All posts by Alex Moretto

NHL playoff picks: Best bets for Game 2 of the conference finals

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Round 3 started on a winning note, with the Stars (+150) coming through for us in Game 1.

Let's keep the momentum going into Game 2 of the conference finals.

Dallas Stars (+140) @ Vegas Golden Knights (-160)

Not to be that guy, but what I wrote about this contest in my Game 1 preview rang very true Sunday night. I said the Golden Knights weren't scoring enough for all the offense they've been creating - most expected goals for in the playoffs - and that was a real concern against the Stars, who excel at suppressing offense. Vegas is the only Western Conference team with more expected goals than actual ones in the postseason, and if the Knights are going to win this series, they have to convert chances to goals at a much higher clip.

Well, my prediction was essentially Game 1's script - the Knights only mustered up five high-danger scoring chances and 1.4 expected goals for. Both are new lows for them in these playoffs, with their previous lows being 10 and 2.29. This postseason, the Knights have averaged 13.4 high-danger chances and 3.36 expected goals for per 60 minutes, painting a clear picture of just how low the first game's totals are.

Having come through back-to-back series against the defensively challenged Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks, the first game against a Dallas team capable of playing a suffocating defensive game was a reality check for Vegas. I'd expect a strong response from the Knights in Game 2, but this price is still too high for me to pass up.

Pick: Stars (+140)

New York Islanders (+160) @ Tampa Bay Lightning (-180)

The Lightning remain my Stanley Cup favorite, but what happened in Game 1 against the Islanders was an anomaly. New York was coming off an emotional Game 7 win, while Tampa Bay had the chance to rest and focus.

And it didn't help that the Islanders couldn't buy a save - Thomas Greiss let in three goals on nine shots before Semyon Varlamov allowed five on 25 in relief. That's basically how the Lightning scored eight goals, despite a mark of just 2.87 expected goals for. Oh, and the insane number of shots hitting the net didn't hurt, either.

The series opener wasn't nearly as lopsided as the score suggests, so we can expect to see a much tighter contest in Game 2. Tampa managed just 1.46 expected goals for at five-on-five, so it's not like the Isles were defensively bad Monday, but Barry Trotz will demand a stifling effort in response to the 8-2 loss. With some better goaltending - because it can't possibly get any worse - the second matchup should better represent this series going forward.

Pick: Under 5.5 (-125)

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL playoff picks: 3rd time’s a charm for the Islanders

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Round 2 comes to an end on Saturday, and it's a shame because it's been quite profitable for us - not to mention wildly entertaining.

Friday's games were outstanding, and we've got one more Game 7 to enjoy on Saturday before it's off to the conference finals.

New York Islanders (-125) @ Philadelphia Flyers (+105)

How did we get here?

Up 3-1 in the series and in complete control on the ice, the Islanders looked like a lock to meet the Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 3. Left for dead, the Flyers have resurrected their Stanley Cup hopes, but for how long?

Carter Hart has been immaculate for Philadelphia to help force Game 7, standing on his head in a pair of overtime wins. The Flyers were outshot 42-17 in regulation of Game 6; they were trailing 4-3 heading into the third period and were still outshot 14-4 over the final 20 minutes despite their playoff lives hanging in the balance.

Philadelphia has looked good during spells in this series, but the Islanders have ultimately been the much better team since the puck dropped in Game 1. They've controlled a much larger portion of the expected goal share and are fully deserving of a spot in the conference finals. I touted them to win this series before it began, and nothing I've seen through six games has me doubting that selection.

Pick: Islanders (-125)

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL playoff picks: Back the Stars to finish the job

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If you stuck with the under despite the Jacob Markstrom injury, congrats on 8-0. I passed, which, in hindsight, is frustrating. The Flyers cashed as my lone bet Tuesday night as we extended this winning run to 7-0 dating back to Saturday.

I'm forgetting what it feels like to lose a bet, and here's hoping we're not reminded anytime soon.

Colorado Avalanche (-125) @ Dallas Stars (+105)

Nothing's confirmed regarding which goalies will start, but it's hard to envision anyone other than Anton Khudobin between the pipes for the Stars. Ben Bishop returned to the Dallas net Monday following an 18-day absence and was nothing short of horrific, getting pulled after 13:43 and allowing four goals on 19 shots. It's hard to blame Bishop entirely for the loss seeing as the Stars didn't show up for the first period, but how do you not go back to Khudobin after that?

