Wednesday Best Bets: One NHL Side, Two NBA Props

Tuesday’s Best Bets went 2-for-3, with both of our NBA props cashing. For Wednesday, we’ll be looking to recreate that magic like Doctor Strange in the multiverse (don’t worry, we won’t dish out any spoilers here).

Speaking of spoilers, the photo atop this article is the unabashed foreshadowing of our favorite NHL side of the night. As for the actual wager? That’s a little tougher to guess. Let’s just say it’s not a traditional moneyline or puckline bet.

That and two more NBA props are featured in Wednesday’s Best Bets.

All odds are updated as of 4:30 p.m. ET on May 18.

Best Bets Track Record

Tuesday: 2-1
Year-To-Date: 84-85-2

Bostonian vs. The Book: 25-27-2
BetPrep Prop of the Day: 22-34
NBA Props: 29-17
NHL Props: 6-6
MLB Props: 1-1
MLB Sides: 1-0

NHL Side: Carolina Hurricanes vs New York Rangers

The bet: Hurricanes in regulation
The odds: -110
Where to bet: BetMGM
From: Matt Perrault via The Bostonian Vs. The Book podcast

Matt Perrault, host of The Bostonian vs. The Book podcast, is thinking a little bit outside the box when it comes to his portion of the Best Bets series. He likes the Carolina Hurricanes to beat the New York Rangers in Game 1 of that series. However, Perrault is hesitant to lay the heavy -165 moneyline with Carolina. He also doesn’t want to get burned by a late goal with the puck line. The solution? Take the Hurricanes to win in regulation.

In BetMGM’s three-way regulation market, meaning the result through three periods:

• Carolina is -110 to win
• New York is +210 to win
• Regulation tie is +320

Simply put, the Hurricanes have to win in regulation for this bet to cash. If New York wins in regulation or the game goes to OT, then the bet loses.

Carolina is 29-8-4 at home this season. Perrault believes that the Hurricanes will bring the energy in Game 1 in front of the home crowd. Furthermore, Carolina is 3-1 against the Rangers this season, with a five-goal differential in those contests.

As Matt Jacob noted in his Wednesday NHL Playoff Odds report, Carolina went 4-0 on home ice in Round 1 vs. Boston to punch its ticket into the second round.

You can find Carolina to win in regulation (-110) at BetMGM.

NBA Prop: F Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors)

The prop: Over 7.5 points (vs. Dallas)
The odds: -130
Where to bet: DraftKings Sportsbook
From: Jim Barnes via NBA Props Wednesday

Admittedly, the numbers don’t pop for this play. But the time could be right to back Green making a mark on the scoreboard. Green scored 14 points in the clincher against Memphis, though that was the only game in that series in which he topped 7.5 points. He hit double digits in three of the five games in the first-round series against Denver.

The way Green matches up with the Mavericks is also a bit of a mystery. He missed the final three Warriors-Mavs meetings in the regular season and scored only two points in his lone game against Dallas on Jan. 5 That was Green’s last game before he missed more than two months with a calf injury.

But Green thrives on emotion. With the Mavericks often employing a small-ball lineup, Green should have some openings to get to the basket and fire up the crowd. Take him Over 7.5 points.

BetPrep Prop of the Day: G Jordan Poole (Golden State Warriors)

The bet: Over 16.5 points (vs. Dallas)
The odds: -110
Where to bet: BetMGM
From: BetPrep Prop of the Day via BetPrep.com

BetPrep’s Prop of the Day cashed on Tuesday, as Miami wing Tyler Herro went Over 2.5 assists against Boston.

For Tuesday’s play in the Best Bets series, BetPrep is sticking with a prop in the NBA playoffs. The pick is Golden State guard Jordan Poole Over 16.5 points in Game 1 against Dallas. The rationale:

• Poole has scored 17-plus points in six off 11 playoff games.
• Poole has scored 17-plus points in 11 of his last 14 home games.
• In his last 31 games overall, Poole has scored 17-plus points 26 times.

Furthermore, Poole is averaging 19.3 points across 11 postseason games. That’s nearly three points higher than this prop number, which signals rare value to the Over.

You can find Poole Over 16.5 points (-110) at BetMGM.