Breaking down which wild card team has best odds to advance to second round in NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are the most unpredictable in sports with constant upsets, thrilling come-from-behind wins and stellar individual performances. The unpredictability is something that every better looks to exploit heading into the playoffs as a Stanley Cup contender usually goes down early.

Since 2014, when the NHL switched to the Divisional setup instead of the one-through-eight conference ranking setup, a wild card team has managed to take down a one seed in seven of the last ten seasons with the 2019 postseason, featuring a rare sight where all one seeds were downed.

 More NHL: The Battle of Ontario Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Futures for Maple Leafs versus Senators

Wild Card History in First Round of Stanley Cup Playoffs:

• 2024 - All #1 Seeds Advance
• 2023 - WC1 Seattle Kraken beat #1 Colorado Avalanche, WC2 Florida Panthers beat Boston Bruins
• 2022 - All #1 Seeds Advance
• 2021 - D4 Montreal Canadiens Beat #1 Toronto Maple Leafs, D4 New York Islanders beat #1 Pittsburgh Penguins
• 2020 - #7 Vancouver Canucks Beat #1 St. Louis Blues
• 2019 - All Four #1 Seeds lost
• 2018 - All #1 Seeds Advance
• 2017 - WC2 Nashville Predators Swept #1 Chicago Blackhawks, WC1 New York Rangers Beat #1 Montreal Canadiens
• 2016 - WC1 Nashville Predators Beat #1 Anaheim Ducks, WC1 New York Islanders Beat #1 Florida Panthers
• 2015 - WC1 Minnesota Wild Beat #1 St. Louis Blues
• 2014 - WC1 Minnesota Wild Beat #1 Colorado Avalanche

This means we should see one make it through to the next round this season with many wondering who it'll be?

The Senators have the highest odds to win in their first round series versus the Maple Leafs with +158 odds while the Blues and Wild are close behind with +184 and +190 odds respectively. Montreal is set up for a tough matchup against top seed in the east in Washington.

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The Capitals limped to the finish line this season with a 4-7-1 record and a 4.25 goals against average in their final 12 games.It's the least popular option but the Habs could catch the Capitals by surprise as they already secured a championship or sorts with Alex Ovechkin breaking the all-time goal record but the team has since won two of their last six games.

It may be a bubble bursting for the Caps as they worked hard to get their captain the record and celebrated like they won a championship afterwards. They may be having a hard time refocusing and the Habs could take advantage as they've also been slow but have been playing extremely hard to secure their spot in the postseason.

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I expect the Habs to push almost all of these games to the over as they've been red hot with a 15-5-6 record in their final 26 games. Montreal also got a massive momentum boost with the injection of rookie Ivan Demidov into the lineup.

The 19-year-old Russian superstar scored and dished for an assist in his NHL debut. His presence added even more life into a team that has a lot of potential with most of the team gaining experience from a run to the Stanley Cup Final back in 2021 during the Pandemic.

The Habs also have a much better history of playoff success with the Capitals having lost five straight first round matchups with their last win being their Stanley Cup Final win in 2019. I expect the Capitals being the ones to choke once again and you can get in on the Habs at a decent price tag with +106 odds to cover a series spread of +1.5 meaning they can win the series or lose in game seven.

I like the idea of adding the Habs series spread at +2.5 with -240 odds and parlaying it with the Carolina Hurricanes to down the New Jersey Devils in the first round at -280 odds. The Canes have won at least one playoff series in six straight seasons and when added with Montreal, gives us a very solid parlay with -109 odds. 

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Maple Leafs netminder Joseph Woll should stay hot, hold game to under but in losing effort to Detroit Red Wings on Thursday

Thursday night is the ultimate opportunity for NHL fans, with a loaded slate of thrilling matchups to end of the season.

The game that sticks out is one with the Detroit Red Wings, who would like to end off their troublesome season on a strong note after missing the playoffs for the ninth straight season. 

They will face off against a fierce Toronto Maple Leafs team that will likely be shorthanded after securing the Atlantic Division with their last win on Tuesday and will likely be resting their horses in this one. It should give the Red Wings a good chance to get a win and make for an exciting matchup. 

