Category: NHL

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs are considered the most grueling postseason in all professional sports, and that intensity really gets ramped up for the Stanley Cup Final.

Discover the latest NHL odds as well as all the key resources you need to navigate the 2026 NHL Playoffs with our helpful links and information below.

2026 Stanley Cup odds

Stanley Cup odds are a form of NHL futures. These are long-running odds markets that release before the start of the regular season and take action over the course of the schedule, adjusting to results, betting handle, and injuries.

📅 2026 NHL Playoffs schedule

🏒 2026 Conn Smythe Trophy Odds

The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the most valuable player during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sportsbooks begin offering Conn Smythe odds at the start of the playoffs, updating them as the rounds go on and teams are eliminated.

Odds as of April 15 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Stanley Cup format

In the NHL's best-of-seven postseason, the first team to win four games advances to the next round, while the loser is eliminated. To ensure fairness, the league utilizes a 2-2-1-1-1 home-ice format, which allocates hosting duties based on regular-season performance.

This structure guarantees that the team with the superior regular-season record enjoys home-ice advantage, meaning they host the series opener and, most crucially, the decisive seventh game.

📺 How to watch the Stanley Cup

In Canada, fans can catch Stanley Cup Final games on Sportsnet and CBC, while fans in the United States can find Stanley Cup Final action exclusively on ABC. Cord cutters can stream the games on ESPN+.

Where to bet on the Stanley Cup

Hockey betting is on the rise in North America. The NHL’s popularity provides fun and unique ways to wager on hockey action all season long. Where you bet on hockey is just as important as what you bet, and Covers has reviewed the best betting sites available in your region.

💵 How to bet on hockey

Hockey is one of the most exciting sports to bet on due to the fast-paced action and swings in momentum. And the Stanley Cup playoffs dial up the drama, with plenty of unpredictable outcomes and thrilling underdog stories. Learn how to bet on hockey and make smarter NHL bets with Covers.

📜 Stanley Cup history

The Stanley Cup Final is one of the longest-running championship events in North American sports with a rich history of memorable competition and outstanding players

Origins

The Stanley Cup is named after Lord Frederick Stanley, the 16th Earl of Derby, who donated the trophy to honor the best amateur hockey team in Canada. 

The Stanley Cup was first awarded to the winner of the Canadian Challenge Cup (1893-1914) and later used as the top prize in a championship series between the winner of the National Hockey Association and the winner of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (1915-1926).

It wasn’t until 1927 that the National Hockey League adopted the Stanley Cup as its championship trophy.

The first Stanley Cup

The first winner of the Stanley Cup was the Montreal Hockey Club, which won the Challenge Cup in 1893. The first NHA vs. PCHA winner was the Vancouver Millionaires in 1915. The first NHL champion to hoist Lord Stanley was the Ottawa Senators in 1927. 

