Mark Lammey
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After just 2 games on the ice last night, the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs are back in a big way with 4 huge matchups tonight. All 4 of the series that we’ll see today feature teams with a 3-1 lead, which means we could see several second-round matchups set by the end of the night. Will it be the teams looking to close things out that prevail or those with their backs against the wall? Let’s get into our NHL parlay picks for today to answer that question. Along with our NHL mega parlay, be sure to check out all of our NHL predictions for today’s action!
NHL Parlay Picks (4/30)
Maple Leafs 3-way ML (+195)
Hurricanes -1.5 (+105)
Predators ML (-102)
NHL parlay odds: +1097
Toronto Maple Leafs 3-way ML over Boston Bruins (+195)
Before we fully get into the first leg of our NHL parlay picks for today, it’s worth mentioning that you can grab the Toronto Maple Leafs on the regular money line and still get a great payout with odds of around +860. Regardless, with how this series has played out, especially with empty net goals, we’re going to grab the Leafs to win in regulation. They have a tough task ahead of them with the series heading back to TD Garden in Boston, but it’s far from impossible.
In fact, when the Bruins had their record-setting season last year, they had a 3-1 series lead in the first round against the Florida Panthers. They went on to lose 3 straight and get eliminated. Meanwhile, the Leafs were able to get over the hump and make it out of the first round for the first time since 2004. Of course, this is a different season, but when Auston Matthews just put on the career year he just did, Toronto can never be counted out. We’re not going to go as far as to say that they’ll win the next 3 straight, but they can keep things competitive with a win tonight.
Read our full Toronto Maple Leafs vs Boston Bruins predictions
Carolina Hurricanes -1.5 over New York Islanders (+105)
The other Eastern Conference series going on tonight is the Metropolitan Division rivalry between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders. The Isles came through for us over the weekend, keeping their hopes alive after going down 3-0. That was a nice performance for the home crowd before heading back to Carolina, as this is where we expect the series to end.
The ‘Canes have clearly been the superior team throughout the series, even in the loss, and that’s why they remain the overall favorites to hoist Lord Stanley. Their balance is unmatched since adding Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov at the trade deadline, and while New York can have the defense to match them at times, they simply don’t have the offensive firepower to keep pace. Carolina won each of the first 2 games of the series at home by multiple goals, and we anticipate that they’ll close it out the same way tonight.
Read our full New York Islanders vs Carolina Hurricanes predictions
Nashville Predators ML over Vancouver Canucks (-102)
As for the 2 remaining games tonight, they’re 2 Western Conference clashes that could truly go either way. The Colorado Avalanche have somehow been able to find the back of the net early and often, but if Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck finds his form, anything could happen. So, we’re going to focus on the Nashville Predators staying alive against the Vancouver Canucks. Ultimately, we still expect the Canucks to advance to the second round, but the Preds have been far more competitive than expected.
Nashville isn’t as deep as Vancouver, but the defense in front of goaltender Juuse Saros has been stellar. Nashville never hesitates to risk their bodies to block shots, as they haven’t allowed more than 20 shots on goal the entire series! That type of efficiency cannot last forever for the Canucks, and the Preds have already proven that being on the road makes no difference to them. They won Game 2 convincingly 4-1 in Vancouver, and they can take tonight’s matchup to force a Game 5 as well.
