We’re a couple days into the NHL Qualifiers as well as the seeding round robins. Do-or-die hockey, one of the best events in sports, but a seemingly impossible path to pocket some cash on your favorite sports books.
Whether it’s forgetting how wretched a team’s defense truly is, how dynamic a power play unit is or simply the unknown after not watching the game in four months, there’s significant mystery when placing bets as the qualifiers begin.
The Campus Cover podcast hosted Rob Reese from NHL.com and the NHL Fantasy on Ice podcast on for a little help in navigating the unknown:
Looking for some futures to hop on from the get go? Reese found himself intrigued by the Minnesota Wild and Montreal Canadiens as long-shots. Maybe stay away from the Blackhawks and their woefully inconsistent, usually poor performing defensive corps. Although Chicago jumped out to an early 1-0 series lead against the #5 seed Edmonton Oilers, Mikko Koskinen gets the call in net for Game 2, hopefully providing a spark after the egg laid by Mike Smith in the series opener.
Winnipeg tied things up in their bout with Calgary thanks to the efforts of a healthy Connor Hellebuyck in net. Calgary, if able to subvert Hellebuyck’s goaltending in the NHL Qualifiers, provides an interesting group for bettors ahead of the playoffs. Launch Gaudreau and Tkachuk, hold your breath and hope for the best.
Carolina continues to surprise me with another winning effort and 2-0 series lead against the New York Rangers. Still missing Dougie Hamilton from the blue line, Petr Mrazek in the crease has last year’s Eastern Conference runner-up a game away from a best-of-seven series.
Your Best Bet
These games have been incredibly difficult to pick, but one thing that’s been somewhat of a constant is the under. Under are 23-2 so far in the bubble. Desperate for an over? Look no further than the Blackhawks and Oilers. A 6-4 Chicago victory in Game 1 was truly just a glimpse into how this series might play out.
Chicago can score, and while streaky in the regular season, appears off to a molten hot start with Dominik Kubalik leading the way. Chicago’s downfall is their blue line. An aging Duncan Keith, a youthful and learning d-man Adam Boqvist, and a head-scratching reliance on Slater Koekkoek and Olli Maatta could spell disaster with three consecutive “L”s if unable to slow down or keep pace with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
If Chicago isn’t playing, the safe play is the under. If you’re looking for some late night fun, tune into Chicago-Edmonton and HAMMER the over.
Tune into The Campus Cover’s episode with Rob Reese for more quick-hitters about the NHL Qualifiers, and check back every week for our hottest picks.
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