🏆 NHL Stanley Cup Winners

Year	Team
2025	Florida Panthers
2024	Florida Panthers
2023	Vegas Golden Knights
2022	Colorado Avalanche
2021	Tampa Bay Lightning
2020	Tampa Bay Lightning
2019	St. Louis Blues
2018	Washington Capitals
2017	Pittsburgh Penguins
2016	Pittsburgh Penguins
2015	Chicago Blackhawks
2014	Los Angeles Kings
2013	Chicago Blackhawks
2012	Los Angeles Kings
2011	Boston Bruins
2010	Chicago Blackhawks
2009	Pittsburgh Penguins
2008	Detroit Red Wings
2007	Anaheim Ducks
2006	Carolina Hurricanes
2005	Season canceled due to NHL lockout
2004	Tampa Bay Lightning
2003	New Jersey Devils
2002	Detroit Red Wings
2001	Colorado Avalanche
2000	New Jersey Devils
1999	Dallas Stars
1998	Detroit Red Wings
1997	Detroit Red Wings
1996	Colorado Avalanche
1995	New Jersey Devils
1994	New York Rangers
1993	Montreal Canadiens
1992	Pittsburgh Penguins
1991	Pittsburgh Penguins
1990	Edmonton Oilers
1989	Calgary Flames
1988	Edmonton Oilers
1987	Edmonton Oilers
1986	Montreal Canadiens
1985	Edmonton Oilers
1984	Edmonton Oilers
1983	New York Islanders
1982	New York Islanders
1981	New York Islanders
1980	New York Islanders
1979	Montreal Canadiens
1978	Montreal Canadiens
1977	Montreal Canadiens
1976	Montreal Canadiens
1975	Philadelphia Flyers
1974	Philadelphia Flyers
1973	Montreal Canadiens
1972	Boston Bruins
1971	Montreal Canadiens
1970	Boston Bruins
1969	Montreal Canadiens
1968	Montreal Canadiens
1967	Toronto Maple Leafs
1966	Montreal Canadiens
1965	Montreal Canadiens
1964	Toronto Maple Leafs
1963	Toronto Maple Leafs
1962	Toronto Maple Leafs
1961	Chicago Blackhawks
1960	Montreal Canadiens
1959	Montreal Canadiens
1958	Montreal Canadiens
1957	Montreal Canadiens
1956	Montreal Canadiens
1955	Detroit Red Wings
1954	Detroit Red Wings
1953	Montreal Canadiens
1952	Detroit Red Wings
1951	Toronto Maple Leafs
1950	Detroit Red Wings
1949	Toronto Maple Leafs
1948	Toronto Maple Leafs
1947	Detroit Red Wings
1946	Montreal Canadiens
1945	Toronto Maple Leafs
1944	Montreal Canadiens
1943	Detroit Red Wings
1942	Toronto Maple Leafs
1941	Boston Bruins
1940	New York Rangers
1939	Boston Bruins
1938	Chicago Blackhawks
1937	Detroit Red Wings
1936	Detroit Red Wings
1935	Montreal Maroons
1934	Chicago Blackhawks
1933	New York Rangers
1932	Toronto Maple Leafs
1931	Montreal Canadiens
1930	Montreal Canadiens
1929	Boston Bruins
1928	New York Rangers
1927	Ottawa Senators

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The Montreal Canadiens’ second-round pick at the last draft, Alexander Zharovsky, saw his KHL season come to an end yesterday when the Ufa Salavat Yulaev crashed out of the playoffs. The underdogs were swept in four games by Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, which featured former Hab Alexander Radulov.

In the fourth and final game of the duel yesterday, Lokomotiv won 4-0, with Radulov scoring a goal and recording two assists. As for Zharovsky, he spent just over 16 minutes on the ice across 19 shifts, had two shots and two blocked shots.

In 10 playoff games, the 19-year-old only put up a pair of assists. That’s nothing to write home about, but it’s important to remember that he’s still very young and playing against seasoned players in Russia’s top league. Just like in the NHL, the level of play goes up in the postseason.

The right wing put up 16 goals and 26 assists for 42 points in his first complete season in the KHL. The 6-foot-2 and 176-pound player still needs to fill up before he’s ready to face North American professional hockey.

Speaking on BPM Sports earlier this week, former NHL coach Bob Hartley, who’s now at the helm of Lokomotiv, was asked about the Canadiens’ prospect. He explained:

We know the playoffs are a different animal; they beat their first-round rival in six games, and we shut them out in our first two games at home. There’s not much room on the ice against us. We have an experienced defence corps that’s robust as well, and we’ve kept a close eye on him. [..] The kid is only 19, and he’s coming to terms with the reality of the playoffs, but he’s always dangerous, he works very hard, and he’s an excellent skater. He sees the game well, he’ll keep on improving, and the Canadiens definitely have a jewel there. He’s an excellent hockey player, and from what I hear, he’s a hard worker with an A1 attitude and a kid who, off the ice, is a great deal like [Ivan] Demidov.

- Bob Hartley on Zharovsky

That sounds very promising, and it looks like Zharovsky, just like Demidov, will be worth the wait. Martin St-Louis has shown time and time again what he can do with young players who have a knack for reading the game.  The end of next season could be very interesting for Canadiens’ fans when both Zharovsky and Michael Hage turn pro.

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

The Florida Panthers are about to cross the finish line of frustrating, injury-filled season.

Despite coming into the year as the NHL’s defending, back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions, the Panthers couldn’t stay healthy and constantly found themselves behind the proverbial eight ball.

Now, with their playoff hopes long gone and the focus shifting to the future, Florida is looking to the upcoming offseason with a potential major bargaining chip in their back pocket.

