🏒 NHL Playoff Predictions 2026: Who Will Make/Miss Postseason in Post-Olympic Sprint?
The Olympic break is over, and the hockey world now turns its attention back to the NHL for the stretch run of the 2025-26 regular season. I'm providing my NHL playoff predictions with less than a third of the campaign remaining, including my best bets to make and miss the postseason based on the latest betting odds.
📊 NHL playoff odds
Here are the latest NHL playoff odds at FanDuel, which include each team's odds to either make or miss the postseason this year. Some teams at the top (Avalanche, Lightning) and bottom (Canucks, Rangers) of the standings are currently off the oddsboard.
| Team | Odds to make playoffs | Odds to miss playoffs |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Knights | -3000 | +2000 |
| Canadiens | -600 | +460 |
| Mammoth | -500 | +410 |
| Oilers | -360 | +290 |
| Sabres | -360 | +290 |
| Red Wings | -300 | +240 |
| Ducks | -260 | +200 |
| Penguins | -240 | +190 |
| Kings | -220 | +170 |
| Islanders | -170 | +135 |
| Blue Jackets | -120 | -110 |
| Bruins | +110 | -145 |
| Kraken | +130 | -165 |
| Capitals | +140 | -175 |
| Senators | +190 | -240 |
| Panthers | +210 | -270 |
| Sharks | +220 | -280 |
| Predators | +230 | -300 |
| Maple Leafs | +350 | -450 |
| Flyers | +480 | -600 |
| Jets | +850 | -1100 |
| Devils | +1100 | -1500 |
| Flames | +3500 | -7000 |
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💰 NHL playoffs best bets
Here are my best bets for who will make and miss the NHL playoffs, alongside the latest betting odds at FanDuel.
Best bet to miss playoffs: Penguins (+190)
I was already eyeing the Penguins as a team to fade in the final third of the season before the Sidney Crosby injury news locked in this pick for me.
The Penguins captain and two-way lynchpin will miss at least the next four weeks (and perhaps more) due to his injury suffered at the Olympics. Every team will have to deal with a schedule crunch from here on out due to the long Olympic layoff, which means Pittsburgh will be without Crosby for at least 16 games. Ten of those are against teams currently in playoff position.
With the Penguins nursing just a five-point lead over the Blue Jackets and Capitals in the Metropolitan Division - not to mention other wild-card contenders from the Atlantic - I expect Pittsburgh to be outside the playoff picture by the time Crosby returns to the lineup.
That means the time for me to place my bet is now while FanDuel offers plus-money odds on the Penguins to miss the playoffs.
⬇️ Bonus bet to miss playoffs
I'm also targeting the Blue Jackets to miss the postseason at -110 odds. Columbus has turned its season around after hiring head coach Rick Bowness, but CBJ's subpar special teams will hold them back in a loaded Eastern Conference.
Best bet to make playoffs: Capitals (+140)
This bet is closely tied to the one above, as I think the Capitals will benefit from the Penguins' misfortune. They'll effectively take Pittsburgh's spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs as a result.
Though they've had an up-and-down season to this point, the Capitals have too much talent at every level to miss out on the postseason, especially with the return of forwards Pierre-Luc Dubois and Connor McMichael.
Washington still has a strong core led by Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson, as well as an elite goaltender in Logan Thompson. The Capitals may be out of the playoff picture right now, but they won't be by Game 82 in two months.
⬆️ Bonus bet to make playoffs
I'm also targeting the Bruins to make the postseason at +110 odds. Boston has the league's fifth-ranked offense and a top goaltender in Jeremy Swayman.
🔮 NHL playoff predictions
| Eastern Conference playoff teams | Odds to make playoffs | Western Conference playoff teams | Odds to make playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Off the board | Avalanche | Off the board |
| Hurricanes | Off the board | Wild | Off the board |
| Canadiens | -600 | Stars | Off the board |
| Sabres | -360 | Golden Knights | -3000 |
| Red Wings | -300 | Mammoth | -500 |
| Islanders | -170 | Oilers | -360 |
| Bruins | +110 | Ducks | -260 |
| Capitals | +140 | Kings | -220 |
💡 NHL award odds & predictions
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