NHL Playoffs Round 1: Free NHL Picks Today for Saturday, May 14th, 2022

NHL Playoffs Round 1: Free NHL Picks Today for Saturday, May 14th, 2022
Sat 14th May 2022

We have loved the action throughout this impressive NHL season and now it’s the time everyone has been waiting for – playoffs time! It is sure to be a cracking playoffs this season with many high quality teams looking to stop the Tampa Bay Lightning from winning the Stanley Cup for a third time in a row. But before we get to the Stanley Cup final, teams must make it through the first round.

Here at SportsTips, we are just as keen on the NHL as you are! We spend each and every day going through the best games and previewing them for you. Our experts offer up their free NHL picks, which means that you not only get enjoyment out of watching some intriguing games, but also make extra cash while doing so!

Look below to find our free NHL picks for the three Round 1 games on today’s schedule!

Boston Bruins @ Carolina Hurricanes – 4.30PM ET

Well, it all comes down to this, Game 7 of the series between the Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes. Not many people thought this series would go to seven games, but here we are! The Bruins pulled out a fantastic Game 6 to level the series, and now they face their biggest challenge of all, winning on the road in the final game of their first round series.

Marko Nadin

The Boston Bruins have proved themselves as a tough opponent and got a confident 5-2 win in Game 6 against the Carolina Hurricanes to survive in the series and take it to a decisive Game 7 on the road. All six games of the series were won by the home team and it was done by at least three goals differential in 5 of the 6 games. Given that, the Hurricanes are favorites to win the decisive game but the Bruins definitely have the momentum and will travel to Carolina ready to fight until the last breath.

The Hurricanes have won the last 5 games after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game, 5 of the last 6 games following a loss of 3 or more goals and 41 of the last 57 home games. The Bruins have won 19 of the last 27 games when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game, 15 of the last 22 games after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game and 51 of the last 76 games played after one day of rest.

Marko’s NHL Pick: Carolina Hurricanes (-132)

Tony Battalio

Absolutely nobody would’ve expected this series to go the full seven games just a couple short weeks ago. As the Boston Celtics have pushed one of the best teams in the National Hockey League to the brink in the first round. Now they will be looking to pull off the upset on the road in Carolina to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals against either the Pittsburgh Penguins or the New York Rangers as their series has also gone the full seven games. 

The Carolina Hurricanes shouldn’t be in this position in my opinion as they should’ve had this series wrapped up by Game 5 or Game 6 at the latest. However, now it all comes down to winner takes all in this deciding matchup. Luckily for the Hurricanes, they get to play this one from the comfort of their home arena which should provide a boost. That is why I am going with the Carolina Hurricanes to pick up the victory in Game 7. 

Tony’s NHL Pick: Carolina Hurricanes (-132)

Jeffery Thomas

The Boston Bruins were able to force this Game 7 by winning at home on Thursday by the score of 5-2. The Bruins relied heavily on their depth in that win, getting four of their five goals from players other than their two main scorers, Brad Marchand and captain Patrice Bergeron. The Hurricanes will be happy to be back at home for this win-or-go-home scenario because for some reason they just can’t seem to compete on the road. 

Road teams in fact are 0-6 so far in the series and why would things just suddenly change now that we’re at Game 7. I think the Canes are the better team and they will once again ride their home momentum to the win and a spot in the second round of the playoffs.

Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Carolina Hurricanes (-132)

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Toronto Maple Leafs – 7.00PM ET

Another Game 7 for us to sink our teeth into, and if the Tampa Bay Lightning want to keep their dreams alive of winning three Stanley Cups in a row, they will need to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs on the road. It has been an interesting series so far, with no team having the ability to string two wins in a row together.

Marko Nadin

Brayden Point scored in overtime to lift the Tampa Bay Lighting to a 4-3 win in Game 6 and secure a Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and keep the Lightning dream to win three consecutive Stanley Cups alive. That was the first game in the series to go into an overtime and the second that finished with only one goal differential. Toronto has been the better team in the series and will have the home ice advantage in the decisive game but the Lightning is the team that has been in situations like this and that will be a huge advantage for them, which will be the key in this game. 

Tampa Bay has won 10 of the last 13 playoff games as an underdog, 189 of the last 278 games playing on one day rest but have lost 6 of the last 8 games as underdog and the last 4 games following a win. Toronto has won 50 of the last 68 games as favorites, 38 of the last 52 home games and 12 of the last 17 games played after one day rest.

