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The 2024 NHL playoffs are heating up, and this is the right moment to see the NHL betting trends. Most of the first-round series are already over, but we have three that will give the team an advantage for the weekend.
The Dallas Stars were down by a couple of games, but now they are going to Vegas with a chance to eliminate the Golden Knights. The Vancouver Canucks are in the same situation as they visit the Nashville Predators with a match point in their hands. Things have gone to the limit in the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins series, and everything is ready for the decisive Game 7 in TD Garden.Now let’s take a look at the game breakdowns and NHL betting trends for these three matchups.
Dallas Stars vs Vegas Golden Knights
The Dallas Stars finished the 2023–24 NHL regular season on top of the Western Conference with a 52-21-9 record, being only one point shy of the New York Rangers for the best record in the league. However, things did not start well for them in the playoffs, as they lost both home games to open the series against the Golden Knights. The Stars found themselves in a deep hole, but Game 3 was the turning point of the series. Wyatt Johnston scored in overtime to win the game for Dallas, and it has been all Stars from that point on. Dallas won another one on the road to tie the series and then took over the lead with a 3-2 home win. Jason Robertson’s power-play goal early in the second period proved to be the crucial moment of the game.
The Vegas Golden Knights are now under pressure as they are one game away from elimination. The Golden Knights are the defending champions, and they definitely know how to play their best hockey when needed the most. Mark Stone and William Carrier scored in the last game, but Jack Eichel has been the Knights’ best player in the series with a total of 7 points.
For the Stars, that man is Wyatt Johnston with 6 points, followed by Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson with 5 points each.
Dallas Stars vs Vegas Golden Knights: NHL betting trends
Vegas has won 6 of their last 9 games against Dallas and 12 of their last 18 matchups have finished under the total goal line. The Golden Knights are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games, 8-4 SU in their last 12 home games and 11-5 SU in their last 16 games played on Friday. They have played under the total goal line in 4 of their last 6 games against Central Division rivals and in 4 of their last 6 games played in May. The Stars are 15-4 SU in their last 19 games overall, 10-1 SU in their last 11 road games, and 16-4 SU in their last 20 games against teams from the Western Conference. Dallas has played under the total goal line in 7 of the last 9 games against teams from the Pacific Division and in 4 of their last 6 games played in May.
Prediction and Conclusion
Both teams had their moments in the series, and the fact is that each of the previous five games was tight and could go either way. After the Stars won the last three games, now it is time for the Golden Knights to respond as Dallas leads 3-2 in the series. That task would not be easy at all, as Dallas won the previous two games in Vegas and has lost only one of the last 11 games on the road. The Golden Knights will be under pressure and will have to be aggressive on the offense, but scoring against Dallas would not go smoothly as they are in the top 5 in every defensive category this season. With the stakes being very high in this game and with what we have seen so far in the series, this will be another low-scoring game that will stay under 5.5 goals in total.
Vancouver Canucks vs Nashville Predators
The Vancouver Canucks were on top of the Western Conference for most of the season but dropped to third place right before the playoffs. They had a strong start to the series against the Predators with a 4-2 win in the opening game, but then lost 4-1 in the next one. That was a difficult situation to be in for the Canucks, knowing that the Predators were pretty solid at home all season long. However, Vancouver won both games on the road by a single goal. They came back home with a chance to close out the series and took the lead in the final period with Nikita Zadorov’s goal, but could not hold on.
Roman Josi scored on power play, and then Alexandre Carrier hit the net for the Predators for a 2-1 win that sent the series back to Nashville. That made the Predators win the last two games on the road in Vancouver, but they have yet to win a home game in this series. Filip Forsberg has been the Predators best player in the series with six points so far, the same as JT Miller on the opposite side.
Vancouver Canucks vs Nashville Predators: NHL betting trends
The Canucks have won 7 of the last 9 games against the Predators and 4 of the last 5 played in Nashville. The Canucks are 7-3 SU in the last 10 games on the road and have played under the total goal line in 7 of the last 10 games played on Friday and in 7 of the last 10 games as underdogs. The Predators are 2-4 SU in the last 6 games overall and 9-3 SU in the last 12 games against teams from the Pacific Division. They have played over the total goal line in 4 of their last 5 home games and 10 of their last 15 games against teams from the Western Conference.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Vancouver Canucks had destiny in their own hands as they took a lead in the final period of Game 5 at home but could not hold on to that, and now the series moves back to Nashville, giving the Predators a chance to force a Game 7. The Predators showed character with the season on the line, and now they have momentum in the series. Beating the Canucks again would not be easy, but at the same time, it is hard to imagine that Vancouver will win three straight in Nashville. It will definitely be an intense game with not much scoring, but the Predators will survive and send the series to the decisive game.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins took a 3-1 lead in the series, which put them in a comfortable situation, but losing the next two by 2-1 feels like déjà vu. After they blew Game 5 at home, the Bruins had to go back to Toronto, where the Maple Leafs tied the series with a William Nylander double. Morgan Geekie scored for the Bruins with time expiring.
Nylander came back into the series for the Maple Leafs after missing three of the previous games, and they lost Auston Matthews, who is listed as out for Game 7.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Boston Bruins: NHL betting trends
Boston has won 10 of the last 13 games against Toronto and they have played under the total goal line in 4 of their last 5 matchups and in 5 of their last 6 matchups played in Boston. The Bruins are 14-6 SU in the last 20 games against teams from the Atlantic Division and 3-6 SU in their last 9 games played in May. The Bruins have played under the total goal line in 5 of their last 6 home games and in 12 of their last 15 games overall. The Maple Leafs are 3-7 SU in their last 10 games overall, 3-6 SU in their last 9 games against teams from the Atlantic Division and 2-6 SU in their last 8 games played in May. The Maple Leafs have played under in 4 of their last 5 games overall but have gone over in 4 of their last 6 games on the road.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Boston Bruins are in a familiar situation going into Game 7 at home in the opening round of the playoffs against a team that was lower ranked. Last year, the Bruins fell apart after being 3-1 up against the Florida Panthers, but then lost three straight, including Game 7 at home, and it will be a total disaster if the same happens. The Maple Leafs definitely have their chance in this one, but with the NHL leading scorer this season, Auston Matthews, out, it will be difficult to score against the Bruins defense. The Boston crowd will also do their part in this one, and the Bruins will advance to the next round.