That’s because the Panthers’ 2026 first-round pick, which was previously included in the 2025 Trade Deadline deal that brought Seth Jones to Florida from the Chicago Blackhawks, was top-10 protected.

Entering play Wednesday, Florida holds the eighth-worst record in the NHL. A finish anywhere in the bottom eight will guarantee they keep their pick, regardless of what happens at the NHL Draft Lottery.

There are two draws at the Draft Lottery, one for the first overall pick and one for the second overall pick, meaning there is a chance that two teams could move up and bump Florida backwards.

A loss to Detroit in any fashion will guarantee the Panthers a bottom-eight finish.

If the Panthers collect two points, they would need the San Jose Sharks and St. Louis Blues to each pick up at least one more point (San Jose has two games remaining, St. Louis has one) in order to guarantee the bottom-eight finish.

The Panthers are expected to welcome forward Matthew Tkachuk back into the lineup for the finale.

Tkachuk has missed Florida’s past four games to be with his wife Ellie for the birth of their first child, a baby girl named Camille.

He told media members after the Panthers’ morning skate that he would be playing on Wednesday night.

In addition to the bevy of injured players who are already out of the lineup, Florida will be without Tomas Nosek, who broke his leg on Monday, and Gus Forsling, due to several ailments he’s been nursing.

Needless to say, Florida’s defensive corps will be on the younger side when they suit up to battle the Red Wings.

The average age of the six blueliners dressing for the Cats will be 23.5 years old.

Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Wednesday’s season finale against Detroit:

Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk

Mackie Samoskevich – Eetu Luostarinen – A.J. Greer

Nolan Foote – Noah Gregor – Jesper Boqvist

Cole Reinhardt – Luke Kunin – Vinnie Hinostroza

Tobias Bjornfot – Mike Benning

Donovan Sebrango – Marek Alscher

Mikulas Hovorka – Ludvig Jansson

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers' Cole Schwindt, Nolan Foote Will Become Group 6 UFAs

Keeping Eye On Standings As Panthers Hope To Retain Top-10 Protected First-Round Pick

Bobrovsky, Marchand, Kunin Honored With Panthers Team Awards

Reinhardt scores twice, Panthers take down Rangers 3-2

Matthew Tkachuk, Anton Lundell Out Against Rangers; Could Still Return Before Season's End

Photo caption: Oct 15, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes the save on Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) in the second period at Little Caesars Arena. (Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images)

Based on preseason expectations there might not be a more improbable first-round matchup in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs than the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. Neither of these teams were expected to be here. Up until about three weeks ago, I am not sure the Flyers were expected to be here. But none of that matters now, and starting this weekend the battle of Pennsylvania gets renewed, with Sidney Crosby having a chance to deliver another punch to the Penguins’ cross-state rivals.

We know who the main players in this series and playoff run are going to be for the Penguins.

Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Erik Karlsson are going to be at the top of the list, and their play will obviously have a major role in what the Penguins do and how far they can go. But no matter how well they play, they can not do it all for the Penguins. The team’s success or failure will also come down to the secondary and support players on the team and a few potential X-factors.

Let’s talk about some of them.

Ben Kindel

Every Penguins team that won the Stanley Cup or reached the Stanley Cup Final in the Sidney Crosby era has done so with a third-line that can carry play and swing games. A lot of times in the playoffs each team’s top players can cancel each other out due to the aggressive line-matching that tends to take place, and it can then come down to which team has the better support players.

In 2008 and 2009 it was the Jordan Staal line.

In 2016 and 2017 it was the HBK line.

Can the Penguins get something similar from the Kindel line?

It is going to be fascinating to see how his first playoff experiences goes. He is, after all, only 18 years old and will be getting his first taste of playoff hockey. He also seems to have hit another rookie wall over the past month with his offense going cold and some of his underlying metrics regressing a bit. From a big picture perspective, it is nothing to be overly concerned about. There is a reason most 18-year-olds do not get a full-season in the NHL. It is a huge adjustment and there are going to be some growing pains.

But everything resets now going into the playoffs, and regardless of who the Penguins put around him on a line they are going to need a big showing from his trio if they are going to advance and go on a potential run.

He has exceeded expectations and rose to the occasion all season. This is going to be his biggest test yet.

Sam Girard

You can include Kris Letang in this category as well, because their defense pairing is going to be significant.

