Category: NHL

The Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars meet in the Western Conference final for the second time in as many years.

The pregame narrative: Edmonton bested Dallas in six games last season and is a slight favourite to win this matchup again. But the Stars have been playing some inspired hockey behind the superb play of Mikko Rantanen, who was acquired at the trade deadline.

Check out my Oilers vs. Stars prop picks on Connor McDavid and Rantanen.

Oilers vs. Stars picks

Best Bet: Rantanen to score (+125)

Rantanen has cooled off slightly after a torrid six-game stretch where he potted nine goals and logged 17 points.

The forward hasn’t scored a goal in three straight, logging just one assist in that span. But there’s every reason to believe he’ll get back to it against an Oilers team with questionable goaltending.

Stuart Skinner reclaimed the starting role after an undisclosed injury to Calvin Pickard, and I’m not quite sold on his play.

He has pitched back-to-back shutouts but was horrible against the Los Angeles Kings in Round 1 and had underwhelming regular season numbers (NHL ranks in parentheses):

• 2.81 GAA (31st)

• .896 SV% (35th)

• -0.031 goals saved above expected per 60 (52nd)

I love Rantanen’s chances of getting on the board to start this series.

Key stat: Rantanen ranks fifth this postseason in xG (5.98) and is fourth in high-danger chances (25).

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Game 1 prop prediction

McDavis under 1.5 points (-129): Fading the best player in the world is a dangerous game, but it’s one I’m willing to play.

McDavid has 17 points in 11 playoff games, good for the second most among all skaters. Still, he has gone under 1.5 points six times, including four of six games on the road.

Dallas hasn’t given up much offensively at home. Last round, the team surrendered just four goals in three games to the Winnipeg Jets at American Airlines Center.

Jake Oettinger has been standing on his head and, to me, is a nice dark horse Conn Smythe candidate (currently priced at +1,400).

The netminder has a 2.47 GAA and .919 SV% this postseason.

McDavid has been held under 1.5 points in four of his last five games against Dallas.

Oilers vs. Stars prop picks made at 1:37 p.m. ET 05/19/2025.

The Eastern Conference final begins in earnest as the Carolina Hurricanes host the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.

The pregame narrative: The defending champions are right back at it after besting the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 on Sunday. Carolina holds a three-day rest advantage and is favoured to win the series opener at home, where it is 5-0 this postseason.

Check out my Panthers vs. Hurricanes prop picks on Brad Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk for Game 1.

Panthers vs. Hurricanes picks

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

Marchand is the oldest player on Florida’s roster, but he hasn’t been playing like it.

The 37-year-old has three goals and 12 points this postseason and is coming off a monster performance against the Maple Leafs in Game 7.

Marchand scored a goal and added two assists, sending his longtime rival packing for a fifth time in a winner-take-all situation.

His Panthers will face a much tougher challenge in the conference final. The Hurricanes are allowing the fewest goals (1.80) and chances (50.56) per game, according to Natural Stat Trick.

But I still think this is solid value for Marchand, who is skating on Florida’s third line and will draw a favourable matchup.

The Marchand, Anton Lundell, and Eetu Luostarinen trio generated a team-high 88 chances and six goals against Toronto.

Key stat: Marchand has recorded a point in seven of his last nine games (11 total).

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Game 1 prop prediction

Tkachuk under 2.5 shots (-143): This is an ugly-looking pick, but it should be profitable.

Tkachuk is clearly playing hurt after missing a large chunk of the season with a lower-body injury. The forward hasn’t scored in nine games and is averaging just 16:36 of ice time a night.

• Tkachuk is averaging 1.41 shots per game this postseason.

• He’s gone under this mark in 9 of 12 games, landing on exactly three shots in the outliers.

As mentioned, Carolina gives up the fewest chances per game. Playing on short rest, I expect Tkachuk to struggle finding open ice and shooting lanes.

Panthers vs. Hurricanes prop picks made at 11:30 a.m. ET 05/19/2025.

Which players are going to rise to the occasion? That’s what I’m looking to answer with my Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs anytime goal picks.

The pregame narrative: Florida and Toronto’s seasons are on the line, and everybody has a chance to be a hero in Game 7. Superstars are counted on to produce in an elimination game, but sometimes an unsung name emerges in a crucial moment.

Check out the best Panthers vs. Maple Leafs anytime goal picks for Game 7, featuring Carter Verhaeghe and Bobby McMann.

