2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Hockey Picks & Predictions

2026 NHL Playoff Picks & Predictions - Ice Hockey Betting Strategies & Odds

If you are looking to bet on ice hockey during the NHL playoffs as the best teams compete for the Stanley Cup, Stake is the best place. We’ve got all the latest NHL odds, including outright betting markets, and betting options on every game of the playoffs. Discover our picks and predictions right here, at Stake Sportsbook.

NHL History & Previous Winners

The NHL’s history dates back to 1917 when the league began its inaugural season. Interestingly, the Stanley Cup predates the NHL, as it was first awarded in 1915. During that long history, the Montreal Canadiens have been the most successful team, winning the Cup 24 times. The Toronto Maple Leafs are second with 13 Stanley Cup wins, although they haven’t won it since 1967.

Here is a list of the 10 most recent Stanley Cup winners:

NHL 2025-26 Season Format & Schedule

20 September - 4 October - Preseason

Across 15 days, 104 games were played across 40 NHL and neutral-site venues. All 32 clubs hosted at least 1 preseason game, and the final day of preseason saw 11 games played.

7 October - 16 April - Regular Season

The regular NHL season got underway on 7 October and saw 2 matches played in Sweden in November. Between 5 and 21 February, the league was paused as players were participating in the Winter Olympics in Milan. The final day of the season takes place on 16 April. Check our NHL season picks and predictions before you bet.

18 April - June - Stanley Cup Playoffs

The best teams in the NHL at the end of the regular season will compete in the playoffs, which begin on 18 April. The top 3 teams from each of the 4 divisions and the next 2 highest-place finishers in each conference qualify. This means a total of 16 teams will enter the playoffs, with 8 from each conference.

June - Stanley Cup Finals

The Stanley Cup is a best-of-7 series played over the last 3 weeks of June. The playoffs determine the Eastern and Western conference champions, which will then compete for the glory of lifting the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup.

NHL 2025-26 Regular Season Recap

One of the biggest stories of this NHL hockey season has been the drop-off from the Florida Panthers, who have missed out on the playoffs after winning the Stanley Cup the last 2 seasons. They suffered a major injury crisis, with many key players on their roster, including Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, and Sam Reinhart, missing long stretches of the season.

It’s been a strong season for Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, as the 19-year-old center is challenging for the Hart Trophy and helping his team fight for playoff contention.

At the end of March, 40-year-old Alex Ovechkin scored his 30th goal of the season, setting a record for 20 seasons with at least 30 goals. The Washington Capitals forward also broke Wayne Gretzky’s record to become the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, becoming the first player to surpass 900 goals.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Picks & Expert Predictions

The Stanley Cup playoffs will soon get underway, as the best teams face off for a chance to play in the Stanley Cup Finals. The following teams have already qualified:

Eastern Conference

• Carolina Hurricanes - The Hurricanes have a comfortable lead at the top of the Metropolitan Division, and as it stands, they’ll face the Ottawa Senators in the first round.

• Buffalo Sabres - The Sabres have now officially ended their 14-season drought of not making the playoffs, and their first round game will most likely be against the Canadiens.

• Montreal Canadiens - The Canadiens are the only one of the 7 Canadian teams to have reached the playoffs so far this season. As it stands, they’ll play the Sabres in the first round.

• Tampa Bay Lightning - Currently sitting at the top of the Atlantic Division, the Lightning have a strong roster and the best differential in the Conference. If results remain as they are now, they’ll play the wildcard team, the Boston Bruins in the first round.

Western Conference

• Colorado Avalanche - The Avalanche are currently top of the Central Division, though not out of reach of the Dallas Stars. As it stands, they’ll face the wildcard team, the Nashville Predators in the first round.

• Dallas Stars - The Stars are just behind the Avalanche. If they finish the regular season in 2nd place, they’ll face the Minnesota Wild in the first round. Last season, the Stars reached the Conference Finals, losing to the Oilers.

• Minnesota Wild - The Wild are just behind their Central Division rivals, and will face them in the first round if things stay the same. They’ve gone out in the first round of the playoffs the last 4 times they qualified.

Notable Players

• Nathan MacKinnon (Avalanche)

• Nikita Kucherov (Lightning)

• Connor McDavid (Oilers)

• Cale Makar (Avalanche)

• Wyatt Johnston (Stars)

• Jason Robertson (Stars)

Early Stanley Cup Finals Picks

As we approach the end of the season, these are the top-rated NHL teams based on the current betting odds:

• Colorado Avalanche - The Avalanche have looked like the strongest team throughout the NHL season, and they’re currently the top seed of the Western Conference. Nathan MacKinnon, Brock Nelson, and Kadri are a championship-winning trio, and their talent means the Avalanche are the current betting favorites.

