The Battle of Alberta started with the highest scoring Stanley Cup playoff game since 1993.

Excuse my pessimism, but I’m not betting on a Mike Smith shutout in the rematch tonight.

While we might not see 15 goals again in Game 2, we’ll only need half of that number for a second consecutive over to start the series.

In Thursday morning’s column, I pointed out that you could find the total for tonight’s game at 6.5 at FanDuel Sportsbook.

We haven’t seen a significant adjustment on that number yet, with a slight tick on the over from -114 to -118.  

While I like the over in Calgary again tonight, I’ve circled a player prop as my best bet for Game 2.

Here’s the TSN EDGE Morning Coffee for Friday, May 20th, 2022. 

Banking On Another Big Game From Tkachuk In Game 2

In Game 1, Matthew Tkachuk became the first player to score a playoff hat trick for the Flames since Theo Fleury did it in 1995.

Tkachuk scored three goals on eight shots on goal, including a power play marker with his family cheering him on in the stands.

The 24-year-old is up to 14 shots on goal in his past two games.

He’s played some of his best hockey against the Oilers, with six goals and 11 points in five games dating back to the regular season. 

Calgary has scored 18 goals in its past two wins over Edmonton.

Tkachuk scored five goals on 11 shots on goal in those two games.

He’s averaged five shots on goal in five games versus the Oilers this season.

I locked in Tkachuk over three shots on goal at +100 at FanDuel Sportsbook as my best bet for Game 2 this morning.

I also took Tkachuk over one point at +108 at FanDuel.

The Flames are up to -174 on the money line for Game 2.

You can find Tkachuk to score and Calgary to win at +240.

Meanwhile, if you like Edmonton to respond with a win in Game 2, you can find them at +146 on the money line.

Connor McDavid to score and the Oilers to win is +360.

Looking at the adjusted series prices at FanDuel Sportsbook, Calgary is -400 to advance this morning.

FanDuel has Edmonton at +310 to win the series.

Lightning Magic Number Down To 10

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been an underdog in each of their last three games dating back to Game 7 of their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

They’ve won all three of them.

Based on the first two games between the Lightning and Florida Panthers, maybe the Maple Leafs deserve a little more credit for going seven games with the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.

Ross Colton scored the game-winning goal with 3.8 seconds left in the third period as Tampa Bay beat Florida 2-1 in Game 2 last night.

Only six players in NHL history have scored a later go-ahead goal in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Lightning entered Game 1 at +128 to win the series at FanDuel Sportsbook.

After taking a 2-0 series lead, FanDuel now has Tampa Bay at -345 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Panthers are +275 to win four of the next five games.

The Lightning could be found as high as +2200 to win the Stanley Cup at FanDuel down 3-2 to Toronto in the first round.

They’re down to +450 to complete the three-peat this morning.

FanDuel currently has Florida at -110 and Tampa Bay at -106 on the money line for Game 3.

Elsewhere, Jordan Binnington made 30 saves as the St. Louis Blues beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-1 as a +194 money line underdog to tie their second-round series at 1-1.

David Perron to score 2+ goals was +1200 at FanDuel.

Perron to score and St. Louis to win was +600.

While I don’t want to overreact to Colorado’s first loss of the playoffs, the Blues have played them very well in each of the first two games of the series. 

St. Louis is down to +225 to win the series at FanDuel right now.

The Avalanche are -280 to advance.

Celtics Bounce Back To Even Series With Heat

Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart scored 24 points each as the Boston Celtics beat the Miami Heat 127-102 last night to even their series at 1-1.

Boston improved to 4-0 this postseason following a loss, winning those four games by an average of 17.3 points per game.

As I highlighted in yesterday’s column, the NBA playoffs haven’t exactly delivered very many nail-biters.

That’s now seven straight playoff games that have been decided by 10 points or more.

It was the 21st game that was decided by 20 points or more in these playoffs - tied for the second-most in a single postseason in NBA history.

Following the win, FanDuel adjusted the Celtics’ odds to win the series from +125 to -240.

The Miami Heat went from -150 to +190 to win the series.