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For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 11-4 record on our last 15 picks and our 17-6 record on our last 23 underdog picks.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Detroit Red Wings Best Bets:

• Under 6.5 goals (-160)
• Red Wings ML (+136) or Red Wings +1.5 (-188)
• Patrick Kane Over 0.5 points (-125)

More NHL: The Battle of Ontario Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Futures for Maple Leafs versus Senators

Detroit should be more motivated to win this game after missing the playoffs yet again and will want to give their fans something to cheer for. A big gift for the Red Wings faithful is beating one of their longtime rivals in the Maple Leafs.

This will be the 687th meeting between Toronto and Detroit with the Maple Leafs holding the upper hand all-time with a 302-285-93-6 record. Detroit has gotten the better of Toronto lately with wins in five of their last eight matchups with a win Thursday evening up the season series at two wins a piece.

It'll be challenging as the Maple Leafs have a league-best 12-2-1 record over their last 15 games while the Red Wings have a 6-2-1 record over their last nine games. The man who should help Detroit get the job done is none other than legendary winger Patrick Kane, who has been one of the hottest player on the team as of late.

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The three-time Stanley Cup Champion has continued to play like an all-star even into old age with six goals and 12 assists for a team-lead 18 points over his last 17 games.

Kane has also done with historically versus Toronto with three goals and four assists for seven points over his last eight games against the Maple Leafs dating back to 2023.

Woll-y MolyDavid Pastrnak rips one off the post and back into Joseph Woll, but Woll's quick reaction allows him to save the puck from going into the net.Breaking news, ...

He should be one of the only Red Wings to score as Toronto's Joseph Woll has been sensational lately with a 5-2-1 record and a 2.49 goals against average over his last eight starts.

The Missouri native has also gotten the better of Detroit in the past with a 1-1-0 record and five goals allowed or a 2.54 goals against average and a save percentage of .900 in two career starts against the Red Wings.

Woll should do enough to keep the game to a low total but I don't expect a high-offensive performance out of Toronto. 

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Breaking down the best value bets, futures to take and strategies to look out for ahead of the first round matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators

The Battle of Ontario is officially happening with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators facing off in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, starting with Game One this Sunday. It'll be a highly-anticipated matchup that should re-ignite an age old rivalry.

Toronto has faced off against Ottawa 171 times with their first meeting dating back to 1891, when the Senators beat the then-Toronto St. George's to win the Ontario ice hockey title.

Flash forward 134 years and both teams still hate each other as they head into their fifth postseason head-to-head with the Maple Leafs winning all four series and holding a 16-8 record. It should make for must-see tv and a series of games that every hockey fan won't want to miss.

We want to add to your viewing enjoyment by providing a couple betting options that you could take to enhance the experience and win money along the way.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

More NHL: Safe Bets to Close Out the NHL Season: Top Picks for Parlays and Futures

Maple Leafs Series Spread -1.5 (+122)

Ottawa has won five straight over Toronto heading into the playoffs but they have a young, unexperienced roster that could have a hard time adjusting to a playoff environment. The Maple Leafs have the fourth-oldest roster in the NHL with a average age at 29.8 tied with the Golden Knights and Hurricanes.

Toronto's stars like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner have lived through the playoffs with some wins but more regularly heart-breaking losses. The Maple Leafs have been able to bounce back from it and put themselves in a position to redeem themselves with this year being their biggest triumph yet thanks to their third division title in team history.

The confidence with this team is rolling high and with their recent additions of playoff-type players like Brandon Carlo and Scott Laughton, they should be able to take advantage of a Senators team that is the tenth-youngest with an average age at 27.8 years old.

I expect the Sens to be able to edge out at least one game in the series after beating Toronto four consecutive times this season but the second win will be the challenge. Either way, this bet covers both ends with the only loss being if the Sens push the series to Game 7 but the Leafs playoff experience shouldn't let that happen.