Panthers vs. Maple Leafs anytime goal picks

Best Bet: Verhaeghe to score (+245)

There are several reasons why Verhaeghe is a solid pick to score a goal in this contest.

Firstly, he has been one of Florida’s most consistent producers in this series. He has two goals and five points through six games, and the latter ties him with Brad Marchand for the team lead.

The advanced numbers go even further in illustrating how good he has been against the team that drafted him:

• 2nd in expected goals (2.77)
• 2nd in Corsi for (48)
• 2nd in scoring chances (27)
• T-2nd in high-danger chances (8)

Verhaeghe also has a knack for stepping up in series finales. He has scored a goal in six of Florida’s last 11 series-ending contests since 2022 (seven total).

Key stat: Verhaeghe is third among all Panthers players in shots (27).

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Panthers vs. Maple Leafs prop prediction

McMann to score (+540): This pick is a little off the board, but you can’t be an unsung hero if everybody is singing your praises.

McMann has largely been ineffective for the Maple Leafs in the playoffs, but there are signs of him turning it around.

The Toronto winger notched an assist in Game 6, his first point since Game 1 of the team’s series against the Ottawa Senators.

It was a beautiful feed to Max Pacioretty that served as an insurance marker for his squad.

Although Game 5 was largely a night to forget for Toronto, McMann did record three shots in the losing effort, his first multi-shot outing since Game 1 against the Panthers.

His usage is also trending upwards. McMann logged 13:30 in ice time in Game 6, his highest total of the series and the most since Game 4 of the opening round.

Panthers vs. Maple Leafs anytime goal picks made at 1:56 p.m. ET on 05/18/2025.

The future of the Toronto Maple Leafs will be decided in Sunday’s winner-take-all Game 7 against the Florida Panthers.

The pregame narrative: Come Monday morning, the “Core Four” could be no more … or Toronto will be gearing up to play in its first conference final since 2002. The Maple Leafs are a slight home underdog against the defending-champion Panthers after staying alive with a shutout win in Game 6.

Check out my Panthers vs. Maple Leafs playoff SGP predictions featuring William Nylander for Game 7 on May 18.

Panthers vs. Maple Leafs predictions

Parlay: Maple Leafs moneyline | Nylander 1+ points | Under 6.5 goals (+270)

Maple Leafs moneyline (+112): Toronto has never won a Game 7 in the Auston Matthews era — but I say that changes tonight.

The Maple Leafs have been dynamite at Scotiabank Arena this season. They went 27-13-1 there during the regular season and are 4-2 at home in the postseason.

The losses have been ugly, most recently taking a 6-1 beating at the hands of the Panthers on Wednesday night. But Toronto responded well during Friday’s 2-0 win:

• 31 blocked shots
• 61.4% faceoff percentage
• Generated 62.5% of high-danger chances

Beating a team like Florida means doing the little things right, and Toronto has proven it can do that at times. With everything on the line, I expect the Leafs to sell out on Sunday.

Joseph Woll has also been up to the challenge when facing elimination. The netminder has a 4-1 record with a 1.13 GAA and .958 SV% in those games.

Toronto is 11-2 in its last 13 home games (3-1 vs. Florida).

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NHL SGP legs

Nylander 1+ points (-186): Of all the Maple Leafs superstars, I trust Nylander the most.

• The Swedish winger is leading Toronto in goals (six) and points (15) this postseason.

• He’s been held off the scoresheet in three straight but had six points in the first three games of this series (three goals, 1 assist in Games 1 and 2 at home).

He’s been the man to step up in Game 7s. Nylander has two goals and four points in five winner-take-all outings, and scored Toronto’s lone goal against the Boston Bruins last year.

A lot is made about how unshakable Nylander is — and the moment doesn’t get bigger than this.

Under 6.5 goals (-278): This game will likely come down to goaltending, and I expect each netminder to be solid.

Woll, as mentioned, has a knack for turning up in the biggest moments. And Sergei Bobrovsky is in form after a tough start to the series.

Florida’s Vezina-winning goaltender has held the Maple Leafs to just three goals over the last two games.

The under on this game total is 7-4 in the last 11 playoff meetings between these teams. It’s also 4-1 in Toronto’s last five Game 7s.

Panthers vs. Maple Leafs predictions made at 11:02 a.m. ET 05/18/2025.