Marko’s NHL Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning (+100)

Tony Battalio

The two time reigning and defending Stanley Cup champions now find themselves in a must win situation in Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tampa Bay hasn’t looked as great as they have in years past, and it was obvious throughout the season that they wouldn’t have such an easy path back to the title this season. It also doesn’t help that they have to go on the road to Canada for this one which makes this game so much more difficult. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking great at the moment as they are on the verge of handing the Tampa Bay Lightning their first playoff series loss in over two years. They have been led by Auston Mathews all throughout this first round series and the entire regular season as well. As for the result of this one, I am going with the Toronto Maple Leafs to pick the win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Tony’s NHL Pick: Toronto Maple Leafs (-120)

Jeffery Thomas

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs will square off for a Game 7 north of the border on Saturday. The defending champion Lightning were able to keep their season alive with a 4-3 overtime at home in Game 6. It is really crazy how resilient this Bolts team is and how well they respond to losses. They now have a 17-0 record following a loss in the playoffs since 2020 but now they’ll have to try and win consecutive games for the first time in this series. The good news is that goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the best in series clinching situations. 

Since 2020 he has posted five straight shutouts in series-clinching games and that’s just a trend that can not be ignored. Meanwhile on the other side of the ice, the Leafs goalie Jack Campbell has never won a playoff series. Another thing working against Toronto is their inability to win close out games. Including the loss on Thursday, the Leafs are now 0-8 in their last eight playoff games where they have the chance to eliminate their opponent and advance onto the next round. There’s only one way for me to look in this game and that is with the team that has done this over and over, and that is the Tampa Bay Lightning. There’s no reason to trust the Maple Leafs in this spot.

Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning (+100)

Los Angeles Kings @ Edmonton Oilers – 10.00PM ET

The final game in the NHL for Saturday will see another Game 7, but this time it will be the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers who will do battle. The Kings had the prime opportunity to close out the series in Game 6, in front of their home crowd, but they couldn’t get the job done, going down to the Oilers, 2-4.

Marko Nadin

This series was projected to be done by now but the Los Angeles Kings have been a pretty good team. The Kings had a chance to end the series and advance to the next round in Game 6, but the Oilers won 4-2 on the road and stayed alive in the series. Edmonton is now favorite to advance as they will have a home ice advantage in the decisive game. The Kings won 2 of the 3 road games in this series and will definitely have their chance in this one. Five of the six games in the series went over 5.5 goals but that will probably not be the case tonight since the importance of the game will play its role and make the teams focus more on the defensive end.

Edmonton has won 11 of the last 14 games when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game, 11 of the last 15 games following a win and 26 of the last 36 games after allowing no more than 2 goals in the last game. The Kings have won 4 of the last 5 games after scoring no more than 2 goals in the previous game, 5 of the last 7 games played after one day rest and the last 4 games played on Saturday.

Marko’s NHL Pick: Edmonton Oilers (-220)

Tony Battalio

The Los Angeles Kings are surprising a lot of people so far during this postseason. As they are heading into Game 7 with one of the top teams in the National Hockey League. They will be looking to complete the upset over the Edmonton Oilers and send them home with an early round exit again. They have a great shot to win this one and if they do they will become a real dark horse contender to win the Stanley Cup trophy. 

The Edmonton Oilers are looking to get into the second round after several early playoff exits in the past. With players like Connor McDavid on the roster, they should have no problem getting into the second or third round on a yearly basis. However, it seems like they have a Stanley Cup Playoff curse for some years. As for the result of this one, I am taking the Edmonton Oilers to pick up the victory and advance. 

Tony’s NHL Pick: Edmonton Oilers (-220)

Jeffery Thomas

The Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers will play a deciding Game 7 on Saturday to determine who will move on and play the winner of the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars series. The Kings had an opportunity to wrap the series up in 6 but lost 2-4 at home on Thursday as they were outshot by the Oilers for the first time since Game 2. Connor McDavid showed that he is the best player in this series and put up a goal and two assists with his team facing elimination. McDavid leads all players with 12 points so far in the playoffs and will be counted on heavily in this highly anticipated Game 7. 

The Kings have less to lose as the underdogs and will be playing more freely here. They were also one of the best road teams in the league, finishing the regular season with the 5th most road points. I think in Game 7 they will have another solid road performance to keep this one close and maybe even win it outright. Either way I see this being closely contested so I’m taking the spread for the Los Angeles Kings.

Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Los Angeles Kings +1.5 (-142)

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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.

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