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NHL Playoff Picks: Thursday/Friday NHL Action

Let’s break down Thursday’s and Friday’s NHL lines, here are the picks for all the action…

NHL betting – Thursday and Friday NHL predictions/picks

Most hockey betting fans are likely irritated to no end at the NHL’s strange scheduling of the Conference Final matchups, but there’s a silver lining to the big gaps between action; those betting NHL have more time to prep their NHL picks. Let’s break down Thursday’s and Friday’s NHL lines.

Penguins vs Hurricanes odds – Game 2 Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET

NHL betting lines: Penguins -205, Hurricanes +170 

After a tight Game 1, these two high-flying offenses continue their battle following a two-day layoff. Dating back to their second-round matchup with the Caps, the Penguins odds keep getting better, as they’ve won five of six games. While Sidney Crosby continues to be a force, the Penguins are at their best when they also get contributions from unlikely sources. That was the case in Game 1, as Philippe Boucher, filling in for injured Sergei Gonchar, potted the game winner. That Carolina held Crosby out of the goal-scoring column but still lost doesn’t bode well for Game 2. The Penguins have been fantastic on home ice of late and should come out flying again. Cam Ward has been a revelation in goal throughout the playoffs but he’ll need some support. With Erik Cole and Tuomo Ruutu both not guaranteed to play after suffering injuries in Game 1, though, the Hurricanes odds don’t look good on Thursday night. 

Sportsbook pick: Penguins -205 

Red Wings vs Blackhawks odds – Game 3 Friday at 8:00 p.m. ET

NHL betting lines: Red Wings +120, Blackhawks -140 

It’s weird to call the defending champs “lucky” in NHL betting, but that may be the case so far in this hockey betting matchup. The Hawks were arguably the better team in Game 2 but a few costly giveaways led to Red Wings goals. Poor Brian Campbell played a great game but all those betting NHL will remember is his brutal gaffe in overtime that led to Mikael Samuelsson’s winner. To stay in this series, the Hawks must be smarter with the puck and must do a better job clearing the Detroit forwards from the front of the net, as Tomas Holmstrom, Johan Franzen and company continue to obstruct Nikolai Khabibulin’s view. Chicago should be up to the task Friday night. The wild United Center crowd has been a sixth skater for the Hawks throughout the playoffs and should help the young, speedy team play with more confidence – especially in the physical side of the game – against the Wings. Bet on Chicago to make this a series again. 

Sportsbook pick: Blackhawks -140

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By Cappers Picks

Articles on CappersPicks.com are written by Q (the Head Honcho) at Cappers Picks or by our resident "in house" handicapper Razor Ray Monohan! Enjoy the free picks folks! "Pad that bankroll one day at a time!"