Odd and Bets: Staal brother’s go head-to-head-to-head in the Eastern Conference Final

We’re talking hockey, basketball and baseball on Thursday’s Odds and Bets.

First, we look at Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final in the NHL as Jordan Staal, Marc Staal and Eric Staal battle it out in a playoff series for the first time.

Next up, is a look at Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals in the NBA, with LeBron James and the Lakers looking to even the series in Denver.

Finally, we’re headed to Toronto as the Blue Jays and Yankees play the finale of a heated four-game series.

Panthers @ Hurricanes Game 1: Brother vs. Brother vs. Brother

It’s a trio of Staal brothers facing off as the puck drops for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final on Thursday night in Raleigh. Jordan will captain the Hurricanes, while Eric and Marc are teammates on the Panthers. Carolina is in the conference final for the second time in the last five years, while Florida hasn’t made it this far since 1996.

The Hurricanes took out the New York Islanders in a six-game first-round series before bouncing the New Jersey Devils in five games.

After barely squeaking into the playoffs, the Panthers made the most of their opportunity by upsetting the heavily favoured Boston Bruins in the first round. They followed that up with a dismantling of the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 2.

Carolina took two of three regular season meetings between the teams, outscoring Florida 10-7 overall. This is the first playoff meeting between the two franchises.

Sebastian Aho (5G, 5A) and Jordan Martinook (3G, 7A) lead the Hurricanes with 10 points apiece in the playoffs. Goalie Frederik Andersen is 5-0, posting a stellar 1.80 goals-against average and .931 save percentage. Andersen is +931 to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Matthew Tkachuk (+772 Conn Smythee odds) paces Florida with a team-high 16 points (5G, 11A). The Hart Trophy finalist didn’t score a goal in the second round against Toronto, but he did record five assists. Sergei Bobrovsky has turned back the clock in net. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner is 7-2 in the playoffs with a 1.89 GAA and .943 SV.

Carolina is -145 to win Game 1 and -128 to win the series. The Hurricanes are 5-1 as a favourite in this year’s playoffs. Meanwhile, Florida has been a betting underdog every game in the postseason, going 8-4 overall.

NHL best bet: Matthew Tkachuk scores a goal (+180)

Lakers @ Nuggets Game 2: Lakers licked?

The Lakers managed to make it close in Game 1, but their fourth-quarter comeback ultimately fell short in a 132-126 loss. The 258 combined points was the highest scoring conference finals game that didn’t go to overtime since 1987.

Nikola Jokic led Denver with 34 points, 21 rebounds and 14 assists. It was the two-time MVP’s sixth triple-double of these playoffs. Canadian Jamal Murray contributed 31 points and former Laker Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 21.

L.A.’s Anthony Davis led all scorers in Game 1, finishing with 40 points and 10 rebounds. LeBron James put up 26 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists.

Denver has been lethal a home all season. The Nuggets have the best home record in the NBA this season, going 41-7 at Ball Arena, including 7-0 in the playoffs.

The Lakers won Game 1 against both Memphis and Golden State this year. L.A. went on to win both series’ in six games.

This is the eighth playoff series between L.A. and Denver, with the Lakers winning every series. The home side has won eight of the last 10 games between the teams, including the last five.

NBA best bet: Over 227.0 points (-110)

Yankees @ Blue Jays Finale: Eye see you, Judge

The Blue Jays and Yankees cap off what has been a heated series on Thursday night in Toronto. New York took the first two games of the series, while Danny Jansen’s walk-off homer in the 10th inning gave the Jays a 3-0 win on Wednesday.

Jose Berrios is expected to start on the mound for Toronto on Thursday. The veteran pitcher has a 3-3 record in eight starts this season, posting a 4.70 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 46 innings pitched.

Nestor Cortes Jr. will get the ball for the Yankees. Cortes is 3-2 in eight starts, recording a 5.53 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 42.1 innings pitched.

There’s still no word on Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is considered day-to-day with a sore knee. Guerrero left Tuesday’s game early and didn’t play Wednesday. He’s hitting .312 with seven homers and 26 RBIs this season.

The big storyline of this series has been Yankees superstar Aaron Judge, who was accused of stealing signs in the series opener on Monday. Before being optioned back to Triple A, Jays pitcher Jay Jackson later clarified that he was tipping pitches when facing Judge, essentially meaning New York was not illegally stealing signs.

Judge has three home runs and five RBIs in the series.

MLB best bet: Aaron Judge hits a home run (+270)