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NHL Stanley Cup playoffs best bets and prop predictions: Blue Jackets on the verge of betting history
Monty Andrews
Can the Columbus Blue Jackets complete the most improbable four-game sweep in NHL playoff history? They'll certainly try their best as they host the record-setting Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4 of their first-round series Wednesday night.
The Lightning racked up 62 regular season wins (and were -340 favorites to win this series) but are down 3-0 in this one ? though oddsmakers aren't quite ready to write off the Presidents' Trophy winners quite yet. Here are the top NHL trends and best bets for the Stanley Cup playoffs to monitor as the first round chugs along:
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING AT COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
Moneyline Odds: Tampa Bay -140/Columbus +120
Over/Under: 6 goals
Start Time: 7 p.m. ET, Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
Series: Columbus leads 3-0
The Blue Jackets have been on fire since falling behind 3-0 in the first period of Game 1, having outscored the Lightning by an absurd 12-2 margin over the previous eight periods. But while Columbus has been a defensive juggernaut since that fateful first period in their series opener, Tampa Bay is slowly becoming stronger on the defensive end itself, and will almost certainly need to channel the back-end dominance that saw it allow the seventh-fewest goals during the regular season. The teams are 24-9-1 to the Under in their last 34 meetings, and are a good bet to extend that trend Tuesday.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS AT PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Moneyline Odds: New York +145/Pittsburgh -165
Over/Under: 5.5 goals
Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET, PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh
Series: New York leads 3-0
Speaking of strong totals plays, the Islanders and Penguins share the lowest Over/Under NHL odds of the night, but even that might not be low enough to dissuade Under bettors. Coming off a 4-1 win in Pittsburgh in Game 3 to come within a game of a sweep, the Islanders are now 20-6-2 to the Under in their past 28 road games dating back to the early portion of the regular season. And the Penguins are right there with them, having gone 5-1-1 to the Under in their past seven home games. The Under 5.5 offers a modest -135 payout, but if you feel adventurous, the Under 4.5 alternate total is set at +200.
WINNIPEG JETS AT ST. LOUIS BLUES
Moneyline Odds: Winnipeg +130/St. Louis -150
Over/Under: 5.5 goals
Start Time: 9:30 p.m. ET, Enterprise Center, St. Louis
Series: St. Louis leads 2-1
The Jets and Blues both ranked in the Top 10 in first-period goals during the regular season but you wouldn't know it through the first three games of their opening-round Western Conference playoff series. The Central Division rivals have combined for 19 goals so far, but only four of those have come in the opening 20 minutes. And while it makes some sense given that the Blues allowed the fourth-fewest first-period goals during the season, Winnipeg only ranked in the middle of the pack in opening-period defense. Bettors should take a nice, long look at the Under 1.5 on the first-period total in Game 4 (-120).
SAN JOSE SHARKS AT VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Moneyline Odds: San Jose +135/Vegas -155
Over/Under: 6.5 goals
Start Time: 10:30 p.m. ET, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Series: Vegas leads 2-1
If the Sharks have any hope of evening this series ? and eventually prevailing ? they'll need to find a way to slow down the Golden Knights' most dangerous line. Paul Stastny, Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty rank 1-2-3 in the NHL in playoff scoring, having combined for a whopping 22 points ? 12 of them coming in Sunday's 6-3 victory over San Jose in Game 3. Stone had a hat trick and added two assists, while Stastny added two goals and three helpers. Consider goal props for both Stone and Stastny while they remain red-hot, and don't forget about Pacioretty, who has six points in three games.
Monty Andrews
Can the Columbus Blue Jackets complete the most improbable four-game sweep in NHL playoff history? They'll certainly try their best as they host the record-setting Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4 of their first-round series Wednesday night.
The Lightning racked up 62 regular season wins (and were -340 favorites to win this series) but are down 3-0 in this one ? though oddsmakers aren't quite ready to write off the Presidents' Trophy winners quite yet. Here are the top NHL trends and best bets for the Stanley Cup playoffs to monitor as the first round chugs along:
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING AT COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
Moneyline Odds: Tampa Bay -140/Columbus +120
Over/Under: 6 goals
Start Time: 7 p.m. ET, Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
Series: Columbus leads 3-0
The Blue Jackets have been on fire since falling behind 3-0 in the first period of Game 1, having outscored the Lightning by an absurd 12-2 margin over the previous eight periods. But while Columbus has been a defensive juggernaut since that fateful first period in their series opener, Tampa Bay is slowly becoming stronger on the defensive end itself, and will almost certainly need to channel the back-end dominance that saw it allow the seventh-fewest goals during the regular season. The teams are 24-9-1 to the Under in their last 34 meetings, and are a good bet to extend that trend Tuesday.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS AT PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Moneyline Odds: New York +145/Pittsburgh -165
Over/Under: 5.5 goals
Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET, PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh
Series: New York leads 3-0
Speaking of strong totals plays, the Islanders and Penguins share the lowest Over/Under NHL odds of the night, but even that might not be low enough to dissuade Under bettors. Coming off a 4-1 win in Pittsburgh in Game 3 to come within a game of a sweep, the Islanders are now 20-6-2 to the Under in their past 28 road games dating back to the early portion of the regular season. And the Penguins are right there with them, having gone 5-1-1 to the Under in their past seven home games. The Under 5.5 offers a modest -135 payout, but if you feel adventurous, the Under 4.5 alternate total is set at +200.
WINNIPEG JETS AT ST. LOUIS BLUES
Moneyline Odds: Winnipeg +130/St. Louis -150
Over/Under: 5.5 goals
Start Time: 9:30 p.m. ET, Enterprise Center, St. Louis
Series: St. Louis leads 2-1
The Jets and Blues both ranked in the Top 10 in first-period goals during the regular season but you wouldn't know it through the first three games of their opening-round Western Conference playoff series. The Central Division rivals have combined for 19 goals so far, but only four of those have come in the opening 20 minutes. And while it makes some sense given that the Blues allowed the fourth-fewest first-period goals during the season, Winnipeg only ranked in the middle of the pack in opening-period defense. Bettors should take a nice, long look at the Under 1.5 on the first-period total in Game 4 (-120).
SAN JOSE SHARKS AT VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Moneyline Odds: San Jose +135/Vegas -155
Over/Under: 6.5 goals
Start Time: 10:30 p.m. ET, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Series: Vegas leads 2-1
If the Sharks have any hope of evening this series ? and eventually prevailing ? they'll need to find a way to slow down the Golden Knights' most dangerous line. Paul Stastny, Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty rank 1-2-3 in the NHL in playoff scoring, having combined for a whopping 22 points ? 12 of them coming in Sunday's 6-3 victory over San Jose in Game 3. Stone had a hat trick and added two assists, while Stastny added two goals and three helpers. Consider goal props for both Stone and Stastny while they remain red-hot, and don't forget about Pacioretty, who has six points in three games.