The Stanley Cup Playoffs are finally upon us, marking the start of the quest for hockey`s ultimate prize. Sixteen teams, after enduring an 82-game regular season, are set to battle it out. This season has been remarkable, witnessing unexpected records and surprising teams rising to the top of their conferences, securing home-ice advantage.
Now that the playoff bracket is set with 16 contenders, let`s delve into each first-round matchup and examine the betting odds, as provided by DraftKings on Thursday.
Eastern Conference
All eyes were on the Washington Capitals as Alex Ovechkin chased Wayne Gretzky`s all-time goal record. They not only achieved that but also had a fantastic season, claiming the No. 1 seed and are set to face the Montreal Canadiens. The reigning Stanley Cup champions, Florida Panthers, are also in the Eastern Conference mix, alongside consistent powerhouses like Tampa Bay and Carolina.
Washington Capitals vs Montreal Canadiens
- Money line: Capitals -330, Canadiens +260
- Spread: Capitals -1.5 (-145), Canadiens +1.5 (+125)
The Capitals exceeded expectations this season. While Ovechkin broke the record, key players like Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome had career-best years, contributing significantly to Washington`s offense, which ranked second-highest in the NHL in goals scored.
The Canadiens clinched the final playoff spot as the 16th seed in the second to last day of the regular season. Nick Suzuki has been outstanding with 89 points, however, he and Cole Caufield are the only Montreal players to surpass 70 points this season. Defensively, Montreal conceded the 10th most goals in the league, and the most among all playoff teams.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Ottawa Senators
- Money line: Maple Leafs -170, Senators +145
- Spread: Maple Leafs +1.5 (-320), Senators +1.5 (+250)
Mitch Marner topped the Toronto scoring charts, exceeding 100 points, while Auston Matthews, despite a slightly lower point total due to missed games, remained a key offensive force. Toronto boasted four players with 70+ points this season. In goal, Anthony Stolarz had an impressive season with a .926 save percentage in 33 starts.
Offense has been a challenge for the Senators, ranking 21st in the league in goals scored. Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson were the only Senators to reach 60 points, while Brady Tkachuk led the team with 29 goals, despite missing 11 games. Linus Ullmark is expected to be in net for Ottawa, with a .911 save percentage and 2.67 goals-against average in 43 appearances.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers
- Money line: Panthers -115, Lightning -105
- Spread: Panthers +1.5 (-220), Lightning -1.5 (+180)
An all-Florida matchup in the first round sees the defending champion Panthers hoping for the return of Matthew Tkachuk, who has been sidelined since an injury at the 4 Nations Face-Off. In Tkachuk`s absence, Sam Reinhart has led Florida`s offense with 81 points. Sergei Bobrovsky, instrumental in the Panthers` championship run last year, had another solid season in goal with a .905 save percentage.
Tampa Bay leads the NHL in goals scored and is the best in the Eastern Conference in goals allowed. Nikita Kucherov led the league in points and was one of four Lightning players to reach at least 80 points. Andrei Vasilevskiy recorded a .921 save percentage and allowed just 2.18 goals per game.
Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils
- Money line: Hurricanes -245, Devils +200
- Spread: Hurricanes -1.5 (-115), Devils +1.5 (-105)
The Hurricanes are a top-10 team in both goals scored and goals allowed, despite having only two players exceed 60 points – Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis. However, Pyotr Kochetkov has had a less successful year in net, recording his first sub-.900 save percentage season.
The Devils boast one of the strongest defenses in the league but are in the lower half in goals scored. The Hughes brothers, Jack and Luke, have combined for over 110 points, and Jesper Bratt had a career-best season. Jacob Markström is New Jersey`s primary goalie, posting a .900 save percentage this year.
Western Conference
The Western Conference top seed belongs to the Winnipeg Jets. Despite expectations, Winnipeg finished with the best record in the NHL and will face the St. Louis Blues in the first round. Let`s preview this series and the other three Western Conference matchups.
Winnipeg Jets vs St. Louis Blues
- Money line: Jets -180, Blues +155
- Spread: Jets -1.5 (+120), Blues +1.5 (-140)
The Jets, initially seen as a fringe playoff team, surprised everyone by finishing as the league`s best team. Winnipeg is well-rounded, and with strong goaltending from Connor Hellebuyck, who is a major reason they allowed the fewest goals in the NHL, they are well-positioned for the playoffs. While they lack a superstar offensive player, Kyle Connor leads the team with just under 100 points, helping the Jets rank among the top five in scoring.
The Blues secured a wild card spot late in the season and are also a balanced team, ranking in the top half of the league in both goals scored and allowed. Robert Thomas leads the team in points, and Jordan Kyrou is the top goal-scorer. Veteran goalie Jordan Binnington brings playoff experience and recorded a .914 save percentage during the Blues` 2018-19 Stanley Cup victory.
Vegas Golden Knights vs Minnesota Wild
- Money line: Golden Knights -205, Wild +170
- Spread: Golden Knights -1.5 (+110), Wild +1.5 (-130)
Jack Eichel had his best season with over 90 points, and Adin Hill has been solid in net for Vegas, maintaining a save percentage over .900. The Golden Knights are rich in postseason experience, featuring veterans like Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev.
The Wild secured a wild card spot after an inconsistent season, ranking in the bottom 10 in goals scored and around the middle in goals allowed. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson has been playing exceptionally well recently, with a save percentage in the .910s since March.
Dallas Stars vs Colorado Avalanche
- Money line: Stars +120, Avalanche -140
- Spread: Stars +1.5 (-195), Avalanche -1.5 (+155)
This series is a familiar playoff matchup. The Stars are again a balanced team, ranking in the top six in both goals scored and allowed. Matt Duchene and Jason Robertson both exceeded 80 points, and Jake Oettinger posted a .911 save percentage, consistent with his career average of .912.
The Avalanche are in the top 10 in goals scored and the top half in goals allowed. Nathan MacKinnon leads the NHL in assists, and Cale Makar continued to demonstrate his two-way prowess with over 90 points. Goaltending had been a question mark for Colorado, but Mackenzie Blackwood seems to have provided stability in net since joining from San Jose this season.
Los Angeles Kings vs Edmonton Oilers
- Money line: Oilers -135, Kings +115
- Spread: Oilers +1.5 (-270), Kings -1.5 (+225)
The Kings enter the playoffs as one of the best defensive teams, ranking second in goals allowed, with Darcy Kuemper allowing just over 2.00 goals per game. Their defense will be tested against Edmonton`s offense. The Oilers are just outside the top 10 in goals scored, but the duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl remains a significant threat, having led Edmonton to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals last season.
