Free NHL Eastern Conference Playoff Picks, Best Bets, and Parlays for 5/9/22

As hot as I’ve been picking the NBA, I am just as cold with the NHL. Sometimes, a gambler loses or just can’t get a feel for it, and that’s where I am at with hockey. But, this is a new week, and even though I’ve been struggling these games have been great.

We missed our Best Bet again as Carolina continues to beat me. Boston thumped them 5-2 to even up that series at 2-2. Our Best Bet of the Day record is now 51-36 since the All-Star Break.

We went a miserable 1-3 betting the MoneyLine as only Colorado came through with a win. Our overall record is now 351-200 as the playoffs continue.

The run for the Stanley Cup continues today with 4 more games on the schedule. Let’s see what Vegas is thinking about the two Eastern Conference games and see if we can get lucky.

*PAPA DUDES BEST BET OF THE DAY* Florida at Washington: Washington leads the series 2-1: Very few of us figured the Capitals were going have a one-game advantage after three games but here we are. Ok, we’ll give an upset in Game 1, but after the Panthers came back to win easily in Game 2, we thought Florida was in the driver’s seat. But, after spotting the Panthers an early goal, Washington scored the next 6, and have a chance to put the #1 overall seed, in big trouble with a win tonight. Washington goalie, Ilya Samsonov made 29 saves in his first start of the postseason and gave the Capitals a big lift. Six different Capitals had a goal and their penalty kill continues to stymie the explosive Panthers who are 0-9 on the power play. One has to wonder if the pressure of being so heavily favored is beginning to affect Florida. Whatever the case is, they better find their game and find it quick. I’m going with them one more time and giving them the nod in this critical game 4. PAPA DUDES BEST BET: Bet the MoneyLine on the Panthers.-180

New York Rangers at Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh leads the series 2-1: In Game 3, the Penguins scored 4 goals in the 1st period, chasing starting Rangers’ goalie Igor Shesterkin, and then had to regroup after blowing a 3-goal lead to get the win. Pittsburgh is playing with their 3rd string goalie, Louis Domingue and he responded with 32 saves, with a handful of brilliant stops while the Rangers were threatening to take the lead. The Penguins have been aggressive around the net and the Rangers are going to have to make some adjustments to counteract that attack. It is going to be interesting to see if Shesterkin is back in net tonight after that bad 1st period in Game 3. The other story will be how much are the Penguins going to receive from Domingue. I believe in the Rangers, and after the bad 1st period, they fought their way back into Game 3 and could just as easily have won it. I expect Shesterkin to play a great game tonight and the Rangers eke out a close one to even the series. PAPA DUDES PICK: Bet the MoneyLine on New York -115