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Thursday was a 1-1 night for us, but it felt a lot bigger as we cashed in a couple big series bets on the Dallas Stars.

Round 1 of the NHL playoffs is winding down, so let's finish strong.

Philadelphia Flyers (-140) @ Montreal Canadiens (+110)

The only real difference between Game 2 and Game 5 of this series was Jesperi Kotkaniemi's major penalty. Instead of a 5-0 win, the Canadiens settled for 5-3, with the Flyers scoring three times on the power play (twice on Kotkaniemi's major). But, in reality, it was yet another game in which Philadelphia was clearly second-best, failing to generate anything at five-on-five.

The Flyers came out flat after a Game 1 win, and then again in Game 5 with a 3-1 stranglehold on the series. However, they responded appropriately to a Game 2 battering and will do the same here.

Montreal will find it tough to match the intensity it carried throughout Game 5, especially without Brendan Gallagher. He's a nightmare for the opposing team - even when he's not playing well - with his relentlessness on the puck and Pitbull mentality on the forecheck. This group is a lot easier to face without him.

The Habs aren't especially great at finishing their chances, and now they have to produce without their leading scorer against Carter Hart, who is as mentally tough as a 22-year-old goaltender can be - he responded to being pulled in Game 2 with back-to-back shutouts. The Canadiens are 2-12 this season when scoring five or more goals in their previous game, and unlucky No. 13 will be the one that ends their campaign.

Pick: Flyers (-140)

St. Louis Blues (-135) @ Vancouver Canucks (+115)

This is an incredibly tough series to cap. You can exhaust yourself by examining data and combing through the numbers, but there are so many variables that can undo all that work. Motivation is a big one - the Blues have looked deprived of it at times - and Jacob Markstrom is another. He's stolen a couple of games already in this series, just as he did against the Minnesota Wild.

The Blues were outstanding in their two "road" contests this series and should come out swinging in Game 6 with their backs against the wall, as they did in Game 3 and 4 after going down 2-0.

However, there's just something about this series - be it the bubble, a Cup hangover, or a hungry Canucks team - that scares me off the Blues at this price. Markstrom is in sensational form, Elias Pettersson deserves more recognition as one of the best players in the league, Bo Horvat is playing like a man against boys, and Vancouver is getting the sort of depth scoring it wasn't for most of the season. I can't pass up the Canucks at this price and will be on them again in Game 7 if they lose here.

Pick: Canucks (+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.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

Admittedly, we're mired in a bit of a slump right now with three losing nights in a row.

The playoffs have been fairly profitable, though, and there's still a long way to go. We'll get hot soon enough, and there's no better time to start than Thursday night.

New York Islanders (-105) @ Washington Capitals (-115)

The Islanders just need to stay out of the box and they will close out this series. Leading 2-0 early in the second period of Game 4 - and in complete control - they shot themselves in the foot with two penalties. The Capitals sent their big guns out on a five-on-three, generated some momentum, potted a couple of goals, and Bob's your uncle.

Four of Washington's eight goals in this series have come on the power play, with only three at five-on-five. That's a testament to this Islanders team, which is so defensively disciplined under Barry Trotz. Only the Colorado Avalanche have allowed fewer expected goals against in these playoffs.

It's just a bad matchup for the Capitals, who struggle to generate offense at five-on-five and rely heavily on special teams. The Islanders will end this series in Game 5 if they don't get themselves into trouble. There's excellent value here as they're slight 'dogs despite being unquestionably the better team throughout this series.

Pick: Islanders (-105)

Dallas Stars (-125) @ Calgary Flames (+105)

I've been vocal about my love for the Stars in this series, and I'm feeling pretty good through five games.

The Stars have been the better team - controlling a much larger percentage of the expected goals, generating more quality scoring chances, and impressively limiting the Flames' offense at five-on-five - in each of the last four contests since a sluggish Game 1.

But the Flames are still hanging around, and despite all the chances that Dallas is creating, it's being made to work hard for every goal. I still fully expect the Stars to close out this series in Game 7, but this pesky Flames team will ensure it gets there leaning into Cam Talbot and its white-hot power play to steal Game 6.

