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After the New Jersey Devils eliminated the New York Rangers with a 4-0 win, the bracket for the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs is set, with a few unexpected teams in the mix.

Round two of the Stanley Cup playoffs begins Tuesday night, featuring two wild card teams that pulled off huge upsets in the first round. Let’s preview and make picks for these NHL Playoff betting matchups.

Betting Big on Friday’s NHL Playoffs Games | MyBookie NHL First Round Preview

Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

NHL Odds: Panthers +1.5 -178, Maple Leafs -1.5 +145/ Panthers +134, Maple Leafs -165 / O/U 6.5
West 2nd Round – Game 1
When: Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 9:30 pm ET
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
TV / Streaming: ESPN

The Toronto Maple Leafs finally made it through the first round of the playoffs after seven consecutive first-round exits, winning their first playoff series since 2004.

On the other hand, the Florida Panthers stunned the hockey world, erasing a 3-1 series deficit to win game seven in overtime, upsetting and eliminating the greatest regular season team in hockey history and Eastern Conference number one seed Boston Bruins.

Toronto won the head-to-head season series 3-1, with three of the four games being decided in overtime and won by the road team. The Maple Leafs and Panthers combined for a 2-2 over/under record, but the total goals line was set at 7.0 for three of those games. Both teams went 2-2 ats.

Toronto averaged 3.83 goals per game in the first round, while the powerplay converted at 25.0%. Defensively, the Leafs averaged 3.50 goals-against per game, while the penalty kill operated at 76.2%.

Florida averaged 3.71 goals per game, while the powerplay converted at 25% in the first round. Defensively, the Panthers gave up 3.86 goals in seven games against the Bruins, while the penalty kill operated at 59.3%.

The Maple Leafs had a 27-8-6 home record in the regular season and a 1-2 record in the first round. The Panthers had a 19-19-3 road record in the regular season and a 3-1 road record in the first round.

The Maple Leafs should get the win on home ice and our pick to win. However, buyer (and puck line spread players) beware: five of the previous six meetings between Toronto and Florida have gone to overtime.

NHL Playoffs Round 2 Pick: Maple Leafs | Bet Panthers vs. Maple Leafs Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Seattle Kraken vs. Dallas Stars

NHL Odds: Kraken +1.5, Stars -1.5 / Kraken +146, Stars -179 / O/U 5.5
East 2nd Round – Game 1
When: Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 7:00 pm ET
Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
TV / Streaming: ESPN

The Dallas Stars finished the Minnesota Wild’s season in six physical games in the first round back on April 28th. The Seattle Kraken earned a Wild Card spot, then used that spot to upset the number one seed in the Central Division bracket and defending Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes in seven games on April 30th.

Dallas holds the edge over Seattle in the 2022-23 head-to-head season series 2-1, with two games decided in overtime. The road team won all three matchups this season. The over was 3-0 this season, while Seattle posted a 2-1 ats record.

Seattle averaged 2.57 goals per game, while the powerplay converted at 14.3% in the first round. Defensively, the Kraken gave up 2.71 goals per game in round one, while the penalty kill operated at 88.9%.

Dallas averaged 3.50 goals per game in their first-round series, while the powerplay converted at 37.5%. Defensively, the Stars averaged 2.33 goals-against per game, while the penalty kill operated at 81.8%.

Dallas had a 22-10-9 home record this season and was 2-1 at home in the first round, while Seattle had a 26-11-4 road record in the regular season and 3-1 in the playoffs.

Statistically speaking, the Dallas Stars should win game one on home ice. However, the Kraken are excellent on the road, and the head-to-head trends favor the road team. We’re leaning toward the Kraken pulling off another upset and winning game one.

NHL Playoffs Round 2 Pick: Kraken | Bet Kraken vs Stars Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game