• Tampa Bay Lightning - The Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup last in 2021, which was their 2nd year in a row as champions. They’re well placed at the top of the Atlantic Division currently and have a strong squad with proven experience in big games.

• Carolina Hurricanes - The Hurricanes sit comfortably at the top of the Metropolitan Division and have a great chance of securing the top spot of the Eastern Conference. They have a balanced roster with plenty of depth, although they’re not rated as highly as the Lightning.

Types of NHL Bets & How to Bet on Ice Hockey on Stake

For big events, like the Stanley Cup Playoffs, there is no shortage of NHL betting markets at Stake, including:

• Winner (Incl. Overtime and Penalties) - The simplest way to bet is with moneyline hockey bets, which wager on the winner and loser of a game. Note that this is the result after any overtime and penalties have been played.

• Total (Incl. Overtime and Penalties) - This is a bet on the total goals scored in a hockey game. You simply select over or under a specific goal line.

• Handicap (Incl. Overtime and Penalties) - Betting on the handicap is also called betting against the spread. In hockey, this is called the puck line. The favored team in a game must win by at least two goals; otherwise, the underdog will win the bet, even if they lose the game.

• 1x2 - This is a bet on the outcome of the match, excluding overtime and penalties, so you can bet on the home team, a draw, or the away team.

• 1st Goal - Bet on which team will score the first goal, or if no goals will be scored in regulation time.

• Both Teams to Score - Bet yes or no on whether you think both teams will score at some point during the match.

• 1x2 & Total - This combines the 1x2 and total goals market for greater odds.

• Prop Bets - Hockey games offer many prop bets, including game props and player props such as the number of goals, assists, points, or saves a player collects throughout a game.

• Parlays and multi bets - Stake allows you to combine bets together for parlays to increase your odds, and NHL games also include same-game multi bet markets, which means you can combine multiple bets on the same game.

• Winner (Outrights) - Outright betting is also known as NHL Futures. These are bets on the ultimate winner of the Stanley Cup or a particular series. The same as placing futures bets. This can include the winner of a particular division, conference, or the President’s Trophy, which is awarded to the team finishing the regular season with the best overall record. There are also individual awards, such as the Hart Memorial Trophy or Vezina Trophy.

We’ve created a helpful guide to betting on hockey, as well as our ultimate guide to sports betting. You can also place your first bets on the NHL by following these steps:

1. Log in to your Stake account and check that you have sufficient balance available.

2. Search for the team you want to bet on or use the menu to look up Ice Hockey > USA > NHL to see all live and upcoming matches to bet on.

3. Select the outright option to see outright betting markets, or select any match to see the full range of betting options.

4. Choose a bet to add to your bet slip, then enter your stake, check your potential payout and confirm to place.

Bet on Ice Hockey Live & Watch NHL Free on Stake

Stake Sportsbook makes it easy to watch live games in a variety of sports, including hockey, right here on our platform. Simply select any match with the live streaming icon to enjoy the free live stream and catch all the action as it happens. You can place live bets too, with odds that are updated in real time based on what’s happening. Even if a live stream isn’t available, we also offer live stats to give you greater insights into the game. Check out our guide to the differences between live and pre-live betting for more details.

Deposit & Withdrawal Methods for Betting on Ice Hockey

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Once your crypto arrives in your Stake wallet, you can use the Swap Crypto feature to instantly swap between supported cryptocurrencies. For added security, store your coins safely in the Stake vault.

If you have any issues or questions, our Help Center features lots of useful articles and guides, including how to make a crypto deposit , using crypto blockchains , and setting up a secure passkey . What’s more, our customer support team is always happy to assist if needed.

Stake Sportsbook Promotions, VIP Club, & Responsible Betting

Compared to other sports betting sites, Stake Sportsbook stands out by offering a wide selection of sportsbook promos and bonus offers. For hockey fans, this includes our 2+ lead payout, which gives you a payout if the team you bet on leads after two periods but doesn’t win. Meanwhile, joining Stake also means you can be a part of our VIP club, where you can earn additional benefits and rewards, which include regular rakeback, reload bonuses, and your own VIP host. You simply need to level up your account by placing bets. Find out more on the VIP FAQ page.

Finally, we encourage safe gambling practices and believe that sports betting should always be fun. Therefore, we provide our players with resources like the Stake Smart guide so they have the information they need to make responsible betting choices. Use our budget calculator to set a sensible budget and stay in control.