Pick: Flames (+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.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

It was a frustrating 1-2 night on the ice, with the Knights unable to win by two despite another dominating effort.

Wednesday's elimination day in the NHL with four teams on the brink, and we've got a couple best bets to lean into.

Arizona Coyotes (+175) @ Colorado Avalanche (-210)

Game 4 was as lopsided as any we'll see in these playoffs. It was an embarrassment - men against boys, as Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet put it. The Avalanche won 7-1, but it wasn't only on the scoreboard that Colorado dominated.

There's no way the Coyotes embarrass themselves like that again. This is a team with a strong defensive system and one of the league's best goalies - it'll respond positively to its humiliation. In order to do so, Arizona needs to get back to the basics: disciplined, defensive hockey. There's no world in which the Coyotes beat the Avalanche in a game of pond hockey and they learned that the hard way.

Darcy Kuemper is obviously a lot better than what he showed Sunday, though his defense did him no favors. But he's been known to rebound: over his Coyotes career, after allowing five or more goals in a game, Kuemper's averaged only two against in his next start (12 goals against in six games).

Elimination games are typically much tighter. With a spirited response from the Coyotes and a strong showing from Kuemper, they keep things close in a game in which they're fighting for their playoff lives.

Pick: Under 5.5 (-130)

Montreal Canadiens (+120) @ Philadelphia Flyers (-140)

Things aren't playing out in this series as the underlying stats suggest they should. All the numbers - expected goals, scoring chances, possession - suggest the Canadiens should have a stranglehold on the series. They've controlled an enormous share of the expected goals and outscored the Flyers 6-5 through four games, but have only one win to show for it.

The Canadiens again held the edge in Game 4, but a pair of weak goals allowed by Carey Price, a Jeff Petry shot off the post, and some Carter Hart heroics resulted in yet another win for the Flyers. Yeah, Montreal is playing well, but the results aren't there. It's the playoffs - chances don't matter, only goals do, and the Habs can't find the back of the net right now.

Sure, they're a bit snakebitten - they've hit countless posts - but there's also some scoring talent lacking in this forward group. It's the same issue that plagued the Habs all regular season - they were eighth in expected goals for but 18th in actual goals scored. At some point you have to jump ship, and with the Canadiens reeling, it's time to put on our life jackets and swim to safety.

Pick: Flyers (-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.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

Well, I said to tread lightly yesterday, and hopefully you listened. The Hurricanes collapsed in the third period and the Canucks never could get much going as we stumbled to an 0-2 night.

I already had a few of Tuesday's games circled on the calendar, and I'm anticipating a big day. Here's to hoping.

Philadelphia Flyers (-130) @ Montreal Canadiens (+110)

After the Canadiens dominated Game 2, things evened out in Game 3. It was tense and scoring chances were scarce. The Flyers capitalized on a fortunate bounce to take an early lead and that was it for the scoring. Carter Hart was excellent and puck luck wasn't on the side of Montreal - Jesperi Kotkaniemi hit the crossbar twice, Nick Suzuki ripped one off the post, and Brett Kulak dented the bar on a wicked shot. Hart was beaten clean on every one of these.

It was a frustrating game for the Canadiens, but there were plenty of positives to take from it once again. They know that not only can they play with the Flyers, but they can beat them. Montreal has controlled a much larger portion of the expected goal share in the series and has been especially dominant in that regard at five on five. Given the rate at which the Canadiens are generating offense and taking the game to the Flyers, with some better puck luck they'll be an absolute steal at anything plus-money.

Pick: Canadiens (+110)

Calgary Flames (+105) @ Dallas Stars (-125)

While some key bounces have gone against the Habs, no team has been more snakebitten than the Stars. They've been living around the Flames' net, but a combination of posts, crossbars, missed open nets, and sporadically great goaltending from Cam Talbot has resulted in an incredibly close series. It's 2-2 heading into Game 5, but it could - and probably should - just as easily be 3-1 Dallas at worst.

