Best NHL Bets Today | NHL Picks, April 23

The 2024 NHL playoffs are starting to take shape as there are already games that have gotten to a 2-0 series lead. Tonight is expected to have another set of matchups that will be either tied or will have a serious decifit for one team. These games lines and more will make great betting opportunities in tonight's games. Look for the best numbers and lines to come from DraftKings Sportsbook.

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Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers - Game Two

• Time: 7:30 PM E.T. - Tuesday

• Moneyline: Lightning (+154) | Panthers (-185)

• Puck Line: Lightning +1.5 (-170) | Panthers -1.5 (+142) 

• Total: Over 5.5 (-122) | Under 5.5 (+102)

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My Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning (TB) at DraftKings

The first-round Divisional Round matchup between Atlantic Florida rivals continues on Tuesday as the Tampa Bay Lightning play their second game on the road versus the Florida Panthers. The Panthers’ defense prevailed in game one to take a 3-2 win on Sunday. The Panthers held the high-velocity lightning team to a total of two goals on a total of 19 shots.

The Panthers were able to take the game with two minutes and five seconds left 3-1 on an empty netter. The Lightning only scored after the initial first period with ten seconds left on a power play. Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk accounted for a goal and an assist while center Aleksander Barkov accounted for two assists.

The Panthers won two of the three games in the regular season over the Lightning thanks to the stellar play of their defense. Florida held Tampa Bay to only two goals in the first two games of the regular season. The only way for the Lightning to prevail in this series is for their offense to find a way and push through the Panthers’ defense for a stellar performance. Tampa Bay won their only matchup in six games on March 16 with a 5-3 score.

While the Lightning possess the fifth-ranked scoring offense of the season averaging 3.51 points per game. They have their hands full with the top-ranked scoring defense of the season (2.41 goals per game) in the Panthers. Meanwhile, the Panthers possess one of the most undervalued offenses in the league as they average 3.23 goals per game (11th in the league). They might survive an offensive shootout with the Lightning possessing a bottom-ten defense.

Bet on Tampa Bay Lightning at DraftKings

Colorado Avalanche vs. Winnipeg Jets - Game Two

• Time: 9:30 PM E.T. - Tuesday

• Moneyline: Avalanche (-112) | Jets (-108)

• Puck Line: Avalanche +1.5 (-265) | Jets -1.5 (+218) 

• Total: Over 6 (-125) | Under 6 (+105)

My Pick: Over 6 Goals Scored (-125) at DraftKings

The first round of the 2024 NHL Playoffs has brought many key storylines and matchups already this season. One of the most interesting matchups of the postseason is the Western Conference matchup between Central Divisional rivals in the Colorado Avalanche at the Winnipeg Jets.

Earlier in the regular season, both the defenses of the Jets and the Avalanche were two of the most efficient units in the league. On Sunday, however, the Jets defeated the Avalanche with a huge 7-6 score as the score was tied 3-3 going into the second period. Each team also scored three goals in the third period.

Jets center Scheifele accounted for a goal and two assists, center Adam Lowry scored two goals and Avalanche defender Cale Makar scored a goal and accounted for two assists. Avalanche goalie Alexander Georgiev had an atrocious performance as he only saved 16 of the 23 shot attempts from the Jets (69.6%).

This horrible defensive performance from the Avalanche has been going on since the second half of the season. The Avalanche was one of the top-ranked defensive units in the league, but finished the regular season with the 17th ranked scoring defense (3.07 goals allowed per game).

In the matchup against the Jets on March 13, the Avalanche were dominated 7-0. On December 16, Colorado fell 6-2. The Avalanche has lost all four meetings this season to the Jets.

It is a safe bet that that the Avalanche will allow a large amount of points with their offense playing well. Colorado did finish the regular season with the top-scoring offense in the league (3.68 goals per game).

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