NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: May 5, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Second Round Action & Betting Insights

As the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs progress into the second round, betting models are heavily focused on Tuesday's matchups, with analysts offering specific player prop advice ahead of the slate. For the matchup between the Wild and Avalanche, following a high-scoring Game, experts anticipate Colorado securing another victory but project the total goals scored will fall short of the 15 tallied previously, leading to more conservative total bets. Sports Line's proven model revealed its specific picks for the Game 2 clash between Minnesota and Colorado, providing guidance for bettors looking beyond the outright winner in that Western Conference pairing. Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference, attention is turning toward the projected second-round clash between the Sabres and Canadiens, a series where Buffalo is seeking to replicate their first-round success, marking their first series win since 2007.

Further analysis of the second-round outlook shows the betting consensus favors the Vegas Golden Knights to advance over the Anaheim Ducks, with Vegas expected to defend home ice for their opening win in the series. Analysts are also breaking down the Flyers-Hurricanes series, where Carolina is expected to prevail in Game, despite Philadelphia’s coach Tocchet suggesting his team was not mentally prepared for their Game 1 outing. On the player prop front, bettors were advised to consider wagers on Minnesota's star left wing Matt Boldy for Tuesday's games, while similar guidance for Monday featured Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall as a strong bet.

Looking back at the opening round disappointments several expected contenders failed to advance, with teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers exiting earlier than projected, setting up an intriguing bracket as the field narrows toward the conference finals. The early playoff disappointments mean that several teams, including the Lightning and Canadiens, were involved in high-leverage Game 7 scenarios that ultimately defined their immediate future. The path for those advancing teams must now be mapped out, with predictions already being made regarding which four clubs will ultimately punch their tickets to the conference finals.

Draft & Offseason Outlook

The focus shifts briefly from on-ice action to the league's future talent pool with the NHL Draft lottery scheduled for Tuesday in New Jersey. The biggest prize available for the winning team is widely considered to be Penn State star forward Gavin McKenna, whose selection could anchor a franchise's rebuild for years to come. For teams already eliminated from contention, offseason planning is already underway, with experts detailing the necessary free agency and draft strategies for every non-playoff club looking toward the 2026-27 season expectations.

Injury & Contract News

In player movement news, the St. Louis Blues secured forward Kailer Holloway on a five-year contract worth an average annual value of $7.74 million, totaling $38.75M over the deal's duration. Meanwhile, significant injury setbacks are impacting playoff fortunes, as it was confirmed that Connor McDavid suffered a foot fracture during the first round loss, potentially explaining Edmonton's early exit. On a more positive note for the Hurricanes, reports confirmed that forward Jesper Ehlers would return in time for Game 1 of their second-round series. Furthermore, disciplinary action is pending for Boston's Charlie McAvoy, who faces an in-person hearing regarding a slash infraction committed during play.

League Previews & Player Props (Sunday/Monday)

Betting insights provided for Sunday’s slate included prop recommendations centering on the Wild's offensive catalyst, left wing Kirill Kaprizov, as part of the pre-game analysis for the first-round contests. Monday’s slate offered betting guidance for games including the Flyers-Hurricanes and other matchups, with the Sports Line Projection Model identifying top bets for those contests. This consistent analysis across the postseason allows bettors to target specific player outcomes, such as those involving players like Taylor Hall on Monday, alongside series predictions for opening matchups like the Ducks versus Golden Knights.