The 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full swing! With just the 2 games on the agenda today, we have spent the morning researching each fixture in depth to bring you the absolute best predictions. Have a read below for all our NHL picks.
Toronto Maple Leafs @ Montreal Canadiens (Game 4) – 7.30 PM EDT
The Maple Leafs and Canadiens take it to game 4 in Montreal today, and they are doing so with just a 24 hour turnaround from game 3, which saw the Maple Leafs take the series lead 2-1.
After the Maple Leafs’ dominant performance in game 2, yesterday’s match was about as even as they come, with both sides taking 29 shots, winning 30 faceoffs, and giving away a similar number of penalties.
After a goalless opening term, William Nylander kept his playoff goal streak going and broke the deadlock 7 minutes into the reset, but 7 minutes later the Canadiens replied thanks to an effort from Nick Suzuki.
“Our guys battled hard.”
🎥 Post-Game Media Mashup | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/qU97INR85o
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 25, 2021
The tie did not last long, as Morgan Rielly pulled the Maple Leafs ahead once again towards the end of the term, and they went on to hold the lead all through the final period to claim the 2-1 win.
Jack Campbell got his third straight start in net for the Maple Leafs yesterday, and he put in his best shift yet, saving 28 of 29 Habs’ attempts at a 96.6 save percentage. Campbell has so far conceded just 4 goals over the 3 games, and is ranked third in the NHL postseason with his 95.1 save percentage.
NHL Pick – Toronto Maple Leafs (-172)
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Nashville Predators @ Carolina Hurricanes (Game 5) – 8.00 PM EDT
The Predators stunned the Canes with their second straight win on Sunday, beating the Carolina side 4-3 in overtime to wrap up a flawless 2 game home stand and tie the series up at 2-2. The two now travel back to Carolina for game 3 where the Canes are yet to be defeated by the Preds all year.
Just like game 3, Sunday’s match had to go to a second overtime for a winner to be found, and it took a full 16 minutes into the additional time before Luke Kunin buried the decisive goal, his second for the game.
Add Luke Kunin to the list! ✍️
Relive all 10 of the @PredsNHL OT goals in the #StanleyCup Playoffs ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/6iyvqrssPM
— NHL (@NHL) May 24, 2021
Jordan Martinook and Brock McGinn picked up their first points of the postseason for the Canes, with McGinn scoring back to back goals to tie the score, and take the lead, both of which were assisted by Martinook.
With the match going deep into a second overtime there were unsurprisingly a lot of attempts either side, with the Hurricanes taking a whopping 61 shots to the Predators’ 43.
Alex Nedeljkovic did well to stop 39 attempts for the Canes, but it was all about Juuse Saros’ franchise record breaking, 58 save performance for the Predators, proving to be just as crucial in the playoffs as he was all throughout the regular season.
The Predators were playing in front of a 70% capacity crowd, the biggest that we have seen all year in the NHL, and they looked like a different beast in front of the fans. However, they now have to travel back to Carolina where they have not fared as well this series, losing games’ 1 and 2 by 8-2 on aggregate.
NHL Pick – Carolina Hurricanes (-184)
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The 2021 NHL is well underway now! If you want to catch up with all the latest information, make sure you visit our NHL hub page.
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
