Best NHL Bets Today: Fourth and Final Second-Round Matchups Begins

NHL action continues tonight with two pivotal games in round two. Game two of the highly anticipated matchup between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers continues. The fourth and final series to start will begin tonight as the Edmonton Oilers go on the road to take on the Vancouver Canucks. These matchups will make seriously great bets, including game lines over/under. Look for the best best to be made through DraftKings.

Boston Bruins vs. Florida Panthers - Game Two

My Pick: Florida Panthers (-175) at DraftKings

Game one between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers was as electric as advertised, at least for the Bruins. Boston took its frustration of coming off a seven-game series versus the Toronto Maple Leaves and last year’s first-round play exit from the Panthers in Monday night’s game.

The Bruins dominated the Panthers with a 5-1 score as they were highly efficient on both sides of the ice. Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman accounted for 38 total saves while only allowing one goal. Defender Mason Lohrei accounted for one goal and one assist while center Pavel Zacha accounted for two assists.

The Panthers, who had been stellar in the previous five-game series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, couldn’t find a way to attack the goal consistently. Their defense also played their worst postseason game since the 6-3 loss to the Lightning in round one.

This Wednesday night is another opportunity for the Panthers to bounce back in this series with a win at home. A loss for the second consecutive time would put the Panthers in a 2-0 series deficit with the series moving to Boston for two games.

It doesn’t take much for the Panthers’, especially their defense to recover after a rough performance. After the 6-3 loss to Tampa Bay in game four on the road, two days later, the Panthers defeated the Lightning 6-1 at home to conclude the series. This game will be the Panthers’ best chance to tie the series before heading into Boston.

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Edmonton Oilers vs. Vancouver Canucks - Game One

My Pick: Edmonton Oilers (-130) at DraftKings

Three of the four second-round matchups in the NHL have already kicked off. The only matchup that is not started yet is the all-Canadian matchup between the Edmonton Oilers going on the road to take on the Vancouver canucks. This is a matchup that can go either way with both teams playing efficient defenses, or their offenses rolling. Both the Canucks and the Oilers have different ways of attacking the net. That is going to be pivotal for the first game of this series.

Both the Oilers and the Canucks are coming off difficult series in the first round. Edmonton defeated the Los Angeles Kings in five games most of their offense being the big factor while the defense was up and down. The Canucks found themselves in a tough six-game series against the national predators where they were often out-hustled in intensity.

The Oilers have shown that they can be defeated with high power fast offense, something that they possess. The Canucks, on the other hand, can be held down by an opposing team through physicality, something that the Oilers possess.

Vancouver has won all four regular-season matchups this season, but the postseason is a different race. An example would be the Colorado Avalanche not being able to defeat the Winnipeg Jets for a long time, but the Avalanche defeated the Jets in an electric five-game series. The Oilers have the talent and the stars to maintain intensity and hold down their rivals.

There are too many inconsistencies from the Canucks to trust them in a full series or even in game one.

Place your bets on Edmonton Oilers at DraftKings