May 10th NHL Odds and Picks – Lightning and Panthers Clash For Home Ice Advantage

• The NHL enters its final week of the regular season, with plenty of playoff implications in Monday’s nine-game slate
• The Tampa Bay Lightning-Florida Panthers game will decide home ice advantage for their upcoming playoff series
• See below for odds, picks, and analysis

15 of the NHL’s 16 playoff teams have already been determined. But the May 10th slate  includes games with playoff implications, including the Montreal Canadiens’ home contest against the Edmonton Oilers.

If the underdog Canadiens pick up a single point in that game, no team below them can catch them for the final playoff spot in the North Division. If the Habs could win the game, they still have hope of catching the Winnipeg Jets for third place in the division.  The Canadiens are 5-2 straight up against the Oilers this season.

Playoff seeding is also unsettled in all four divisions, including in the Central Division where the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning need to win their game against Florida in regulation to finish second and claim home ice advantage in their playoff series against the Panthers.

NHL Odds – Monday, May 10th

Odds as of May 9th.

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Panthers vs Lightning Finally Has Meaning

When the Tampa Bay Lightning came into the NHL in 1992, and the Florida Panthers joined the league a year later, the hope was that those teams would become instant rivals in the Sunshine State.

The expectation was the two teams would meet so often in playoff competition that their rivalry would become one of the league’s best.

But it never happened. When the Lightning and Panthers face-off in the upcoming first round, it will be the first time they have  met in the postseason.

This Lightning-Panthers playoff series is about to be WILD#GoBolts #FlaPanthers pic.twitter.com/l0SwJlbK3P

— Grace Remington (@GraceRemiWTSP) May 9, 2021

Before that happens, they have to determine who finishes second and third in the Central Division. If the Panthers pick up one point in Monday’s final regular season game for both teams, they will earn second place and home-ice advantage in their playoff meeting.

The intensity is already building for the playoff encounter. The two teams registered 154 penalty minutes in Saturday’s 5-1 Florida win. The Panthers are 4-2-1 against the Lightning this season. They are also 19-5 at home this season, and 15-12 at home against the spread.

Pick: Panthers -1.5 (+220)

Playoff Pairings Undetermined in the East

When the New York Islanders and Boston Bruins play Monday, May 10th, the most interested spectators will be the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals. They have clinched first and second place in the East, but have no idea yet who their playoff opponent will be.

If they beat the Islanders, Boston will clinch third and face the Capitals in the first round. Even if they lose, they could finish third by winning their last game of the season against Washington.

#NHLBruins updates per Coach Cassidy:

Expects to play full lineup tomorrow against Isles; will be "cautious" on Tuesday in D.C.

Kase is "on track" to play tomorrow.

Coyle "will be ready for playoffs" but may sit out final two games.

Tuukka vs. Isles, Swayman vs. Caps. pic.twitter.com/v5Kc1zBlt9

— x – Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) May 9, 2021

The Islanders are 5-2 against the Bruins this season, but that is somewhat misleading because the Bruins won the last two games. Plus, the Islanders have struggled while the Bruins have rediscovered their game down the stretch.  The Islanders are 6-7-2 since April 9. Meanwhile, the Bruins are 11-4 in their last 15.

Pick: Bruins -1.5 (+160)