As I'm writing this, only four teams still stand in this second round of the playoffs (I must finish the article before the Avs-Blues game tonight). It's been a controversial round to say the least. This week only, we've witnessed the number one team during the season get swept and the Flames were victims of an upset in five games to their Albertan rivals as Blake Coleman got accused of shoving the puck in net with his foot. With such emotional and frustrating games, I'm here to make sure that tonight, you'll get nothing but satisfaction from the bets you place on the Carolina-New York matchup.

Gold Pick

Carolina Hurricanes @ New York Rangers – Pick: Hurricanes

As we only have one game, I will obviously use my gold pick to predict the winner here. Well, despite how much I've favored the Rangers at home throughout these playoffs, I do believe this is where the season ends for them. Why? Well, what does a well-coached team with talented forwards, smothering defenders and a hot goalkeeper usually result in? Being able to show up when it counts the most. Carolina checks all the requirements listed above. They know this game is a must-win for them. Mark my words, if the Rangers win tonight, I'll pick them to win it all in Carolina on Monday. You can't let the team with the best goalkeeper in the league get going and give them the confidence to enter game seven with the wind blowing behind them. I've been impressed by Carolina immensely since these playoffs have started and, after three consecutive second-round eliminations, it's time for them to return to the Eastern Conference Final.

Silver Pick

Total keeper saves by Antti Raanta Over 33.5 @ 1.70

Don't get me wrong, one thing is clear, the Rangers will certainly not let the Hurricanes humiliate them at Madison Square Garden. They will come out ferocious and ready to pour every ounce of their powerful souls into this game. They've got plenty of character and grit to lead an army of millions. Raanta will be attacked from every angle, both by shots and bodies. Especially if Carolina eventually gets the lead, we shall see New York pound in even harder on the Finnish netminder. That being said, I believe Carolina's well-oiled defensive machine will limit the quality of those shots, enabling Raanta to shut the door on most of them.

Bronze Pick

Max Domi Anytime Goalscorer @ 5.15

He's done it once already, he's gonna do it again. The beauty of elimination games is that they never go how you expect them to. More specifically, oftentimes you need to count on your unusual suspect to close down those games for you, as the opposition makes it a mission to demolish your big names. Well, just like they cruised to the second round on the back of an amazing Domi performance, they shall do the same to get to the ECF. Not only do I predict him to score, I believe he'll score the winning goal in the series. But, to keep things "safe", just bet on him to bury the puck past Igor Shesterkin once. That'll give you a decent enough return.