NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: May 9, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

NHL Playoff Betting & Analyst Picks

The NHL playoff slate for Wednesday saw analysts recommending specific player bets, with Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield listed as a prime target for bettors ahead of his team's matchup. Betting projections for the evening’s schedule, which included key NBA clashes, were made available by the Sports Line Projection Model to inform wagers on the biggest contests. Furthermore, new customers looking to engage with the Wednesday night action across the NBA and NHL could secure $100 in bonus bets by utilizing a specific Draft Kings promotion following an initial $5 wager.

Mid-Week Playoff Previews & Projections

As the postseason advanced into Thursday, attention turned to critical elimination scenarios, such as the Eastern Conference semifinal where the Flyers hosted the Hurricanes in Game, which analysts viewed as Philadelphia’s potential last opportunity to make the series competitive. Betting models continued to issue guidance for Thursday’s slate, covering major NBA showdowns like the Pistons-Cavaliers and Thunder-Lakers Game 2s. to Friday's slate, the Sports Line model was already calculating its picks and best bets for the Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres Game, projecting matchups deep into the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Betting Outlooks Across Sports

The consistent focus on playoff action extended across sports, as experts provided their best bets and odds for major showdowns on Friday, spanning both the NBA and the NHL. While the NHL focused on the high-stakes playoff rounds, other sports news included projections for the 2026 WNBA season and updates on NBA series where teams like the Pistons and Thunder had taken 2-0 series leads.