Hockey fans will be hard pressed to find a better night of action than what’s in store on Wednesday.
Three first-round series come down to a deciding Game 7, complete with rivals going at it in one game, an upset possibility in another and an historic comeback on the line in the third.
Flyers at Rangers – 7 p.m. ET – NBC Sports Network
The Flyers staved off elimination last night with a 5-2 victory at home, meaning the teams will play the second game of a back-to-back tonight. This could be a big deal for bettors interested in the total.
There is evidence suggesting goalies do not perform as well in the second game of a back-to-back as they do the first (h/t SB Nation). Tonight's total is 5 goals, a number that has been surpassed three times this series and equaled twice.
Considering these two factors, OVER is worth a look.
Money line and total:
Flyers +140
Rangers -150
Total: 5 (OVER -110, UNDER -110)
Puck line:
Flyers +1.5 (-220)
Rangers -1.5 (+195)
Wild at Avalanche – 9:30 p.m. ET – CNBC
Avalanche center Matt Duchene made his return to the lineup in Game 6 for Colorado, but the Wild walked away with a 5-2 victory. It fit the pattern for the series – the home team has won every game thus far. So it’s not surprising to see the Avalanche listed as the favorites for Game 7 at -135.
All of the games in this series have been close. Four of the six games have been decided by one goal, and the other two would have been if not for empty-net goals late in the contests.
Tonight's total is 5 goals. While Games 3 and 4 in Minnesota saw fewer goals than that, the others have had nine, six, seven and seven goals scored.
Also of note for total bettors: Avs head coach Patrick Roy has shown no hesitancy to pull his goalie when trailing. That came into play in Game 6, when the Wild scored their fourth goal on an empty net with 1:26 left, and then another with 56 seconds left. The game was a one-goal affair when the first empty-net goal was scored.
Money line and total:
Wild +125
Avalanche -135
Total: 5 (OVER -110, UNDER -110)
Puck line:
Wild +1.5 (-260)
Avalanche -1.5 (+230)
Kings at Sharks – 10 p.m. ET – NBC Sports Network
Only three teams in NHL history have ever come back to win a series after being down 3-0: the Maple Leafs over the Red Wings in 1942, the Islanders over the Penguins in 1975, and the Flyers over the Bruins in 2010. The Los Angeles Kings have a chance to become the fourth tonight, though they will have to go on the road to do it.
This matchup had been a dead OVER series for the first four games – in fact, seven was fewest number of goals scored in any of those four contests. Game 6 saw five goals, while Game 5 had just three.
Money line and total:
Kings +125
Sharks -135
Total: 5 (OVER -110, UNDER -110)
Puck line:
Kings +1.5 (-260)
Sharks -1.5 (+230)
The Linemakers’ lean: "Los Angeles was my pick to win the Cup, so I clearly have a vested interest and belief in the Kings, who have the class and pedigree to get the job done in this spot,” says The Linemakers on Sporting News' Brian Blessing. “Once Los Angeles slowed things down a bit, the series turned around. All the pressure is on San Jose, who has squandered the 3-0 lead."
Live odds: Updated NHL betting lines