Very fair price on Carolina's Nikolaj Ehlers considering he has back-to-back three-point games -- although I will say potential elimination games tend to be lower-scoring. I'm a bit surprised that Vegas coach John Tortorella is sticking with struggling Carter Hart in net, but Torts is known to be quite stubborn. Unfortunately, I don't see any sides or totals in our system that I like much as I'd prefer to play something on one in perhaps the last hockey until October. If this were Monday, I'd probably do the same parlay I did for Game 5 at CBS Sports betting site: Knights +2.5 and Carolina Over 2.5 goals -- that's priced +109 at BetRivers. Hoping for a Game 7 ...
This has to stop right? All these high-scoring Stanley Cup Final games? It's one of the highest-scoring Finals ever through four games. Until they do stop, we have to take the only 5.5 on our board; finally have 6.5s. But at least here we win on 4-2. Carolina has scored at least four goals in six straight games, and I have little doubt this would land Over if that continues. I may come back and play the side, haven't decided, or a prop.
Sebastian Aho led Carolina with 80 regular-season points and has 10 in these playoffs after two assists in Saturday's wild double-OT loss. The Hurricanes haven't had any trouble scoring in this series, they just can't stop Vegas. Aho has at least a point in four of his past five to become the fifth player in NHL history to record eight consecutive 10-point postseasons at any point in their career. Our model essentially gives him a team-best 93% chance of a point.
This is so crazily priced on Mark Jankowski, let's go ahead and throw a bit down. The Hurricanes' winger did find the net in Game 2 but only has five points in these playoffs so I'm certainly not pre-spending my winnings or anything. But all we need is a secondary assist and Carolina has scored four times in both games.
If you would have told me that Carolina was going to score the first two goals of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final at home, I would have bet my mortgage that the Hurricanes would have beaten Vegas. Thankfully, the banks weren't open after that happened in the opener because then the Canes largely collapsed in a 5-4 loss. Are they really going to lose a second straight at home Thursday? Their last back-to-back losses in Raleigh were at the start of the New Year, and their last B2B losses overall were in mid-January. The Knights got their split.
Having had a week off, Vegas on Tuesday might be looking at the same rust problem the Hurricanes had in Game 1 of the last round. That remains their only loss. The Knights won both regular-season meetings, but Montreal had won all three vs. Carolina in the RS and that mattered little. Excluding the bubble Stanley Cup Final in 2020, the home team has won nine straight Game 1s in this round. If it gets to OT, I'll feel pretty good considering the Hurricanes are 5-0 in OT playoff games this year. Trust Frederik Andersen more than Carter Hart.
I expect Carolina to win but simply will not do -1.5 (then I wouldn't care about OT when I do want to care if so) even though the Habs might pull their goalie with about eight minutes left in the third if they are down a goal to try and avoid elimination. They do look worn down but am hoping there is one last burst and we get to overtime -- or ideally a Canes one-goal win and staying Under 7.5. Montreal has been stellar on the road this postseason.
This is priced under -200 so I guess I can justify it. The Habs are 2-5 at home in these playoffs but can't afford to go down 3-1. While Carolina might lead the series 2-1, Frederik Andersen has not been very strong overall with a save percentage below .830 in the three games combined. But the Canes have won the past two because they have limited Montreal to 25 total shots on goal in those. Gotta fire more on net in perhaps the home finale. I simply want the third OT game of the series. Carolina is due a playoff road loss, frankly. The Canadiens are 6-1 after a defeat in the 2026 postseason.
The Hurricanes were clearly rusty in Game 1 as Frederik Andersen had been historically good in these playoffs before getting shelled in the opener. I expect good Fred tonight in Game 2. He hadn't allowed more than two goals in any other postseason game. And if that happens again, this certainly should cash. It's our only 6.5 on the board.
How much is Avalanche star defenseman Cale Makar worth to the books? About 20 cents apparently as this number has dropped that much with him ruled out again. But Vegas is again without captain Mark Stone. And the Avalanche simply cannot go down 2-0 heading to Sin City. Since relocating to Denver, the Avalanche are 24-6 in Game 2s at home.
The Avalanche try to win each of their first six home games to start a postseason for the third time in franchise history after previously doing so in 2000 (7-0) and 1997 (6-0). Nathan MacKinnon has a six-game goals streak and tries to become the ninth player in the expansion era with a seven-game run. The Avalanche's only regular-season loss in the series was past regulation. Vegas lost once on the road in each of the first two rounds. Knights captain Mark Stone has missed the past three games injured and remains iffy. He hasn't been practicing, so draw your own conclusions.
I have no idea who wins this game to be clear. Anyone who says they do is lying. Thought Montreal had taken control but then laid a home egg in Game 4 only to win Game 5 on the road. Buffalo has a goaltending problem. Again. That's really all this is. And the Habs are home, and I badly want them to advance. Hockey is more interesting with a Canadian team in the Final Four. And I might have to fly to Montreal if it makes the Cup Final. Might be my last chance this lifetime to see a Cup game there. Probably have to trade a kidney for a ticket but have a spare. So if any of you are up yonder, eh ....
Captain Mark Stone is out again for Vegas, which is also down top-pair blueliner Brayden McNabb due to one-game suspension for a questionable hit in Game 5. Stone has 18 career points in 25 potential series-clinching games like this. Come on Ducks, it's all there for the taking to force a Game 7. Anaheim is 4-1 at home in these playoffs and averaging 4.40 goals per game at the Duck Pond -- if they still call it that.
Buffalo has made the change in net to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and that's mostly what this play is. The Finn has made two career playoff starts and wasn't very good in either. And were both on home ice in Round 1, getting pulled from the last one. Now UPL makes his first road start in maybe the toughest place to play in the NHL -- especially right now as Montreal is going nuts. "Ole, Ole, Ole!" The Habs have woken up offensively in the past two with 11 goals.
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar is making a goalie change as Mackenzie Blackwood will get his first start in about a month. Seems like a bit of a panic move to me, but all I want is overtime. Colorado was 11-3-2 in games following a regulation loss during the season. On the other side, Minnesota's Jesper Wallstedt was notably benched for Game 2, and that didn't work out for the Wild at all. He was terrific back as the guy in the Game 3 victory. Minny's only home loss in these playoffs was in double OT.