The second day of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs is set to get underway with a great four-game slate of series-opening games. Below, I give out my five best PrizePicks flex plays for Tuesday.
For those unfamiliar with PrizePicks flex plays, getting 5/5 correct registers a 10x payout, 4/5 correct registers a 2x payout and 3/5 correct registers a 0.4x payout.
You can also take these plays and do smaller parlays with just two or three props for lower payouts.
What is PrizePicks? A daily fantasy operator — meaning they’re available in more states (31) than sports betting is! — PrizePicks offers a unique opportunity for action on player props in which you parlay two or more plays together.
Tuesday NHL Props
Johnny Gaudreau, Over 0.5 Assists
As the Western Conference champions, the Calgary Flames will host the Dallas Stars, who were the final team to clinch a playoff spot in the West.
Calgary is a heavy favorite in both Game 1 and the series, as most are expecting the Flames' top line to be too much to handle for Dallas.
That first line of Gaudreau/Lindholm/Tkachuk has been incredible all year, combining for 301 points this season. This line generates points, and Game 1 should be no different.
Gaudreau has been serving pucks on a platter all season, as he boasts 75 assists over 82 games. At home, Gaudreau has 40 assists in 41 games.
I would not play this total if it jumps from 0.5 to 1.
Roope Hintz, Under 0.5 Points
While I am backing a Flames forward above, I am also fading a Stars forward in this pick. However, this pick is more backing Calgary's goaltending and defense.
This season, Calgary ranks third in the league in five-on-five expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA). Jacob Markstrom is the projected starting goaltender and has been lights-out with a 0.922 save percentage.
In three games against the Flames this season, Hintz has zero points.
Adam Fox, Over 0.5 Assists
We have a Metropolitan Division clash, as the 2-seed New York Rangers host the 3-seed Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1.
Pittsburgh's starting goaltender, Tristan Jarry, has been ruled out for at least Game 1, so the Penguins are forced to turn to backup netminder Casey DeSmith.
DeSmith's surface-level numbers are misleading, as his metrics suggest regression is looming. Amongst starting goaltenders, DeSmith would rank just 19th in five-on-five goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx).
Fox enters this matchup in solid form, notching six assists over his last six games. However, I would not play this total if it jumps from 0.5 to 1.
Chris Kreider, Over 3 Shots on Goal
I'm backing another Rangers star to make his presence felt in Game 1. Kreider has been the primary trigger man for New York all season, and this game should be no different.
New York's leading goalscorer had notched at least three shots on goal in six straight games to close out the regular season. Over his four games against Pittsburgh this season, Kreider has notched four or more shots on goal in three of those contests.
I would not play this number at anything higher than 3.
Roman Josi – Over 0.5 Assists
The good news for Nashville is that it clinched a playoff birth as a wild-card team. The bad news for Nashville is it now gets awarded a seven-game series against the Stanley Cup favorites in the Avalanche.
That being said, this number is too good to pass up. Josi has notched at least one assist in five of his final six games of the regular season, bringing his season total to a team-leading 73 in 80 games.
While the Avalanche have one of the best blue lines in the league, projected starting goaltender Darcy Kuemper has been shaky lately as he has allowed three or more goals in seven straight starts. In four games against Colorado this season, Josi has two goals and four assists.
I would not play this total if it jumps from 0.5 to 1.