The Avalanche have more of a dilemma. Pavel Francouz has struggled in relief of the injured Philipp Grubauer and was unfit to play in Game 5, with Michael Hutchinson starting in his place. Hutchinson was solid, not spectacular, but he didn't have to be great with Colorado jumping out to a 5-0 lead before Dallas could muster five shots on goal. Even if Francouz is able to play, his performance in this series suggests Hutchinson will get the start regardless.

That's problematic for the Avalanche, who will need another flawless effort in front of him to prolong this series. Hutchinson channeled the adrenaline of the occasion to help Colorado to victory in Game 5, but starting a game on short notice requires a very different mentality than sitting and thinking about a start for a couple of days. A lot more pressure comes with the latter, and with the Avalanche on the brink of elimination, that's a huge burden to place on Hutchinson's shoulders.

This is a guy who started 13 games this season and allowed four or more goals in eight of them. His .888 save percentage and 3.43 goals-against average in the regular season is cause for concern against a Stars team that hasn't stopped scoring following a sluggish start in the bubble. Dallas is firing on all cylinders right now and we will see its best effort of the series tonight in an attempt to avoid Game 7.

Pick: Stars (+105)

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL playoff picks: Back Hart to help the Flyers force Game 6

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Welcome to the heater, folks. Yet another perfect night extends our winning run to 6-0 and I never want to lose again.

How about we turn 6-0 into 8-0 tonight?

New York Islanders (-130) @ Philadelphia Flyers (+110)

The Flyers' decision to start Brian Elliott in Game 4 was baffling. You're seriously telling me a 22-year-old Carter Hart can't start back-to-back games with no travel in between? Alain Vigneault's move was puzzling, to say the least, and it cost Philadelphia dearly.

It's a shame, too, because the Flyers had one of their best efforts of the series in Game 4. They were especially dangerous in the second period, generating seven high-danger scoring chances while holding the Islanders to zero. They outchanced them all game at five-on-five. Yet Philadelphia got caught with the contest tied 1-1 in the third period. Jean-Gabriel Pageau snuck behind the defense, Elliott let in a goal he shouldn't have, and the rest is history. The Isles took the lead and never looked back.

On the brink of elimination, expect a spirited response from Philadelphia, led by Hart. The young netminder has a point to prove after sitting Game 4 and will do his part to give the Flyers - who finally showed signs of life at five-on-five Sunday night - a chance to extend this series.

Pick: Flyers (+110)

Vancouver Canucks (+190) @ Vegas Golden Knights (-230)

Any hope the Canucks have of forcing Game 6 hinges on Jacob Markstrom. Vancouver was right in Game 4 up until a third-period collapse, but the contest would have been over long before that had the goaltenders been reversed.

Markstrom's excellent performance, coupled with an inconsistent Marc-Andre Fleury outing, kept things close despite another dominant display from the Knights, who have been the vastly superior team all series. Now, Robin Lehner will be back in for Game 5 as Vegas looks to close things out. Lehner's got sensational career numbers against the Canucks and he's already blanked them twice in this series.

Look for the Knights to again control the pace and balance of play, with Markstrom doing his best to keep the Canucks' playoff hopes alive in a tight elimination game.

Pick: Under 6 (-110)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL playoff picks: Bolts to bounce Bruins from the bubble

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Another 2-0 day on Sunday closed out a perfect 4-0 weekend as we cruise toward the end of Round 2. Those series bets are looking quite nice, as well.

Let's never lose again.

Boston Bruins (-105) @ Tampa Bay Lightning (-125)

You imagine a team as experienced as the Bruins will come out swinging when backed into a corner. But, they've provided little evidence to suggest that will be the case here. This veteran bunch has been thoroughly outplayed since the second period of Game 1 and, on the brink of elimination in Game 5, they look cooked.

As good as Boston's top line is, it's asking a lot for them to shoulder this large of a burden. The Lightning's depth has overwhelmed the Bruins, who have been deprived of secondary scoring as a result. Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak have scored five of their team's eight goals in the series, and four of those eight have come on the power play. Scoring just four five-on-five goals through four games isn't a recipe for winning a series.

The Lightning have been better in every aspect of this series, one which they are good value to finish off Monday night. Boston won Game 1 when these teams met in the 2018 playoffs before losing four straight, and all signs point to history repeating itself tonight.