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John Tavares - Series Leading Goal Scorer (+800)

The favourite to score the most goals in the Battle of Ontario is Auston Matthews, which makes sense as the near-70 goal scorer is tied with William Nylander for the team-lead in goals with 18 over the last seven postseasons. Both forwards are great choices at +340 and +500 respectively but we look at a much better value with the player behind the two in John Tavares.

Toronto's former captain has 12 goals over his last 38 playoff games but has been scorching hot, entering the postseason. With 11 goals over his last 13 games, no player in the NHL is hotter than Johnny Toronto.

The 34-year-old veteran centre rides a four-game point drought versus the Senators but I expect him to turn this around in the postseason. He's been playing for a new contract and should get a big one after recording 38 goals this season, his highest goal total since his first year in Toronto in 2019.

Betting Strategies: Offence to Stay Hot

There has been six or more goals in 15 of the last 25 meetings between the Maple Leafs and Senators, which promises more explosive games in the postseason. If we do catch most of the game lines coming out at over/under 6.5 goals, that would be tight but still doable as that number hit in six of their last 12 matchups.

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The most ideal situation for us would be to wait till the games start and hope for no early goals and then getting the over 5.5 with a live bet at a better price tag.

Matchup Trends: Potential Player Prop Targets

Toronto Maple Leafs:

• Auston Matthews has 16 goals, 17 assists for 33 points in his last 25 games against the Senators, including goals in two of the last three matchups. Nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in his last 16 games and has second-best playoff point-per-game average on the team at 0.87 through 55 games.
• Mitch Marner has just four goals and six assists for ten points in his last 16 games versus the Senators. Six goals and 14 assists for 20 points in last 15 games and has the best playoff point-per-game average on the team at 0.88 through 57 games. 
• Matthew Knies has a pair of goals and an assist for three points in his last four games versus Senators. Plays on a line with Matthews and Marner, Potential Value Bet Option. 
• William Nylander has nine goals and six assists for 15 points in his last 16 games against the Senators. 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points in last 26 games.
• John Tavares has three goals and 12 assists for 15 points in his last 19 games against the Senators (four-game point drought). Bounce back should come with red hot play as of late - Potential Value Bet Option.

Ottawa Senators:

• Tim Stutzle has four goals and nine assists for 13 points in his last ten games against the Maple Leafs. Has been shown to lack toughness and could struggle in playoff-type atmosphere - Potential Fade Option.
• Brady Tkachuk has a goal and an assist for just two points in his last eight games versus the Maple Leafs. Has shown to have playoff-type build but untested, will need wait-and-see approach.
• Drake Batherson has two goals and four assists for a point-per-game average in his last six games versus the Maple Leafs. No playoff experience but could fly under the radar - Potential Value Bet Option.
• Shane Pinto has three goals and four assists for seven points in his last eight games versus the Maple Leafs. Four goals and two assists for six points over last seven games. 

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Montreal Canadiens rookie Ivan Demidov is poised to put together a breakout performance versus Chicago Blackhawks Monday

Monday night is the ultimate opportunity for NHL fans, with a loaded slate of thrilling matchups that fans eagerly anticipate. The game that sticks out is one with the Montreal Canadiens, who are looking to bounce back after a tough 1-0 loss to the Maple Leafs on Saturday and clinch their first playoff berth since losing in the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals. 

They will take on a Chicago Blackhawks team that can't wait for the season to end after finishing with the second-worst record in the league at 23-46-11 and the second-worst defence with a 3.58 goals against average.

For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 9-3 record on our last 12 picks and our 17-6 record on our last 23 underdog picks.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

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Chicago Blackhawks vs Montreal Canadiens Best Bets:

• Ivan Demidov anytime goal (+230)
• Ivan Demidov Over 1.5 shots on goal (-160)
• Habs -1.5 (-114)
• Nick Suzuki Over 0.5 assists (-162)

One of the hottest players in the NHL right now is Habs captain Nick Suzuki with 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points over his last 24 games since the Four Nations break. He has helped carry Montreal into a playoff spot as they've managed a 14-5-5 record during his hot streak. 

They are on the verge of securing a playoff berth and have called in the reinforcements to get the job done. Top prospect Ivan Demidov will be making his NHL debut Monday with many comparing him to the new all-time leading goal scorer in Alex Ovechkin. 

