- Get professional NHL playoff picks for Tuesday’s thrilling slate
- The Hurricanes are heavy favorites (-250) towards the Devils in Sport 2
- Learn under for full NHL picks and evaluation for tonight’s Stanley Cup Playoff motion
The 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs proceed this Tuesday with 4 thrilling matchups on the schedule. We’ve bought three Sport 2 contests with groups trying to keep away from 0-2 holes, plus the Panthers-Lightning sequence will get underway in what must be an electrical Florida showdown.
After analyzing the matchups and analyzing current developments, I’ve recognized three strong betting alternatives for tonight’s motion. Let’s break down the place the worth lies in these playoff video games, with odds from numerous sportsbooks.
NHL Picks Tonight (April 22)
Right here’s a fast take a look at the three performs I’m locking in for the NHL playoffs on Tuesday night time:
Under you will see my reasoning for all three picks:
NHL Picks #1: Hurricanes -1.5 (+110) vs Devils
First up, I’m backing the Carolina Hurricanes to cowl the puck line as -1.5 favorites towards the New Jersey Devils in Sport 2.
Carolina regarded dominant of their 4-1 victory in Sport 1, and the Devils are actually going through much more challenges with accidents to key defensemen. New Jersey might be lacking Luke Hughes (higher physique) and Brenden Dillon (decrease physique) tonight, which is devastating information for a crew already struggling with out Jack Hughes.
Including to New Jersey’s blue line woes, they’re additionally lacking Brett Pesce, their main offseason acquisition (six years, $33 million). Pesce has been working his means again from a fractured fibula sustained final season with Carolina. Whereas he made his season debut in October, his standing has fluctuated all year long, and he received’t be out there tonight.
In response to those defensive absences, Simon Nemec (the second general choose within the 2022 draft) and Dennis Cholowski will make their playoff debuts tonight. This inexperienced pairing will face a relentless Carolina forecheck that generated constant strain all through Sport 1.
Devils’ Current Highway Struggles
The Hurricanes have been completely dominant at house, posting a stellar 31-9-1 file at Lenovo Heart throughout the common season. What’s much more spectacular is that 25 of their 32 house wins got here by two targets or extra, which is precisely what we’d like for this guess to money.
A couple of extra causes I’m assured in Carolina protecting the puck line: The Hurricanes improved to 20-2-0 when scoring first at house after Sport 1. New Jersey has managed simply two targets or fewer in every of their final eight visits to Carolina. The Devils are 0-4-0 on the highway when trailing after the primary interval since Jack Hughes’ damage.
With Carolina’s house dominance and New Jersey’s defensive accidents, I count on the Hurricanes to take a commanding 2-0 sequence lead with one other convincing win. Take Carolina -1.5 on the engaging +110 worth.
NHL Picks #2: Senators-Maple Leafs Over 5.5 (-125)
For my second play, I’m taking the Over 5.5 within the Battle of Ontario between the Senators and Maple Leafs.
Sport one featured a whopping eight targets as Toronto cruised to a 6-2 victory. Whereas I don’t essentially count on one other blowout, each groups have the offensive firepower to push this whole over once more. These two Canadian rivals ranked within the high 5 in targets per sport throughout the ultimate two months of the common season.
Toronto’s offense was clicking on all cylinders within the opener, with their energy play wanting particularly harmful. The Leafs transformed thrice with the person benefit in Sport 1, and Ottawa will must be far more disciplined to keep away from the same destiny tonight.
Different components pointing to a different high-scoring affair: The goaltending matchup will probably stay the identical, with Linus Ullmark going through Anthony Stolarz. Ullmark struggled mightily in Sport 1, stopping simply eighteen of 24 pictures. The Senators ought to carry extra offensive juice in Sport 2 as they give the impression of being to keep away from happening 0-2.
The NHL playoffs have featured some surprisingly high-scoring matchups up to now, and I count on that pattern to proceed on this rivalry sport. With Toronto’s electrical house crowd and Ottawa’s desperation, take the Over 5.5 targets.
NHL Picks #3: Lightning ML (-115) vs Panthers
For my remaining play, I’m backing the Tampa Bay Lightning to win their sequence opener towards the Florida Panthers at house.
Whereas the Panthers enter the playoffs with shorter Stanley Cup odds, Tampa Bay has been the higher, extra assured crew down the stretch. The Lightning had been completely dominant at house after the 4 Nations break, posting a powerful 11-1-2 file at Amalie Area.
Florida, in the meantime, limped into the postseason with important personnel points. The Panthers tied for the second-worst highway file (3-8-1) and scored the fewest targets per sport (1.83) in enemy rinks for the reason that 4 Nations break.
Panthers vs. Lightning Key Components
The Panthers are coping with main damage issues. Matthew Tkachuk’s presence in Sport 1 might be a game-time resolution after lacking two months, whereas Aaron Ekblad received’t return till Sport 3 on the earliest. Even when Tkachuk performs, it’s arduous to think about him being at full energy after such a prolonged absence.
Further causes to again Tampa Bay: The Lightning have home-ice benefit on this heated rivalry matchup. Tampa Bay enters with momentum and confidence from their sturdy end. Florida’s highway offense has been anemic, averaging beneath two targets per sport just lately.
Whereas the Panthers will probably enhance because the sequence progresses, I count on the Lightning to have the higher hand within the opener. Take Tampa Bay on the moneyline on the affordable -115 worth.
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