Contributing Writer

NHL playoff anytime goalscorer picks May 12: Bet on Connor McDavid to light the lamp

Two teams have a chance to even their Stanley Cup playoff second-round series on Monday.

Today’s NHL narrative: The Vegas Golden Knights look to steal back-to-back games on the road to even up their series with the Edmonton Oilers. Before that, the Carolina Hurricanes can gain a 3-1 lead over the Washington Capitals.

Check out the best NHL anytime goal picks for May 12, featuring Connor McDavid and Andrei Svechnikov.

NHL anytime goal picks

Best Bet: McDavid to score (+123)

Despite only scoring three times in these playoffs, McDavid has been firing on all cylinders.

In nine games played, the captain leads the Oilers in shots (35) and expected goals (5.0), per Money Puck.

McDavid is known for his playmaking over his scoring, but he’s still elite at putting the puck in the net. In 2022-23, he had a 64-goal season.

The Oilers’ superstar has points in eight of nine postseason games. He scored in Game 3 while attempting 10 shots (five on net).

McDavid is the best player in the world, so he naturally plays north of 24 minutes per night. Those are elite defenceman minutes, even though he’s a forward.

With his combination of skill and speed, McDavid is always a threat to light the lamp.

Key stat: He has attempted 26 shots in the first three games of this series.

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NHL prop prediction

Svechnikov to score (+160): The winger leads his team with six goals in the postseason, and it hasn’t been because of luck.

He continuously puts himself in prime positions to score. Take a look at his advanced statistics:

Most expected goals (5.7).

Most created expected goals (5.5).

Fourth most goals per 60 (5.25).

Svechnikov also ranks fourth in the Stanley Cup playoffs for shot attempts (66).

He plays on the top line with Sebastian Aho and Jackson Blake. The two have combined for nine assists in these playoffs, and the 25-year-old goalscorer should continue to be the main target on the attack.

NHL anytime goal picks made at 10:25 a.m. ET on 05/12/2025.

Caitlin Clark 2025 WNBA futures markets and predictions: Odds, projections for Indiana Fever star

Caitlin Clark had a historic rookie season and heads into year No. 2 with lofty expectations.

The Indiana guard was near the top of the league in numerous offensive categories in 2024. This season, Clark is poised for another breakout joined by team success.

Check out the latest Clark futures markets, including her MVP odds for the 2025 WNBA season.

Caitlin Clark futures markets

Clark took the league by storm in 2024, scoring 19.2 points per game en route to winning WNBA rookie of the year.

Her shooting splits weren’t great (41.7/34.4/90.6), but her 46.2% from the field on 28.4 points per game in college proves she’s more than capable of being efficient as a high-volume scorer.

The second-year pro will continue to be the focal point of Indiana’s offence and should see natural progression.

Clark finished seventh in scoring last season, and that average would rise at least a couple of points with slightly better efficiency.

Her season high last year was 35 in the second-to-last game of the season against the Dallas Wings.

Could she have a 50-point performance in 2025? Only three players have ever accomplished the feat, but it’s a matter of if and not when with Clark.

She made 3.1 threes per game last season with a game-high of seven. Both of those fall short of her set totals for 2025, but an uptick in scoring is imminent.

Check out the latest WNBA odds. Click linked odds to add selection to your betslip.

Clark futures markets	Betting odds
Over 3.5 threes made per game	-110
Over 8.5 threes made in any game	+125
Over 4.5 triple doubles	+225
To record 50+ points in any game	+700
To break the single-game scoring record (54+ points)	+900

Caitlin Clark futures odds as of 4:11 p.m. ET on 05/11/2024.

Odds to win MVP

At +200, Clark sits only behind three-time winner A’ja Wilson (+175) on the MVP odds table.

The Fever superstar finished fourth in voting last season as a rookie. Any step up in production should warrant more attention for the award.

She’s not only an elite scorer but an elite playermaker, too. Clark led the WNBA in assists in her first season (8.4 per game).

Only one other player averaged over seven.

If her scoring average is in the mid-20s range and she elevates her passing even further, a first MVP could be in the works.

There’s always the possibility she emerges as an elite scorer and finishes closer to Wilson’s league-leading 26.9 PPG.

Team success is also important, and Clark’s Fever are expected to be a championship contender, holding the second shortest odds to win the title (+300).

Clark best futures bet

Best Bet: Clark over 4.5 triple-doubles (+225)

Clark finished the 2024 season with two triple-doubles even after an adjustment period as a rookie.