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Demidov, 19, is coming off a season where he dominated in Russia's KHL while playing with SKA St. Petersburg and recorded 49 points in 65 games. He started skating with Montreal this past weekend and was impressive to say the least, making through the legs moves and stride dekes to get past some of NHL level defencemen.

He is expected to slot into the third line alongside centre Alex Newhook and winger Joel Armia, who are both due for a goal. 

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I'm expecting a shining welcome party for the young superstar as Demidov will be playing in his first NHL game against a very vulnerable Blackhawks backend that the Habs have been able to regularly dominate with a 4-1-0 record and 17 goals scored over their last five games versus Chicago.

Montreal should be able to get the job done and secure their playoff spot in an easy win. 

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NHL Bets to look at following recent news like Hurricanes and Habs getting top prospects, Avalanche to get back Gabe Landeskog

The NHL season is almost over with few games mattering as the playoff picture takes shape and makes great values, harder to find than ever. As we anxiously await the start of the postseason, there is some news around the league that we can look to and find a potential play within the story.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

Top Prospect Alexander Nikishin joins the Carolina Hurricanes

The Canes have hit a rough patch recently with four straight losses but fans shouldn't worry as they've called for backup. Carolina will get their 2020 third-round pick into the lineup for the first time and the 23-year-old defenceman should make an impact. Over the last three seasons in the KHL, Nikishin has flourished into a must-see talent with impressive offence from the backend that totalled 45 goals and 112 assists for 157 through 193 games.

The 6-foot-4 blueliner has also proven to be a difference-maker when it counts, playing with physicality that should translate to the Stanley Cup playoffs, while also adding subtle offence with 12 points over his last 25 KHL playoff games.

Alexander Nikishin has a lethal one-timer #hockey #boom #carolinahurricanesundefined

Carolina has the second-highest odds to win the East at +330 and once Nikishin makes his impact felt, I predict they will be rolling through their final four games and will drop their odds closer to the top ranked Panthers, who sit with +310 odds.

The Hurricanes bring a wealth of playoff experience, having won a playoff series in each of the past six seasons and securing multiple series victories in two of those years.

Carolina to beat the injury-plagued Devils at -250 is a free win but we would also suggest an early shot at an Eastern Conference championship as the Capitals may be out of gas after helping captain Alex Ovechkin break the all-time goal record plus the Atlantic teams like the Panthers, Bolts and Maple Leafs may feed on each other before making the Conference Finals. Don't wait on the Canes as Nikishin will make sure they look like nothing but Stanley Cup favourites.

Habs Get Russian Superstar Ivan Demidov Early, Expected to Maker Debut Monday Versus Chicago

The Habs have been blazing hot with a 14-5-5 record since the Four Nations break. They've managed to leapfrog several contenders and put themselves in the last Eastern Wild Card spot. Montreal is set up for a first round matchup versus the top seed in the East with the Washington Capitals.

Canadiens top prospect Ivan Demidov terminated his KHL deal & signed with Montreal 👀 (via KHL_eng/X)Canadiens top prospect Ivan Demidov terminated his KHL deal & signed with Montreal 👀 (via KHL_eng/X)✔️ Subscribe to ESPN+ https://plus.espn.com/✔️ Get the E...

This could set up for a massive series back in Russia as Ovechkin will line up against the next big Russian star in Montreal's Ivan Demidov, who is joining the team to finish off the season. The 19-year-old winger was the Habs' first round pick this past year, where he was selected fifth overall. He went back to play in Russia's KHL for SKA St. Petersburg, where he recorded almost 50 points in 65 games.

Some experts are calling him the best prospect out of Russia since Ovechkin himself and would make the first round series between Montreal and Washington must-see tv. Demidov's role hasn't been lined out just yet but if he makes his debut Monday, he should be able to take advantage and get on the scoresheet at least once against a Blackhawks defence, that has the second-worst goals against average at 3.57 this season.

Whatever the odds are for a Demidov point, I would suggest taking it as he should have an explosive NHL debut.

