The 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full swing! With 4 more epic 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.
Carolina Hurricanes @ Nashville Predators (Game 4) – 2.30 PM EDT
The Predators picked up a huge win over the Hurricanes in game 3, winning 5-4 in overtime and preventing the Canes from claiming a 3-0 lead.
It was a back and forth affair, with the Predators opening the scoring through Ryan Ellis early in the first term, only for Sebastian to rule it out 10 minutes later with an unassisted goal. Filip Forsberg reclaimed the Preds’ lead before the end of the final term, but back to back goals from Jordan Staal and Vincent Trocheck saw the Hurricanes take the lead for the first time.
The lead didn’t last long though, entering the final period tied up at 3-3, goals were traded once again, sending the game to overtime. After a goalless first period of overtime, it took the majority of the second before the Predators came out on top, with Matt Duchene scoring the winning goal with 5 minutes to play.
You heard them. SMASHVILLE was INCREDIBLE last night! Let’s do it again tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/dJFi9b3HtJ
— x – Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) May 22, 2021
It was a very even game statistically, with both teams taking over 50 shots, and winning 26 faceoffs each. Filip Forsberg, Ryan Ellis and Roman Josi all finished the game with 2 points for the Predators, while Sebastian Aho was the Canes’ MVP, notching a goal and 2 assists.
The win prevented the Canes from playing for the series’ sweep today, but after playing nearly 100 minutes in game 3 Juuse Saros will be tested in net, expect the Carolina side to get back to winning ways today.
NHL Pick – Carolina Hurricanes (-146)
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Colorado Avalanche @ St Louis Blues (Game 4) – 5.00 PM EDT
It was more of the same from the Avalanche as they cruised past the Blues for a third straight game. The 5-1 victory was their most convincing scoreline yet, and they now look to put the series to bed with a clean sweep today.
The usual scorers sat back in the most recent win, with Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog only picking up a single assist, while Nathan MacKinnon, who scored 7 points in the opening 2 games, was unable to register a point.
A quiet performance from the main men didn’t stop the Avs from their biggest playoff win yet, with Ryan Graves the only player to rack up more than a single point, scoring a goal and assisting another 2.
Surprisingly the Blues attempted more shots than the Avs, unfortunately Jordan Binnington wasn’t able to perform as well for the Blues as Phillipp Grubauer did for the Avs, allowing 4 goals from just 25 attempts.
After 3 games this series has gone just as expected, the Blues did well to outshoot the Avs in the last game, but they are outclassed all across the ice and look set to make their departure from the playoffs today.
NHL Pick – Colorado Avalanche (-245)
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Boston Bruins @ Washington Capitals (Game 5) – 7.00 PM EDT
With a 3-1 series lead under their belt, the Bruins head back to Washington to play what they hope will be the final game of round 1. After the first three consecutive games were decided by a goal, the Bruins broke the trend in the fourth with a 4-1 victory over the Capitals in Boston.
While clearly the most dominant scoreline of the series, it was also the most dominant game from a statistical standpoint, with the Bruins beating out the Caps for faceoffs and puck possession, and took nearly twice as many shots as the Washington side (37-20).
Brad Marchand opened the scoring nearly 30 minutes into the game, capitalizing with the man advantage and claiming his third straight goal in the process.
Charlie McAvoy became the fifth defenseman in @NHLBruins history to record three power-play assists in a postseason contest and just the second to do so over the last 32 years (also Torey Krug in Game 3 of 2019 SCF). #StanleyCup#NHLStats: https://t.co/dIZETOhhWu pic.twitter.com/6QsKNwlUFR
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 22, 2021
Holding just a 1 goal lead at the start of the final term, it took just 30 seconds for the Bruins to add another, and then another 30 seconds for their third, with David Pastrnak and Charlie Coyle both getting in on the action.
Alex Ovechkin pulled one back on a power play for the Capitals, but Matt Grzelcyk buried a power play goal of his own to regain the 3 goal cushion, the third power play goal of the game for the Bruins.
The Capitals get the home advantage back for this must win game, but having now lost the last 3 straight it is hard to back them for a win. The Caps haven’t got the best out of their top players so far, with Nickolas Backstrom kept scoreless, and their 3 goalie rotation has failed to perform as well as Tuuka Rask for the Bruins.
NHL Pick – Boston Bruins (-138)
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Edmonton Oilers @ Winnipeg Jets (Game 3) – 7.30 PM EDT
The Jets went big again in Edmonton, picking up their second straight win, and they now head to Winnipeg for games’ 3 and 4 with a crucial 2 game lead up their sleeve.
After their upset win in game 1 which saw them score 4 times from 22 shots, the Jets came out looking much better in game 2, winning less faceoffs than the Oilers, but remaining fairly even for total shots.
The game was a deadlock, with both goalies putting on a clinic in regulation time, forcing the game to go to overtime at 0-0, where Paul Stastny popped up with the decisive goal less than 5 minutes in. It was the 14th goal of Stastny’s regular/post season, 5 of which have been game winners.
Mike Smith redeemed himself in net for the Oilers, keeping the Jets’ goalless from 35 shots before being beaten by Stastny’s overtime winner, but it was once again Connor Hellebuyck who the Jets had to thank, making 38 saves to shut the Oilers out. Hellebuyck has allowed just 1 goal from 71 attempts so far this series, as he continues to make his case for the Vezina trophy.
With just 1 goal scored in the opening 2 games, the Oilers are in desperate need of a win in Winnipeg today if they want any chance of progressing.
NHL Pick – Edmonton Oilers (-134)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