When they were first put together following the trade with Colorado, they looked like an absolute disaster, with Girard especially struggling in his new environment. He seemed to lack confidence, was indecisive and just not playing well.

And then, about 10-12 games ago, something clicked.

It clicked for him.

It clicked for Letang.

It clicked for both of them together.

In their total time together, including the initial rocky games, the Girard-Letang pairing has outscored teams by a 13-9 margin with a 52.5 percent expected goals share during 5-on-5 play. Very solid numbers.

Over their past 10 games, however, those numbers go to an 11-5 goal advantage and a 57.8 percent expected goal share.

They are now carrying play.

Girard especially looks completely different and like a player that is oozing with confidence. Everything is being done with a purpose, there is no hesitation, he is joining the rush smartly and moving the puck well.

You know the Karlsson-Parker Wotherspoon pairing is going to give you a chance.

Having reliable pairings beyond them was always going to be the concern. If Letang and Girard can continue playing the way they have over the past month the Penguins are going to have a second pairing they can lean on. That is a game-changer, both in terms of their chances in this series, and their potential ceiling in the playoffs.

Connor Clifton

Sticking with the defense, the third-pairing is also going to be significant because at some point they are going to have to play. Even if you lean on the top-two pairings for more than 40 minutes, that still leads nearly a full period’s worth of hockey that the third-pairing has to log.

Sometimes playoff success or failure is not necessarily about what you do well or your strengths, but what you don’t do well and your flaws. The things that can be exploited in a best-of-seven series when opposing coaches are doing more in-depth game-planning and can drill down to weaknesses.

Clifton is one of those players that I fear being exploited.

I will say this: I think he’s played a lot better down the stretch, and a lot of his underlying numbers over the past month have, at times, been REALLY good. But over the course of a season his pairing has at times been the one that gets pinned in the defensive zone and has a tendency to lose the territorial and possession battle. That could be a problem. They do not need Clifton and Ryan Shea to be game-changers. They just need them to play to a 0-0 tie.

Stuart Skinner

Then we have the biggest X-factor on the entire team.

It is the goaltending. It is always the goaltending. It can lift a struggling team or sink a good team, and there might not be a more important player for the Penguins this postseason than Skinner.

It is just a matter of which version of him they are going to get.

He has big-game experience and backstopped the Edmonton Oilers to consecutive Stanley Cup Finals in each of the past two seasons. He is capable of putting together a good stretch of play, and we have seen signs of it down the stretch. He has clearly taken the No. 1 spot and at least earned the right to go into the playoffs as the Penguins’ starting goalie.

But can he do enough to give the Penguins a chance?

Over the past 20 games he has saved four goals above expected for the Penguins, which is good enough to give them a chance. The Penguins have the potential to score enough goals to win, and in at least the first round the Flyers do not have an overly potent offense. They are probably not going to need Skinner to steal many games. They just need him to not lose any.

In a recent article for The Athletic, Scott Wheeler ranked the top 20 NHL-drafted goalie prospects. A Chicago Blackhawks prospect made the cut, as Drew Commesso was given the No. 18 spot. 

Commesso is a goaltender who the Blackhawks are certainly hoping will become a solid part of their future, as he has good upside. The 2020 second-round pick is continuing to work on his development and has shown promise. 

Commesso has played in 36 games with the Rockford IceHogs this season, where he has a 13-19-2 record, a .903 save percentage, and a 3.00 goals-against average. This is after he had an 18-15-4 record, a .911 save percentage, a 2.54 goals-against average, and four shutouts for Rockford in 2024-25. With this, he has certainly been solid at the AHL level. 

However, more importantly, Commesso played very well when given the chance to play for the Blackhawks this season. In three games for Chicago this campaign, he has a 2-1-0 record, a .918 save percentage, and a 2.31 goals-against average. He also notably had a 36-save shutout against the Nashville Predators on Jan. 10. Furthermore, in his most recent appearance for Chicago on March 9 against the Utah Mammoth, he stopped 23 out of 25 shots. 

With this, Commesso certainly has the potential to become a good part of the Blackhawks' roster in the future. He should see more NHL action next season because of it. 

The 100th season of the Detroit Red Wings comes to a close on Wednesday as they take on the defending back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

It has been an emotional year for Red Wings fans, as the team will miss the playoffs for a tenth straight season, and in especially heartbreaking fashion.

