NHL Odds to Make Playoffs: Will Flames, Wild, Others Make or Miss Stanley Cup Playoffs?
NHL Odds to Make Playoffs: Will Flames, Wild, Others Make or Miss Stanley Cup Playoffs?
It's a great time to jump into the NHL To Make Playoffs futures market with less than 10 games left in the 2024-25 NHL regular season. Nine teams currently have their odds listed, offering good value on either side of their futures prop.
NHL handicapper Matt MacKay is back to share updated odds for NHL Teams to Make the Playoffs with the regular season coming to an end. He'll analyze his favorite teams in contention for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, recommending an appropriate bet to either back or fade a few of these NHL franchises.
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NHL TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS ODDS
CALGARY FLAMES TO MAKE PLAYOFFS - YES (+230)
Calgary just got a massive shootout win against Colorado on Monday night. The Flames have 82 points and are currently five points behind St. Louis for the second Wild Card seed in the Western Conference.
Calgary's 4-2 SU in its last six games, with four of their last five games going into overtime. Their only losses came against Dallas and Edmonton during this late push.
A soft upcoming schedule includes Utah and Anaheim, followed by Vegas, San Jose, Anaheim, Minnesota, San Jose, Vegas, and Los Angeles. If Calgary beats San Jose, Utah, and Anaheim as the favorite, they'll be in a great position to beat Minnesota.
The Wild are key in the Flames' effort to make the playoffs. Minnesota is in a bit of a rut and cannot score consistently. A win over the Wild after a five-game stretch that includes Utah, the Ducks, and Sharks could see Calgary leap Minnesota for the final Wild Card seed.
At +230, let's bet half a unit on the Flames to make the playoffs in the Western Conference.
MINNESOTA WILD TO MAKE PLAYOFFS - NO (+600)
Minnesota is sorely missing Kirill Kaprizov's scoring ability on the ice right now. The Wild have lost four of their last five games, failing to score more than two goals during every loss.
The defense and goaltending are solid but Minnesota's inability to score could wind up costing them a playoff berth. Their schedule is tough to close the regular season, playing the Rangers, Islanders, Stars, Sharks, Flames, Canucks, and Ducks.
The Wild may go 3-4 or 2-5 against their upcoming opponents. At +600, this line is mispriced by oddsmakers. It should be closer to +300. Let's bite and bet one more half-unit on Minnesota to not make the playoffs, likely getting jumped by Calgary.
MONTREAL CANADIENS TO MAKE PLAYOFFS - NO (-180)
Montreal has been holding onto its Wild Card seed in the Eastern Conference by a thread in its last few games. The Canadiens ended a five-game losing skid with a 4-2 road win against Florida on Sunday. Now, they'll host the Panthers on Monday night to try to separate from the New York Rangers, who also have 77 points.
Montreal has a -26 goal differential ahead of a rematch against the Panthers. Their remaining schedule is relatively favorable, going up against Boston, Philadelphia, Nashville, Detroit, Ottawa, Toronto, Chicago, and Carolina.
Sam Montembeault is a liability in the crease and I don't think Montreal can score enough goals consistently to hold onto their slim Wild Card margin. The Rangers have one less game to play but also have a difficult end-of-season schedule.
There's a reason oddsmakers have Montreal to make the playoffs at +150 when they are currently in the second Wild Card. Despite a winnable final stretch, the Canadiens' offense has gone cold, while the defense and goaltending have also regressed.
It's juicy, so I'd bet up to two units on Montreal to not make the playoffs at -180 odds.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS TO MAKE PLAYOFFS - YES (+330)
Columbus endured a six-game losing slump that has forced them into win-now mode. The Blue Jackets have one of the league's top scoring offenses, scoring 234 goals this season. Yet, they have a -8 goal differential.
10 games remain on Columbus' schedule. This gives them a few more opportunities than the Canadiens, Rangers, Red Wings, and Islanders to make a final push for the second Wild Card seed in the Eastern Conference.
The upcoming schedule includes Nashville, Colorado, Toronto, Ottawa twice, Buffalo, Washington twice, Philadelphia, and closing out at home against the Islanders. Colorado, Toronto, and Washington will be tough to win. This means Columbus has to go 7-3 or 6-4 at worst to potentially jump Montreal and the New York Rangers.
Goaltending needs to be better for this outcome to happen. Or, Columbus can lean into its offense, which has scored three or more goals in three of their last four games played. After an 0-6 slump, the Blue Jackets logged back-to-back shootout wins against playoff-desperate teams like the Islanders and Canucks. Their last game played was a 3-2 road loss to Ottawa.
At +330, with ten games left, I'm willing to sprinkle half a unit on Columbus to make the playoffs. The Rangers have a tough schedule with two less games. Meanwhile, Montreal is not going to hold up with bad defense and stale offense. A chance to beat the Islanders in the regular season finale could become even more important, affording Columbus a potential win and get-in scenario.
NHL ODDS
Matt is an avid writer, editor, and researcher. He enjoys analyzing the game within the game which is fantasy sports and sports betting. Music is another constant in his daily life. Matt loves spending time with his wife and three pets. He likes to read, listen to podcasts, and is constantly motivated to create the most accurate and engaging content in the sports betting industry.