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🏆 Playoffs
Last updated: April 21, 2025 3:50 PM EDT • 7 min read
The third day of the NHL playoffs resembles three months’ worth of a matinee soap opera in terms of storylines. 
How will the Edmonton Oilers perform on the road against the NHL’s best home team? Will the league’s greatest ever goalscorer be as prolific this postseason? Can the Dallas Stars rebound from a rough Game 1 loss? These are many of the questions we’re asking heading into tonight’s Stanley Cup playoff action.
Our Stanley Cup odds and NHL playoff predictions today offer up expert picks for each game, all while highlighting the best storylines. We also present some of our best live betting tips from our best sports betting sites.
Stanley Cup odds via our best NHL betting sites. Updated in real time.
At BetMGM, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Stanley Cup odds shortened from +1200 to +750 after winning Game 1 of the Battle of Ontario 6-2. That improvement saw the Buds’ odds move from the 10th to the third-shortest. Three power-play goals quickly ended Ottawa’s hopes. While the Maple Leafs will be elated with the start of their playoffs, the game wasn’t as lopsided as the score suggested.
A similar scenario unfolded on Saturday in Dallas when the Stanley Cup odds favorite Colorado Avalanche, spearheaded by an exquisite Mackenzie Blackwood playoff debut, were equal measures fortuitous and ruthless.  
The Hurricanes hunted the New Jersey Devils at home, resembling a pack of lions hunting an injured fawn. With the most dominant performance in the playoffs to date, Carolina outshot New Jersey 45-24 and won the expected goals battle 4.84 to 2.01.
Sunday’s nightcap saw a nip-and-tuck battle between the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild, with the home team’s lethal power play scoring the decisive goal. Had it not been for an empty-net goal by Brett Howden, his second of the game, I would have hit the score prediction right between the eyes.
Cue the world’s quietest and smallest violin.
💰 Best bet to win Stanley Cup: Avalanche (+600 via BetMGM)
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Here are our best NHL predictions today for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including our expert picks and full-game previews for every matchup. Odds courtesy of BetMGM; subject to change.
📍 Puck drop: 7 p.m. ET | 📺 TV: ESPN, Sportsnet 
📊 Odds: Canadiens (+160) | Capitals (-190) O/U 6
Here’s why Gary Pearson is picking the Canadiens to win Game 1:
“The Canadiens are playing with house money after making it to the postseason. Touted before the season as a potential Eastern Conference bottom feeder, the Canadiens ascended to relevance after the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Martin St. Louis’ team tied the Tampa Bay Lightning for the fifth-best record (15-5-6) since Feb. 22. 
They’ve impressed me so much that my long-shot alarm is on high alert.” 
👉 Check out our full Canadiens vs. Capitals prediction for expert analysis, betting picks, and our favorite prop bets.
📍 Puck drop: 7:30 p.m. ET | 📺 TV: ESPN, CBC
📊 Odds: Blues (+160) | Jets (-188)| O/U 5.5
Here’s why Connor Cooper is picking the Blues: 
“A big reason the Blues were able to turn their season around with a 19-4-3 record in their final 26 games was their ability to bounce back from a loss. St. Louis is 5-2-1 in its last eight games following a defeat, scoring at least three goals in each of those contests.”
👉 Check out our full Blues vs. Jets prediction for expert analysis, betting picks, and our favorite prop bets.
📍 Puck drop: 9:30 p.m. ET | 📺 TV: ESPN
📊 Odds: Avalanche (-145) | Stars (+120)| O/U 6
Here’s why Gary Pearson is picking the Stars:
“The Stars have lost eight straight opening games of a playoff series. Before you regurgitate from disgust, let this sink in: Dallas is 5-2 in the following game. Expect them to make it 6-2 thanks to a heroic performance from every member of the shorthanded collective.”
👉 Check out our full Avalanche vs. Stars prediction for expert analysis, betting picks, and our favorite prop bets.
📍 Puck drop: 10 p.m. ET | 📺 TV: ESPN2
📊 Odds: Oilers (+105) | Kings (-120)| O/U 5.5
Here’s why Connor Cooper is picking the Kings:
“Los Angeles had its way with Edmonton during the regular season, winning three of the four matchups by a combined score of 12-4. Darcy Kuemper posted a clean sheet in each of those last two meetings – both of them earlier this month – and provides the Kings with a significant advantage in net over Stuart Skinner.”
👉 Check out our full Oilers vs. Kings prediction for expert analysis, betting picks, and our favorite prop bets.
The Hurricanes made it 25 of 32 home wins this season by two goals or more and improved to 20-2-0 when scoring the opener at Lenovo Center. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs improved to 27-3-0 when leading after the first period and 35-8-2 after netting the opener.
The Golden Knights have won all 11 games at T-Mobile Arena decided by two goals. Here are some live betting tips for today’s games. 
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Each product featured on our website has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.
Looking to bet on today’s games? Here are some helpful tips and our picks to keep you sharp through the Stanley Cup playoffs:
Ready to place your hockey bets today? Here are the best NHL betting sites and best sportsbook promos for the Stanley Cup playoffs:
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by Gary Pearson 19 hours ago
by Gary Pearson yesterday
by Gary Pearson 2 days ago
by Gary Pearson 3 days ago
by Connor Cooper 7 days ago
by Gary Pearson 8 days ago
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