NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: May 7, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

NHL Playoff Betting & Player Props

As the Stanley Cup Playoffs moved through early-week action, betting markets provided projections across various matchups, with analyst advice focusing on specific player performances for Wednesday's slate. Sports Line NHL analyst Scott Erskine suggested backing Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield among the top player props for Wednesday's games, while the platform also shared its best bets for Tuesday's contests, featuring a look at Wild left wing Matt Boldy. Further amplifying mid-week wagering interest, Draft Kings provided new users with an incentive, offering $100 in bonus bets upon making an initial $5 wager across NBA and NHL contests scheduled for Wednesday.

Mid-Week Playoff Matchups & Projections

Tuesday's NHL playoff slate saw the Colorado Avalanche host the Minnesota Wild in Game 2 of their Western Conference second-round series, where the Sports Line model predicted another Colorado victory, though it cautioned against expecting a repeat of the previous game's extreme scoring output of 15 total goals. to later games, experts provided outlooks for Thursday's schedule, noting that the matchup between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 3 of the East semifinal was potentially Philadelphia's last chance to make the East semifinal competitive. Meanwhile, the Sports Line Projection Model and top experts continued sharing their aggregated predictions, providing expected outcomes and props for Thursday's biggest games, including the NBA's Thunder-Lakers Game 2s alongside the hockey action listed in their daily preview.

Off-Season Moves & Draft Lottery

In developments outside the active playoff bracket, the results of the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery were settled, granting the Toronto Maple Leafs the highly coveted No. 1 overall pick heading into what is described as a critical offseason. The Maple Leafs secured the top selection following the lottery drawing held in New Jersey on Tuesday night, where the potential top prospect entering the draft pool was identified as Penn State star forward Gavin McKenna, whose status was a major focus of the pre-lottery odds released on Tuesday. This future asset acquisition for Toronto was announced alongside other league news, as the Maple Leafs landed the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery.

Future Series Odds & Wednesday Previews

Beyond the immediate playoff picture, analysts released early projections for the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, specifically detailing the Eastern Conference matchup between the Buffalo Sabres and the Montreal Canadiens. Analyst Scott Erskine provided an overview of that second-round series, offering futures odds and predictions for the matchup. Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, betting platforms compiled their top picks for that day's slate, which included the Canadiens facing the Sabres, alongside other major sporting events like the 76ers-Knicks NBA tilt, with the Sports Line Model detailing its best bets.