Pick: Lightning (-125)

Dallas Stars (+115) @ Colorado Avalanche (-135)

We cashed together on the Stars (+115) if you tailed yesterday, but I'm flipping the script Monday night. Dallas was coming off its best contest of the series in Game 3, and now the same can be argued regarding the Avalanche in Game 4 despite losing.

It was the first time in this series the Avs truly had the better play at five-on-five, controlling an almost unbelievable 68.99% of the expected goal share and generating 14 high-danger scoring chances to Dallas' six. Colorado couldn't stay out of the box and its penalty kill struggled, allowing the Stars to strike three times on the power play.

That wasn't the only issue for the Avalanche in a truly strange game. Cale Makar's error gifted the Stars the winning goal, but most detrimental was the Avs' awful start as they fell into a 3-0 hole after about 10 minutes. With their playoff lives hanging in the balance, expect a much different showing from the Avalanche right out of the gate to extend this series to a sixth game.

Pick: Avalanche (-135)

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL playoff picks: Stars, Isles to take commanding series leads

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Following a couple of 1-1 nights, we enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 sweep on Saturday with the New York Islanders taking care of business and the Vegas Golden Knights handling the Vancouver Canucks to cash the puck line at +140.

Let's keep that momentum going on Sunday.

Colorado Avalanche (-135) @ Dallas Stars (+115)

The Avalanche scored three unanswered goals in the final eight minutes of Game 3 to pick up their first win of the series, though I hesitate to assume the victory will revive them going forward.

Game 3 was actually Dallas' best performance of the series thus far. The underlying metrics were relatively even in the first two games, but the Stars controlled a remarkable 64.5% of the expected goal share at five-on-five in Game 3 and generated 10 high-danger scoring chances to the Avalanche's three.

Colorado came to life for a brief stint in the second period and again in the third to ultimately steal the game, but those numbers speak to a bigger problem for Jared Bednar's team. Injuries to Philipp Grubauer, Erik Johnson, Matt Calvert, and Joonas Donskoi open a window of opportunity for the Stars, who are generously priced coming off a strong performance in a losing effort on Wednesday.

Pick: Stars (+115)

Philadelphia Flyers (+105) @ New York Islanders (-125)

There's no justifiable reason to put your money on the Flyers right now. After a strong start to life in the bubble, the Flyers have been the second-best team in nearly every game they've played since the start of Round 1.

Saturday was no exception, as the Islanders controlled the play for almost the entire contest. Carter Hart conceded a soft goal as New York jumped ahead 2-1 late in the second period, and there was no way back for the Flyers.

Hart hasn't been as dominant as he was in Round 1, which is simply the result of his team being outplayed in each game. The Islanders generated 16 high-danger scoring chances at five-on-five on Saturday - twice as many as the Flyers managed - and controlled 61.73% of the expected goal share.

The Flyers may have the edge in overall talent, but there's a massive gap between these teams in terms of how they're playing right now. If you looked only at playoff stats, the Islanders would likely be pushing -180, so I'll gladly scoop them up again here at a much shorter price.

Pick: Islanders (-125)

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL playoff picks: Isles, Knights to take pivotal Game 3

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The NHL picks up again on Saturday with a three-game slate following a two-day hiatus. On the last night of hockey we split our picks once again, hitting the Lightning moneyline, but losing with the under.

Staying away from unders here, let's get the 2-0.

Philadelphia Flyers (-110) @ New York Islanders (-110)

Not to diminish the point of the two-day pause by using it to cap games, but the fact of the matter is the couple of days off halted any momentum the Flyers built up in Game 2. And the Islanders are feeling it right now: despite losing the last game in overtime, they sure didn't make it easy, tying the game after falling into a 3-0 hole in the first period.

It's got to be a daunting feeling playing against New York right now. When they get up a couple goals it's essentially game over, and when they fall behind by a few they still find a way back. You just can't kill this team off.

In the Game 1 win, the Isles controlled 59.62% of the expected goal share, and they controlled 59.85% of the share in Game 2 despite the loss. This team is just playing better in every area right now - including in goal where Semyon Varlamov has an absurd .954 save percentage at five-on-five since the restart - and there's no conceivable logic to truly justify taking the Flyers in a pick'em.

Pick: Islanders (-110)

Vegas Golden Knights (-200) @ Vancouver Canucks (+170)

No matter what you throw at them, these Canucks won't go down easy. They survived another onslaught in Game 2 to even the series, this time getting the goaltending they've become accustomed to from Jacob Markstrom. Timely scoring - which has been a theme for the Canucks in these playoffs - played a key role in the win, but against a team like the Knights, who are stronger and deeper, it's hard to consistently rely on that.