The Stars have controlled 62.71% of the expected goals in this series, and a terrific 65.86% at five on five. There's zero doubt that they've been the better team throughout, and the floodgates opened in Game 4. It was a devastating loss for the Flames, who were seconds away from being up 3-1 in the series. Dallas needed a goal to tie the game and scored twice - one was disallowed. That's going to weigh heavily in Calgary's heads.

It also looked like Dallas really figured something out with the tweaks the team made - its defensemen are joining the rush with a lot more frequency and the Flames haven't had an answer outside of Talbot. Galvanized by their Game 4 victory, the Stars take a big step toward the second round on Tuesday night.

Pick: Stars (-125)

Chicago Blackhawks (+165) @ Vegas Golden Knights (-195)

I haven't a clue how this series is still going. The Blackhawks committed larceny in Game 4, but their joy will be short-lived. It's almost stunning how dominant the Knights were in the loss. They controlled an astounding 74.79% of the expected goals share and produced 16 high-danger scoring chances to Chicago's three.

The Blackhawks rode their luck and extended their season by another 60 minutes, but that's going to be the extent of it. The Knights have dominated this entire series and, once again getting last change Tuesday, they will have their way with a Chicago defense that provides little resistance.

Pick: Knights -1.5 (+130)

(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.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

We ended Sunday 1-1, and while the Stars were definitely deserving of the win, nothing about the Flyers-Canadiens game suggested the over was ever in play.

Let's move on to Monday's slate, and I don't love the card here. There are a couple of Tuesday games I feel very strongly about, so tread a bit lighter today.

Boston Bruins (-125) @ Carolina Hurricanes (+105)

Game 3 was the worst the Hurricanes have played in the bubble, and it wasn't particularly close. They couldn't get anything going offensively and were expected to score just 0.93 goals at five-on-five. Their 1.75 expected goals for mark at all strengths was by far the team's lowest of the series.

Carolina is much better than that. The club led the NHL this season in expected goals for and high-danger scoring chances (both per 60 minutes). Losing Andrei Svechnikov is undoubtedly a blow, but there's plenty of depth at forward and no shortage of scoring talent available to the Hurricanes. Head coach Rod Brind'Amour will light a fire under his team after such a poor Game 3 showing.

The Bruins rallied around Jaroslav Halak in Game 3 following the departure of Tuukka Rask from the bubble, and Carolina will do the same in Svechnikov's absence. These things can energize teams, and the Canes will use Zdeno Chara's supposed slew foot on Svechnikov (it wasn't a slew foot) as a rallying cry in Game 4 while looking to even up the series.

Pick: Hurricanes (+105)

St. Louis Blues (-140) @ Vancouver Canucks (+120)

The Blues already won their Stanley Cup, and now it seems they want to get the heck out of Dodge. St. Louis knows how difficult it is to win a championship, and the players just can't find the same motivation a year later. That's understandable given the circumstances after leaving their families to enter the bubble, and returning to play in empty arenas following a five-month hiatus.

For a young, hungry team starving for success like the Canucks, the circumstances matter little. But for a club like the Blues fresh off its greatest achievement, finding motivation is surely a bit tougher. These guys are professionals and competitors, so I'm not suggesting they don't want to win. But there's a big difference between want and need, and for the Blues, the same intensity just isn't there.

The Canucks have impressed in these playoffs, and I was a bit lower on them than I should have been. But in normal circumstances, the Blues undoubtedly would cruise through this series. However, Vancouver just wants it more now. With the embarrassment of a potential sweep gone for the Blues after an overtime victory in Game 3, the Canucks will put a stranglehold on the series Monday night.

Pick: Canucks (+120)

(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.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

Some things just weren't meant to be on Saturday. The Blue Jackets fell short, and the Knights allowed a meaningless late goal, failing to cover the -1.5 spread. An 0-2 night ends our two-day perfection streak.

We're now 6-4-1 overall in Round 1, but I love these two Sunday bets. Let's get back to our 2-0 days, yeah?

Dallas Stars (-120) @ Calgary Flames (+100)

The Stars face a pivotal Game 4 and only have themselves to blame, trailing 2-1 in the series. They had countless chances to open the scoring in Game 3 - and even pull ahead for that matter - but couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Tyler Seguin hit the crossbar twice, Alexander Radulov missed a wide-open goal, and John Klingberg couldn't hit the net on a huge chance in the second.

