NHL Betting Predictions for the 2018 Playoffs

The sand is running out of the hourglass on the 2018 regular season, which means that it’s time to start looking at how you should approach the NHL Betting action during the playoffs. There are still some slots to figure out. Right now, in the Central Division, Nashville, Winnipeg, and Minnesota hold the top three slots, and in the Pacific Division, Vegas, San Jose and Anaheim round out the top three. However, Colorado and St. Louis could catch Minnesota, and Los Angeles could catch Anaheim. Colorado and Los Angeles hold the two wild cards right now. In the Eastern Conference, Boston and Tampa Bay are fighting for first place in the Atlantic Division, with the Toronto Maple Leafs in third. Washington has clinched the Metropolitan Division, with Pittsburgh in second and Columbus in third. Philadelphia and New Jersey hold the two wild-card slots, although either of them could catch Columbus, no matter what the NHL Odds might say.

NHL Betting Predictions for the 2018 Playoffs

It’s going to come down to the wire for the @Avalanche. #StanleyCup https://t.co/GJLAkR5xKd

— NHL (@NHL) 3 de abril de 2018

Here’s how the opening round would unfold if the regular season ended today:

Eastern Conference

• Boston (A1) vs New Jersey (WC2)
• Tampa Bay (A2) vs Toronto (A3)
• Washington (M1) vs Philadelphia (WC1)
• Pittsburgh (M2) vs Columbus (M3)

This year, the Penguins have another high-octane offense, but their defense is simply porous, and often at the wrong time. Washington still has the more consistent regular-season presence, but Pittsburgh has that higher gear that Washington never seems to be able to find when the postseason chips are down. That’s why I’m worried about the Capitals in that series against Philadelphia. The Flyers are in the middle of the league statistically as far as goals scored, goals permitted and special teams go, but they can drop 3 or 4 goals on just about anyone at any given time. I see Washington as a vulnerable 1-seed in that matchup, so long as Philadelphia stays in that position. How about Tampa Bay and Toronto? The Lightning has ruled the East for much of the season, but they have fallen off lately, losing six of 10, and here comes the young Maple Leafs, following Mike Babcock’s rebuilding scheme to perfection. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see the Leafs drive the Lightning off their own rink. Pittsburgh, though, should skate circles around the Blue Jackets. Columbus plays a workmanlike style, grinding games out and wearing the fight out of the opposition, but they don’t have the speed or skill to keep up with the Penguins. Boston and New Jersey will make an intriguing matchup, but the Bruins have finally decided to play the sort of defense that can make their high-flying offense a real contender and an interesting NHL Betting pick.

Western Conference

• Nashville (C1) vs Colorado (WC2)
• Winnipeg (C2) vs Minnesota (C3)
• Vegas (P1) vs Los Angeles (WC1)
• San Jose (P2) vs Anaheim (P3)

Nashville is similar to Boston in that vein, but I would say that the Predators are even tougher on defense — if a touch slower on the offensive end. Even so, I like them as a safe NHL Betting pick to cruise past a Colorado team that had a dreadful first half of the season but has figured things out in the second half to move into the postseason. Winnipeg and Minnesota resemble each other a lot — young, speedy teams with a lot of upsides — but a lot of potentials to make game-changing errors on the back end. I like Winnipeg because of the home ice they would hold in this equation. Much like Tampa Bay, Vegas has played lights-out for most of the season but now finds themselves slowing down a little bit — just in time to face the Los Angeles Kings, a team that has fought and clawed to get one of the wildcards. The Kings have a solid defense and can counter the quick (although anonymous) Vegas offense. I’d pick Vegas in this series, but I see it going six or seven. Finally, we end with San Jose and Anaheim. Both of these teams have a history of scrapping and getting a round or two further than we expect, and home ice doesn’t seem to matter a whole lot in an all-California series. Even so, the Sharks have more speed up front and should be able to generate more chances than the Ducks.