First 15 games: 16.1 points, 6.2 assists, 5.1 rebounds (One double-double)

Last 25 games: 21.1 points, 9.8 assists, 6.0 rebounds (13 double-doubles)

She is a high-usage player who will likely improve on her already league-leading assist numbers.

If she can pair that with a higher rebounds per game average, she will already be the WNBA’s most elite stat-stuffer.

This wager has great value at this price.

Key stat: Last season, Clark had at least eight rebounds in 10 games and eight assists in 22 games.

Pick made at 9:30 a.m. on 05/12/25.

Golden Knights vs. Oilers prop picks Game 4: Back Leon Draisaitl to keep generating offence

The Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights play a crucial Game 4 on Monday night.

The pregame narrative: The away team has won every game in this series, but Edmonton has a chance to break that trend. Vegas, which is 3-1 on the road this postseason, is a slight underdog in this matchup.

Check out my Golden Knights vs. Oilers prop picks on Leon Draisaitl and Alex Pietrangelo for May 12.

Golden Knights vs. Oilers picks

Best bet: Draisaitl to score (+105)

The baseline to this bet is that Draisaitl is 5-4 against this line in these playoffs, which is a nice hit rate for a plus-money pick.

He also led the NHL with 52 goals during the regular season and is heating up at the right time.

Draisaitl has five points in three outings against the Golden Knights, with goals in the first two games. He failed to score in Game 3 — save for a deflection that went into his own net — but was still effective offensively, recording two assists.

This series has unsurprisingly been high scoring. The Oilers are averaging 4.0 goals per game, and the offence, as always, is led by Connor McDavid and Draisaitl.

Vegas’ goalie, Adin Hill, is struggling in the postseason, posting a 3.14 GAA and .872 SV%.

Key stat: The German forward has played 20-plus minutes in eight of nine postseason games and is leading the Oilers with five goals.

Game 4 prop prediction

Pietrangelo to register a point (+155): It was a roller coaster of a season for the Canadian blue-liner.

He missed a handful of games down the stretch and got injured again in the opening round against the Minnesota Wild.

But he returned in Game 2 of this series, and his impact was felt immediately.

Game 2: 2 points (25:38 on ice)
Game 3: 1 point (21:26 on ice)

Pietrangelo is 5-3 against this wager in the playoffs and plays a crucial role on Vegas’ back end.

Calvin Pickard felt like a saviour between the pipes for Edmonton, but an undisclosed injury kept him out of Game 3 and will keep him sidelined on Monday.

That leaves Stuart Skinner. The netminder is 0-3 in these playoffs with a 5.36 GAA and .817 SV%.

Scoring chances should be plentiful for both sides.

Golden Knights vs. Oilers picks prop picks made at 4:36 p.m. ET 05/11/2025.

Golden Knights vs. Oilers prop picks Game 4: Back Leon Draisaitl to keep generating offence

The Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights play a crucial Game 4 on Monday night.

The pregame narrative: The away team has won every game in this series, but Edmonton has a chance to break that trend. Vegas, which is 3-1 on the road this postseason, is a slight underdog in this matchup.

Check out my Golden Knights vs. Oilers prop picks on Leon Draisaitl and Alex Pietrangelo for May 12.

Golden Knights vs. Oilers picks

Best bet: Draisaitl to score (+105)

The baseline to this bet is that Draisaitl is 5-4 against this line in these playoffs, which is a nice hit rate for a plus-money pick.

He also led the NHL with 52 goals during the regular season and is heating up at the right time.

Draisaitl has five points in three outings against the Golden Knights, with goals in the first two games. He failed to score in Game 3 — save for a deflection that went into his own net — but was still effective offensively, recording two assists.

This series has unsurprisingly been high scoring. The Oilers are averaging 4.0 goals per game, and the offence, as always, is led by Connor McDavid and Draisaitl.

Vegas’ goalie, Adin Hill, is struggling in the postseason, posting a 3.14 GAA and .872 SV%.

Key stat: The German forward has played 20-plus minutes in eight of nine postseason games and is leading the Oilers with five goals.

Game 4 prop prediction

Pietrangelo to register a point (+155): It was a roller coaster of a season for the Canadian blue-liner.

He missed a handful of games down the stretch and got injured again in the opening round against the Minnesota Wild.

But he returned in Game 2 of this series, and his impact was felt immediately.

