Welcome back to HNIC Coast To Coast, the official weekend NHL breakdown column of Canada Sports Betting. All four Canadian teams that are still in the playoff hunt will be playing across Saturday and Sunday, all looking to either extend their leads or tie their series up as the first round moves towards the Game 4 portion of the schedule. Let’s dive in!
7:00 p.m. ET Saturday HNIC Headliner: Boston Bruins @ Toronto Maple Leafs
These two Atlantic Division rivals return to the ice at Scotiabank Arena after a two-day break, one that the Maple Leafs will especially be grateful for. The extra day appears to have given William Nylander the time he needs to return from his migraine-related absence and allowed Ilya Lyubushkin time to travel, witness the birth of his child, and return. With those arrivals, though, the rest of the team needs to show up too, as poor special teams burned them once again in Game 3.
We have a full preview of this game available here on CSB.
Bet on Bruins vs. Leafs
BOS +100
TOR -115
2:30 p.m. ET Sunday HNIC Headliner: Winnipeg Jets @ Colorado Avalanche
The Jets are starting to find themselves in a little bit of trouble, and the means with how they’re getting here is a shock to everyone. What was supposed to be their biggest strength has now become an area of weakness. Connor Hellebuyck, who will almost definitely win the Vezina Trophy this year and likely get some MVP votes in the Hart Trophy race as well, has struggled mightily, allowing 15 goals on 116 shots. His 0.871 save percentage in this series is a whole 50 points lower than the regular season.
Winnipeg also suffered a very unfortunate setback on Friday with the injury of Brendan Dillion, who’s hand was sliced by a skate in an end-of-game scrum. It is exceedingly unlikely that we see him back at all in these playoffs, and near impossible that he’ll return for the series.
Bet on Jets vs. Avalanche
WPG +140
COL -165
5:00 p.m. ET Sunday HNIC Headliner: Vancouver Canucks @ Nashville Predators
The Canucks are back in the driver’s seat, at least on the bracket sheet, after a 2-1 win against the Predators on Friday. However, it’s hard to feel all that great about it, as the team took just twelve shots on goal the entire evening, half of which came from JT Miller, who stepped up with their opening goal and an assist on the eventual Brock Boeser game-winner.
Similar to Nashville in Game 2, the Canucks withstood a barrage, blocking 28 shots and getting a great performance from Casey DeSmith for the other 30 that went through. This won’t be enough for a Demko-less Vancouver roster to use as a sustainable blueprint, however, so they’ll have to find a higher level in Game 4.
Bet on Canucks vs. Predators
VAN +100
NSH -117
10:30 p.m. ET Sunday HNIC Headliner: Edmonton Oilers @ Los Angeles Kings
If there’s any team that’s feeling pretty confident going into the weekend, it’s probably the Oilers. Edmonton shook off a tough overtime loss in Game 2 and absolutely gave it to the Kings on Friday, opening with a trio of goals from Zach Hyman, Leon Draisaitl, and Connor McDavid in the first period and not looking back.
Special teams were especially potent for the Oilers on Friday, going 3/7 on the powerplay and a perfect 5/5 on the penalty kill. They also seemed to get under Los Angeles’s skin, as the Kings largely forgot about playing hockey towards the end of the festivities and seemed more geared towards shenanigans. Another strong effort like this on their opponent’s home ice, and they’ll have them on the ropes.
Bet on Oilers vs. Kings
EDM -150
LAK +128
