NHL predictions: Playoff races heating up as season winds down

As the NHL's regular season enters its final stretch, the battle for playoff spots intensifies.

In the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia Flyers are holding onto third place in the Metropolitan Division with 83 points from 76 matches, narrowly leading the Washington Capitals who have amassed 82 points from 73 outings. Currently, both squads are positioned to advance.

However, they face stiff competition. The Detroit Red Wings are hot on their heels with 82 points from 75 games, followed by the New York Islanders with 79 points from 74 games. The Pittsburgh Penguins (77 points in 74 games), New Jersey Devils (76 points in 74 games), and Buffalo Sabres (75 points in 74 games) still have a slim chance to secure a playoff berth, although their prospects are dim.

Over in the Western Conference, the race for playoffs is a tight affair involving only a select few teams. The Los Angeles Kings are in possession of the second wild card spot with 87 points from 74 games, three points ahead of the St. Louis Blues who have 84 points from 75 games. The Minnesota Wild, with 79 points from 73 games, along with the other teams, might need a miracle to make it into the playoffs.

The significance of each game escalates for these contenders, which is a crucial factor to consider for those looking to find the best betting values.

BEST MONEY LINE BET

The Buffalo Sabres, despite being unlikely to secure a playoff position, still have a chance to impact the playoff landscape and are not yet ruled out for a post-season appearance. They have a commendable 6-4 record in their recent 10 home matches, and goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen boasts 18 victories and a .919 save rate in 31 appearances post-Christmas.

The Sabres aim to derail the Washington Capitals' surprising playoff journey. Despite the Capitals holding a playoff slot, their season has been marred by a -31 goal difference. Their performance has been lacking urgency, with only one win in regulation over their last six matches.

With superior goal difference and possession stats compared to the Capitals, the Sabres, playing on their home turf, are rightly favored and have a chance to upset Washington's playoff aspirations.

Sabres ML (-131*)

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BEST HANDICAP BET

The Montreal Canadiens' recent 3-0 defeat at home against the Carolina Hurricanes halted an eight-game streak where they managed to cover a puck line of 1.5 goals. This isn't so much an endorsement of the Canadiens, who are essentially playing without stakes but remain competitive.

This bet is more a reflection of the challenging circumstances facing the struggling Florida Panthers. After losing 6-4 in Toronto on Monday, the Panthers are 2-6-1 in their last nine games. The prospect of playing a back-to-back game against a well-rested home team does not bode well for Florida's chances of breaking their slump.

The scheduling favors Montreal just enough to back them to cover the 1.5 goal handicap.

Canadiens +1.5 (-125*)

BEST TOTAL BET

The Ottawa Senators have been scoring an average of 2.75 goals per 60 minutes over the last month, ranking them 22nd, combined with a goals against average of 2.95, placing them 17th. Their games have typically featured six goals or fewer in eight of their last 15 matchups.

The trend towards lower-scoring matches is even more pronounced with the Minnesota Wild. In the past month, the Wild have been second in expected goals against average (2.37) and third in actual goals against average (2.26), with nine of their last 10 games featuring six goals or fewer.

With their playoff hopes still alive, the Wild are likely to continue their defensive discipline, pushing this game towards a lower total.

Senators-Wild Under 6.5 (-115*)

BEST PLAYER PROP BET

At 32, Blake Coleman is experiencing the best season of his career, achieving personal bests with 29 goals and 52 points in 73 matches.

Remarkably, Coleman's productivity comes with limited power play involvement, having earned just three points in such scenarios.

Coleman has managed to score in 20 out of 37 home matches. Against the Anaheim Ducks, who are jointly ranked 30th with a 3.86 goals against average over the last month, Coleman's diligent and productive style positions him well to make an impact on the scoreboard.

Blake Coleman Over 0.5 points (-125*)

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