Breaking Down the Western Conference Playoff Race: NHL Odds and Best Bets to Make or Miss Postseason

We look at the NHL playoff odds for several Western Conference bubble teams with our best bets for who will and won't make the postseason.

While the Eastern Conference playoff picture has been set for a while the battle for Western Conference seeding rages on. Here is a look at the teams on the Western Conference playoff bubble and their chances to make the NHL postseason based on the odds at DraftKings Sportsbook.

NHL Playoff Odds: Western Conference Bubble Teams

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The Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, and St. Louis Blues appear to be relatively safe in their playoff positioning. The slumping Minnesota Wild are working their way closer to the playoff bubble, but odds remain in their favor.

However, that still leaves a group of eight teams competing for one of the remaining four playoff spots in the West between the Central and Pacific Divisions as well as Wild Card spots.

Here is a team-by-team look at those bubble teams and whether they might offer some potential value on DraftKings' NHL playoff odds.

Western Conference Playoff Bubble Teams

Vegas Golden Knights

32-21-4, 68 points in 57 games5v5 score-and-venue-adjusted stats: 52.07 CF%, 52.02 xGF% Models to make playoffs: 81.9% (HockeyViz), 82.7% (MoneyPuck), 86% (Athletic)

Injuries, most notably to team captain Mark Stone, leave the Vegas Golden Knights vulnerable but if they can get relatively healthy there is little question that they have the talent to be not only a playoff team but a potential Stanley Cup contender, where they are tied for the fourth-shortest odds in the entire league (+1000 via DraftKings). 

Remaining games: 9 at home, 16 on the road; 7 vs. playoff teams, 8 vs. bubble teams, 10 vs. non-playoff teams

Recommendation: By any of the models, the price on Vegas to make the playoffs is much too steep. If models have the Golden Knights in the range of 5-to-1 to make the playoffs, paying -900 doesn’t fly. With many more road games remaining, keep tabs on Vegas’ price to miss.

Dallas Stars

32-20-3, 67 points in 55 games5v5 score-and-venue-adjusted stats: 48.93 CF%, 50.73 xGF%Models to make playoffs: 69.9% (HV), 61.3% (MP), 88% (Ath)

A 14-4-1 surge has pushed the Dallas Stars into playoff position and now it is a question of whether they can keep it. Their underlying numbers are mediocre but their goaltending, thanks to Jake Oettinger, has improved significantly.

Remaining games: 13 at home, 14 on the road; 8 vs. playoff teams, 8 vs. bubble teams, 11 vs. non-playoff teams 

Recommendation: The Stars’ recent winning surge has taken away a lot of value, potentially to the point that the pendulum has moved too far in the other direction. Models are still in favor of the Stars to make it, but at -475 it’s not a bet to make.

Nashville Predators

31-20-4, 66 points in 55 games5v5 score-and-venue-adjusted stats: 49.63 CF%, 50.45 xGF%Models to make playoffs: 81.9% (HV), 51.1% (MP), 78% (Ath)

Going 3-6 across their last nine games has put the Nashville Predators on the playoff bubble when they appeared to be relatively secure prior to this slump. They still have favorable home/road splits remaining, but the Preds also have 13 of their remaining 27 games against established playoff teams so it is not the easiest path to the postseason.

Remaining games: 16 at home, 11 on the road; 13 vs. playoff teams, 5 vs. bubble teams, 9 vs. non-playoff teams 

Recommendation: There is a big discrepancy in MoneyPuck’s position on the Preds and that casts some doubt on their value. HockeyViz and The Athletic would have around -400 being a fair price and the Preds are currently -350 on DraftKings but, again, not a very profitable proposition.

https://twitter.com/PredsNHL/status/1500310122182033410

Los Angeles Kings

31-19-7, 69 points in 57 games5v5 score-and-venue-adjusted stats:  54.52 CF%, 53.39 xGF%Models to make playoffs: 80.3% (HV), 95.8% (MP), 67% (Ath)

Winning nine of 12 games has pushed the Los Angeles Kings into a stronger playoff spot and they have the underlying numbers to support it. The question is whether they can get the goaltending. Jonathan Quick was excellent early in the season but the tandem of Quick and Cal Petersen have combined for a .886 save percentage since the December schedule pause, so that is an issue for a team that is otherwise moving in the right direction.

