We have loved the action throughout this impressive NHL regular season and first round of the playoffs, but now we are entering the second round, with a spot in the Conference Finals up for grabs. We are sure to see the cracking playoffs continue in Round 2, and with the Lightning still alive, many high quality teams will be looking to stop them 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 second round.
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Look below to find our free NHL picks for the two Round 2 games on today’s schedule!
New York Rangers @ Carolina Hurricanes – 7.00PM ET
It’s the all important Game 5 of this series between the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes. This game has even more importance as the series is tied at 2-2, with the winner moving just one game away from a place in the Conference Finals.
Marko Nadin
The New York Rangers have proven to be a tough opponent against one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference as they survived Game 4 and now are heading back to Carolina hoping to take the lead and get the series back to MSG with a “match-point” to advance in the Conference Finals. The Rangers definitely got the momentum after a 4-1 home win but that may not be enough when they visit Carolina tonight. The Hurricanes are huge favorites on home-ice but you never know with these Rangers. All of the previous 4 games in the series have ended under 5.5 goals and that is the logical choice for this one as well.
Carolina has won 6 of the last 7 games following a loss of 3 or more goals, 7 of the last 9 Conference Semifinals games and 27 of the last 35 playoff games as a favorite. The Rangers have won 25 of the last 34 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game, 9 of the last 13 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game and 5 of the last 6 games played after one day rest.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Under 5 (+120)
Tony Battalio
This has been a great series thus far, as the New York Rangers continue to surprise people and get closer and closer to the Stanley Cup Finals. This series with Carolina is currently tied at two games a piece as they head into Game 5 in Carolina. The Rangers were perhaps the biggest surprise of the 2021-22 National Hockey League regular season as they weren’t even expected to make the Stanley Cup playoffs. Now they will be looking to take a 3-2 lead over the Hurricanes in this one.
The Carolina Hurricanes are coming into this one as the best team remaining in the Eastern Conference after the Florida Panthers were eliminated from the playoffs. They will be looking to grab a 3-2 advantage in this series with a much needed win here in Game 5 on their home ice. As for the result of this game, I am going with the Carolina Hurricanes to pick up the victory over the New York Rangers to take the series lead back to New York for Game 6.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Carolina Hurricanes (-154)
Jeffery Thomas
The trend of home teams winning in this series continued in Game 4 as the New York Rangers pulled even in the series with a 4-1 win in Madison Square Garden. Carolina now has their turn to defend home ice, where they are undefeated in these playoffs.
Goalie Antti Raanta at home is 5-0 with a .968 save percentage and 0.96 GAA. The trends line up perfectly for Carolina to take a 3-2 lead into Game 6 as the Rangers are just 1-4 on the road in these playoffs.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Moneyline (3-way) – Carolina Hurricanes (+105)
Edmonton Oilers @ Calgary Flames – 9.30PM ET
The Edmonton Oilers have their first chance to wrap up the series tonight, as they hold a 3-1 series lead over the Calgary Flames. The Oilers proved too good on home ice last game, winning Game 4, 5-3. The Flames will need to get a bounce back performance in front of their home crowd if they want to extend this series by at least one more game.
Marko Nadin
The Calgary Flames entered the series against the Edmonton Oilers as favorites but here they are, fighting to survive in Game 5 after they lost 3 of the first 4 games in the series. The Flames scored 9 goals in the series opener making a statement that they will win the Battle of Alberta series but the Oilers responded in the next one on the road and then dominated the two games on home ice. The Flames had the third-best defense in the league in the regular season but the Oilers have taken care of that, scoring at least four goals in each of the previous four games.
Edmonton has won 10 of the last 12 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game, 20 of the last 28 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game and 16 of the last 21 games played on Thursday. Calgary has won 7 of the last 10 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game, 25 of the last 35 home games and has lost 5 of the last 7 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Edmonton Oilers (+126)
Tony Battalio
The Edmonton Oilers are on the doorstep of making the Western Conference Finals. As they currently hold a 3-1 lead over the Calgary Flames heading into Game 5. It would be such a nice way to close out the Battle of Alberta by getting the series clinching victory over their rivals. In my opinion I think the winner of this series will end up being the winner of the Western Conference Finals this season and potentially even the Stanley Cup.
The Calgary Flames have their backs against the wall coming into this must win Game 5. After the regular season many people would’ve expected them to end up in the Western Conference Finals or the Stanley Cup Finals and at the moment it looks as if they will fall short of that goal. They are facing a must win situation for the next games if they want to end up winning this series against their rivals. However, as for the result of this game I don’t see it happening as I look for the Edmonton Oilers to get the job done here in Game 5.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Edmonton Oilers (+126)
Jeffery Thomas
The Calgary Flames find themselves facing elimination while the Edmonton Oilers are just one win away from their first Conference Finals since 2006. The Oilers almost squandered a three-goal lead in Game 4 but ultimately held on, giving them three straight victories in the series and a 3-1 lead. Connor McDavid continued his hot playoff run with two assists in the game and now has recorded at least two points in all but one game this postseason.
Goalie Jacob Markstrom’s struggles against Edmonton continued but the good news is he will be at home in this must-win situation on Thursday. His home record is 22-8-7 with a 2.17 GAA and if he can play anything close to that form then the Flames will easily claw their way back into the series. I look at how the Rangers turned things around against Pittsburgh in the first round and can see something similar here, so I’m going to give Calgary another day to fight on, getting this win in front of their home fans.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Calgary Flames (-152)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
