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Minnesota at VEGAS (-1', +115)

By Hunter Yount, Featured Handicapper

I've hit nine of my last 11 NHL releases after hitting Carolina (-1', +130) in a home win over New Jersey in Game 1 of the opening round.

My $10 bettors are up more than $4K with my last 11 plays, and tonight I'm in the series opener between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

The defending Stanley Cup champs will look to strike first, while the Bolts will be looking to make a statement. I have the value play in this series opener.

NHL Winner # 10 of 12 - $10 Bettors up $4,190 my last 11 plays

80 DIME
Eastern Conference
Series Opening Lock

Panthers at Lightning
8:30 Eastern

MATCHING my 80Dime Winner
Rangers 4-0 at Columbus (3/15)

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Icy Hot 9-2 Roll In The NHL
60 Dime Hurricanes (-1', +130) 4-1 over New Jersey (4/20)
60 Dime Jets (-1', +140) 5-3 over St. Louis (4/19)
25 Dime Blackhawks (+240) 4-3 at Ottawa (4/15)
30 Dime Oilers 4-1 in Winnipeg (4/13)
40 Dime Canadiens (+200) in LOSS at Toronto (4/12)
50 Dime Flames (+105) 4-2 over Minnesota (4/11)
40 Dime Islanders (-120) in LOSS to Rangers (4/10)
30 Dime Ducks (+120) 4-3 over Calgary (4/9)
50 Dime Red Wings (+105) 2-1 over Florida (4/6)
40 Dime Kings (-1', +140) 3-0 over Edmonton (4/5)
30 Dime Red Wings (+160) 5-3 over Carolina (4/4)

My free play for tonight is the Vegas Golden Knights over the Minnesota Wild, and we're playing the home team on the puck line.

Vegas got the lucky puck line win on Sunday, call it a Miracle on Easter, when Brett Howden's shot crossed the goal line with less than a second remaining to make it 4-2.

Tonight the Knights won't need the luck. The talent this team has far outweighs Minnesota, as the Knights can roll four lines comfortably, while the Wild has one line that is effective. And when Vegas' fourth line can threaten Minnesota's top line, that's a problem.

With how we're seeing some of these games play out over the first few days of the postseason, Vegas is going to respond in Game 2, before the series heads to the Twin Cities, with a blowout win.

Jack Eichel and Mark Stone had primo chances in the series opener, and simply couldn't fit the gaps. Tonight I think we're going to see Vegas' stars, and its depth, open things up and get balanced offense from all four lines in what could be a five-goal margin when all said and done.

1* GOLDEN KNIGHTS PUCK LINE