The 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full swing! With just the 2 games on the agenda today, we have had plenty of time this morning to research the fixtures in depth and bring you the absolute best predictions. Have a read below for all our NHL picks.
Tampa Bay Lightning @ Carolina Hurricanes (Round 2 – Game 5) – 6.30 PM EDT
Following their 6-4 on Saturday, the Lightning have a chance to wrap up Round 2 in Carolina today. The 10 goal thriller is the 2nd largest scoreline we have seen in the 2020/21 postseason, with all but 2 of the goals coming within the chaotic second period.
Brayden Point opened the scoring with the only goal of the first term, but the Hurricanes went on to score the next 2 goals early in the second. Steven Stamkos levelled the score up on the powerplay, but 3 minutes later the Canes replied with another 2 goals.
Down 4-2, the Lightning once again capitalized on the man advantage, with Nikita Kucherov burying his first of the game before Tyler Johnson and Steven Stamkos rounded out the period with 2 more goals to reverse the pressure back onto the homeside.
Start your week with a winfographic! #CARvsTBL | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/wUfAkGWd9P
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) June 6, 2021
Despite their best efforts the Canes were unable to find another goal in the final term, instead Nikita Kucherov tucked away his second of the game to win 6-4.
Both Stamkos and Kucherov finished the game with 2 goals and an assist, the latter of which is set for another MVP playoff performance, currently leading the NHL for playoff points with 17, Kucherov sits 3 points clear of David Pastrnak in second place.
The Lightning can put the series to bed with another win today, and even though it is hard to close out a series, they have shown us that they have the advantage over the Canes for goaltending, as well as being far more efficient when playing with the man advantage, which will adds up in the tight games.
NHL Pick – Tampa Bay Lightning (-126)
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Vegas Golden Knights @ Colorado Avalanche (Round 2 – Game 5) – 9.00 PM EDT
The Golden Knights backed up their tight 3-2 win on Friday with a dominant 5-1 performance in Game 4 on Sunday. With the series score now levelled up at 2-2 the two teams now head back to Colorado, where the Avalanche are yet to be defeated throughout the postseason.
Sunday’s match was not just one sided on the scoreboard, with the Golden Knights taking 35 shots to a measly 18 from the Avs. The game didn’t get off to a great start for the Vegas side, conceding a goal to Brandon Saad within the opening 2 minutes, however, Jonathan Marchessault replied 5 minutes later, and it was all Knights from that point forward.
Marchessault added another goal on a powerplay midway through the second term, and then once again in the third to complete his fourth career hat trick, all 3 goals of which were assisted by William Karlsson for a hat trick of assists.
4 goals in the last four periods 🤯🌟 pic.twitter.com/PFDMblI6RO
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 7, 2021
After losing both games in Colorado the Knights prospects weren’t looking too good, but having now beaten them in consecutive home games we are seeing how big a role the fans play when the gap in quality between teams is so low.
The Avalanche reclaim the home advantage today, and we are predicting that the team that wins today will be the team that progresses through to the next round.
NHL Pick – Colorado Avalanche (-154)
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The 2021 NHL postseason 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.
