The playoffs have been turned around a little in some series. Here are some notes from Wednesday night.
- Los Angeles scored six goals, but no drama this time.
- Dallas won its second consecutive game in overtime.
- Washington played a little more defensive and got the cover.
Yes, some things went as expected, and some did not. It is the playoffs after all. Four games are scheduled, with two on ESPN2 and two on TBS/MAX.
Can Anyone Stop The Florida Panthers?
The Florida Panthers, despite their turmoil, can come together at the right time. Tampa Bay had several things going their way into Game 1. Simply, it did not matter. Florida scored six goals on the road, and Tampa Bay had few answers for their balanced depth. This is also without Aaron Ekblad and Jesse Puljujarvi, who cannot come back until Game 3. That is a scary thought.
Worse, Anthony Cirelli is uncertain due to an undisclosed injury. Is it simply an illness, or something more serious? One wrinkle is the game total for Game 2. Some thought this might budge. As of press time, it has not. Currently, the total stands at 5.5, with slight movement toward the -115 to -120 range.
Now, the balance and lines Paul Maurice can roll out is ridiculous. Brad Marchand can play anywhere in the middle six. Matthew Tkachuk can act as a rover on the ice, causing turnovers and disrupting the opposing team’s play. Tkachuk also scored twice, with Nate Schmidt adding two goals. That does not seem fair.
Tampa created quite a few scoring chances, and the belief is that the Lightning can put enough goals past Sergei Bobrovsky tonight. Florida knows it can score on Andrei Vasilevskiy. With the previous four playoff games going to the over, five feels like it is alive on Thursday night.
Best Bet: Florida and Tampa Bay over 5.5 goals -115 via BetMGM.
Does Winnipeg Keep On Rolling Along?
Okay, it’s okay to admit we were wrong about Winnipeg. Maybe Connor Hellebuyck has a deeper playoff run in him after all. Then again, the scene shifts to St. Louis for Game 3. Another twist is the start time. The Blues-Jets contest is the late game starting just after 9:30 pm ET.
One of them was Cale Makar. Makar attempted quite a few shots on goal. Unfortunately for him, only one hit the net. That included five missed shots. Makar did have a power-play assist in Game 1. Even better things are expected.
First, Makar averaged 3.08 shots during the regular season, but had only one or two shots on goal in his previous four contests.
Taking a risk is one thing, but Makar could be the target of several different betting options. For one, the over on shots feels like the safer bet. However, the points could be worth a look, given the dynamic play of Nathan MacKinnon, Makar, and the Colorado Avalanche.
Top Pick: St. Louis Blues on the moneyline (EVEN via DraftKings)
Who Has The Power In Minnesota?
Game 3 between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Minnesota Wild is a pivotal contest. Do the referees swallow their whistles again? That was the refrain from Golden Knights’ players and coaches after Game 2. Given what we have seen in other series, officiating has been somewhat inconsistent.
The penalty kill has been a big issue for Minnesota, but if there are hardly any called, then there is no problem. Minnesota had a statistical advantage at even strength in Game 2. Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy made life miserable for the Vegas defense, who struggled to keep up with either player.
Vegas has to play more like they did in Game 1. The Golden Knights need to generate a forecheck and draw penalties. Now, this slows the game down slightly and does not allow Minnesota to keep rolling out its top players.
Typically, the Golden Knights do not lay two eggs in a row. Expect a better opening 20 out of them on Thursday night.
Best Wager: Vegas Golden Knights to lead after one period +155 via FanDuel.