Avalanche Captain Gabriel Landeskog On Verge of NHL Return after Long Battle with Injuries

The Aves haven't had their captain in the lineup since winning the Stanley Cup in 2022 and since they've struggled without his leadership with one playoff series win over the last two seasons.

Landeskog, 32, has finally returned to the ice this past week after being sidelined for nearly three years with a severe knee injury that require multiple surgeries to repair it.

Some thought he may never play again but he prevailed despite all odds and is now at the AHL with the Colorado Eagles on a conditioning assignment to get the longtime Avalanche captain back up to speed. Colorado is slated for a first-round matchup with the Dallas Stars and should make for a stellar series between the third and fifth-best teams in the West.

The odds are dead even for the series with each team having -110 odds to advance to the second round but when Landeskog makes his return, it'll ignite a fire in the Avalanche locker room that many teams may not be able to handle. It may be wise to get in on them early as they have +500 odds to Western Conference and +850 odds to win the Cup. 

Stanley Cup Playoffs start April 19 with few value bets left ahead of first round

The NHL Playoffs are fast approaching and despite the first round not being set just yet we can already starting taking bets for what we think will happen.

All season, we've been looking at future bets for the Stanley Cup, each conference and division as well as awards to be handed out.

We now finally get to add to it with some predictions on how the first round will go. We explore who will go on a potential run and who will bow out early in disappointing fashion. 

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

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Edmonton Oilers to Win 1+ Playoff Series (-156)

The Kings have been rolling this season with a 44-24-9 record that has them slated to have home-ice in their first round matchup likely versus the Edmonton Oilers. 

The defending Western Conference Champions have been missing key players down the final stretch like superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl as well as top pair defenceman Mattias Ekholm. They will be rested and hopefully healthy heading into a matchup against a Kings team that is very home-dependant. 

LA is tied with the Winnipeg Jets for the best home record in the NHL at 29-5-4 but this overshadows the Kings abysmal 15-19-5 road record. This places them behind the likes of the Flames, Canucks and Utah Hockey Club, who are all expected to miss the playoffs.

The Kings have won just once in their last eight trips to Edmonton and could prevent them from moving on to the second round. 

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The Oilers have bonfied stars that carried them to a 7-6 road record last postseason. Because of this and the lack of star power for LA, I expect the Kings to struggle in at least one home game that Edmonton should be able to edge out and take a stranglehold of the series. 

Toronto Maple Leafs to Win 1+ Playoff Series (-122)

Expecting that Toronto would get past the first round used to be a tall order but after years of troubleshooting and putting together a solid roster full of star talent, this is the best chance to win ever.

The amount of mythbusters being surpassed by this group is starting to create a feeling like the Leafs can finally do real damage for once. They are pegged to get a first round matchup easier than most against an inexperienced Ottawa Senators team. 

Linus Ullmark Gifts One To Auston Matthews 😱#NHL #Hockey #shorts #NHLshorts #NHLhighlights #MapleLeafs #Leafs #TorontoMapleLeafs #Toronto #Senators #OttawaSenators #Ottawa

Facing off against the tenth-youngest team in the league should give Toronto a confidence-building series that as a franchise, they could really use.

Ottawa has downed the Maple Leafs four straight times this season but playoff hockey is a different atmosphere with Toronto simply having far more experience. 

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This team has dealt with the heartbreak of multiple hard losses and will be more motivated to get the job done against a red hot Senators team that is due for a cool off. The confidence built during this round will play the biggest factor in how challenging the second round will be. 

Toronto Maple Leafs to Win 2+ Playoff Series (+310)

The current assumption is that the Battle of Florida will take the most out of both the Panthers and Lightning with each side having a sizeable amount of playoff experience and should make for a captivating series. 

The biggest hope for the Maple Leafs is that this chips away at the already beat up Florida Panthers, who have missed many key players lately in captain Aleksander Barkov as well as star forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart.

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If the Cats can make it out of Tampa, it'll be likely without one of their stars and this should bold well for the Leafs. 

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If the Bolts prevail, the Maple Leafs should enter with more confidence as they will be able to say they beat Tampa Bay the last time they squared off in the playoffs plus beat them three straight matchups this season.

