NHL Hockey 3 Days

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

NHL Playoff Action & Second-Round Previews

The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued with several series advancing, notably seeing the Detroit Pistons and Oklahoma City Thunder secure 1-0 leads in their respective NBA second-round matchups, while NHL action saw high-stakes wagering opportunities across the board. On Monday, analysts offered best bets including wagers on Carolina Hurricanes' Taylor Hall for playoff games, coinciding with advice on Monday's major betting slates from the Sports Line Projection Model. Tuesday's slate featured a second-round contest where the Sports Line model provided picks for the Western Conference showdown between the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche in Game, predicting another Colorado victory, though anticipating fewer than the 15 total goals scored previously.

Second-round matchups across the league are taking shape, with Buffalo and Montreal set to clash in an Eastern Conference series, where Scott Erskine provided an overview of the Sabres battling the Canadiens in the postseason. Out West, the Vegas Golden Knights are preparing to host the Anaheim Ducks to open their series, with analysts suggesting Vegas should protect home ice for the first win of their series against the Ducks, who were among the teams that failed to advance past the first round, alongside the Tampa Bay Lightning, marking them as key first-round disappointments. Further East, the Philadelphia Flyers are slated to face the Carolina Hurricanes in their Game, with the proven model issuing its official picks for that Flyers vs. Hurricanes matchup, as the field narrows with conference finals approaching in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Player Props & Betting Markets

Wagering interest remains high across the league, evidenced by daily prop recommendations and promotional offers across major sportsbooks. For Tuesday's playoff card, Sports Line analyst Scott Erskine identified Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy as among the best prop bets, complementing the general advice available for Tuesday's biggest sporting events from the Sports Line Projection Model. Meanwhile, Draft Kings was offering new users a bonus of $100 in bonus bets instantly after placing a minimum $5 wager, an incentive applicable to both NBA contests and Wednesday's NHL schedule, such as the game featuring the Knicks facing the 76ers. This followed a similar promotion offered for Sunday's slate that included betting on the Lightning vs. Canadiens game during the previous day's action.

Draft Lottery Outcome

The focus shifted momentarily to the future talent pool as the results of the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery were finalized on Tuesday night in New Jersey, yielding a major outcome for one storied franchise. The Toronto Maple Leafs secured the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft, a crucial advantage heading into what is anticipated to be a critical offseason for the organization. This top selection is highly coveted, particularly as Penn State star forward Gavin McKenna is widely regarded as the biggest prize available in the 2026 class. The lottery results were announced following a flurry of Game 7 action across the league on Monday, which saw the Pistons, Cavaliers, 76ers, and Canadiens all successfully win their decisive matchups.