As usual, the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2023 has provided exciting matchups, even between teams that finished the regular season far apart in the standings. For young teams, moving from the regular season to the pressure of the postseason takes some growth, and it looks like the Edmonton Oilers have started to make that growth. Their season was in peril on Sunday as they were down to the Los Angeles Kings, 4-1 in Game 3, already down in the series 2-1. Then the Oilers mounted a comeback to tie the game and send things to overtime, and Zach Hyman lit the lamp 10:39 into the extra period to complete the comeback. This was Hyman’s first goal of the postseason, and now the series is knotted at two games apiece, heading back to Edmonton for Game 5. Monday night features four exciting matchups, so don’t miss our NHL betting thoughts on each one.
NHL Betting News: Playoff Preview for April 24
New Jersey Devils (+135) at N.Y. Rangers (-160)
NHL Odds: Game 4 (O/U 5.5)
When: 7:00 pm ET
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York
TV / Streaming: ESPN
Rangers lead, 2-1
The Rangers won the first two games on the Devils’ home ice, but New Jersey roared back in Game 3, turning a late 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 overtime victory. Their offense has to improve, though, and the hope is that Dougie Hamilton can build on the momentum that he started with his overtime-winner in Game 3. The defense was stifling in Game 3, but it’s unlikely that Akira Schmid will make 35 saves on 36 shots again.
The Rangers scored 10 goals in Games 1 and 2 combined before scoring just one in Game 3. Chris Kreider, Patrick Kane and Filip Chytil have combined for seven goals and six assists, and defenseman Adam Fox has six assists all by himself, but the scoring needs to turn on again to avoid wasting a fine effort from netminder Igor Shesterkin, who has 75 saves on 79 shots so far. Rangers to win.
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Toronto Maple Leafs (-115) at Tampa Bay Lightning (-105)
NHL Odds: Game 4 (O/U 6.5)
When: 7:30 pm ET
Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa
TV / Streaming: TBS
Leafs lead, 2-1
After giving up seven goals in a humiliating Game 1, the Maple Leafs have scored 11 goals in the last two games to take a 2-1 lead. John Tavares had a hat trick in Game 2, and defenseman Morgan Rielly has contributed a goal and four assists. It’s the defense that needs a little more work. In Games 2 and 3, they permitted five combined goals, and they need to clamp down on the Lightning even more. Goalie Ilya Samsonov has permitted 11 goals on 90 shots.
The Lightning are always a dangerous team in the postseason, and if they can figure out how to corral the Leafs’ defense, they have an elite netminder in Andrei Vasilevskiy. So far, he has permitted 14 goals on 95 shots, but a lot of that is on the defense, which has allowed odd-man rushes and unchallenged rushes to the net. Lightning to win.
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Vegas Golden Knights (-110) at Winnipeg Jets (-110)
NHL Odds: Game 4 (O/U 5.5)
When: 9:30 pm ET
Where: MTS Centre, Winnipeg
TV / Streaming: ESPN
Golden Knights lead, 2-1
This series has seen each team win a game by identical 5-1 scores, and then Vegas prevailed on Saturday in a chaotic 5-4 decision that came in double overtime. Winnipeg won the opener, taking Vegas to the woodshed, but then they bounced back and scored three goals in the third period of Game 2 to take that win. Vegas has not lost in Winnipeg yet this season.
In Game 3, Winnipeg was down, 4-1, and came all the way back to tie, but they could not get the game-winner, only mustering six shots in the two overtime periods. Their penalty kill slipped in Game 3 after having not permitted a single power-play goal in the first two games, only to allow Jack Eichel to score twice with the man advantage. Defenseman Josh Morrissey is out for the series, which makes 24 minutes of ice time for other blueliners to replace. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck needs to find his Game 1 form. Vegas to win.
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Colorado Avalanche (-150) at Seattle Kraken (+125)
NHL Odds: Game 4 (O/U 6)
When: 10:00 pm ET
Where: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle
TV / Streaming: TBS
Avalanche lead, 2-1
The Kraken prevailed in Game 1, but Colorado has won the last two, including a 6-4 win in Game 3 up in Seattle. That win saw the Kraken give up a 4-3 lead as the Avs scored three unanswered goals in the third to get the win. Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen each had a pair of goals in the win. The Avs are still struggling on the power play (0 for 7 in the series) after converting 24.5% of the time with the man advantage during the regular season. Alexandar Georgiev has been good enough in goal, with 79 saves on 88 shots.
Seattle is also struggling on the power play (1 of 11 overall, including 1 of 6 in Game 3). Hitting four goals was a playoff high for the Kraken in this postseason, but they could not outscore the poor performance that Philipp Grubauer mustered in net, allowing five goals on just 33 shots (the Avs also added an empty-netter). He does have a .917 save percentage for the series, so he can bounce back, but the Kraken need him to do that tonight. Avalanche to win.
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