A Toronto team making the conference Finals isn't out of the question so long as all the chips fall the right way for the Maple Leafs.

Best betting opportunities for the NHL’s final stretch, with expert picks to add for parlays or future bets

The NHL season is wrapping up with every team playing their final eight or so games. With so little time remaining, it's tough to find great values at this stage of the season. However, what we can focus on is identifying bets with a high probability of hitting, as they are less likely to go wrong with so few games remaining.

Whether you're looking to place a larger bet for a solid return or need an additional leg for a future bet in another sport, here are some of our safest picks to close out the NHL season—perfect for adding to your parlays.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

2025 NHL Draft 1st Overall Pick - The Field vs James Hagens (-550)

The debate around the first overall pick this season has seen it's ups and downs with Boston College forward James Hagens seemingly being the unanimous pick but since other names have past him on several notable draft boards.

Schaefer goes coast-to-coast in the Prospect Challenge! 🇨🇦🆚🇺🇸Erie Otters 1st overall pick and Canadian prospect Matthew Schaefer goes coast-to-coast to put Team Canada up 4-0 against Team USA in the 2024 CHL vs. USA Pr...

Sportsnet's Sam Cosentino, TSN's Craig Button, The Hockey News' Ryan Kennedy and legendary Junior Hockey journalist Bob McKenzie are some of the many established insiders that have Erie Otters defenceman Matthew Schaefer as the top pick in the draft class. The Hockey News' Tony Ferrari also doesn't have Hagens as the top pick but instead has Saginaw Spirit forward Michael Misa as the top pick.

Hagens on most draft boards has fallen outside of the top three with Mississauga Steelheads forward Porter Martone rounding out the top with Schaefer and Misa. It would be surprising for Hagens to reinsert himself into the conversation for the first pick after being widely-considered the fourth-best player on almost every expert's draft board. It would be a big leap, which certainly isn't out of the realm of possibility, but for jump in draft stock of that size needed, I'm willing to bet against Hagens. 

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Winnipeg Jets Win Central Division (-290)

The Jets are in the driver seat to win the President's trophy with a one point lead over the Capitals with 108 points and a four-point lead over the Dallas Stars for the Division lead. Winnipeg should be able to lock things up with their sizeable lead that they should be able to add to and put out of reach with upcoming matchups versus the Blackhawks, Ducks and Utah. 

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Calgary Flames to Miss Playoffs (-530)

The playoff picture is all but set with the Blues getting hot at the right time with 11 straight wins and overtaking the Wild for the first wild card spot. This bumped Minnesota down to the second wild card spot and a five-point lead over the next-closest team in the Calgary Flames.

The mountain seems virtually impossible for the Flames to climb as they do have the advantage of two games in hand over Minnesota but their remaining schedule is very challenging with matchups versus the Wild, Kings as well as a pair of games against the Golden Knights. With seven games left, the Flames will have a shot as they play the last place San Jose Sharks twice but if they manage to fumble one of the games plus a loss to the Wild in their matchup would seal their fate. 

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The Montreal Canadiens should clinch final playoff spot in the East and present a Must-Bet opportunity

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are almost here and we are starting to formulate a solid playoff picture. Most spots are already claimed with only the wild card spots left available. 

We outlined how the Blues were going to lay claim to the final wild card spot in the West and barring any major setbacks, it appears they are on track to do so. We are looking to make the same bold claim about the East with the Montreal Canadiens being the final playoff team. 

It is still a very tight race as they are just two points ahead of the Blue Jackets and Rangers after a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over the Panthers on Tuesday, where they tied the game in the last eight seconds.

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Montreal proceeded to win the game in overtime and completed the season sweep of the defending Stanley Cup Champions. 

This Habs team is legit as their young talent is finally starting to click with a reliable stay-at-home goaltender in Sam Montembeault. They are red hot with a 10-4-4 record over their last 18 games. 

Their rebuild looks complete as they are on the precipice of their first playoff berth since their loss in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final and will have more talent coming in the future with youngsters like Ivan Demidov on their way. 

