NHL Predictions and Best Bets:

Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final between the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes.

Montreal Canadiens (+165) at Carolina Hurricanes (-200) 

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Total 6 (Under -115)
Game 1

8 p.m. ET

It’s been 12 days since the Carolina Hurricanes played a playoff game. Since then, the Montreal Canadiens have played five games, and for the second consecutive playoff series, they went the distance. This time, they dispatched the Buffalo Sabres in a hard-fought seven games. Will the Canadiens have tired legs after playing 14 games and having just two days off against a Carolina team that is playing their first game in 12 days? I am going to proceed with caution tonight and keep my plays at a minimum. 

The Hurricanes know only one way to play: at a frantic pace. In basketball terms, Carolina plays a 60-minute full-court press. The Hurricanes have yet to lose a game in this year’s playoffs, with seven of the eight games having a combined five goals or less, and the other game topped out at six goals. Ten of Montreal’s 14 playoff games have had a combined six goals or fewer. I do anticipate a close game tonight, and with that in mind, I am going to play a parlay taking both teams’ alternate puck line (2.5) and the alternate total of Under 7.5. 

The Canes Logan Stankoven has had at least two shots on goal in 13 straight and 18 of the last 19 games. Teammate Seth Jarvis has registered two shots on goal or more in 11 of the last 13. Montreal defenseman Mike Matheson is second in the playoffs with 38 blocked shots and has had at least two blocked shots in 11 of the last 13 games.

NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Canadiens +2.5/Hurricanes +2.5/Under 7.5 (-109) – 1 unit
Stankoven 2+ shots/Jarvis 2+ shots/Matheson 2+ blocks (+126) – 1 unit
Jakub Dobes Over 28.5 saves (-120) – 1 unit

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