NHL Playoffs Picks & Predictions for Thursday, May 5, 2011

Thursday NHL Free Pick

(The Spread) – The Vancouver Canucks will look to extend their series lead against the Nashville Predators tonight when the two teams play at 8:30PM ET.

View Current NHL Playoff Betting Odds

Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made the Canucks –120 money line favorites over the Predators, who are +111 on the ML. The over/under total for this game is currently 5 goals.

Roberto Luongo improved his playoff record to 6-2-2 after saving 28 of 30 goals in Game 3 against the Predators on Tuesday. Thanks to Ryan Kesler’s goal in overtime, the Canucks got two wins closer to moving to the next round of the playoffs.

The Predators got a solid effort out of Pekka Rinne in Game 3 (he saved 44 of 47 goals, but it wasn’t enough as they lost in overtime. Ryan Kesler also scored both of Nashville’s goals.

NHL Free Pick: Take the Canucks. According to latest NHL trends, the Canucks are 7-2 in their last nine trips to Nashville, while the road team in this series is 4-1 in the last five meetings. On the flip side, the Predators are 5-11 in their last 16 games as a home underdog and 7-17 in their last 24 playoff games as an underdog.

THURSDAY NHL PLAYOFFS FREE PICK: VANCOUVER CANUCKS –120

Bet Canucks vs. Predators Odds

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