Game 2: 2 points (25:38 on ice)
Game 3: 1 point (21:26 on ice)

Pietrangelo is 5-3 against this wager in the playoffs and plays a crucial role on Vegas’ back end.

Calvin Pickard felt like a saviour between the pipes for Edmonton, but an undisclosed injury kept him out of Game 3 and will keep him sidelined on Monday.

That leaves Stuart Skinner. The netminder is 0-3 in these playoffs with a 5.36 GAA and .817 SV%.

Scoring chances should be plentiful for both sides.

Golden Knights vs. Oilers picks prop picks made at 1:36 p.m. ET 05/11/2025.

Cavaliers vs. Pacers SGP predictions Game 4: Bet on Mitchell and Mobley to carry Cleveland’s offence

The Cleveland Cavaliers are at full strength, looking to even up their series with the Indiana Pacers.

The pregame narrative: The Cavs were without key pieces for the first couple of games of this second-round matchup and went down 2-0 in the process. With the starting five healthy, Cleveland handily won Game 3 and is the favourite to even things up on the road.

Check out my Cavaliers vs. Pacers SGP predictions for May 11, featuring Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell.

Cavaliers vs. Pacers predictions

Parlay: Cavaliers ML | Mobley over 28.5 points and rebounds | Mitchell 3+ threes (+290)

Cavaliers ML (-215): Game 3 was the first time in this series that the Cavaliers had a healthy starting five, and they looked like the regular season team that won 64 games.

Darius Garland missed the first two contests while Evan Mobley missed Game 2. With both available on Friday, Cleveland won 126-104.

That effort was fuelled by a 34-13 second quarter that gave Cleveland a lead it never lost.

After losing both home games, that was exactly the momentum shift the Cavs needed to get back into this series.

Despite being down 2-1, the Cavs have been one of the better teams in these playoffs overall.

They have the league’s best offensive rating (127.4). The Oklahoma City Thunder rank second (118.2).

They have the fourth-best defensive rating (107.7).

Cleveland ranks better than Indiana in both of those categories and is the more talented team when at full strength.

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NBA SGP legs

Mobley over 28.5 points and rebounds (-108): Mobley has dominated down low when available in this series:

Game 1: 20 points, 10 rebounds
Game 3: 18 points, 13 rebounds

That’s because this is a great matchup for the power forward.

Of any team remaining in the playoffs, the Pacers allowed the most points per game to the position this season (23.93), per Fantasy Pros.

Indiana also conceded the second-most rebounds per game by any team during the regular season (11.28).

Mobley has shot a combined 15-for-25 (60.0%) through his two games and should continue to shine for the Cavs.

Mitchell 3+ threes (-220): Mitchell took a step back this year, taking the fewest shots per game (18.6) since he was a rookie.

That continued in the first round since Cleveland comfortably handled the Miami Heat, but now Mitchell is shouldering a heavier offensive load, and the results look like this:

Game 1: 33 points, 13-for-30 from the field (1-for-11 from 3)

Game 2: 48 points, 15-for-30 from the field (1-for-7 from 3)

Game 3: 43 points, 14-for-29 from the field (5-for-13 from 3)

He hasn’t been an efficient 3-point shooter to this point, but that volume is extremely encouraging.

Plus, he’s coming off his best shooting game of the series in Indiana and should continue to see a hefty number of shot attempts with the Cavaliers needing another win.

Mitchell shot 36.8% from deep during the regular season.

Cavaliers vs. Pacers predictions made at 11:30 a.m. ET 05/11/2025.

Maple Leafs vs. Panthers best bets Game 4: Tail Max Pacioretty during point streak

The Toronto Maple Leafs attempt to take a stranglehold on their second-round series before heading back home.

The pregame narrative: The Florida Panthers went down 2-0 in Game 3 but fought back to earn a 5-4 overtime victory. They are now significant favourites to defend home ice and even up this series.

Check out my Panthers vs. Maple Leafs best bets for Game 4 of the second round, featuring Max Pacioretty.

Maple Leafs vs. Panthers best bets

Best Bet: Maple Leafs ML (+162)

One of the key metrics that offered hope at a deep playoff run for the Leafs was their regular-season away record.

Toronto went 25-13-3 on the road this year, which was tied with the Washington Capitals for the best record in the NHL.

That was displayed in the opening round when the Leafs took two of three games in Ottawa.