Cam Talbot was excellent when the Flames needed him, but the series' first two games proved that his performance is too inconsistent. He can be erratic and easily-shaken as a goalie, but once he gets settled, he'll be tough to beat.

The bottom line is there's been plenty to like about Dallas' play in this series, especially in Game 3's losing effort. The Stars had 37 scoring chances to Calgary's 13 on Friday, and they controlled 66.91% of the expected goals share at five-on-five (2.11 to 1.04).

It's been a common theme throughout this series, and over the course of seven games, these things have a way of correcting themselves. The Stars may be trailing right now, but don't expect that to last very long.

Pick: Stars (-120)

Philadelphia Flyers (-145) @ Montreal Canadiens (+125)

I was in on the Canadiens and the over in Game 2, and while we hit with the underdog pick, we had to settle for a push on the over in a 5-0 Montreal win. There wasn't a single offensive contribution from the Flyers, but that's not something that will happen very often, and it's the reason I'm going back to the well here.

Expect a spirited response from the Flyers on Sunday with or without leading scorer Travis Konecny, who was helped into the dressing room after blocking a shot in Game 2. Philadelphia was out-worked and out-played but still generated an expected goals for mark of 3.23 on Friday, and will hopefully do its part to contribute to the over in Game 3.

Defensively, the Flyers are showing an inability to cope with Montreal's speed and aggressiveness on the forecheck, so they'll have to start generating some offense. The Canadiens have what seems to be a bottomless pit of energy on the attack, posting 5.19 expected goals for at even - and 6.14 at all strengths - in this series.

The emergence of youngsters Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Nick Suzuki gives the Habs excellent depth at forward, while Jonathan Drouin and Max Domi appeared to get on track offensively in Game 2. Montreal will continue to find the back of the net here, and with Philadelphia doing its part as well, this game will comfortably surpass five goals.

Pick: Over 5 (-130)

(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.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

A clean 2-0 sweep on Thursday improves us to 4-2 in Round 1, and we're steaming ahead into a busy weekend.

Here are another couple of winners for Friday, both at plus-money to boot.

Montreal Canadiens (+135) @ Philadelphia Flyers (-155)

Game 1 of this series was an absolute treat. It started slow, but things kicked into high gear midway through the first period and didn't sputter. Carter Hart and Carey Price impressed, and each team's offense showcased its strengths. A lot of bad puck luck and very strong goaltending combined to keep the game so low scoring, with the Flyers winning 2-1.

Artturi Lehkonen whiffed on about four quality scoring chances, while Brendan Gallagher and Paul Byron were also snakebitten in front of the net. Nick Suzuki hit the post, as did Claude Giroux. Price made a miracle save on Scott Laughton, and Nate Thompson missed an open net. Game 1 was a wildly entertaining affair with a rather deceiving low score. It just as easily could have ended 5-4.

Despite taking the loss, the Canadiens produced the most offense in Game 1, posting a 2.56 expected goals for mark at even strength while creating 15 high-danger chances. Montreal controlled a 57.81% share of the expected goals at five-on-five in Game 1, and that's not an outlier. The Habs were the league's second-best team in expected goals percentage at five-on-five during the regular season, while the Flyers finished 12th.

Montreal can control the balance of play if the Habs stay out of the box. As the playoffs intensify, refs tend to let things go a bit more, which will benefit the Canadiens. At this price, there's great value in them to even the series in what should be an exciting Game 2.

Pick: Canadiens (+135), Over 5 (-130)

New York Islanders (+110) @ Washington Capitals (-130)

The Islanders completely stifled the Capitals in Game 1. Washington was expected to score just 0.87 goals at five-on-five, compared to 1.68 for the Islanders, who owned a remarkable 69.93% share of the expected goals at even strength.

The Capitals struggled significantly in that regard during round-robin play, too, managing just 3.74 expected goals for at five-on-five while allowing 4.88. Both of their Game 1 goals came on the power play, and they were otherwise thoroughly outplayed.

