@FastMoneyLabs’ +1150 NHL Playoff Parlay - 5/6

After convincing FlashPicks to let me run a weekly parlay, the excitement was high. 3 weeks later and we’ve yet to hit. Not what I envisioned. Let’s flip the script tonight. Here’s what I’m rolling with. 

We were ALL-IN on Steven Stamkos to pop off in Game 2. Some predictions age well. That one didn’t. If you can stomach going back to him, I’m fairly confident he’ll bounce back and finish with 4+ shots on goal. That’s what we needed last time. He didn’t get it. Now he will. That’s usually how this stuff works.

For Leg 1 of our parlay though, I want a plus money bet to juice up our odds. And for that, I trust no one more than Tampa Bay superstar Nikita Kucherov to deliver 2+ points, which could cash with any combination of 2 goals and/or assists.

After a lackluster Game 1, Kucherov stepped up to deliver a standout, 4-point performance. That game was played in Toronto, and Kucherov’s point production is usually less on the road.

Tonight, the series returns to Tampa where Kucherov’s known to be even more lethal from a points perspective. This 2+ prop cashed in 59% of his home games this year.

I view the safest possible play for Leg 1 as a bet that Kucherov clears his 2.5 Shots on Goal (-175) line. But for my Parlay of the Week, I prefer to go bold and back the hot hand to get 2+ points at plus money.

The top storyline in NHL tonight is probably the Hurricanes being down to their 3rd string goalie. After backup Antti Raanta left Game 2 with an upper-body injury, Peter Kochetkov, a 22-year-old rookie with practically no NHL experience, was thrown into the game at a critical point.

I can’t even begin to imagine what that felt like, but the kid seized the moment. He went on to stop 30 of 32 shots faced, helping Carolina secure victory and take a commanding 2-0 series lead heading into Game 3 in Boston.

I honestly had no clue who this guy was until after that game. Turns out he’s got real promise.

He started the year in the KHL (Russian League) before joining the Hurricanes AHL (minor league) team after KHL playoffs. He went on to post a 13-1-1 record with a 2.09 GAA and 0.921 save percentage in 15 AHL games. Those are elite numbers.

The Canes took notice and called him up to make two spot starts in the NHL. His first was a 19 save win vs. New Jersey. And 2nd was an even more impressive 34 save performance vs. the Rangers with 1st place in the Metropolitan Division on the line.

Kid’s got ice in his veins, and I’m excited to back him in a game where he should face at least 35+ shots again tonight. Boston’s consistently got that many shots in games vs. Carolina this year, and it should continue tonight now that they’re back at home.

Kochetkov doesn’t need to be perfect to cash this bet for us. Even if he struggles, the risk of him getting pulled from the game is fairly low given how thin the Canes are at the position. Barring an unexpected injury, I think he’ll cruise past this number tonight. Love this bet for Leg 2.

This prop cashed in 9 straight games now. He’s averaging 4.5 shots per game in the series and 4.0 on the year vs. STL. He was rewarded by scoring twice last game and should be oozing with confidence heading into Game 3.

This morning, it was announced that 3 of STL’s starting defensemen are OUT tonight. I already liked Ek, but that news makes me even more eager to back him to keep it rolling.

Not overthinking this one. I trust Ek to keep us alive with Leg 3.

Similar to my Eriksson Ek pick, I’m riding the trend and hot hand. Kempe had 5+ shots on goal in both Games this series. Including regular season, he finished with 5+ shots (+2.5 vs. line) in 4 straight games vs. them. On the year, this prop is 5-1 when he takes on the Oilers.

I’m surprised books are even letting us bet this prop at a 2.5 line. In his last 10 games, Kempe’s averaging 4.5 shots on goal, which rises to 5.0 per game in his last 5.

Tonight, the series returns to LA where Kempe had 3+ shots in 19 of his last 25 (76%) home games. 

Edmonton’s a tough matchup for most players but not Kempe. I’m riding with the hot hand to close this parlay out and secure the bag.

I got +1150 Odds on this Parlay at Caesars Sportsbook and will track as an official $FML play on my Twitter page. I risked 0.5 Units on the parlay (i.e. half my normal bet size).

I also bet these props in a Round Robin-style Parlay in combinations of 3. To profit on the Round Robin, we need to go at least 3 for 4.

Parlays of this nature are highly risky so please bet responsibly, and best of luck!