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The race for the final playoff spots is over as far as we know with the Rangers heading into a gauntlet of a remaining schedule with matchups versus the Panthers, Hurricanes, Wild, Devils and a pair of games versus the Lightning. 

Things are just as hard for the Blue Jackets, who will have to square off against the likes of the Maple Leafs and Avalanche as well as two matchups versus the Capitals and Senators. 

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Montreal on the other hand, finishes the season with the second-easiest remaining schedule with matchups against bottom tier teams like the Blackhawks, Bruins, Flyers and Predators. 

The Habs to secure a playoff spot at +106 is the biggest must-bet of the season and this bet absolutely has to be taken as soon as possible. It's only a matter of time before Montreal claims the spot or continue their hot streak to the point where we no longer see a value. 

The St. Louis Blues ride nine-game winning streak and could be labeled as the biggest dark horse to win Western Conference

When looking at the state of the NHL right now, there is no hotter team than the St. Louis Blues. 

After winning their last nine straight games, the Blues quickly ended the conversation about the race for the final wild card spot by separating themselves from the pack. 

More NHL: Blues To Prevail in Tight Wild Card Race Over Flames, Canucks, Utah HC

There is a special feeling around this team that spawned following Team Canada's win at Four Nations Face-Off this past February that was lead by Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington. 

History Repeating Itself?

St. Louis will face a tough first round matchup as a wild card team but as we've seen in recent history, anything can happen when teams get hot.

The Blues severely struggled back in the 2018-19 season, sitting with a league-worst 15-18-4 record through 37 games. They finished the season off by going on a similar hot streak to this season with 11 straight wins that was sparked by the arrival of Binnington to the team. 

The Blues would make the playoffs and meet the Winnipeg Jets in the first round. The Jets were coming off a Conference Finals appearance the year prior and labeled the Blues as a sizeable underdog going in. The Blues found a way to win the series in six and would go on the continue their hot streak all the way until they won their franchise's first Stanley Cup. 

St. Louis is once again expected to play Winnipeg in the first round matchup with the Jets entering as a sizeable favorite once again after finishing with the most points in the Western Conference during the regular season. 

It would be surreal to see history repeat itself and the Blues find a way to get edge out a win and they have a history of doing it before. We can look to benefit from their current value greatly and take them before the league notices. 

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St. Louis has done the impossible before and at +3500 odds to win the Western Conference and +6500 odds to win their second Stanley Cup, it could be the best value on the board heading into the playoffs. 

There's several reasons as to why you can trust this Blues team and a small $10 bet on a Western Conference title can give a massive return at $350 in winnings. 

In Binnington We Trust

Since coming back from the Four Nations Face-Off, Binnington is tied for the most wins in the NHL with a 10-2-0 record that aligns itself with a 2.09 goals against average and a .917 save percentage, which both rank top seven in the league during that span. 

Binnington will enter the playoffs red hot and play in a high-pressure environment, where he does well with a 2.73 career goals against average in the playoffs as well as a .910 save percentage. He should be able to keep St. Louis in almost every game versus Winnipeg and beyond.

Confidence can be the most important thing for a goaltender and Binnington has tons of it right now. 

Young Talent Surging With More On The Way

The Blues have two of their top three point producers under the age of 27 in Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. The pair of elite forwards have been dying to play meaningful NHL games and could make an impact. 

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Thomas has more assists than names like Aleksander Barkov and Dylan Strome with 49 while Kyrou has outplayed the likes of Nathan MacKinnon, Auston Matthews and Filip Forsberg with 31 goals this season. 

There's been a lot of chatter around the Capitals and how they are going to be getting prospect Ryan Leonard from Boston College after they were eliminated from the NCAA tournament. What most people don't know is the Blues are also expected to get an impact player out of college hockey with forward Jimmy Snuggerud. 

Best of Jimmy Snuggerud | Minnesota Golden Gopher Hockey Career HighlightsTake a look back through some of the top goals and moments from Jimmy Snuggerud's career at Minnesota.Sign up for daily email updates from Gopher Athletics! ...