And now they will be without one of their best offensive players in Nicklas Backstrom, who left Game 1 and didn't return following a hit from Anders Lee. If the Islanders can avoid penalties, it's hard to see a different outcome in Game 2.

Pick: Islanders (+110)

(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.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

Dillon Dube went full Theoren Fleury and then the Tampa Bay Lightning needed about 12 hours to win Game 1, so we didn't even get to the other game in the East between the Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes - and we're taking the Bruins in that one.

Round 1 had an eventful start - to say the least - and thanks to the overtime delay, we get a bonus game on Wednesday.

In addition to our bet on the Bruins, here's what else we've got for this slate.

New York Islanders (+110) @ Washington Capitals (-140)

This matchup is a tough draw for the Capitals, who do some of their best work on the rush. They will be vulnerable against an Islanders team that excels at slowing attacks similar to Washington's. New York plays a gritty brand of hockey and is well-equipped to frustrate the Caps.

Offensively the Islanders aren't designed to light the lamp, but they have many capable scorers up and down their roster. Their scoring-by-committee approach gives reason to believe they will find success on the attack in this series, given Washington's defensive deficiencies and question marks in goal.

Regardless of how the series as a whole plays out, Barry Trotz is a man I'm comfortable backing in Game 1. Not only will he have his squad ready to run through a brick wall, but he'll have devised a tidy game plan to frustrate the Capitals' attack and exploit their defensive weaknesses. Plus, Washington playing without Lars Eller and quite possibly Norris candidate John Carlson only adds fuel to the fire. It's the perfect storm for the Isles, who steal Game 1 in what should be a very tight series.

Pick: Islanders (+110)

Vancouver Canucks (+125) @ St. Louis Blues (-160)

The Canucks' reward for beating the Wild is a date with the defending Stanley Cup champions. They played a strong game, which has started to turn a few doubters - including me. Most important, though, was Jacob Markstrom's form. The 30-year-old was stealing games for the Canucks, and that's what they'll need from their netminder if they want to beat the battle-tested Blues.

St. Louis was particularly poor in the qualifying round, but I'm putting little stock into that display. Much like the Bruins, this team is more than capable of turning it on when games really matter. The Blues are very well-coached and play a style conducive to playoff hockey - designed to frustrate and suffocate young teams like the Canucks. Even with Vancouver's star power up front, chances will be tough to come by.

Between a pair of teams backed by excellent goaltenders, the first to three goals will win what should be a hard-fought Game 1.

Pick: Under 5.5 (-130)

(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.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

This is when the real playoff hockey starts. The round-robin games felt like exhibition contests, and the play-in series didn't offer genuine playoff matchups.

The field is set now, and here are a pair of bets for the beginning of Round 1 on Tuesday.

Calgary Flames (-110) @ Dallas Stars (-120)

A lot of money is coming in on the Flames to win this game and the series, which is an overreaction to their convincing series victory over the Jets. Calgary outscored Winnipeg 16-6 over four games, with Cam Talbot posting a .945 save percentage.

However, the Jets were missing two of their top scorers all series, which contributed to Talbot's suddenly improved performance. As for Calgary's offensive outburst, Winnipeg's defense has been a wreck all season. The Jets were 26th in regular-season expected goals against, and they allowed the second-most high-danger scoring chances.

Now the Stars should give the Flames a wake-up call. Dallas allowed the second-fewest goals in the league this season, and the Stars excelled at suppressing chances. They play a style suited for playoff hockey, and until we see that from the Flames too following their swift elimination last season, Calgary remains a strong fade candidate.

Critics will doubt the Stars because of their trouble scoring this season, but the team's veteran forward group is capable of stepping up when it matters. Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, and Alexander Radulov were terrific in the playoffs last season, while Corey Perry and Joe Pavelski have a history of elevating their play in the postseason. Ride Dallas at a bargain in Game 1.