Turning the page will not be easy for Detroit fans, but it will be necessary. Even if it is not what many want to hear, the future remains bright, and there will be glimpses of it on display in Sunrise.

Rookies Emmitt Finnie and Axel Sandin-Pellikka will look to finish their first NHL seasons on a strong note, while recent call-ups Carter Mazur and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård aim to make lasting impressions as they push to secure full-time roster spots next season.

Pending free agents and veteran players in Patrick Kane, James van Riemsdyk, and David Perron are also looking to make an impact as they head toward potential new contracts this July.

Although the Red Wings are out of the playoff race, this game still carries significance for the future of the franchise.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Detroit Red Wings’ Expected Line Combinations vs Tampa Bay (Monday)

Finnie – Larkin – Raymond

DeBrincat – Copp – Kane

Mazur – Compher – Perron

van Riemsdyk - Kasper - Brandsegg-Nygård

Edvinsson – Seider

Chiarot – Faulk

Johansson - Sandin-Pellikka

Gibson

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Alex Ovechkin's 21st NHL season ended on Tuesday, April 14, when the Washington Capitals were officially eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs. Now, all anyone wants to know is whether this will be the end to Ovechkin's NHL career.

Immediately after Tuesday's regular season finale, the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer sounded open to scoring more goals and coming back for a 22nd season.

"I hope it’s not my last game," Ovechkin told reporters after the Capitals' 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, April 14.

COACH SAID WHAT: Bowness rips Blue Jackets after playoff miss, 'They don't care'

Ovechkin, 40, reiterated his ultimate decision to continue playing in the NHL will occur this offseason, beginning with meetings after the season with coach Spencer Carbury, the Capitals' front office and owner Ted Leonsis. Ovechkin just completed the final season of a five-year, $47.5-million contract that he signed in 2021.

He told former Capitals teammate, T.J. Oshie during an ESPN interview before Tuesday's game, "It's going to be not an easy decision. Sometimes you want it, sometimes you don't."

This is the first time since 2023, and just the fifth time in Ovechkin's career, that the Capitals did not qualify for the NHL's postseason. Though Tuesday's finale had no playoff implications by the time the puck was dropped, Capitals fans in attendance in Columbus, Ohio in case it was Ovechkin's final game chanted, "One more year," and "O-Vi."

Ovechkin waved off the Pittsburgh Penguins when they attempted to do a postgame handshake line to honor their rival after the Capitals' home finale on Sunday, April 12.

"I don’t know what’s going to happen," Ovechkin told reporters on Tuesday, according to NHL.com. "The fans that came here from D.C. and from different spots to watch the game, it was very nice. I can hear their cheering for me and scream 'One more year!' So, that’s important, too. It shows lots of respect. So, thanks for the support."

Ovechkin appeared in all 82 games this season and once again led Washington with 32 goals and 64 points.

Carbury said there was a discussion in the Capitals' locker room Tuesday after the game about Ovechkin's uncertain future, but declined to discuss the details. Longtime teammate Tom Wilson got emotional while explaining Ovechkin has kept everyone in the dark at this point.

"He's doing his best job just to keep it normal," Wilson said. "He definitely doesn't want any extra attention. I mean, he's the man. However he wants to do it, I think he's going to let it go down. But right now, he's not tipping us. He's not telling us what's going on."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alex Ovechkin unsure about NHL retirement after Capitals finale

The Montreal Canadiens have announced that they have assigned forward Vinzenz Rohrer to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket.

Rohrer was selected by the Canadiens with the 75th overall pick of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He has spent each of the last three seasons overseas with ZSC Lions of the Swiss National League. Yet, with this news, Rohrer is set to begin his AHL career with Laval.

Rohrer appeared in 41 regular-season games this season with the ZSC Lions, where he had four goals and 12 points. He also had one goal and 33 penalty minutes in nine playoff games for the club this spring. 

Rohrer's best season with the ZSC Lions was in 2024-25, as he had 15 goals, 10 assists, and 25 points in 52 games. 

Rohrer will now be looking to impress with Laval. The 21-year-old forward has good upside, and it will be interesting to see how he performs at the AHL level from here.  

