NHL playoff picks: Isles, Knights to take pivotal Game 3

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Different night, same story. We split once again as we hit the Lightning moneyline, but lost the under.

Staying away from unders here, let's get the 2-0.

Philadelphia Flyers (-110) @ New York Islanders (-110)

The Islanders are feeling it right now. They may have lost Game 2 in overtime, but they sure didn't make it easy, tying the game after falling into a 3-0 hole in the first period.

It's got to be a daunting feeling playing against this team right now. When they get up a couple goals it's essentially game over, and when they fall behind by a few they still find a way back. You just can't kill this team off.

In the Game 1 win, the Isles controlled 59.62% of the expected goal share, and they controlled 59.85% of the share in Game 2 despite the loss. This team is just playing better in every area right now - including in goal where Semyon Varlamov has an absurd .954 save percentage at five-on-five since the restart - and there's no conceivable logic to truly justify taking the Flyers in a pick'em.

Pick: Islanders (-110)

Vegas Golden Knights (-200) @ Vancouver Canucks (+170)

No matter what you throw at them, these Canucks won't go down easy. They survived another onslaught in Game 2 to even the series, this time getting the goaltending they've become accustomed to from Jacob Markstrom. Timely scoring - which has been a theme for the Canucks in these playoffs - played a key role in the win, but against a team like the Knights, who are stronger and deeper, it's hard to consistently rely on that.

Over a seven-game series the cream usually rises to the top, and while the Canucks did well to steal Game 2, it won't be a common theme. Vegas dominated the expected goals share outside of the first period of Tuesday's loss, and frankly that should come as little surprise.

Expect a spirited response from the Knights here following the loss. They were caught a bit flat out of the gate in Game 2 after a dominating display in Game 1, but that won't be the case here as they strike first and set the tone for another convincing win.

Pick: Knights -1.5 (+140)

(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.

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