The Anaheim Ducks were longer shots to make the playoffs in October. However, their start combined with other teams stumbling out of the gate has made them a favorite for the 2025-26 NHL Playoffs bets!
We wanted to have some fun with this and get into what has surprised both good or bad over the first five weeks or so of the 2025-26 NHL season. Most teams have played around 15 games and the American Thanksgiving barometer looms. The fun part is around 3/4 of teams that are in a playoff spot on the fourth Thursday in November stay there.
The season kicked off on October 7, 2025, with three games. Since then, plenty more have been played and we have seen a plethora of injuries and some crazy results. Sure, it is an Olympic Year, which adds its own intrigue to the mix.
Do examine all our Las Vegas Stanley Cup odds for 2025-26. Now, let us lead the way with some 2025-26 NHL Playoffs Bets. These wagers will change quite a few times between now and April. The table below focuses on a few teams and their odds to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
| NHL Playoff Numbers |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim Ducks | |||
| Yes | -260 | -250 | -250 |
| No | +200 | +210 | +215 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | |||
| Yes | +250 | +225 | +230 |
| No | -330 | -300 | -320 |
| New York Rangers | |||
| Yes | -120 | -115 | -115 |
| No | -110 | -115 | -115 |
2025-26 NHL Playoffs Bets take off with the Anaheim Ducks. Focusing on 32 teams is tough and covering both coasts from here to Canada is daunting. However, we try to. Living in Southern California once upon a time helped as TV and streaming access do as well. The Anaheim Ducks were counted on as a fun team to watch with plenty of young talent.
Then, the season started. Chris Kreider started scoring goals and Anaheim got timely goaltending. Now, the funny part is that there may be an eventual regression. However, through 16 games (as of press time), the Ducks are averaging four goals a game, allowing only 3.13, and lead the Pacific Division with a 11-4-1 mark. That includes 10 regulation and overtime wins.
The big concern for the Ducks is that goal well drying up. Joel Quenneville has let the team play. Even with a recent setback to Colorado, Nathan MacKinnon of the Avalanche noted this is not like playing the Ducks of the past two years under Greg Cronin. This is a totally different team. Oddsmakers have noticed as Anaheim went from +500 longshot to -260 (-250 on BetUS) favorite to make the NHL second season.
The Ducks are one of the most fun teams in the Western Conference and NHL for that matter. With Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier leading the way at 11 goals each, Anaheim is must watch TV or streaming. They have seven players with 10+ points already. Yes, Anaheim is no fluke. Even the Pacific crown is now at +500. It was +5000.
The 2025-26 NHL Playoffs Bets focus on some confounding teams in the middle. Disappointments like Calgary and Buffalo aside, the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings should charge fans to come to games. It has been bizarre how bad these teams have been at home. Yes, things will balance out somewhat eventually. Both currently have one home win each but seven road wins.
During the summer, we heard how it would be different for both teams. Los Angeles wanted to play better on the road. At home, they were one of the best teams in the league last year. Darcy Kuemper was gold. This season, it is the exact opposite. Kuemper is 5-1-1 on the road with a 2.34 GAA and .916 save percentage. The Kings are scoring a few more goals on the road and that has been the difference.
The New York Rangers are even more opposite. New York has only scored 41 goals while allowing 43. On the road, Igor Shesterkin is 4-1-1 with a 2.13 GAA and .918 save percentage. At home, he is a league average goaltender basically. Madison Square Garden has not seen many goals scored by the home team.
Alas, both are still favorites to make the playoffs but the Rangers are at -115. They are a coin flip while LA is -275. Wow!
Yes, 2025-26 NHL Playoffs bets err Surprises look at the Pittsburgh Penguins. As everyone knows, teams love getting off to hot starts given the legend of teams typically making the playoffs after being in a playoff spot come American Thanksgiving. Pittsburgh benefitted from being overlooked. How does the media and oddsmakers do that with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on the roster?
That answer is easier than anyone cares to think. The Metropolitan Division is stacked with teams who could all make the playoffs aside from maybe Philadelphia. Pittsburgh became an easy afterthought because of questionable goaltending and defense. Naturally, the games get played and the Penguins, despite mounting injuries, have stayed the course. By the way, every team in the division is currently over .500.
How does Pittsburgh sustain this? The Penguins are doing this with goal scoring in bunches and AHL caliber goaltending arguably. Tristan Jarry is on the shelf for potentially the next several weeks. He was their only NHL starter more or less. Arturs Silovs and rookie Sergey Murashov are holding the fort. Murashov is considered a young phenom but the NHL was probably a year away. Now, he is front and center.
So, how long can they keep playing out of their minds. Both Crosby and Malkin are above 20 points. The goaltending is way above average. Silovs has a .916 save percentage in a league where .900 is considered pretty good now.
Before making any 2025-26 NHL Playoffs bets, check out the current NHL online Vegas odds. Also, look out for the Vegas betting site bonuses too.
