- The Tampa Bay Lightning are +250 to win the Eastern Conference and are one of the most experienced teams in the East.
- The Oilers are a great bet to cover the -1.5 series spread (-105) against an inexperienced Anaheim Ducks postseason team.
TAMPA – The NHL postseason is here, and there will be a new team hoisting the Stanley Cup at the beginning of May. The Lightning to win the East and the Oilers to cover the series spread (-105) vs the Ducks are the two best futures offered by legal sports betting sites for the postseason.
Bet On The Bolts To Win The East (+250)
The Tampa Bay Lightning have been bounced in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs over the last three straight seasons, but are the second favorite at +250 to win the East.
The last two eliminations have been by the Florida Panthers, who did not make the 2025-26 postseason.
Other experienced Eastern Conference teams that missed the playoffs include the Maple Leafs, Rangers, and Capitals.
With young teams with little playoff experience in the Atlantic (Senators, Sabres, and Canadiens), the Lightning have a great opportunity to take back the Eastern Conference.
The Bolts finished with the best point differential in the Eastern Conference (+59) and are led by Andrei Vasilevskiy, who is favored to win the 2025-26 Vezina Trophy.
Bet On The Oilers -1.5 Series Spread Vs The Ducks
The Edmonton Oilers are looking to make it to their third straight Stanley Cup Final and have by far the easiest matchup in the first round of the postseason.
Edmonton is hosting the Anaheim Ducks and has -105 odds to cover the series spread of -1.5 games at NHL betting sites. The Oilers won all three of the first-round series by at least two games last postseason.
Why You Should Fade The Ducks
Anaheim ended the regular season with only two wins over their last ten games. They are the only team to make the postseason with a negative point differential (-15).
This is a tough matchup for the Ducks, as the Oilers won two of their three regular-season games played. This is also the first time the Ducks have made the postseason since the 2017-2018 season, whereas the Oilers are one of the most experienced NHL teams in the playoffs.
The Oilers are also starting to get healthy at the right time. Leon Draisaitl is being listed as “day to day” and is expected to return from his lower-body injury during the first round series against the Ducks.
