2021 NHL Playoff Odds

The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is reaching its breaking point with three elimination games on Wednesday, and BetRivers.com is proud to provide a wide variety of 2021 NHL Playoff odds, props, futures, and teasers for Wednesday, May 26. BetRivers offers you one of the safest online betting platforms. Join our community and let the fun begin!

It’s an elimination game bonanza on Wednesday. There are three Game 6s taking place, but before we venture into the 2021 NHL Playoff odds for tonight, lets take a look at how the Stanley Cup Playoffs have played out thus far.

The Edmonton Oilers have packed their bags and is already on the golf course. This illustrates one of the many reasons betting on the NHL is hard for the casual fan, but don’t be concerned – that’s why I’m here. The casual fan knows Connor McDavid is the best player in the world, they see Leon Draisaitl in the top 5 in scoring and they think how can this team lose? Hockey is the ultimate team sport and if you don’t have depth, your team will be exposed. 

In fairness, I got fooled by Edmonton too. They were playing well at the end of the season and had beaten the Winnipeg Jets a few times. I thought that would carry over into the playoffs, but I was wrong. Winnipeg plays tough playoff hockey and they got great goaltending from Connor Hellebuyck. They’ll be sizable dogs against their likely 2nd round matchup – The Toronto Maple Leafs, but if John Tavares is still out after that horrific injury, don’t sleep on the Jets.

The Colorado Avalanche are exactly who we thought they were. They steam-rolled the Blues in what wasn’t even a competition. The Avalanche and the Golden Knights could be a series for the ages (if it happens) 

I told y’all to bet on the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup after they acquired Taylor Hall at the trade deadline. At that moment, they were +1800 to win the Cup. Now they’re +525. As I always say, we don’t need them to win the Cup for us to make money off this bet. If they beat the Islanders or Pittsburgh in the next round, we can hedge a bit and profit regardless. 

Boston blew past the Capitals who thought they got bigger and more playoff-ready at the trade deadline. I mentioned at the time that I didn’t like the trade because I thought Washington was getting bigger at the expense of speed and that doesn’t work in today’s NHL. Now the Capitals are left wondering if their championship window is closed. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost their captain, John Tavares, to injury and had some question marks in goal. After game 1, there were whispers – would this be another classic Leafs’ collapse? 

When a good team loses game 1 in a series, it often creates a ton of opportunity from a betting perspective. We capitalized on this with Boston and look to do the same with Vegas. If you followed this rule with the Leafs, you’re smiling today. Behind the goal scoring of William Nylander and the goaltending of Jack Campbell, the Leafs have won three straight and look to finish off the Montreal Canadiens tomorrow night. 

As for tonight’s 2021 NHL Playoff odds, we’ve got three games… As I mentioned before, they are all elimination games.

MORE NHL BETTING OPTIONS AT BETRIVERS.COM

Wednesday NHL Boosts:

  • Penguins to score first and win. Was +225. Now +300
  • Islanders, Lightning and Golden Knights all win and advance. Was +460. Now +575
  • Wild-Golden Knights Over 5.5 total goals. Was +100. Now +115
  • Steven Stamkos to record 2+ points. Now +250

2021 NHL PLAYOFF ODDS: WEDNESDAY, MAY 26

#1 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (2-3) at #4 NEW YORK ISLANDERS (3-2)
GAME 6: 6:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN
MONEYLINE: Islanders -109 ML, Penguins -106 ML
PUCK LINE: Islanders -1 (+163), Penguins +1 (-200)
OVER/UNDER: 5.5 goals (+117/-137)
Click here for the full list of Islanders-Penguins Game 6 odds.

The Islanders got badly outplayed in Game 5, but won anyway because of the heroics of their rookie Russian netminder. Ilya Sorokin was spectacular in goal. I picked the Islanders to win the series because of their edge on defense and in net. Game 5 made me look good. 

Tonight’s game is at the old barn – the Nassau Coliseum where the Isles won four straight Cups back in the 80’s …. The atmosphere will be electric and I expect the home team to respond. The Penguins are a very good team, but their goaltending is what will ultimately hold them back. 

This series ends tonight.

The Pick: New York Islanders -106 ML

#2 FLORIDA PANTHERS (2-3) at #3 TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (3-2)
GAME 6: 8:00 p.m. ET, CNBC
MONEYLINE: Lightning -137 ML, Panthers +118 ML
PUCK LINE: Lightning -1 (+110), Panthers +1 (-130)
OVER/UNDER: 6 goals (-104/-114)
Click here for the full list of Lightning-Panthers Game 6 odds.

Florida is immensely talented and if not for a late-season injury to star defenseman, Aaron Ekblad, maybe this season ends differently. Unfortunately for them, they just aren’t the Lightning. Nikita Kucherov missed the entire season (hip injury) and returned just in time for the playoffs. (how convenient) …. There were some question marks as to how effective he’d be? Would he be rusty? The answer?

An emphatic, NO!  Kucherov is currently 2nd in scoring with 3 goals and 6 assists in 5 games. With him back and playing at this level and a healthy Andrei Vasilevskiy in net, this team is almost perfect. 

Can they be beaten? Of course. Is it going to happen tonight? No. 

The Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning -137 ML

#2 VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (3-2) at #3 MINNESOTA WILD (2-3)
GAME 6: 9:00 p.m. ET, NBCSN
MONEYLINE: Golden Knights -136 ML, Wild +117
PUCK LINE: Golden Knights -1 (+123), Wild +1 (-148)
OVER/UNDER: 5.5 goals (+100/-118)
Click here for the full list of Wild-Golden Knights Game 6 odds.

Vegas outshot Minnesota 22-1 in the 2nd period of game 5 and lost that game. Yes, you read that correctly. I’ve been playing and watching hockey my entire life and I’ve never seen that kind of domination not rewarded on the scoreboard. It’s utterly ridiculous to think that the Wild actually won that game and yet they did. 

Can Minnesota do it again? At home? 

Simply put, no. Vegas outscored the Wild 9-2 in Minnesota and won both games so playing on the road isn’t an issue. In fact, they scored the last 9 goals in those games. 

I expect the Golden Knights to dominate the game yet again and if that happens, it’s hard to see Minnesota winning.

The Pick: Vegas Golden Knights -128 ML