Today’s NHL Playoff Odds & Predictions

To help NHL bettors identify betting opportunities for the 2024 playoffs, I’ve constructed three betting systems that have proved historically profitable. 

One system offers bettors an opportunity to take advantage of an underdog moneyline, while the remaining two offer a chance to back a favorite depending on the venue. 

NHL playoff odds at the BetMGM online sportsbook are reflective at time of writing. 

NHL Playoff Odds, Predictions – Betting Systems

Buy Experienced Road Teams Following a Loss

Historically, road teams have proved quite good at not dropping multiple games in a row under a particular circumstance. 

Bettors should look for these teams that made the postseason the previous year coming off a loss. 

Since the 2006-07 season, these teams are 210-185 SU (53.2%) for a 16.1% return on investment, assuming the game takes place within the conference and they stayed within four goals in the previous game. 

Within that sample, underdogs are 145-149 SU for a 16.8% ROI, while favorites are 66-36 SU for a 14.1% ROI.

Comparatively, when the team failed to make the postseason the previous year, they drop to only 97-128 SU, but still return bettors a 3.6% ROI. 

Current Matches: New York Rangers (June 1)

Buy Experienced Road Favorites Off a Loss

Visiting favorites within the conference are historically very good at bouncing back off a loss, particularly when they have postseason experience.

Since the 2005-06 season, visiting favorites playing a conference game off a loss are 83-49 SU in the next game, including 66-36 SU when they made the postseason the previous year.

Oddly, this system is at its best from an ROI standpoint in the conference finals. These teams are 6-1 SU in the conference finals, 19-19 in the conference semifinals and 58-29 SU in the conference quarterfinals.

It’s also a limited sample in the Stanley Cup Finals, but these teams are still 8-4 SU under the aforementioned circumstances, including a perfect 3-0 when they failed to reach the postseason the previous year.

Current Matches: No current matches.

Buy Home Favorites Following Consecutive Losses

When desperation begins to set in for a home favorite, it’s usually wise to back them.

Since the 2005-06 season, home favorites that have lost consecutive games are 100-51 SU (66.2%).

This system is particularly profitable during the Stanley Cup Final. Although it’s only a 20-game sample, home favorites playing a non-conference game that have lost two straight are 18-2 SU in the next game.

When you consider the games where two conference opponents play one another, their record becomes 82-49 SU.

Another occasion on which bettors should look to buy these favorites is when the opponent failed to reach the postseason the previous year. In a 50-game sample, such favorites are 39-11 SU.

Current Matches: No current matches.