Daily NHL Odds and Betting Trends – 05/17/21

by OddsShark (@OddsShark) – Sponsored Post

Here’s a look at the NHL odds and betting trends for the games on today’s schedule.

All NHL betting lines below are as listed at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

Bruins vs Capitals | OddsShark Matchup Report

Opening NHL Odds: Bruins -119 Favorites

Boston will try to tie up this East Division first-round playoff series at 1-1 after losing at Washington 3-2 in overtime as a -130 road favorite in Game 1 on Saturday. The Bruins are again favored in Game 2 despite losing the past two meetings along with three of the last four. The UNDER has cashed in two straight in this series as well following a 3-0 OVER run. The Capitals saw goaltender Vitek Vanecek go down with a lower-body injury in the first period, but veteran Craig Anderson replaced him and stopped 21 of the 22 shots he faced in relief. Boston goalie Tuukka Rask made 29 saves, and neither netminder allowed a goal in the third. Washington got the game-winning goal from Nic Dowd on a deflection of a T.J. Oshie shot.

Predators vs Hurricanes | OddsShark Matchup Report

Opening NHL Odds: Hurricanes -177 Favorites

Central Division champion Carolina will host fourth seed Nashville in the opener of their best-of-seven first-round playoff series. The Predators are hoping a two-game home sweep of the Hurricanes will give them some confidence as they chase the Stanley Cup after losing the first six meetings with them to start the season. Nashville outscored Carolina 8-1 in the last two games between the teams on May 8 and 10, with the latter still trying to earn the Presidents’ Trophy. The Hurricanes ultimately finished third behind the Avalanche and Golden Knights, but they still at least have home-ice advantage here and in their next series if they advance past the Predators. The UNDER is on a 4-0 run in this series, cashing in the last two games at Carolina.

Blues vs Avalanche | OddsShark Matchup Report

Opening NHL Odds: Avalanche -208 Favorites

Colorado will begin the postseason as the team to beat in the battle for the Stanley Cup, and the team will need to go through the 2019 NHL champions in hopes of hoisting it this year. St. Louis finished the regular season on a roll, winning three games in a row and eight of 12 down the stretch to finish fourth in the West Division. However, the Avalanche were even better, getting healthy at the right time and riding a five-game winning streak into this playoff matchup with the Blues. Colorado needed to win its last three games to take home the Presidents’ Trophy and did just that, although St. Louis has won the past two meetings by a combined score of 9-4. But the Avalanche won five of the first six meetings, and they have also won eight of nine overall.

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