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The quest for the Lord Stanley’s Cup is about to be renewed! The 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs promise to deliver heart-stopping drama, from overtime heroics to bracket-busting upsets that can alter the momentum of a series in a single shift.

Whether you're tracking every grueling first-round battle, checking the latest scores, or scouting the road to the Finals, our NHL playoff bracket hub has you covered.

Follow along for live updates, updated series schedules, and postseason format details to help guide your NHL picks and playoff pools.

NHL playoff bracket if the playoffs started today

Follow along with our up-to-date bracket below as we track each series through to the end of the Stanley Cup Final, and make sure you keep up on which teams have the bestStanley Cup odds. You can also track the progress of individual players with our Conn Smythe Trophy odds page.

2026 NHL Playoff matchups

The Eastern Conference matchups are set, while two Western Conference matchups await the results of tonight's games, to determine whether Anaheim or Los Angeles claims the third spot in the Pacific (and the other gets the final wild-card spot).

Here are the current series odds for the matchups we do know:

Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens

Carolina Hurricanes vs Ottawa Senators

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Philadelphia Flyers

---

Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild

Vegas Golden Knights vs Utah Mammoth

2026 NHL Playoffs schedule

NHL playoff format

The NHL playoffs are a 16-team, four-round, best-of-seven tournament used to determine the Stanley Cup champion. Eight teams qualify from each conference: the top three teams in each division plus two wild-card teams in each conference.

In the First Round, the division winner with the better record in each conference plays the lower-ranked wild card, the other division winner plays the other wild card, and the second- and third-place teams in each division face each other.

The NHL uses a fixed bracket, so teams are not re-seeded after each round. First-round winners advance to the Second Round, then to the Conference Finals, and finally to the Stanley Cup Final, where the Eastern Conference champion plays the Western Conference champion.

Every playoff round is a best-of-seven series, and the first team to win four games advances or, in the Stanley Cup Final, wins the championship.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

What a difference a year makes.

The Toronto Maple Leafs sent the Ottawa Senators packing last spring in the first round of the playoffs, and now Toronto will call it a season following its game against Ottawa at the Canadian Tire Centre on Wednesday, April 15.

Here are my top Maple Leafs vs. Senators predictions and NHL picks for their season finale tonight. 

Maple Leafs vs Senators prediction

Maple Leafs vs Senators best bet: Senators -1.5 (+135)

The Ottawa Senators rested regulars during Sunday’s overtime loss, so I’m anticipating Wednesday’s tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs to serve as a postseason tune-up.

Ottawa No. 1 goaltender Linus Ullmark has been solid down the stretch with seven wins, a .909 save percentage, and 7.21 goals saved above expected across his past 10 starts, and the Sens have beaten the Maple Leafs 5-2 in both prior meetings this season.

Toronto has also dropped six straight and has only covered the puck line in 11 of its past 25 games (-10.75 Units / -27% ROI).

Maple Leafs vs Senators same-game parlay

Ullmark’s highlighted strong stretch includes going 5-1-1 at home with a 2.26 GAA, and the Sens have also allowed the fewest expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 at the Canadian Tire Centre. 

As a result, I’m anticipating Ottawa to batten down the defensive hatches again to do the heavy lifting in keeping this total Under the number.

Turning to the final leg of this same-game parlay, Toronto winger William Nylander has recorded three or more shots in five of his past seven games, for 25 on 51 attempts while logging a monster 21:32 of ice time per night. 

Maple Leafs vs Senators SGP

• Senators -1.5
• Under 6.5
• William Nylander Over 2.5 shots

Maple Leafs vs Senators odds

• Moneyline: Maple Leafs +155 | Senators -180
• Puck Line: Maple Leafs +1.5 (-155) | Senators -1.5 (+135)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115)

Maple Leafs vs Senators trend

The Toronto Maple Leafs have only covered the puck line in 11 of their last 25 games (-10.75 Units / -27% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Maple Leafs vs. Senators.

How to watch Maple Leafs vs Senators

Maple Leafs vs Senators latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The Flyers ended a full-season six-year playoff drought and will play in the playoffs for the first time since 2018, where they lost to the Penguins in the first round. Simply getting back to the postseason is quite the accomplishment based on the past month when Philadelphia was sitting in sixth place in the division behind Washington, Columbus and the NYI Islanders on March 10th and well behind the playoff line.

