NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs: Game 7 Picks and Scores

If you’ve never played in a deciding game of a seven-match series it’s hard to know what it’s all about. Even if you played in Pee Wee, you have an idea. It’s the pressure of knowing each time you touch the puck you could win or lose the season for your team. In the NHL, that pressure has to be multiplied by a million.

Tonight we’ll see the end of three Stanley Cup playoff series in a matter of hours. It’ll be heartbreak for three squads and a wave of relief for another trio of teams. I’ll link to each of my series previews which were written before the playoffs and give my take on tonight’s game odds with a pick.

Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers

Tonight’s Game 7 odds: New York Rangers – 160 favorites

Frank Doyle’s series preview and prediction

So there’s two ways of looking at this game. You either go with the momentum the Flyers come in with after Thursday’s blowout win, or you go with the better team for the balance of the series. I’ll go with the latter. The Rangers couldn’t have played much worse Thursday. They were out of position, lost their cool, turned pucks over and didn’t get the big save when they needed it – all anomalies for this team. Philadelphia controlled the play after the first period but the Flyers still turn the puck over too much in their own end. New York will look to bury one past Steve Mason early in this one and stay out of the penalty box. Rangers advance in front of the Madison Square Garden faithful.

Score Prediction: Rangers 3, Flyers 1.

Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche

Tonight’s Game 7 odds: Colorado Avalanche – 140 favorites.

Series preview and prediction

I had the Wild upsetting the Avalanche in this series, so seeing it go to the limit doesn’t surprise me. What has surprised me is how well Colorado’s young stars have played against some of Minnesota’s seasoned veterans. I have a ton of respect for the Avalanche. Patrick Roy has done an incredible job with this young group and goaltender Semyon Varlamov can steal this game if he gets off to a quick start. I’m sticking to my guns with the upset. The Avs needed a late goal to Game 5 just to get to overtime before Nate MacKinnon ended it. Then Minnesota jumped out to an early two-goal lead in Game 6 before holding on for a 5-2 victory that was a lot closer than the score suggests with a pair of empty-netters. Minnesota pays Zach Parise the big bucks to deliver in big games had two goals and four points Monday. He has another major game tonight and expect the same from Ryan Suter as he tries to contain MacKinnon’s line.

Score Prediction: Wild 4, Avalanche 2.

Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks

Tonight’s Game 7 odds: San Jose Sharks – 130

Series preview and prediction

So, I had the Sharks winning the Stanley Cup and as awful as I feel about that pick right now, I knew we were in for a long series. I still think the Kings are lucky to be in this situation. It was a great move by Sharks coach Todd McLellan to take the heat off his club by complaining about the questionable Game 6 goal and now he knows he has to go back to Antti Niemi in goal. The Sharks need to score first in this game or they’re in major trouble. Los Angeles is a team that feeds off momentum and if San Jose needs a strong first period or they’re done. This is probably a coin flip, but I’ll stick with the Sharks. They’ll get a big power play goal and hold on.

Score Prediction: San Jose 2, Los Angeles 1.