced between -180 and -195. It’s currently Panthers -185/Capitals +150, with 69% of the bets and 65% of the money on Florida. The total opened and remains at 6.5, with juice adjustments ranging from Over-125 to the current price of Over -130. The Over is taking 69% of all wagers and 76% of all dollars.
Rangers vs. Penguins
UPDATED 5:45 P.M. ET MONDAY: New York opened as a -120 road chalk at DraftKings on Saturday night, then dipped to -115 on Sunday morning. By midday Sunday, the moneyline moved to -110 both ways before rebounding to the current price of Rangers -115/Penguins -105. While the ticket count is near even (55% New York/45% Pittsburgh), 83% of the money is on the visitors. The total opened at 6 flat and is now 6 (Over -115), with 91% of the wagers and 84% of the cash on the Over.
Avalanche vs Predators
UPDATED 5:45 P.M. ET MONDAY: WynnBet opened Game 4 odds at Colorado -250/Nashville +210. The line hasn’t budged despite the fact that 88% of all wagers and 87% of all dollars are on the favored Avalanche. The total opened and remains at 6.5, with the juice jumping from -110 both ways to Over -125. It’s now settled at 6.5 (Over -120), with 90% of the bets and nearly every single dollar (99.7%) on the Over.
Flames vs Stars
UPDATED 5:45 P.M. ET MONDAY: The Flames hit WynnBet’s Game 4 odds board as a -155 favorite and have ticked up to the current number of -160, with Dallas at +140. Calgary is taking 73% of the bets and 70% of the money. The total hasn’t moved from the opener of 5.5 (Over -125) amid betting splits of 54% wagers/59% money on the Over.
