NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: May 9, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

NHL Playoff Betting & Projections

As the Stanley Cup Playoffs entered a crucial phase midweek, betting markets were highly active, with models offering specific guidance across several matchups. The Sports Line Projection Model provided best bets for key showdowns on Thursday, coinciding with betting prompts for Wednesday’s slate featuring the Canadiens vs. Sabres contest. On Wednesday specifically, analysts pointed to Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield as one of the best player prop bets available for that evening's games, while promotional offers, such as Draft Kings awarding $100 in bonus bets, targeted both NBA and NHL Wednesday action.

Eastern Conference Semifinals Focus

Attention quickly shifted toward the Eastern Conference semifinals, where the Carolina Hurricanes faced the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 3 on Thursday. Predictions suggested that this contest represented perhaps the Flyers' final opportunity to keep the East semifinal series competitive against Carolina, implying mounting pressure on the home team. into the weekend schedule, models were already calculating projections for future rounds, with Buffalo facing Montreal in a 2026 Stanley Cup playoff Game 2 setting the stage for Friday’s betting analysis, which also included NBA playoff coverage concerning the Pistons and Thunder.

Draft Lottery & Offseason Moves

While the immediate focus remained on current playoff intensity, the league also finalized offseason positioning, as the Toronto Maple Leafs secured the NHL Draft lottery win. This outcome was reported alongside developments in other leagues, including the NBA where the Pistons and Thunder took 2-0 series leads in their respective second-round matchups. Further betting anticipation was driven by Thursday’s offerings, which included props related to the NBA’s pivotal Pistons-Cavaliers and Thunder-Lakers Game 2s, framing the broader sports betting environment alongside the ongoing NHL action.