NHL Betting Picks for Tuesday 5/7/24: Hurricanes, Rangers Collide in Important Game 2

It's a big night in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as arguably the top two series in the second round take centerstage.

Whether it's moneylines or total goals, there are plenty of ways to bet on the NHL action all season. It's a long 82-game campaign, meaning that the best selections of each night can be very different based on backup goalies coming into play, injuries that add up, and if teams are due for positive or negative swings.

Let's dive into the best bets for tonight.

Note: Lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published. All NHL betting odds and totals are from the NHL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. All advanced statistics are used from MoneyPuck.com and NaturalStatTrick.com.

NHL Best Bets

Carolina Hurricanes at New York Rangers

Over 5.5 Goals (+110)

The Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers are locked into a competitive series, and Game 1 gave us a good look into what to expect.

With the over/under total set at 5.5 goals, I like them to hit the over after their insanely competitive first game. New York was able to escape with the 4-3 win, but Carolina's offensive attack proved that it should be very different tonight.

Where the Rangers have the advantage in this series is goaltending, which meshes well with the high-powered offense of the Hurricanes. New York has held their opponents to 2.00 goals against per 60 minutes (GA/60) through just five games while putting together a 2.58 expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) rate. The numbers are low for the Rangers, but Carolina is bringing an average of 3.46 goals for per 60 minutes (GF/60), just above their 3.32 expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60).

In terms of what the Rangers have done offensively, they should continue to cause problems for Frederik Andersen. New York has averaged 3.80 GF/60 so far in the playoffs -- the third-best mark of any team. Andersen has allowed 2.54 goals against (GAA), but his save percentage (SV%) sits at .899. His history in the playoffs has included some bumpy performances, so I'll continue to bank on that for tonight's contest.

Thanks to the lower over/under total set between these two teams, ride with the over in what's likely to be a competitive contest.

Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars

Under 6.5 Goals (-110)

Talk about an exciting series. After the Dallas Stars survived a grueling series against the Vegas Golden Knights, they'll now take on the high-scoring Colorado Avalanche.

The Avalanche were unstoppable in the first round, making the Winnipeg Jets look outclassed game after game. They managed to score five or more goals in every game of the series, averaging 5.60 GF/60. That wasn't far off from their playoff-leading 4.24 xGF/60. There should be a problem for the Avs, though, as we saw with the Florida Panthers a night ago. Colorado clinched their spot in the second round a week ago. As a result, they could be a bit rusty, which is what I'm expecting -- at least when it comes to their goal-scoring numbers.

Dallas had a rough time scoring in the first round -- a big reason they went to Game 7. The Stars only scored 2.20 GF/60 but did have an expected scoring rate of 3.39.

In terms of keeping the puck out of the net, both of these squads have done that well. Dallas held their opponents to 2.20 GA/60 and had the second-best expected average of 2.41 xGA/60, which is the best number of remaining playoff teams. The Avalanche had a 2.67 xGA/60 in the opening round of the playoffs.

The Stars should be able to control the pace of play being on home ice and having played just two days ago. Because of that, they should be able to slow down the Avalanche and deliver an under in a tight first contest.

New to FanDuel Sportsbook? You’ll receive $150 in Bonus Bets if you win your first bet of at least $5! See here for full terms and conditions. Learn about today’s other offers at FanDuel Sportsbook Promos.

Looking for more NHL betting opportunities? Check out all of the NHL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.