Round 2 of the NHL playoffs rolls on with another two-game slate tonight. The Florida Panthers will look to even their series with the Boston Bruins, while the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks play Game 1 at Rogers Arena.
After Boston shocked the Cats with Monday's opening-game road upset, Florida is a big favorite again. Plus, Edmonton is carrying the chalk with Vancouver's No. 1 goalie Thatcher Demko (knee) out indefinitely. Here are our top NHL picks and player props for Wednesday, May 8's action.
NHL prop picks and best bets for May 8
- Sam Reinhart Over 3.5 SOG (+120 at BET99)
- Hampus Lindholm Over 1.5 blocked shots (-125 at BET99)
- Leon Draisaitl Over 2.5 SOG (-154 at BET99)
Picks made on 5-8 at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Read full analysis of each pick.
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Today’s NHL prop picks and best bets
Prop bet #1: Roll with Reinhart
There was an upward trajectory in Florida Panthers winger Sam Reinhart’s shot volume leading into the playoffs, and he’s registered four or more shots in nine of his past 10 games, including five of six in the playoffs. He also paces the Cats in both shots (29) and attempts (45) this postseason, including a team-high nine shots with the man advantage.
Reinhart capped off the regular season with 10.2 shots per 60 minutes over the final 15 games, which is well above his 7.98 mark through the first 67 games of the year. The 28-year-old winger has also climbed to 13.16 shots and 20.43 attempts per 60 this postseason, with the increased shoot-first mentality pairing with more of a shooter’s role on the power play clearly highlighted in his numbers.
I also value these Sam Reinhart odds because he’s logged 22:01 of ice time per game in the postseason compared to 20:18 during the regular season, and he posted a 61.9 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five in Game 1 against the Boston Bruins.
Sam Reinhart prop: Over 3.5 shots on goal (+120 at BET99)
Prop bet #2: Bevy of blocks for Hampus
There has been a huge gap in the blocked shots, 5-on-5 Corsi For percentage, and defensive zone starts per 60 minutes for Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm when he’s playing on the road compared to home ice this postseason. Blocking six shots in Game 1 against the Panthers skews his numbers in that particular stat column in a small, eight-game playoff sample, but his role positions him to have a bevy of blocks again tonight.
Lindholm has 39.67 defensive zone starts per 60 with a 41.6 CF% at 5-on-5 on the road in the postseason compared to 28.79 D-zone starts per 60 and a 46.5 CF% on home ice. Additionally, the veteran defenseman recorded a 38.9 CF% at 5-on-5 and was on the ice for eight defensive zone starts and 17 defensive-zone faceoffs at all strengths in Game 1. Florida attempted 86 shots in the series opener, too.
Finally, I’m targeting these Hampus Lindholm odds because he’s a staple on the No. 1 penalty-kill unit and has averaged 2:53 of shorthanded time per game in the postseason.
Hampus Lindholm prop: Over 1.5 blocked shots (-125 at BET99)
Prop bet #3: Look to Leon
Expect the shot prop for Edmonton Oilers winger Leon Draisaitl to be one of the most popular bets on the ice tonight. He’s cleared this 2.5 total in 15 of his past 17 postseason contests dating back to last spring while averaging 4.53 shots per game, including four of five this year with an average of 4.6.
While the Vancouver Canucks suppress opposing shots with the best in the league, that’s priced into these Leon Draisaitl odds too much, and/or the German forward's postseason track record isn’t accounted for enough. Either way, Draisaitl projects to avoid the top Vancouver defenders the majority of the night with all eyes on Oilers superstar Connor McDavid, and I expect Edmonton to put an added emphasis on putting the puck on net early and often in Game 1.
After all, Vancouver is likely rolling with rookie Arturs Silovs in net, and he has a mere nine starts on his NHL resume.
Leon Draisaitl prop: Over 2.5 shots (-154 at BET99)
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