The Senators were the ninth-best team at home in the regular season (27-11-3).

Additionally, the Leafs’ offence is buzzing.

Toronto has scored four or more goals in every game this series, and Sergei Bobrovsky has an .840 SV% for Florida.

If Joseph Woll can find his form, his team has a good chance of winning this game.

Including Game 3, Woll has played four road playoff games in his career. He holds a .908 SV% and a 2.50 GAA in those contests.

This is no easy task, but the value is there for the Leafs at this underdog price.

Key stat: Toronto finished the regular season going 14-5-1 on the road.

Game 4 pick

Pacioretty to record a point (+120): No one saw it coming, but Pacioretty is making a huge impact for Toronto in the postseason.

It shouldn’t be too surprising considering the big-bodied winger is exactly what the Leafs need in this physical matchup against the defending champs.

Despite only playing seven games, Pacioretty leads the Leafs with 39 hits in these playoffs. For context, Bobby McMann ranks second (33) and Scott Laughton ranks third (27).

The former Montreal Canadien is wearing his heart on his sleeve for his new team. As a result, Craig Berube promoted him to the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander.

And the return has been Pacioretty scoring seven points in the last four games (4-0 against this line).

Playing with two of the Leafs’ most talented forwards, Pacioretty will continue to be a force who sees plenty of offensive chances.

Panthers vs. Maple Leafs best bets made at 9:16 a.m. ET 05/11/2025.

Maple Leafs vs. Panthers best bets Game 4: Tail Max Pacioretty during point streak

The Toronto Maple Leafs attempt to take a stranglehold on their second-round series before heading back home.

The pregame narrative: The Florida Panthers went down 2-0 in Game 3 but fought back to earn a 5-4 overtime victory. They are now significant favourites to defend home ice and even up this series.

Check out my Panthers vs. Maple Leafs best bets for Game 4 of the second round, featuring Max Pacioretty.

Maple Leafs vs. Panthers best bets

Best Bet: Maple Leafs ML (+160)

One of the key metrics that offered hope at a deep playoff run for the Leafs was their regular-season away record.

Toronto went 25-13-3 on the road this year, which was tied with the Washington Capitals for the best record in the NHL.

That was displayed in the opening round when the Leafs took two of three games in Ottawa.

The Senators were the ninth-best team at home in the regular season (27-11-3).

Additionally, the Leafs’ offence is buzzing.

Toronto has scored four or more goals in every game this series, and Sergei Bobrovsky has an .840 SV% for Florida.

If Joseph Woll can find his form, his team has a good chance of winning this game.

Including Game 3, Woll has played four road playoff games in his career. He holds a .908 SV% and a 2.50 GAA in those contests.

This is no easy task, but the value is there for the Leafs at this underdog price.

Key stat: Toronto finished the regular season going 14-5-1 on the road.

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Game 4 pick

Pacioretty to record a point (+125): No one saw it coming, but Pacioretty is making a huge impact for Toronto in the postseason.

It shouldn’t be too surprising considering the big-bodied winger is exactly what the Leafs need in this physical matchup against the defending champs.

Despite only playing seven games, Pacioretty leads the Leafs with 39 hits in these playoffs. For context, Bobby McMann ranks second (33) and Scott Laughton ranks third (27).

The former Montreal Canadien is wearing his heart on his sleeve for his new team. As a result, Craig Berube promoted him to the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander.

And the return has been Pacioretty scoring seven points in the last four games (4-0 against this line).

Playing with two of the Leafs’ most talented forwards, Pacioretty will continue to be a force who sees plenty of offensive chances.

Panthers vs. Maple Leafs best bets made at 9:16 a.m. ET 05/11/2025.

Panthers vs. Maple Leafs prop picks Game 2: Bet on John Tavares and Brad Marchand

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers run it back on Wednesday night after an exciting series opener.

The pregame narrative: The Leafs jumped out to a 4-1 lead before drama struck and Anthony Stolarz was removed with an injury. Toronto held on for a 5-4 win, but all eyes will be on the status of the goaltender before Game 2.

Brad Marchand and John Tavares are the targets of my Panthers vs. Maple Leafs prop picks for Game 2 on May 7.

Game 2 Boost: Maple Leafs to win & over 2.5 team total, Tavares to score. Bet now!

Panthers vs. Maple Leafs picks

Best bet: Marchand to register a point (+114)

The Panthers came out flat in Game 1, allowing the Leafs to gain a 4-1 lead before this play that resulted in Stolarz leaving the game.

