NHL Hockey 3 Days

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

NHL Playoff Betting & Projections

The North American sports betting market turned its attention to the NHL playoffs mid-week, with projection models offering specific Game 2 advice alongside NBA showdowns. For Wednesday's slate, Sports Line analyst Scott Erskine identified Cole Caufield as a prime player prop target for the Montreal Canadiens. Moving into Thursday's action, analysts were focused on the Eastern Conference semifinal where the Philadelphia Flyers faced elimination hosting the Carolina Hurricanes in a must-win Game, with experts suggesting it represented Philadelphia's final realistic chance to keep the series competitive against the favored Hurricanes heading into the pivotal contest.

Series Outlook & Future Matchups

to Friday's schedule, projection models were already forecasting outcomes for subsequent rounds, with Sports Line's system releasing picks for a hypothetical 2026 Stanley Cup playoff Game 2 between the Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres. This forward-looking analysis contrasted sharply with Thursday's immediate playoff focus, which largely centered on the NBA where the Pistons and Thunder seized 2-0 series leads in their respective first-round matchups against the Cavaliers and Lakers as detailed in daily betting guides. The NBA news also touched upon the WNBA, where the 2026 season preview was underway suggesting a busy week across professional basketball and hockey.