Three-Play Thursday is always a reason for me to worry, but it’s also always a chance for excitement. All I have to do is hit one to make the day a win, and that’s exactly what occurred when all four NHL games hit six goals or more to give me a cash on my hockey parlay. When you’re facing a Game 6 in the NHL, the over is often the correct play because both teams badly want a win, but the pressure of a seventh game isn’t there, meaning both teams can play their style of hockey and hunt goals as the game dictates.
And tonight, opportunity knocks again with three more Game 6’s in what’s turned out to be a thrilling first round. However, there’s more than just hockey on the docket tonight; here are my best bets for May 13.
PANTHERS ML, -165
This series has played out almost exactly the way I thought it would. I said before the series started that I expected Florida to lose Game 1 and Washington to hold the lead after Game 3 before the Panthers’ talent overwhelmed the Capitals in the remaining three games. After I wrote that piece, it turned out that there was a bet on MGM that allowed me to pick the Panthers to lose Game 1 but win the series at +375, and I played it and now have a good chance to cash it.
“Overwhelmed” is admittedly a stretch, but I’m not going to argue semantics here. The bottom line is, my pre-series prediction on this matchup has played out exactly as I expected in terms of results through five games. I’m not changing now.
RANGERS ML, -120
With no Sidney Crosby in the lineup, the Rangers are suddenly back in business in this series. New York has not looked ready for this challenge by any stretch of the imagination when skating in Pittsburgh (although I maintain that the reason the Penguins are leading this series is because of a blown call in Game 1 that should have given the Rangers a 4-3 win in regulation), but without its captain on the ice, Pittsburgh isn’t the same team. Getting the Rangers at this price with no Crosby is too good to pass up.
FLAMES-STARS U5.5, -135
I know I just said that the over is usually the correct play when it comes to a Game 6, but this series is the exception. Only one of the six games the teams have played has seen more than five goals happen, as both defenses are on point and know exactly how to slow down the other team’s attack. I don’t expect things to change in this one.
MICHIGAN PANTHERS-BANDITS U33.5, -110
If the Panthers had anything resembling an offense, they’d be leading the USFL’s North Division right now. Unfortunately for them, they don’t, which is kind of on Jeff Fisher considering he had the first pick in the quarterback round and both Shea Patterson and Paxton Lynch have busted. Michigan is better than its record suggests, however, and that’s because of its fierce defense. I think this will be a slugfest with defense-heavy Tampa Bay. The Bandits held Birmingham to 16 points last week, and I don’t expect they’ll allow more than that to Michigan.
ROCKIES ML, -140
The Rockies have yet to lose a series at Coors Field this season. The Royals have a 4-10 record away from home and haven’t exactly been all that impressive in 2022. Even with Zack Greinke on the mound, backing Colorado at Coors Field against a weak opponent is almost always a good decision.
