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Expert NHL Handicapping Roundup for 4/4/2025

by Ryan Cobbett - 4/4/2025

Expert NHL handicapping roundup Andrei Vasilevskiy Tampa Bay Lightning

We have just over a week remaining in the regular season, and teams are fighting to not only put themselves in the playoff picture, but scratch and claw their way to favorable seeding. The Washington Capitals seem to have the top spot in the Eastern Conference and the Metro Division locked down, while the top spot in the Western Conference is being chased down by two Central Division foes. As we wind down the regular season and the 2024-25 Roundups, let’s cash in on some future bets that still have some juice and end the season on a high note.

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Wild Card Races

Eastern Conference:

In the Eastern Conference, the Ottawa Senators (86 points) have a tight hold on the first wild card, while the Montreal Canadiens (81 points) have surged their way to relevance and have ahold of the final wild card spot. On the outside looking in, you have the New York Rangers (79 points), Columbus Blue Jackets (77 points), Detroit Red Wings (75 points), and the New York Islanders (74 points). We can write off the Isles, as they have lost their last six games. The Blue Jackets and Red Wings both have eight games remaining, while every team ahead of them has only seven. Unfortunately for the three teams currently on the outside looking in, they have tough remaining schedules. The Red Wings have the hardest remaining schedule, while the Blue Jackets have the sixth hardest and the Rangers have the seventh. Montreal has the third easiest remaining schedule, while Ottawa has the seventh easiest, which works in their favor of staying in the playoff picture. Montreal does have a -22-goal differential on the season, and their goaltending has been incredibly inconsistent all season, while the Rangers seem to be the more complete team. The Rangers have to travel to New Jersey, Carolina, and Florida while also playing host to Tampa Bay twice. Unfortunately for them, their abysmal start to the year will keep them out of the playoffs. If you believe in the Rangers, you can take them to reach the playoffs at +200, but Montreal at -140 (thanks to the easy schedule) is where I am going.

My Pick: Montreal Canadiens, -140 To Make the Playoffs

Western Conference:

The Western Conference wild card race is not nearly as entertaining as the Eastern Conference. As it stands now, the St. Louis Blues have stormed their way to the top wild card spot with 91 points, while the Minnesota Wild continue to limp to the finish line and have the last wild card spot with 89 points. The Calgary Flames (84 points) and the Vancouver Canucks (81 points) remain in the playoff hunt and benefit from having one more game remaining than the Wild and two more than the Blues, but it feels like they would need a miracle to see the postseason this year. The Canucks have the fifth hardest schedule remaining, with trips to Dallas and Colorado on deck and hosting Vegas twice and Minnesota once. That game against Minnesota could help them gain some ground, but it will be too little too late thanks to the tough schedule. As for the Flames, they have some great odds at +500 to reach the postseason, but the offense has disappeared over their last five games as they are averaging just 2.4 GF/G over that span. They still have two meetings with Vegas and a trip to Los Angeles still to come. The Western Conference wild card picture should remain true to what it is today.

My Pick: Minnesota Wild, -180 To Make the Playoffs

Division Battles

With teams having five to seven games remaining on the schedule, let’s take a look at the three division races that could go all the way to game 82 before the division winner is crowned.

Central Division:

This is one of the more slept on division races as we close out the season. All year, Winnipeg has been alone atop the Central Division standings, but the Dallas Stars have gone 15-3-2 since returning from the break and now find themselves just four points behind Winnipeg with one more game than the Jets remaining. Dallas’ goaltending has been elite over their seven-game winning streak, as they have allowed just 10 goals over that stretch. Winnipeg on the other hand, still has the best goaltender in the world and a four-point lead. The April 10th matchup between these two could very well decide which team will win the division. The Jets currently have the edge in the season series with Dallas, as they have gone 2-1 with +4 goal differential and they will likely walk away with the tiebreaker. However, you can’t count this Dallas team out. Look for the Stars to get away from a first-round matchup against Colorado and finish in the top spot in the division.

My Pick: Dallas Stars, +210 To Win the Division

Pacific Division:

The Pacific Division crown could still be awarded to one of three teams. Vegas has the top spot as of now with a three-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings and a five-point lead over the Edmonton Oilers. Unfortunately for the Kings and Oilers, Vegas has an incredibly easy schedule to close out the season with just one tough match against Colorado remaining. They will also benefit from the fact that the Kings and Oilers still have to play twice more before the end of the regular season. The Kings and Kings fans alike know what it’s like to play a first-round playoff matchup against Edmonton. It has not gone well for them in recent years, and they will be doing everything they can to escape that reality once again. At +470 to win the Pacific Division, the Kings are worth a flier as they are just three games out of the top spot, and they have control of the tiebreaker with Vegas. Unfortunately for the Kings, a playoff matchup against Edmonton is likely, but you have to break the status quo at some point. With two regular season matchups remaining between these two teams, we are in for quite a thrilling finish with Edmonton and Los Angeles.

My Pick: Vegas Golden Knights, -550 To Win the Division

Atlantic Division:

This is another division race that still has three teams in the mix. The most exciting factor for this division is Toronto, Tampa Bay, and Florida all still have one game remaining against each other. With seven games remaining for all three teams, the Maple Leafs have ahold of the top spot with 96 points, while the Lightning (93 points) and Panthers (92 points) follow. Florida has gotten cold at the wrong time, as they have gone just 3-5-1 over their last nine games, with all three wins coming in overtime or later. The offense has managed just 2.2 GF/G over their last 10 matchups. Toronto has a tough remaining schedule, with two games against the aforementioned teams (both on the road) as well as three home games against Columbus, Montreal, and Detroit, all of whom are fighting for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Toronto does have the tiebreaker against Tampa Bay, but the Lightning will usurp the Maple Leafs and take the top spot in the Atlantic Division. The Lightning are incredibly dominant on home ice and will get to play host to Toronto and Florida, and winning those two games will all but hand the crown to Tampa Bay. The Lightning have +71 goal differential, which is the second-best mark in the NHL, and Andrei Vasilevskiy has been elite down the stretch, allowing just 12 goals over his last eight starts. Give me Tampa Bay at +280 to take the top spot in the Atlantic Division.

My Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning, +280 To Win the Division

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