In what perfect NHL odds world would we have gotten five Game 7’s over a two-day stretch?
Saturday night, the Edmonton Oilers survived a first-round scare from the Los Angeles Kings and the Carolina Hurricanes eeked past the Boston Bruins.
The two-time-defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning also outlasted the dangerous Toronto Maple Leafs in one of the series for the ages.
Two more Game 7’s await us on Sunday night with the New York Rangers looking to cap off an improbable comeback against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The nightcap is provided by the Calgary Flames, who try to crack open the resolute Dallas Stars one last time.
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NHL odds, picks: May 15
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers, 7 p.m. ET
- Game 7 (Series tied 3-3)
- Watch on TBS
The Rangers just won’t go quietly, overturning yet another 2-0 deficit on Friday night to stun the Penguins in Pittsburgh for a second-straight 5-3 victory.
Once down 3-1 in the series, New York is looking to pull off this sort of comeback for the third time since 2014 — one of those coming in the 2014 Eastern Conference second round against Pittsburgh.
The largest question heading into Game 7 will be the availability of Sidney Crosby, who missed Game 6 after absorbing a hit to the head from Blueshirts defenseman Jacob Trouba.
The future Hall of Famer skated with the team on Saturday, but Pens head coach Mike Sullivan did not disclose whether or not Crosby will be able to play on Sunday night.
On top of that glaring uncertainty, Pittsburgh’s goaltending situation appears to be in flux, too.
Third-string goalie Louis Domingue let in a softy of a game-winner to Chris Kreider with 1:28 to go in regulation.
On Saturday, it looked as though No. 1 Tristan Jarry received a bulk of the practice time as he could be ready to go for Game 7 after working his way back from a fractured foot.
No. 2 goalie Casey DeSmith suffered a lower-body injury in Game 1.
NHL Odds and The Pick:
Dallas Stars at Calgary Flames, 9:30 p.m.
- Game 7 (Series tied 3-3)
- Watch on ESPN2
This has become the series of Jake Oettinger — the Dallas goalie who has continuously stood on his head to keep the high-powered favorites at bay while keeping his underdog side in this series.
Game 6 in Dallas provided another brilliant performance by the netminder, who turned away 36 shots in a 4-2 victory to force Game 7.
Calgary goalie Jacob Markstrom has been superb in his own right, but not many expected this series to go seven games given Dallas’ negative goal differential during the regular season.
But now Game 7 shifts the scene back to Calgary where the Flames have gone 2-1 but still haven’t looked like that high-scoring team that could run opponents out of the arena.
That, again, is a testament to just how good Oettinger has been in this series.
This is going to be another difficult pick given how evenly matched this series has been, but sometimes, you just have to go with potential.
NHL Odds and The Pick:
