The NHL playoffs have been anything but easy to pick after three games in each series. Upsets have been the norm, which isn’t always conducive to betting. But to help you unpack the looming Game 4 matchups on April 24, we’ve picked the three best NHL bets of the night. We’ve done the research and we feel these picks are winners in the making!
Over/Under 6 goals: New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers
A Rangers sweep felt all but certain after they won both Game 1 and 2 in New Jersey with 5-1 scores. But not so fast, even with the series now in New York City, the Devils stole Game 3 with a 2-1 win in overtime. Folks, we have ourselves a series again with these two rivals. Come Monday, we’re most interested in betting the Devils-Rangers over/under which is set at six goals. Here are the betting lines both ways:
The Game 3 hero for New Jersey was 22-year-old goaltender Akira Schmid. He was entrusted as the starting goalkeeper in favor of Vitek Vanecek. It was Schmid’s first-ever playoff start and what a scenario to be put in: down 2-0 and on the road in the always-hostile Madison Square Garden. Regardless, Schmid rose to the occasion. He stopped 35 of 36 shots to give New Jersey a fighting chance once again.
The number-one question atop everyone’s minds, including bettors: can Schmid have an encore performance? If he even comes close, that might be enough to allow the Devils to tie the series AND keep this game under six goals scored. We’re betting on the latter happening.
Igor Shesterkin is our cushion in case Schmid “comes back down to Earth.” We’re almost certain the reigning Vezina Trophy winner will continue his hot streak this series. Shesterkin has allowed four goals on 79 shots after three games this series. He’s filthy good again after a hot-and-cold season. To us, this game has all the makings of an under with pressure so high going into Game 4.
Moneyline: Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning
We expect this game to draw massive amounts of action at NHL’s most-used betting sites. It’s been a barn-burner so far, and each side is a legit threat to go to the Stanley Cup Finals. But out of all the Toronto-Tampa bets available, we’re sticking with the classic moneyline. This series is so close that oddsmaker has set Game 4 at pick ‘em, as seen below:
You got to give credit to the Leafs here. After losing Game 1 on their own ice, everyone (including themselves probably) said, “here we go again.” But yet, the perceived chokers have strung two wins in a row, including an overtime thriller last time out in Tampa.
Goaltender Ilya Samsonov keyed the Leafs to the gutsy win. Even with teammates like Auston Matthews and Ryan O’Reilly penalized and out of the game for fighting, Samsonov played like a man possesses. He stopped eight shots in overtime and shined just a tad brighter than Andrei Vasilevskiy.
But we’ll be straight up here and say we don’t expect similar heroics from Samsonov in Game 4. If anything, having their backs against the wall is what the Bolts need to tie this series up. They’ve been in such scenarios before during their three-straight-Stanley-Cup-Finals run, and each time, they answered the call. The Bolts are getting our money here.
Against The Spread: Colorado Avalanche at Seattle Kraken
Let’s up the risk level on this third pick, shall we? We typically don’t vouch for betting on spreads, but Colorado and Seattle’s next game is an exception. Here are the game’s betting odds on the spread:
The reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Avalanche, are riding high after a Game 3 victory. This wasn’t just any Game 3 either. As the Kraken’s first-ever playoff home game, the atmosphere was bananas. Still, the road team led almost throughout, before closing with a 6-4 advantage. They’ve now won two in a row and retaken home-ice advantage. If not for going 0-3 on power plays, the Avs might’ve won more convincingly too.
We’re firmly of the belief that not only Colorado wins, but by at least two goals once again. Seattle’s defense has been shoddy all season long and we anticipate that to continue on Monday.
How To Bet On 2023 NHL Playoff Games?
If you’ve read this article all the way through, you’re obviously interested in betting on the 2023 NHL playoffs. To lock in your bets — whether you’re riding with or fading us — hit one of bookmakers featured in the underneath table. Each of the five sites is listed here because they were top-rated in our newest sportsbook reviews. Any one of the bookies will offer the full gamut of odds on the postseason.
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