Top NHL Picks and Predictions Today (Stars Upset, Rangers-Penguins Pick for Sunday's Game 7s)
Who should you bet in the Game 7 action in the NHL on Sunday?
BetSided's Joe Summers has done a deep dive into both games, and he's made his picks with the odds via WynnBET.
Are you tailing or fading? Check out Joe's plays below:
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers Prediction and Pick
This one all comes down to the health and effectiveness of Crosby and Jarry. Both are among the best in the world at their respective positions, and it's no surprise the Rangers were able to dominate the time that neither were on the ice.
There's something to be said for overcoming a 2-0 deficit in an elimination game then winning the next two handily to tie the series. The Rangers can smell blood, and the pressure has flipped to the Penguins to avoid catastrophe.
Igor Shesterkin was the best goalie in hockey all season and I expect an excellent performance from him today. New York was a spectacular 27-10 at home and 35-13 as a favorite in the regular season largely due to Shesterkin's stellar play.
It would be fitting for him to shut the Penguins attack down to help cement an incredible season, and I think the Rangers still have the edge here.
I'll be playing New York, especially at these shorter odds, but I also love the under. I know the over has hit each of the first six games of this series, but it's Game 7. These games are always tighter and historically, betting the under in a Game 7 has been profitable. Since 1994, the under has hit in a Game 7 over 60% of the time.
Give me the Rangers to advance in a tight contest that comes down to the end. Gear up folks, it's going to be a lovely day.
Pick: Rangers (-120) and Under 6.0 (+100)
Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.
Dallas Stars vs. Calgary Flames Prediction and Pick
The Flames were one of the best teams throughout the regular season thanks to one of the stingiest defenses in hockey. They allowed a league-leading 2.37 goals per game and have done little in this series to change the notion that they are indeed a dominant defensive unit.
Both Jacob Markstrom and Jake Oettinger have been sensational, and it's a shame one of them has to lose. I'd like to advocate for the under, but the juice is a bit too large for my liking. We've twice seen a game in this series barely hit the over thanks to an empty-net goal, and with everything on the line I'd expect to see goalies pulled earlier than usual if need be.
Instead, I see value on the Stars. Dallas was an impressive 15-9 over its final 24 road games of the regular season, and Oettinger has been perhaps the best player across the league in the first round. Sometimes, all it takes is one stellar performance to pull off a miracle, and Oettinger is certainly capable.
At the least, I think this game is closer than the +180 odds on Dallas suggest. I'm reminded of when a young Jordan Binnington carried the Blues to a shocking Stanley Cup victory a few years ago, and see no reason the 23-year-old Oettinger can't put his team on his back in the same way.
Calgary knows what's at stake and should feel a ton of pressure, having not won a playoff series since 2015. I'll back the Stars to pull off the upset in a game I see much closer to a coin-flip.
Pick: Stars (+180)