After returning to Minnesota for his junior season, the 20-year-old winger has grown immensely according to St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong and should slide into a prevalent role when joining the team, starting Tuesday versus the Red Wings. Snuggerud was the captain of the Golden Gophers with 24 goals and 27 assists for 51 points in 40 games this past season. 

"I do think he can score some goals and we're gonna find out here over the next five or six games on how he fits into our group," 

- Armstrong said on Jimmy Snuggerud during Tuesday's episode of the Spittin' Chiclets Podcast 

The youngster could add to an already solid forward unit for the Blues and could take them to another level that opposing teams may not be able to predict. If you haven't considered it yet, a subtle investment on the Blues could be worth an extra look. 

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is eight goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL Goal record with odds increasing for it to happen versus the New York Islanders

The biggest storyline of the NHL season has by far been the GR8 Chase with Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin on the precipice of passing hockey legend Wayne Gretzky for the all-time goals record. There is nine games left in the Capitals season and Ovechkin is within five goals from breaking the record after scoring versus the Sabres this past Sunday.

The Russian winger has 37 goals on the season now, and betting odds for the record to be broken this season have dropped drastically to -170 and means if you haven't taken it already like we suggest, you may have missed your last opportunity to take the bet at a bargain but we have several other betting options that you still can take.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

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In our last post about the GR8 Chase, we said to take the odds while you could at -136 and like we predicted the odds continued to drop due to Ovechkin continuing to score as the Capitals were heading into several favourable matchups. Washington is still dominating with the league's best offence and seventh-best defence plus they have the third-easiest remaining strength of schedule, according to Tankathon.

The case is starting to look more and more likely as they will play against bottom eight defences in the Blackhawks, Penguins and Bruins as well as two bouts with the Blue Jackets. They will also face off twice against the Hurricanes, who is one of the top teams in the East but Ovechkin has his second-most career goals against. We don't see a ton of value in betting the record to be broken now but we can take a guess as to who it'll be against.

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The Capitals will have a back-to-back on Monday and Tuesday with games versus the Bruins and Hurricanes, which should give us the ability to pencil in a goal or two there. We will need just four more goals after that and Washington will return home on Friday to take on the league's worst defence in the Blackhawks. A home matchup versus a Chicago team that has allowed 83 goals over their last 20 games should spell for at least a goal for Ovi there.

That takes us into next week with three goals to go and after a Sunday matchup versus the Islanders, Washington will get a four-day break not playing again until Thursday versus the Hurricanes again. This game could be the most crucial as a much-needed goal here would leave him with two left and four games left to do it.

A pair of matchups versus the Blue Jackets should provide at least one goal there and will leave us with one goal to go with two matchups left versus the Islanders and Penguins. Everyone is speaking into existence that Ovechkin will break the record in front of his longtime rival Sidney Crosby when taking on the Penguins and as much as the sports world would love to see it, I expect he gets the job done versus New York.

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A random Tuesday night on the road in the Big Apple wouldn't be the most romantic setting for the record to be broken but could provide a massive spectacle with many flocking to the city, hoping to see Gretzky's record broken. Ovechkin to break the record versus the Islanders or Penguins is listed at +490 and +600 odds respectively and both could be taken at not a high number and should provide a decent return if either hit.

The Blue Jackets have the highest odds at +280 but with how Ovechkin has slowed down with four goals over his last nine games, I don't expect him to break the record earlier then the final two games. The record being broken in New York should give us the best case scenario to cash in on some attendance bets for notable people attending the game.

Wayne Gretzky to be in attendance for the record-breaking goal isn't available on FanDuel but a longshot bet for someone who could be is former teammate Jaromír Jágr. The Hockey legend is still playing actively at 53 years old for the Czechia-based team he owns, Rytíři Kladno, but has been known to miss time and could again to see what will be a one-of-one legendary hockey moment.

A very special congratulations from Jaromir Jagr to Alex Ovechkin (plus a little surprise at the end). 😉 pic.twitter.com/HGgSlqRTaQ

— NHL (@NHL) March 16, 2022

Jagr and Ovechkin have been known to have a very close relationship with Jagr even sending a video to Ovechkin after he became the all-time leading goal scorer for European-born players and congratulating him on the achievement. 

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