Remaining games: 13 at home, 12 on the road; 7 vs. playoff teams, 6 vs. bubble teams, 12 vs. non-playoff teams

Recommendation: MoneyPuck is much more optimistic on the Kings’ chances, but two of the three models suggest that L.A., offers value to make the playoffs relative to the -220 price on DraftKings.

SEE ALSO: NHL Betting Notes

Edmonton Oilers

30-22-4, 64 points in 56 games5v5 score-and-venue-adjusted stats: 52.60 CF%, 51.52 xGF%Models to make playoffs: 60.0% (HV), 68.0% (MP), 62% (Ath)

After surging into a playoff spot, the Edmonton Oilers have dropped five of their last seven games to return to bubble status. They have brilliant top-end talent, but depth and goaltending remain threats to whatever hopes this team might hold for this season. 

Remaining games: 15 at home, 11 on the road; 10 vs. playoff teams, 8 vs. bubble teams, 8 vs. non-playoff teams

Recommendation: All three models are in a similar range when it comes to the Oilers and none suggest that -180 odds are offering much value on the Oilers to make the NHL playoffs.

Vancouver Canucks

28-23-6, 62 points in 57 games5v5 score-and-venue-adjusted stats:  49.71 CF%, 49.15 xGF%Models to make playoffs: 23.0% (HV), 25.2% (MP), 14% (Ath)

Just when it looked like the Vancouver Canucks’ playoff hopes had faded, they won seven of nine games to get within striking distance. They might have a chance to climb into a wildcard spot but with the trade deadline approaching, there is concern that Vancouver might still move forward with plans to deal some veteran forwards, which would obviously hinder a late playoff push.  

Remaining games: 16 at home, 9 on the road; 9 vs. playoff teams, 7 vs. bubble teams, 9 vs. non-playoff teams

Recommendation: There is potentially more uncertainty around the Canucks compared to others on the playoff bubble because they seemed all set to shop their veteran forwards. Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller, Conor Garland, and Tanner Pearson have all had their names in trade rumors and if the team is going to re-tool, it would make sense to move them for younger pieces. If the Canucks are in the playoff hunt, can they really move out multiple veterans? If they keep the team together, the Canucks could have some appeal at +350.

https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1500945269847822336

Anaheim Ducks

27-22-9, 63 points in 58 games5v5 score-and-venue-adjusted stats: 48.71 CF%, 48.27 xGF%Models to make playoffs: 15.8% (HV), 16.2% (MP), 8% (Ath)

After surprising early-season success, the Anaheim Ducks have been fading, going 10-13-3 since the December schedule pause. They are within striking distance, but the numbers are not in their favor unless they can string together more wins.

Remaining games: 10 at home, 14 on the road; 7 vs. playoff teams, 8 vs. bubble teams, 9 vs. non-playoff teams

Recommendation: Given how closely bunched together these teams are, it is understandable that the math does not favor the Ducks, but it is worth keeping an eye on the +600 odds to make the NHL playoffs if they can turn the tide with some wins on their upcoming five-game road trip.

Winnipeg Jets

24-22-10, 58 points in 56 games5-on-5 score-and-venue-adjusted stats:  50.11 CF%, 49.64 xGF%Models to make playoffs: 12.3% (HV), 3.5% (MP), 3% (Ath)

It might be hopelessly optimistic to place the Winnipeg Jets on the playoff bubble when they are eight points behind the Predators and winning two of the past eight games is part of why they are in this predicament, but they are on the very outer edge of the bubble, with odds to match. Not only do they have a daunting task to climb in the standings, but the schedule gets much more difficult late in the season, with six of their last seven games against teams that are firmly established in the playoff picture. 

Remaining games: 14 at home, 12 on the road; 11 vs. playoff teams, 3 vs. bubble teams, 12 vs. non-playoff teams

Recommendation: The Jets are a longshot but if you buy the projections from HockeyViz, there would be value at +1200 on DraftKings for them to make the playoffs. It is probably worth keeping an eye on the Jets over the next week or two, to see if there is any sign that they could close the gap on the rest of the teams in the Western Conference playoff bubble.

Where to Bet on the NHL Playoffs

Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:

FanDuel SportsbookCaesars SportsbookDraftKings SportsbookPointsBetBetMGM

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