Pick: Stars (-120)

Carolina Hurricanes (+115) @ Boston Bruins (-145)

I'm picking the Hurricanes to win this series, but am backing the Bruins to jump out to an early lead and take Game 1. Boston was underwhelming in round-robin play, but the Bruins are incredibly experienced and won't struggle to ramp up the intensity to begin the playoffs.

The well-coached Hurricanes are a bit green, and they'll need to earn their stripes in Game 1. They cruised through the play-in round, and navigating past the Rangers with ease will hurt them a bit here. Carolina is also welcoming Dougie Hamilton back into the lineup for the first time since Jan. 16, and he'll need a game to get back up to speed.

Pick: Bruins (-145)

(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.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

The favorites were tough to bet against in our Western Conference preview, but that couldn't be further from the truth in the East, where the chaos factor is off the charts.

Which giants are poised for an early postseason exit?

Philadelphia Flyers (-240) vs. Montreal Canadiens (+195)

This isn't going to be a walk in the park for the Flyers. The Canadiens are an excellent team at five-on-five - they finished third in expected goals percentage this season - whereas Philadelphia is more middle of the road in that regard. The Flyers have more elite talent, but the Habs make up for that in skill.

Nick Suzuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi give the Canadiens a lot of flexibility down the middle, with Claude Julien able to play around with matchups. The Flyers were a great team during the regular season, but it's going to be tough for them to keep up that level of play against a Montreal side that won't just sit back and let them play with the puck.

Philadelphia is the better team - and has an answer to the Carey Price conundrum in Carter Hart - but this series will be a lot closer than the line suggests, and there's plenty of value in Montreal at this price.

Pick: Canadiens (+195)

Tampa Bay Lightning (-225) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (+185)

Even without the injured Victor Hedman and Steven Stamkos, the Lightning should be too much for the Blue Jackets. Any offensive, defensive, or goaltending stat flatters Tampa Bay, which has few weaknesses. However, we've seen this before.

The Blue Jackets are a tenacious, physical, and relentless bunch who are completely committed to the cause. Defensively, they have a proven ability to slow elite offenses and the goaltending to match.

Puck luck will have to be on Columbus' side if it's to win this series, though it'll be interesting to see how quickly Tampa Bay can ramp up its intensity following a lackadaisical round robin. The Lighting are the easy choice if you're picking a winner straight up, but I'm not willing to pay -225 to find out if they're ready to exorcise their playoff demons.

Pick: Blue Jackets (+185)

Washington Capitals (-167) vs. New York Islanders (+140)

Barry Trotz leads his Islanders into battle against his former team, which will know exactly what to expect. The Isles have a clear identity: they suppress chances, block a lot of shots, and make teams fight for every inch. They are deep down the middle and on the blue line, which will be a real test for the Capitals' elite forwards, who were quiet during the round robin.

Still, the Capitals are excellent at driving play and keeping possession. They have an abundance of high-end talent who will ensure the bulk of this series is played in the Islanders' end. It's unlikely that Semyon Varlamov, who's largely sheltered by New York's strong defensive play, is capable of stealing the series from Washington.

John Carlson's health will be a major factor, but all signs point to him being ready for Game 1, in which case Washington - provided Braden Holtby is solid enough between the pipes - will outlast the Islanders in a tight series.

Pick: Capitals (-167)

Boston Bruins (-137) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (+116)

This is going to be a ton of fun. The Bruins are a strong defensive team with talent up front and stellar goaltending. The Hurricanes are an elite offensive team with a stacked blue line that will include Dougie Hamilton. This pair of powerhouses shine both on paper and the ice, but the price feels inflated.

Boston's top line is superior, but Carolina is deeper up and down its lineup. The Hurricanes get greater offensive contributions from their bottom six and have the best defensive corps in the NHL. The Bruins hold the edge in goal, though, and they might actually need to lean on Tuukka Rask more than they'd like to during this series.

This Carolina team is a much stronger and less naive group than the one the Bruins swept last season. It rolled through the New York Rangers in the play-ins while Boston was largely uninspiring, finish 0-3 during round-robin play. Having a healthy Hamilton - the best defenseman in this series - is a huge bonus for the Canes, who have all they need to pull off the upset.

Pick: Hurricanes (+116)

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.