Four NHL teams can advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs with victories Tuesday night.
Three of those squads can close at home, including the Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes and Vancouver Canucks.
We’ll break down three of Tuesday’s matchups as the Hurricanes are a massive favorite against the Islanders in a game that is a pass for us.
NHL playoffs best bets for Tuesday, April 30
Maple Leafs vs. Bruins
Boston bounced back from a Game 2 home loss to Toronto as the Bruins traveled north of the border to grab a pair of road victories over the Maple Leafs.
Toronto looks to keep its season alive as the league’s leading scorer, Auston Matthews, is questionable tonight with an illness. Matthews scored 69 goals in the regular season and posted the game-winner in Game 2 but did not put up a point in the two home losses.
The Bruins own a spectacular 7-1 record against the Maple Leafs this season while allowing two goals or less six times.
In 10 of Toronto’s last 11 playoff games since last season, the Leafs have been limited to two goals or fewer.
Toronto looks like it has thrown in the towel on this season. Let’s back Boston at plus-money on the puck line to advance to the second round.
Pick: Bruins -1.5 (+170, BetMGM)
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Avalanche vs. Jets
Winnipeg dropped seven goals on Colorado in the series opener, but the Jets’ offense has been stifled the last three games by tallying five combined goals.
Colorado is coming off three straight blowout wins over Winnipeg, but the Avalanche head back to Manitoba Tuesday night in the close-out matchup for Game 5.
Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck has allowed at least four goals in all four games of this series after giving up a total of four goals in three wins against Colorado in the regular season.
The Avalanche will be a huge public favorite tonight on the road after scoring 22 goals in the first four games.
The Jets might not end up winning this series, but look for Winnipeg to put it together in Game 5 as a short underdog and take things back to Denver.
Pick: Jets moneyline (+102 at DraftKings)
Predators vs. Canucks
Nashville split the first two games of its series with Vancouver on the road, but the Predators went winless in a pair of home defeats.
They blew a late two-goal lead in a Game 4 overtime setback to fall in a 3-1 hole heading back to Vancouver.
It’s been a merry-go-round in the Canucks’ crease after starting goalie Thatcher Demko got hurt early in the series. Arturs Silovs made his playoff debut in Game 4 and stopped 27 shots in the 4-3 triumph.
The Latvian goalie looks to start in net again for the Canucks and if he doesn’t go, then Casey DeSmith would likely be in net.
Nashville has blown a pair of third-period leads in this series and have a huge hole to climb out of. However, with Demko sidelined and Vancouver rotating goalies, the door isn’t shut for the Predators to get back in this series.
Let’s take Nashville as an underdog in Game 5 to stay alive for one more night.
Pick: Predators moneyline (+105 at Caesars)
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