The NHL Playoffs continue with two games on Wednesday night. First up is Panthers vs. Maple Leafs Game 5, with the series tied at 2-2 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
After that, we've got Game 5 of Oilers vs. Golden Knights, where the Oilers lead the series at 3-1 at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Let's get to my NHL best bets and predictions for Wednesday, May 14.
NHL Best Bets for Wednesday May 14
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 9:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NHL Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Panthers vs. Maple Leafs
Despite the 2-0 shutout victory from the Panthers in Game 4, it’s evident that goaltending and defense aren’t paramount in this series.
When you have a series filled with stars such as Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk, William Nylander, Sam Reinhart, etc., it’ll be the forwards that hold the upper hand.
Toronto has gotten lucky in this series, playing as the worst 5-on-5 team in the second round. The Leafs have the worst even-strength expected goals and expected goals against, while Florida is conversely playing the best.
The numbers don’t lie. The Panthers have been better in every facet of the game. Sergei Bobrovsky, while a future Hall of Famer in his own right, has been sloppy and let in several goals he should’ve had. He’s playing at a bottom-five pace with a -1.6 GSAx and an .888 SV%.
The shutout had to do wonders for his confidence moving forward, but the Leafs aren’t ones to take a scoreless night lightly. Prior to Game 4, every game in this series had gone over 6.5 goals, and I think this has a chance to go over again.
Joseph Woll is a fine goaltender, but a brick wall he is not. I think Florida will continue to light up the scoreboard, leading to another high-scoring duel.
Pick: Over 5.5 (-120)
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Oilers vs. Golden Knights
When Cal Pickard was ruled out for Game 4 was coupled with news that Stuart Skinner would come back in to replace him, you could hear a collective groan around northern Alberta.
I don’t think anyone envisioned what Skinner would do, shutting out the Golden Knights on 23 shots.
However, if you remember last season, Skinner was benched in the playoffs due to poor performance, and none other than Pickard subbed in. Once Skinner was brought back in, Edmonton found its way to the Stanley Cup Final.
Skinner is as volatile as they come, and Vegas at home is a deadly combination. The Knights went 29-9-3 at home in the regular season, but that hasn’t been consistent in the postseason. The Golden Knights crumbled in this round twice and lost once in the first round.
So, what do we make of Game 5 with the series and season on the line for the Golden Knights?
It’s hard to tell, especially with captain Mark Stone seemingly hampered. Stone left Game 3 early and never returned, only to return for Game 4.
Knowing Vegas, though, I don’t think it’ll go down without a fight and aggressively crash the net. If there’s one thing that Skinner doesn’t thrive on, it’s chaos.
The Oilers will always get theirs. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are inevitable. For Vegas, it’s all about keeping up with the opposition, which it can certainly do in The Fortress.
Pick: Vegas Golden Knights ML (-125)
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