We’re back after a couple of days away and a week where we flirted with a mediocre .500 (13-11) on our NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs picks.
Entering the Game 4 section of the first-round schedule, we still haven’t found much consistency or sure things when betting the slate. But that’s the magic — and treachery, for sports bettors — of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Parity is at an all-time high. So if you have a real gut feeling when betting, go with it.
Remember, you don’t HAVE to bet on each game. We are giving you our best bets for every game, but if our analysis isn’t landing with you or you just don’t feel like a bet stands out, it’s fine to give that game a pass. There will always be more games to bet on.
New to betting? Read our Beginner’s Guide to Betting with a glossary of terms.
NHL odds and schedule, May 8
Carolina Hurricanes at Boston Bruins, 12:30 p.m. ET
- Game 4 (CAR leads 2-1)
- Watch on ESPN
- Full series preview
The Hurricanes suddenly find themselves in a precarious goalie situation as they were down to their third-stinger in Pyotr Kochetkov for Game 3.
It remains to be seen if Antti Raanta will be healthy enough to get back between the pipes for Game 4, but his availability (or unknown availability at this time) makes this a tough bet to make.
The Pick:
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Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues, 4:30 p.m.
- Game 4 (MIN leads 2-1)
- Watch on TBS
- Full series preview
Minnesota jumped on St. Louis from the jump on Friday in a dominating 5-1 win to take a 2-1 series lead. This is what we expected to see from the Wild, which was red-hot entering the postseason, as it has outscored the Blues 11-3 over the last two games.
The last two games have also thrown St. Louis’ goalie situation into disarray, as Stanley Cup winner Jordan Binnington has been on the bench watching Ville Husso get lit up — though he was left out to dry plenty by his defense.
The Pick:
Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
- Game 4 (TOR leads 2-1)
- Watch on TBS
- Full series preview
If you thought the Maple Leafs were going to bend going into the house of the two-time defending champions, think again. Toronto’s fast start was enough to get by the Lightning in a 5-2 win in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead.
Again, given Toronto’s history of playoff failures, we’re all waiting for the other shoe to drop. But maybe, just maybe, this might be different.
The Pick:
Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings, 10 p.m.
- Game 4 (EDM leads 2-1)
- Watch on TBS
- Full series preview
Now, this was the kind of Oilers team we expected to see against a low-scoring Kings team in the first round of the playoffs.
After dropping Game 1, Edmonton has hit its stride, outscoring the Kings 14-2 over Games 2 and 3 — the most recent blowout an 8-2 drubbing in Los Angeles on Friday night.
Connor McDavid has six points (1G, 5A) over the three games while Evander Kane is coming off a first-career playoff hat trick in Game 3 — and the Oilers should keep cruising to just their second playoff series win in the McDavid era.
The Pick:
