NHL Second Round Playoffs: Previews, Prediction and betting tips for all 4 series

Second Round Playoffs

Check out the best bookmakers for betting on the Stanley Cup Playoffs! These NHL playoffs have been fantastic to watch, with five of the eight first-round series going the full seven games. The second round looks to be just as tightly contested. Today, we will give you a brief preview of each series and tell you who we think will win each series.

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Eastern Conference

New York Rangers vs Carolina Hurricanes

The Rangers are a gritty bunch that cannot be questioned after they came back from 3-1 down to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Rangers trailed in all three of their consecutive wins to advance.

The Hurricanes are a better team than the Rangers. Can the Rangers get outplayed again and win this series? That’s highly doubtful; the Hurricanes have a considerable advantage against the Rangers playing five on five, which could be the difference.

Series Odds!

Bet the Hurricanes -227 at Caesars Sportsbook Bet the Rangers +170 at Caesars Sportsbook

Prediction

The Rangers will make this series difficult for the Hurricanes, but the Hurricanes are the stronger team 5 on 5. But the Rangers special teams and goaltending can’t be overlooked. The Hurricanes against Boston struggled away from home but prevailed in seven games. All of the games in this series will be tight and hard-fought. Pick: Hurricanes in six!

Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning

The Florida Panthers have had a historic season as they have advanced past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 1996. They have a historically significant offense.

The Lightning is the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions, and they are road tested. They beat Toronto twice in Toronto and used their experience to win game seven on the road.

The adage defense wins championships will be tested by the Panthers.

The Lightning’s strategy will be pretty simple: forecheck the hell out of the Panthers’ defensemen and try to kill that rush play at the root and control the game’s tempo.

Series odds!

Bet the Panthers  -148 at Caesars Sportsbook Bet the Lightning +126 at Caesars Sportsbook

Prediction

The Lightning is a hard-nosed, physical team, and the Panthers are an offensive juggernaut. Something has to give, and the game’s tempo will tell you who wins this series? They will win if the Lightning can slow down the Panthers with their forechecking. They will win if the Panthers get to the neutral zone with minor issues. I will side with the Physical team here, and don’t get me wrong; this will not be easy for the Lightning. Pick Lightning in six.

Western Conference

Edmonton Oilers vs Calgary Flames

The Battle of Alberta resumes in the second round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and this heated rivalry promises to get even hotter.

The Flames had to go overtime to get rid of the Dallas Stars in Game 7; most people thought that the series would be much easier than it was.

The Oilers struggled much like the Flames in a series most thought they would win easily before serving in a Game 7 at home.

Connor McDavid contributed a playoff-leading 14 points in the Oilers’ effort, including six games with multiple points, which hadn’t been done since the Bruins’ Rick Middleton managed the feat in 1983.

This series promises to be emotional and physical. The penalties were up in the first round of the playoffs, and hopefully, officiating will not kill this series.

The Health of Calgary’s blue line. The Flames need to be at full strength to win this series. Tanev missed game seven against the Stars, and it looks like he could miss at least game one of this series.

Series Odds

Bet the Flames -200 at Caesars Sportsbook Bet the Oilers +160 at Caesars Sportsbook

Prediction

The Oilers are not as good defensively as the Stars, which makes this a tough series for the Oilers to win. The Dallas Stars defense and goaltending gave them a shot to upset the Flames in round one. Markstrom and a formidable Flames’ blue line will give the Oilers issues. Pick Flames in seven.

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Colorado Avalanche vs St.Louis Blues

The Avs have lost just one first-round game in their last three playoff appearances. The issue is after dominating in the first-round series, they have inexplicably fallen on their faces in each of their previous three second-round series.

The Blues only edge in this series seems to be at the forward position.

The Avs have a considerable advantage in goal over the Blues. The Blues will shuffle goaltenders to try to find the hot-hand in goal.

The Avs won two out of three regular-season games against the Blues in the regular season.

The Blues averaged the third-most goals per game in the league at 3.77 goals and finished in the top-10 with the second-highest producing power play at 27.0% and a fifth-ranked penalty kill at 84.1%. So they could get hot and cause the Avs significant issues.

Series Odds

Bet the Avalanche -400 at Caesars Sportsbook Bet the Blues +300 at Caesars Sportsbook

Prediction

This series seems like a no-brainer because of the Avs domination of the regular season and the first round of these playoffs. But the past three years have caused concern. The Avs will be too good in Goal for the Blues, and overall the Avs are better at most positions. I think the Blues will be competitive in this series. Pick Avalanche in Five.