2023 NHL Playoffs expert picks, odds: Predictions for Bruins vs. Panthers, Avalanche vs. Kraken and

June 04, 2024

It has been nearly two weeks into the Stanley Cup Playoffs and we might already have the quote of the postseason from Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice.

Paul Maurice talking about Matthew Tkachuk. Man, what a quote. pic.twitter.com/DWGT4ENzjL

— Darren Haynes (@DarrenWHaynes) April 27, 2023

It’s because of Matthew Tkachuk’s heroics that we still have the Bruins and Panthers to talk about for our daily playoff picks. If the Panthers somehow find a way to win Game 6, the upset potential will be high. Speaking of upset potential, the Seattle Kraken are in a much better position to do so against the reigning Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche. Nobody among our NHL writers picked the Kraken to win their series, so they have a great chance at proving us all wrong. Finally, Minnesota and the New York Islanders are trying to stave off elimination.

Time for the picks!

During the Stanley Cup playoffs, The Athletic’s writers will make their straight-up picks. You’ll find picks, coverage and the latest odds here. Our in-depth NHL coverage is linked below the picks.

All odds from BetMGM and update live.

Game 6 – Hurricanes at Islanders

Carolina leads 3-2

7 p.m. on TBS, SN360

Because these teams are very close to each other in nature, mostly through their defensive structures, it feels like this Game 6 could go either way. The Isles are favoured, but they’ll need a dynamite performance from Ilya Sorokin in goal to cement a victory. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are still to be feared despite losing players like Teuvo Teravainen earlier in the series.

Game 6 – Bruins at Panthers

Boston leads 3-2

7:30 p.m. on TNT, SN, CBC

As mentioned above, Matthew Tkachuk’s heroics have put the Panthers in a rather interesting spot. They have a Game 6 at home and a chance to maintain the momentum they’ve bottled up. Sergei Bobrovsky looks to be the goalie for the foreseeable future, taking over for Alex Lyon. But if Florida wants the opportunity to upset Boston in Game 7, they’ll need to win a game at home. Both of Florida’s wins to this point have been at TD Garden.

Meanwhile, the Bruins are getting closer and closer to full strength. David Krejci’s health is still up in the air, but Patrice Bergeron is already back and running. He even scored in Game 5. But, as Bruins writer Fluto Shinzawa examined in his latest, is it time for the team to give Jeremy Swayman a chance in net? Linus Ullmark has played no more than four consecutive starts this season and might have been a bit fatigued in Game 5. This is still Boston’s series to lose, but they’ll need to push the right buttons for a Game 6 win.

Game 6 – Stars at Wild

9:30 p.m. on TBS, SN360

The Stars are in this position because their big guns played well in Game 5. You don’t need to look too far for Jason Robertson. He had himself a two-point night. Tyler Seguin, as of Thursday morning according to Moneypuck.com, is leading all playoff scorers in expected goals. He, too, had a two-point night. You didn’t think we’d forget about Roope Hintz, did you? Entering Thursday night’s games, Hintz leads all players in playoff scoring with 11 points.

But considering how back and forth this series has been, you can’t blame some of us for picking Minnesota to win Game 6 at home. It is dead even on the Moneyline for a reason. Who’s to say their big guns don’t step up for a big game with everything on the line? Also, does Wild head coach Dean Evason tempt fate again by playing Marc-André Fleury after Filip Gustavsson lost Game 5? He wouldn’t go back to the well again, would he?

Game 6 – Avalanche at Kraken

Seattle leads 3-2

10 p.m. on TNT, SN

The Seattle Kraken haven’t lucked into any of their wins or their series lead. They’ve played like a team that has matched Colorado’s output every step of the way. Goaltending has also been a pleasant surprise for them. Philipp Grubauer’s season save percentage was under .900 — .895, to be specific — but he’s now playing at a rate of .918. through the postseason. It’s better than Bruins goaltender and likely Vezina Trophy nominee Linus Ullmark who’s at .913. There’s every reason to pick the Kraken to defeat an Avalanche team who aren’t the same team as they were last year.

The thing is, the Avalanche will get Cale Makar back after he served a one-game suspension. They still have Nathan MacKinnon, who can turn on a dime and win a game at any moment. The Kraken are a sexy pick, but the Avalanche still have enough talent to push this to Game 7.

(Top photo: Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

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