Over a seven-game series the cream usually rises to the top, and while the Canucks did well to steal Game 2, it won't be a common theme. Vegas dominated the expected goals share outside of the first period of Tuesday's loss, and frankly that should come as little surprise.

Expect a spirited response from the Knights here following the loss. They were caught a bit flat out of the gate in Game 2 after a dominating display in Game 1, but that won't be the case here as they strike first and set the tone for another convincing win.

Pick: Knights -1.5 (+140)

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Stanley Cup odds update: Knights, Bolts leading the way

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With a couple days off from hockey to shed light on far more important issues, it's as good a time as any to revisit the Stanley Cup oddsboard.

Our last update came at the start of Round 1, but there's been plenty of movement since then with the field slashed in half.

Team Odds (8/28) Odds (8/11)
Vegas Golden Knights +300 +550
Tampa Bay Lightning +340 +800
Philadelphia Flyers +700 +600
Colorado Avalanche +700 +650
Dallas Stars +725 +1600
Boston Bruins +800 +900
New York Islanders +950 +2200
Vancouver Canucks +1700 +2600

Vegas Golden Knights (+300)

No playoff team has controlled a greater share of expected goals - overall and five-on-five - in the bubble than the Knights, who have overwhelmed everyone they've faced thus far with talent and depth. If their goaltending holds up - Robin Lehner has been inconsistent at best in these playoffs - there may be no stopping this team.

Tampa Bay Lightning (+340)

Anything longer than 3-1 is worth scooping up for this Lightning team, which has few, if any, weaknesses. As well as the Islanders are playing, and as dangerous as the Flyers can be, the Bruins are their toughest test to get out of the East. Tampa is passing with flying colors so far, but should it make the Stanley Cup Final, the services of Steven Stamkos will be required.

Philadelphia Flyers (+700)

Since the playoffs began, we've seen nothing from the Flyers to suggest even contemplating buying in at these short odds. Carter Hart can steal games, and the talent is certainly there, but no team remaining in the playoffs has controlled a lower share of expected goals at five-on-five.

Colorado Avalanche (+700)

Injuries are catching up to the Avalanche at the worst time. Philipp Grubauer and Erik Johnson are out for the foreseeable future, Matt Calvert remains unfit to play, and now Nikita Zadorov and Joonas Donskoi are day-to-day. This is a deep team loaded with talent, but at this stage of the season that's a lot of adversity to overcome. Trailing 2-1 in their series, with a real question mark in goal, +700 isn't long enough.

Dallas Stars (+725)

Instead why not go with one of the league's hotter teams, who are leading their series, and close to full health? The Stars can defend as well as anyone, but the knock on them has always been scoring. Well, they've scored 28 goals in their last six games and are showing no signs of slowing down.

Boston Bruins (+800)

This two-day pause - while much bigger than hockey - will do a lot of good for the Bruins, who were looking fatigued in a 7-1 loss to the Lightning in Game 3. Some rest could revive their chances to win this series, but it's asking a lot for Jaroslav Halak to carry the load in net for an extended run.

New York Islanders (+950)

Few teams have played better hockey in the bubble than the Islanders, who are good value at the current price. They've allowed the lowest expected goals against per 60 minutes among all teams remaining in the playoffs and have the best five-on-five save percentage. Barry Trotz's fingerprints are all over this team and that's a very good thing.

Vancouver Canucks (+1700)

The Canucks have done really well for themselves in these playoffs and continue to impress, but there's a cap on how far this team can really go. Even with Jacob Markstrom playing out of this world, this team doesn't have the depth needed to get by Vegas, then Colorado or Dallas, and likely Tampa.

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL playoff picks: Flyers poised to make a statement

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We closed out Round 1 with a 2-0 night and opened up Round 2 by cashing in on the Dallas Stars at a generous price.

Let's keep the momentum going into Monday night.

New York Islanders (+100) @ Philadelphia Flyers (-120)

This is a huge game for the Flyers. It feels somewhat ridiculous to say that - when isn't a Game 1 huge for everyone involved? But it's particularly massive for Philadelphia after the team largely struggled to get out of first gear against the Canadiens.

