We're opting for a touch of simplicity tonight in the form of the NHL playoffs, but don't forget: the Kentucky Derby is tomorrow! We touch on a few horses to know and some resources to look into below the fold.

Turning to the ice will be nice

We have a pair of Game 6s tonight in hockey, and momentum can very much be the name of the game at this juncture.

Nashville is down 3-2 in the series to Vancouver, but the Predators have widely outplayed the Canucks on the whole. There have been just a few short minutes of scoring bursts that have tilted the tables toward Vancouver, but Nashville has objectively been the better team.

They were able to batten down the hatches and take Game 5 on the road, 2-1, and now they head back home for this all-important next game. Nashville has outshot Vancouver 60-33 on home ice this series, yet lost both games. We believe in the Preds here. They know they're the better team.

Elsewhere out West, Dallas has completely taken control of this series against Vegas after dropping each of the first two games. The Stars have now rattled off three straight wins, and their offense typically comes alive when they face the Knights on the road. We like Wyatt Johnston and company to continue pushing the pace and enact revenge for their Western Conference Final defeat last season.

Betting: Nashville & Dallas moneylines (+230 DraftKings)

In the news ...

Kentucky Derby tomorrow — One of the greatest betting days of the year is nearly upon us. The Kentucky Derby hits the track tomorrow, with post time for the top race scheduled for 6:57 p.m. ET. The current betting favorite is Fierceness at 2-1. There are some intriguing betting angles to consider, such as each horse's most recent race, with Domestic Product running the fastest of all horses in their last race, yet still sitting at 30-1. That coincides nicely with a few of the Action Network expert's favorite long-shot picks. OK, we're in on Domestic Product tomorrow!

Knicks and Pacers advance to second round — We have our first Eastern Conference second-round matchup locked in, as the No. 2 Knicks will square off with the No. 6 Pacers. Indiana handled business on Thursday against Milwaukee, which has been dealing with injuries, while New York survived a back-and-forth game against the Sixers thanks to another 40-point outing from Jalen Brunson. The Knicks are -225 favorites to take down the Pacers in the next round, with Indiana priced at +190.

Maple Leafs force Game 7 vs. Bruins — Could the Bruins really blow a second-straight 3-1 first-round series lead? Thanks to two William Nylander goals and another huge showing by Joseph Woll in net, Toronto won Game 6 at home, 2-1, and now head back to Boston for Game 7. We lean toward Toronto, which is playing physical and defensive, but the first thing you need to do is lock in under 5.5 goals for tomorrow. Game 7s are historically tight and low-scoring.
 
Elly De La Cruz on a historic pace — Cincinnati Reds star shortstop Elly De La Cruz is starting to exceed the hype placed upon him when he entered the big leagues last season. A bit more than a month into the season, De La Cruz has hit eight homers and stolen 18 bases, which puts him on pace for 40 HRs and 90 stolen bases. No player in MLB history has ever accomplished such a combination, and just last year, Atlanta's Ronald Acuna Jr. won MVP with 40 HRs and 70 stolen bases. Hey, it may be worth a sprinkle on De La Cruz to win NL MVP, which is currently available at +1300.

Today's Bark Bets is written by Griffin Carroll. Follow him on Substack: griffybets.substack.com.