The Flyers made the playoffs after sitting nine points out of the second Wild Card spot on March 10. Per NHLStats, Philadelphia became the first team in NHL history to make the playoffs after facing that large of a point deficit through 60 or more games played in a season. pic.twitter.com/Ln429yNLqX

— Flyers Media Information (@FlyersMediaInfo) April 14, 2026

Here’s a little more under the hood for the team from Hockeystats.com:

The biggest change from this season compared to last year is that the Flyers are out-scoring the opposition 163-149 at 5v5 in 2025-26. Last year that was at an ugly 166-195 deficit. That’s visible as the white bar in the top-right portion of the above graphic taking a dramatic turn upwards in the last season.

In that way, the two PA teams are alike in that new coaches helped change things up and spur improvement at 5v5. The Penguins were down at a 157-195 combined 5v5 score in 2024-25 that improved all the way up to 196-168 this season prior to last night’s game.

For the Flyers, defense has been the name of the game – doing well to limit expected and actual goals against at 5v5. Curiously that hasn’t applied to special teams where their PK is below average (and the power play is dreadful). Their overall goalie rating has been brought down by backup Samuel Ersson having one of the worst seasons at his position in the league this year, starter Dan Vladar has played to a much higher level, as profiled yesterday.

One of the Flyers’ best attributes which helped them get to the playoffs but won’t be of any use now was the ability to extend games to overtime. Philadelphia went 6-8 in games decided in 3v3 OT sessions and then did even better with a 10-4 record in games decided by the shootout gimmick to award an extra point. Part of Philly’s success (which, hey, credit to them for doing it) was simply having 28 out of the 82 games (34% of the season) go into gimmicky 3v3/penalty shot hockey, where they took an overall 14-12 record to find enough points to qualify for the playoffs despite having only 26 regulation wins — the third fewest RW in the 16-team Eastern Conference. The Flyers are just 27-27 in games decided in regulation, which might key some into the low win total but it’s also important to note it’s been difficult to put Philadelphia down within 60 minutes.

While the Flyers won’t get the benefit of having a shootout decide the outcome of an NHL playoff game to pad win totals, one area to consider as a potential positive is that the frequency of games played shows this team is used to being in closely contested games. They’re used to the pressure of playing in games where the score is tied and mistakes are heightened and probably won’t be panicking if the games don’t start out well. That should be second nature for them by now, given that they only rank 22nd in time spent ahead in games.

NHL teams with the most time spent leading a game this season:

1. Colorado
2. Carolina
3. Pittsburgh
4. Buffalo
5. Columbus
6. Minnesota
7. Ottawa
8. Tampa Bay
9. Dallas
10. Boston
11. Utah
12. Washington
13. Montreal
14. Edmonton
15. Winnipeg
16. Calgary
17. NY Islanders
18.…

— NHL Rosters (@NHL_Rosters) April 11, 2026

The Flyers aren’t usually a ‘take the lead, ride to a win’ type of team. They often have to claw back, in games as they did in the season in general from being in sixth place on March 10th. The Flyers have only scored the first goal in 32 games this season (tied for lowest in the NHL prior to yesterday). Falling in a hole by giving up the first goal hasn’t made a major difference, Philadelphia still has a .400 winning% (6th best in league) and 20-22-8 record when they fall behind in games 1-0. On contrast, the Penguins only have a .286 w% with a 10-18-7 record when they give up the first goal in a game this season. The Flyers are certainly a scrappy team that is used to not holding leads and having to keep working to try and make sure the score is at least tied up at the end of 60 minutes, which could present an interesting and unique challenge for a Pittsburgh team that has had many troubles this season converting leads into wins at times.

As of today, the Flyers aren’t a great team. There’s a reasonable case that they are at the bottom of the playoff teams in the East as far as strength goes. They didn’t win a lot in regulation. All of those items are true but that doesn’t necessarily mean an easy series is ahead for the Penguins. Philadelphia has been a strong team over the last month, building in confidence as they go. The Pennsylvania rivalry always brings out heated emotions and is prone to huge swings of games rocking from big leads by one team turned into a furious comeback by the other. On paper, you’d probably have to like the Pens chances, but their opponent is coming into this series with nothing to lose and a lot to prove. That should make for another worthy chapter to the storied history of the Penguin/Flyer rivalry.