The Flyers know they weren't good enough against Montreal. Offensively, they struggled to generate anything, and defensively, they uncharacteristically gave away a lot of chances, only to be bailed out by Carter Hart. This is a relatively veteran team. They don't need anyone to tell them that level of play wasn't good enough for a Cup run, and they won't be ignorant of the fact that everyone is picking the Islanders to pull off the mild upset as a result.

If the Flyers remain stuck in mud - outskated and outworked by a relentless Islanders team - they can start packing now. But this team is a lot better than that. Philadelphia's inconsistencies are what have me on the Islanders to win the series, but I expect a strong response tonight. The Flyers' Round 1 series was a wake-up call and I predict they'll find another gear, much like they did in Game 3 against the Canadiens - their best of the series - following an embarrassing 5-0 Game 2 loss.

Pick: Flyers (-120)

Dallas Stars (+125) @ Colorado Avalanche (-145)

These teams put on a show Saturday night to kick off Round 2. The Avalanche were all over the place defensively, but it was a really strange game; they fell behind early and never could quite recover, losing both Erik Johnson and Philipp Grubauer to injury.

The Stars have found a groove on offense, scoring five or more goals in four of their seven playoff games thus far, while the Avalanche have scored 17 goals in their last three. That said, when we look back on this series in a couple of weeks, I feel comfortable saying Game 1 will be an outlier. These are two structured teams that aren't looking to play pond hockey.

Dallas continues to play a tidy defensive game, excelling at suppressing offense, and the Avalanche - while revered for their offensive capabilities - have allowed the second-fewest expected goals against per 60 minutes among Western Conference teams in the bubble. And that was reflected in Game 1, despite what the scoreboard suggested. The Avalanche posted just 1.52 expected goals for at five-on-five, compared to 1.87 for the Stars, with those tallies only jumping to 2.1 each at all strengths.

All four meetings between these teams in the regular season finished under 5.5 goals - a more accurate representation of how they will play each other - and, without him having to come off Colorado's bench cold, expect a much better showing from Pavel Francouz, a wildly underappreciated goalie and one of the league's best backups.

Pick: Under 5.5 (-115)

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL Eastern Conference 2nd-round betting preview: Pair of wide-open series

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Though the big favorites rule the second round in the Western Conference, the opposite is true in the East, where a pair of incredibly close series should make for great viewing.

Let's get right into the matchups.

New York Islanders (+115) @ Philadelphia Flyers (-135)

The Flyers rode their luck - and Carter Hart - to an unconvincing series win over the Montreal Canadiens and now have their work cut out for them against the Islanders. Philadelphia's play was concerning in Round 1, as the team was dominated at five-on-five and also struggled on special teams.

Meanwhile, the Islanders have allowed the fewest expected goals in the bubble and posted the best five-on-five save percentage, stifling the Florida Panthers and Washington Capitals. New York has been opportunistic on offense, but the Flyers are more structured than the two teams they faced previously and Hart is a step up in class between the pipes. However, the Flyers can't expect to simply lean on their 22-year-old goaltender again.

Everyone is contributing right now for the Islanders. To no one's surprise, Barry Trotz has done an exquisite job to get everyone on the same page and buy in. This is a fast, relentless team, and we saw how problematic that was for Philly when it played Montreal. There's no way the Flyers aren't better here than they were against the Habs, but the Islanders will prove to be too much.

Pick: Islanders (+115)

Boston Bruins (-110) @ Tampa Bay Lightning (-110)

The hockey world is frothing at the mouth in anticipation for this clash of titans. With both the Lightning and Bruins at their peak, this could be the best these playoffs have to offer.

There is so little between these two teams. The Bruins have the edge in star power but the Lightning have better depth. Both are playing excellent hockey, and this series is close to a coin flip.

It's the extenuating factors, though, that could make the difference - most notably, the absence of Tuukka Rask. Can Jaroslav Halak stand strong with no safety net behind him, and, if not, what happens if he falters against the Lightning's seemingly unstoppable attack?

Steven Stamkos' absence - and his possible return date - is the other issue. The Lightning defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets without him, but the Bruins are an entirely different beast. If he doesn't return by at least midway through the series, it could be the edge Boston needs to make a return to the Eastern Conference Final.

Boston's biggest weakness is perhaps its lack of depth, as the Bruins are beatable if you slow down the top line. The same can't be said for Tampa Bay. The Lightning hold the edge in goal and, with the monkey off their back, possess the belief needed to finally put it all together.

Pick: Lightning (-110)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.