The NHL Playoffs continue with two games on Wednesday night. First up is Panthers vs. Maple Leafs Game 2 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Toronto leads that series, 1-0.
After that we've got Game 1 of Stars vs. Jets at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
My NHL picks had been on fire before two close losses on Tuesday. Let's get back on track tonight with my NHL best bets and predictions for Wednesday, May 7.
NHL Best Bets Tonight, Wednesday May 7
| 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
We have a few storylines heading into Game 2 of the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs series.
Firstly, we know Sam Bennett is going to be a target of some sort. The chippy forward, inadvertent or not, ran into the head of Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz, to the point that Stolarz had to leave the arena on a stretcher.
The second Stolarz went down, Florida took advantage. The Panthers were down 4-1 heading into the third period, only to come back and make it close at 4-3. Matthew Knies of the Leafs netted another goal to make it 5-3. Florida tried to come back, but it wasn’t enough.
I don’t know what to make of the Leafs. Pulling away early on saved the game for them, but I need more. After seeing their offensive struggles against Ottawa, and now with Stolarz’s uncertainty, how can I fully trust them? The second round is still uncharted territory for this group, while the defending champ Panthers handled Tampa Bay fairly easily.
Despite this game going to the Leafs, all the momentum is pointed toward the Panthers.
Evolving Hockey had them as the better 5-on-5 team on both offense and defense. Toronto just had the luxury of William Nylander, who had Sergei Bobrovsky’s number.
Toronto ended the season winning nine out of its last 10 games, and then handled Ottawa in a tight, six-game series. Stolarz has been the equalizer, though, and without his presence, I think that leaves the Leafs very vulnerable for a Panthers team ready to pounce.
With Stolarz likely out and Joseph Woll in, I think Game 2 goes to Florida in regulation.
Pick: Panthers 60 Minute ML (+115)
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Stars vs. Jets
Both of these teams are coming off remarkable Game 7 comebacks in round one.
And now, these two Central Division foes can hate each other that much more. The Winnipeg Jets won three out of the four matchups this season, but we still don’t know the status of star center Mark Scheifele and number-one defenseman Josh Morrissey.
Both skated with a non-contact jersey in practice, so I wonder if that means we’ll have to wait until at least Game 2 to see them.
Conversely, for Dallas, both Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson’s statuses are up in the air. It seems as if Robertson is closer than Heiskanen, but Pete DeBoer was vague.
Either way, there are a lot of questions surrounding this series and the availability of several top players.
The other storyline to hone in on is the goaltending. What version of Connor Hellebuyck do we get in this series? There were times when the Vezina favorite looked like a sieve, but when it mattered in the overtimes of Game 7 against the Blues, Hellebuyck was lights out.
Because he’s home, I think it’s more likely we see Hellebuyck at his A-game.
There’s still a lot to find out in terms of availability for both teams, but I like Winnipeg to win this one at home for plus-money.
This pick may change if I find out Robertson plays and both Scheifele and Morrissey remain out, but I’ll put my money towards Hellebuyck finding his groove when it matters most.
Pick: Jets ML (+105)
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