NHL Best Bets Today: Can Minnesota Wild, Ottawa Senators Avoid Elimination in Stanley Cup Playoffs?
Brady Tkachuk and the Ottawa Senators have crawled out of a 3-0 deficit against the Maple Leafs, can they avoid elimination one more time and send it to Game 7 in Toronto? Matt Mackay explores this thriller and the other three Stanley Cup Playoff games in his NHL Best Bets today for Thursday, May 1st.
Matt MacKay - May 1, 2025, 3:33 PM EDT
4 minNHL Best Bets Today: Can Minnesota Wild, Ottawa Senators Avoid Elimination in Stanley Cup Playoffs?
We've got four potential elimination games on tap for tonight's NHL Stanley Cup Playoff slate. Oddsmakers are expecting every Game 6 tilt to be tightly contested based on current betting lines.
Last week, my NHL Best Bets went 3-1. The only loss was backing under 5.5 total goals during Minnesota's 5-2 road win over Vegas. Two of three winners were plus odds, including Florida's moneyline (+100) and the Hurricanes covering -1.5 at +102 odds. We drank juice on Toronto at -170, as the Maple Leafs won Game 2 with a 3-2 overtime victory.
NHL handicapper Matt MacKay is back with a best bet to place on each of tonight's four NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Game 6 matchups. Follow Matt's X account for more NHL betting insight and free picks throughout the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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NHL Best Bets Today: Thursday, May 1st
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators Prediction
The Maple Leafs find themselves in familiar territory following back-to-back losses to Ottawa. Now, the Senators return home to the Canadian Tire Centre with all of the momentum, following a dominant 4-0 shutout win on the road in Game 5.
Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle lead the Senators with multiple goals, each notching at least five total points. Goaltender Linus Ullmark has shaken off a bad start and just posted an impressive 29-save outing during the Game 5 shutout in Toronto.
Anthony Stolarz has been stout for the Maple Leafs but their offense has faded in the past two matchups. Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Auston Matthews and John Tavares all have at least five points for Toronto, while Tavares and Matthew Knies lead the team with three goals each.
Ottawa is the more physical team and they have captured the momentum in this series after staving off elimination in consecutive games. Pressure is undoubtedly on the Maple Leafs to avoid another playoff collapse in the First Round.
I like the Senators tonight. Their grittiness and defensive prowess have leveled this series against Toronto's talented offense. I predict Ottawa will win tonight and force a Game 7 back at Scotiabank Arena. Oddsmakers agree, valuing the Senators as a slight home favorite at -118 moneyline odds.
Let's bet a unit on the Senators to win their third consecutive game on home ice for Game 6.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators Pick
- Pick: Senators Moneyline (-118) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best Senators vs. Leafs odds
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild Prediction
Kirill Kaprizov's return to Minnesota's lineup has revamped the Wild's previously stale offense. Kaprizov leads both teams with nine points, while F Matt Boldy has matched him with five goals.
Vegas held on at home and won 3-2 in overtime during Game 5. The Wild are a feisty team and play well defensively. Plus, goaltender Filip Gustavsson has outplayed Vegas goaltender Adin Hill in the crease. Gustavsson has an impressive .919 save percentage, compared to Hill's porous .865 save rate.
The Golden Knights have had more production from various spots in their lineup, while the Wild's top two stars have carried Minnesota's offense. Vegas is built to grab an early lead and hold onto it, which is what they did in Game 5.
Minnesota needs to jump out to an early lead at home during Game 6 tonight. The Wild won 5-2 during their first home game in Game 3, before losing 4-3 in overtime during Game 4.
The last two games in this series have gone to overtime. The stakes are the highest they've been in this series tonight, as Vegas holds an advantageous 3-2 lead.
We've seen the Wild dominate Vegas 5-2 during both of their wins. Then, they dropped the next two games in overtime.
I believe Minnesota comes out aggressive early and builds a multi-goal lead that Vegas won't be able to overcome. Hill's pedestrian play in the crease is a big factor in this handicap.
Let's bet a unit on the Wild to cover the puck line as a home underdog, laying +1 at -125 odds. They've covered +1 in both home games and I expect Minnesota to either win Game 6 or lose in overtime.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild Pick
- Pick: Minnesota +1 (-125) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best Golden Knights vs. Wild odds
Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche Prediction
Colorado has lost the momentum they held after Game 1 and Game 4 following a 6-2 loss in Dallas during Game 5. Now, the Avalanche return home to avoid elimination against the Stars in Game 6.
Nathan MacKinnon has been the primary scorer for Colorado. This isn't a surprise, since he's the best player on the ice. However, the Avalanche need other players to step up against Dallas tonight. Only Logan O'Connor has more than three points through five games for Colorado.
Dallas has found a way to play well without D Miro Heiskanen and F Jason Robertson. We don't know if they'll be on the ice for Game 6, so it's going to fall to players like Wyatt Johnston, Tyler Seguin, Roope Hintz, Mikko Rantanen and Thomas Harley to get the job done at Ball Arena.
Goaltending has been evenly matched from both teams. Mackenzie Blackwood shutout the Stars in Game 4 during a 4-0 win at Ball Arena. He surrendered one goal during regulation in Game 3, which led to an eventual loss in overtime. Jake Oettinger has elevated his play in the crease, despite getting pulled after stopping 31 of 34 shots through two periods in Game 4.
The Stars found their offensive identity in Game 5. It'll be interesting to watch how they attack Colorado on the road tonight. I expect a lower-scoring game compared to Game 5, especially in an elimination game.
The goal total under is set to an even 6 by oddsmakers at select sportsbooks. Let's bet a unit on under 6 total goals, which has hit in both of Colorado's previous home games played. I expect good goaltending and strong defensive play throughout Game 6.
Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche Pick
- Pick: Under 6 (+105) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best Stars vs. Avs odds
Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers Prediction
Edmonton has dug itself out of a 2-0 series deficit, rattling off three straight wins. The momentum flipped during Game 4, when the Oilers tied the Kings 3-3 in the waning seconds, leading to an overtime win. The Kings looked flat in Game 5, despite playing on home ice, losing 3-1.
Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper has not played nearly as well as he did down the stretch of the regular season. He's got a sub .900 save percentage, surrendering three or more goals in four of five playoff games.
Edmonton's move to replace struggling goaltender Stuart Skinner with Calvin Pickard has paid off. Pickard has a .909 save percentage and is 3-0 in the crease for the Oilers.
Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard have led the way for Edmonton's offense. The Kings have relied on Adrian Kempe but Los Angeles simply doesn't have the same firepower and top-tier talent compared to the Oilers' roster.
Edmonton has all of the momentum on their side after recording three straight wins. Now, they are back home at Rogers Place to close out the Kings in Game 6 tonight. Los Angeles doesn't inspire any confidence based on how they looked in Game 5, so let's bet one final unit on the Oilers to cover -1 as home favorites.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers Pick
- Pick: Oilers -1 (-113) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best Kings vs. Oilers odds
NHL ODDS
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