Better Sunday NHL Playoff Bets

NHL Playoff Betting Analysis

By Angelo Montilla

Here are a couple of NHL betting options to consider, with odds courtesy of BetOnline.

Washington Capitals (-141) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (+130)

And just like that, the sleeping giant awakened. The Presidents’ Trophy winning Washington Capitals are back in the driver’s seat and can knock out the young Maple Leafs on Sunday night in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference quarter-final.

The series shifts back to Toronto where the Capitals can expect a boisterous Maple Leafs crowd at the Air Canada Centre. The Caps — winners of two straight — enter action on Sunday as -141 favorites on the road, where the team has managed to win once already in this series. The Maple Leafs will be a hungry group and an intriguing selection as +130 underdogs on home ice.

For the first time in this series we saw a low-scoring contest as the Capitals defeated the Maple Leafs 2-1 in Game 5. Otherwise, this series has had its fair share of offense, with both the Capitals and Leafs averaging well over three goals per game.

The Leafs can’t afford to give the Capitals many chances on the powerplay as the Metropolitan Division champions are converting 33.3 percent of their opportunities with the man advantage.

Many online sportsbooks, including BetOnline, is offering a 5.5 total goals line for Sunday’s highly-anticipated matchup. With all but two games going over the projected total so far, expect things to be wide open once again Sunday evening as the Leafs will fight to live another day and force a seventh and deciding contest.

Pick: Toronto Maple Leafs (+130) and the over (5.5)

Boston Bruins (-162) vs. Ottawa Senators (+146)

This is exactly what the Ottawa Senators were hoping to avoid. Having missed a glorious to knock out the Bruins, the Sens will now have to travel to Boston for Game 6 on Sunday afternoon.

Leading the series 3-2, the Senators can still advance to the next round but they’ll have to do it as +146 underdogs. The Bruins, who are riding high after a double-overtime victory in Ottawa in Game 5, are -162 favorites to come out on top at TD Garden.

Faceoffs are crucial this time of year and both the Sens and Bruins have been fantastic in that department. Ottawa hold the slight advantage in the faceoff circle with a 50.9 percent rating.

The head-to-head matchup is still heavily tilted in favor of the Senators over the last 10 games as they’ve defeated the Bruins eight times during that stretch.

Ottawa also relished being the underdog, as the club holds a 28-23-5 record as the dark horse this season.

The projected line for total goals is set at 5, but don’t expect these defensive-minded clubs to go end to end in Game 6. The Senators will wrap it up on the road.

Pick: Ottawa Senators (+146) and the under (5)

Category : Betting Picks

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