Does Sam Bennett deserve a hearing with @NHLPlayerSafety for his collision with Stolarz? pic.twitter.com/B7LonzNEkG
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 6, 2025

After that, Florida went on to score three goals in a comeback effort that ultimately fell short.

I do believe that was a shift in momentum for Florida, regardless of the controversy, and a much better effort should be shown out of the gate on Wednesday.

Marchand saw regression this season, tallying just 51 points — his lowest total since 2014-15.

But the Panthers acquired him for the postseason, and he’s met expectations so far:

6 games
6 points
4-2 against this line

Marchand was a big part of Florida’s third-period surge on Monday. He had two assists in the final frame.

And let’s not forget about his extensive success in the playoffs against the Leafs.

Key stat: In 28 career playoff games vs. Toronto, he’s logged 31 points. No player has recorded more playoff points against Toronto during that time.

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Game 1 prop prediction

Tavares over 2.5 shots (+110): The former captain isn’t the first option on the Leafs, but he’s a beast down low in the offensive zone. That results in a lot of shot attempts.

In the series against the Ottawa Senators, he recorded 16 shots, going 4-2 on this wager.

He started this round the right way, too. He had four shots on goal in Game 1.

It’s also nice to see that Monday was the most minutes Tavares has seen in these playoffs (21:38). In fact, that’s the most he’s played in a game since Nov. 16.

I don’t think that’s a coincidence, as it appears Craig Berube likes the second-line matchup in this series more than the first.

Panthers vs. Maple Leafs prop picks made at 1:12 p.m. ET 05/06/2025.

Italian Open 2025 men’s tennis schedule, odds and betting favourites: Jannik Sinner favoured in return, three Canadians in event

The tennis season is in full swing, and it’s time for the Italian Open.

The latest: As we get closer to the French Open, the players will get another chance to warm up on the clay surface that is associated with Roland-Garros. Jannik Sinner makes his return from suspension and is the favourite to win on the men’s side.

Check out the 2025 Italian Open men’s schedule, odds and betting favourites for the ATP 1000 tennis tournament in Rome.

Italian Open 2025 betting notes

Sinner comes off a lengthy absence to a favourite status at the ATP event. The Italian has yet to play a match on clay this year but has an 85-38 career record on the surface. He hasn’t played since January but is 7-0 on the season, winning the Australian Open in the process.

It’s been a while since Carlos Alcaraz hasn’t been the favourite to win an ATP event, but the return of Sinner slightly reduced his chances. Many could argue, though, that the Spaniard is the best in the world on clay — his 150-36 record on the surface strongly backs that up.

Alexander Zverev has been active this year, accumulating a 21-8 record with an ATP 500 title in Munich on clay. He’s also the reigning Italian Open champ and has his best winning percentage on the surface (70.5%).

Casper Ruud fought through injury to win the Madrid Open earlier in the month. The 26-year-old is a bit of a clay specialist, playing 53.8% of his matches on the surface with a 70.2% win rate. Can he win back-to-back titles heading into Roland-Garros?

Men’s players	Odds to win
Jannik Sinner	+225
Carlos Alcaraz	+250
Alexander Zverev	+600
Casper Ruud	+800
Holger Rune	+1,000

See all Italian Open 2025 odds, matchups and betting markets.

Canadians at the Italian Open

Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov and Gabriel Diallo are the three Canadian men in the tournament. We’ll take a look at each player’s outlook going into the event.

Auger-Aliassime had an amazing start to 2025 but has fallen out of form in recent events. He’s now 17-11 on the season and a more worrisome 0-4 on clay. He hasn’t made it past the round of 32 in six straight events.

Shapovalov, unlike his Canadian counterpart, has a win on clay this year, but his 1-3 record on the surface isn’t any prettier. He’s had a losing record on clay for three straight years and is on pace for a fourth consecutive season.

Despite his 18-14 record, Diallo might be in the best form of any Canadian. He once again got into an event as a ‘lucky loser’ and he made the most of it. The 23-year-old reached the quarterfinal in Madrid and also had the biggest win of his career over No. 15-ranked Grigor Dimitrov.

Tournament schedule and key dates

May 7: Round of 128
May 9: Round of 64 begins
May 11: Round of 32
May 13: Round of 16
May 14: Italian Open quarters
May 16: Italian Open semis
May 18: Italian Open finals