NHL playoff picks: A Tuesday triple threat

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Well, I said to tread lightly yesterday, and hopefully you listened. The Hurricanes collapsed in the third period and the Canucks never could get much going as we stumbled to an 0-2 night.

I already had a few of Tuesday's games circled on the calendar, and I'm anticipating a big day. Here's to hoping.

Philadelphia Flyers (-130) @ Montreal Canadiens (+110)

After the Canadiens dominated Game 2, things evened out in Game 3. It was tense and scoring chances were scarce. The Flyers capitalized on a fortunate bounce to take an early lead and that was it for the scoring. Carter Hart was excellent and puck luck wasn't on the side of Montreal - Jesperi Kotkaniemi hit the crossbar twice, Nick Suzuki ripped one off the post, and Brett Kulak dented the bar on a wicked shot. Hart was beaten clean on every one of these.

It was a frustrating game for the Canadiens, but there were plenty of positives to take from it once again. They know that not only can they play with the Flyers, but they can beat them. Montreal has controlled a much larger portion of the expected goal share in the series and has been especially dominant in that regard at five on five. Given the rate at which the Canadiens are generating offense and taking the game to the Flyers, with some better puck luck they'll be an absolute steal at anything plus-money.

Pick: Canadiens (+110)

Calgary Flames (+105) @ Dallas Stars (-125)

While some key bounces have gone against the Habs, no team has been more snakebitten than the Stars. They've been living around the Flames' net, but a combination of posts, crossbars, missed open nets, and sporadically great goaltending from Cam Talbot has resulted in an incredibly close series. It's 2-2 heading into Game 5, but it could - and probably should - just as easily be 3-1 Dallas at worst.

The Stars have controlled 62.71% of the expected goals in this series, and a terrific 65.86% at five on five. There's zero doubt that they've been the better team throughout, and the floodgates opened in Game 4. It was a devastating loss for the Flames, who were seconds away from being up 3-1 in the series. Dallas needed a goal to tie the game and scored twice - one was disallowed. That's going to weigh heavily in Calgary's heads.

It also looked like Dallas really figured something out with the tweaks the team made - its defensemen are joining the rush with a lot more frequency and the Flames haven't had an answer outside of Talbot. Galvanized by their Game 4 victory, the Stars take a big step toward the second round on Tuesday night.

Pick: Stars (-125)

Chicago Blackhawks (+165) @ Vegas Golden Knights (-195)

I haven't a clue how this series is still going. The Blackhawks committed larceny in Game 4, but their joy will be short-lived. It's almost stunning how dominant the Knights were in the loss. They controlled an astounding 74.79% of the expected goals share and produced 16 high-danger scoring chances to Chicago's three.

The Blackhawks rode their luck and extended their season by another 60 minutes, but that's going to be the extent of it. The Knights have dominated this entire series and, once again getting last change Tuesday, they will have their way with a Chicago defense that provides little resistance.

Pick: Knights -1.5 (+130)

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.