NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: May 6, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

NHL Playoff Second Round Previews & Predictions

The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs have entered the second round, immediately revealing major upsets as several top contenders, including the Lightning and Oilers, became first-round disappointments. Sports Line analysts are setting the stage for the next slate of matchups, with Buffalo facing Montreal in an Eastern Conference clash, where futures odds were released ahead of their series start. In the West, the Colorado Avalanche are slated to meet the Minnesota Wild in a highly anticipated rematch, while the Golden Knights prepared to host the Ducks in Game 1 of their series, with Vegas projected to protect home ice for the initial victory.

The second-round action is already in full swing, prompting detailed betting analysis for Tuesday's slate, which includes the Wild visiting the Avalanche for Game 2 of their Western Conference battle. Sports Line’s proven model has issued picks for this matchup, predicting another Colorado win but suggesting that the expected goal total will be far lower than the 15 goals scored in the previous contest. Meanwhile, the model also derived its best bets for the Philadelphia Flyers versus Carolina Hurricanes second-round Game, as experts provided comprehensive picks across all series ahead of the conference finals push looming on the schedule.

For Monday's playoff card, betting insights focused heavily on established stars, with analyst Scott Erskine recommending wagers on specific player props, including Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall as a top consideration. The evening’s schedule also featured key matchups, prompting the Sports Line Projection Model to provide its expert selections for games such as the Flyers versus Hurricanes as detailed on Monday. to Tuesday, the betting focus shifted toward Minnesota’s contest, where Wild left wing Matt Boldy was highlighted as one of the best prop bets available for the evening’s action accompanying the Avalanche game.

Sunday’s betting markets were active leading into the current playoff week, with promotions offered for wagers targeting matchups like the Lightning battling the Canadiens in a potential elimination game. Player prop analysis for Sunday also featured Minnesota’s top offensive threat, as Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov was singled out as a prime candidate for favorable betting returns among the day’s slate. This intense playoff atmosphere follows a dramatic conclusion to the previous round, where several teams, including the Canadiens and Cavaliers, won Game 7s to advance.

Draft Lottery & Offseason Outlook

Away from the ice, the results of the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery were finalized Tuesday night from New Jersey, setting the stage for a critical offseason for several franchises. The biggest beneficiary was the Toronto Maple Leafs, who landed the highly coveted No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft. This top selection is expected to secure a generational talent, with Penn State's star forward Gavin McKenna considered the biggest prize available to the winning organization.