The NHL Stanley Cup playoffs are nearly halfway done in the opening round as a trio of series head into pivotal game threes. The Capitals, Hurricanes, and Kings all held a home ice advantage by taking 2-0 series leads, but no lead is safe in the modern-day NHL, where parity reigns. Returning home gave the St.Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild the sparks they needed last night, and these underdogs will hope they will see a similar fate tonight. Falling into a 0-3 series hole will all but end the season for these Stanley Cup hopefuls, while the true contenders will look to get out of the first round unscathed.
Capitals vs Canadiens Odds
The Montreal Canadiens were always going to be underdogs in this series against Alexander Ovechkin and the mighty Washington Capitals. They showed they can go toe-to-toe with the Eastern Conference leaders, but ultimately left Washington empty-handed. The NHL odds expect a very tight game at the Bell Centre tonight, with the Capitals coming in as slight road favorites to take a 3-0 series lead.
| Washington Capitals | Montreal Canadiens | |
| Moneyline | -130 | -105 |
| Puck Line | -1.5 (+190) | +1.5 (-275) |
| Total | Over 5.5 Goals (-134) | Under 5.5 Goals (-106) |
Capitals vs Canadiens Predictions
The Washington Capitals would love nothing more than to give Alexander Ovechkin a fairytale ending to his historic career, but they have to take care of business against the Canadiens first. Montreal will be thrilled to be back in the playoffs after their shocking run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals. This team is very different from that unit, but it gave Montreal fans a glimpse of what tangible success could taste like.
While the Canadiens played well in the first two games of this series, the Capitals are simply too strong to look past with odds like these. Ovechkin played hero in game one, but the Capitals have a coherent core of offensive players that can often be overlooked. Dylan Strome, Connor McMichael, and Aliaksei Protas all flew under the radar for the Capitals, but will be crucial to their postseason run. The Capitals have the better attack and better goaltender, so as long as they limit the dangerous scoring chances from the Habs, they will walk away with a comfortable victory.
Prediction: Washington Capitals (-1.5) +190
Hurricanes vs Devils Odds
The Carolina Hurricanes have been able to take advantage of a banged-up Devils team through the first two games of the series, and time is running out for New Jersey to make a comeback. The Hurricanes are -180 favorites for this pivotal game 3 as they look to take a 3-0 series lead before game 4 on Sunday.
| Carolina Hurricanes | New Jersey Devils | |
| Moneyline | -180 | +130 |
| Puck Line | -1.5 (+140) | +1.5 (-200) |
| Total | Over 5.5 Goals (-112) | Under 5.5 Goals (-125) |
Hurricanes vs Devils Predictions
The New Jersey Devils are not the same team without Jack Hughes on their roster. They looked like a dangerous team in the first half of the season, but since Hughes went down with a season-ending injury, their Stanley Cup hopes effectively vanished. New Jersey looked slow and disheartened during their trip to Carolina, and they will be hoping a jolt from the home crowd will give their legs some life. That is unlikely.
The Hurricanes are the Stanley Cup favorites for a reason, as they have been dominant on both ends of the ice all season long. Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis have been electric on the top line, and the Hurricanes have the depth they need to overpower New Jersey. Their experienced blue line has given them stability when they lose momentum, and Frederik Andersen has never looked better in goal. The Devils will be left thinking ‘what if’ when they find themselves staring at a 0-3 deficit at the end of the evening.
Prediction: Carolina Hurricanes Moneyline -180
Kings vs Oilers Odds
The Edmonton Oilers stormed to the Stanley Cup Finals last season, but are facing a 0-2 hole in the first round this year. These games have been full of goals thus far, and another goal fest is expected tonight in Alberta as Connor McDavid and the Oilers look to keep their season alive.
| Los Angeles Kings | Edmonton Oilers | |
| Moneyline | +115 | -155 |
| Puck Line | +1.5 (-220) | 11.5 (+154) |
| Total | Over 6.5 Goals (+105) | Under 6.5 Goals (-143) |
Kings vs Oilers Predictions
The Los Angeles Kings are halfway to getting their revenge after being bounced in the first round by the Edmonton Oilers in three consecutive seasons. Los Angeles used their dominant home record to take an early lead in this series, but they will be hoping to split the games in Edmonton to avoid an Oilers comeback.
The Kings have done a good job at containing the Oilers’ superstars, other than a third period collapse in game one that ended up not being enough for Edmonton. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have scored just one goal combined, other than that late consolation outburst, and that has been the key to the Kings’ success. As Los Angeles hits the road, their primary focus will be keeping this game close for as long as possible. The total has ticked up to 6.5 goals for this encounter, and the under is the best play you can make rather than picking a side tonight in Edmonton.
Prediction: Under 6.5 Goals (-143)
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