Welcome to the time of year in which betting odds for NHL hockey are a little all over the place. Veteran NHL fans know exactly what we're talking about. The playoff field is just about set, except for a few seeding battles going on. The rest of the league already knows their season is done. Teams with set playoff matchups and seeds are resting players.
Amid all this uncertainty, focus tends to shift toward betting odds on the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals. Those lines, believe it or not, are easier to digest because they don't have as many ambiguous factors at play. But don't be so quick to write off the rest of the regular season. As we head into a loaded schedule on Friday, April 29, there is plenty of value to be mined from all of the games left on tap.
Don't worry. We're getting into it all without our latest 2022 NHL picks. First, however, we need to go over the NHL betting odds for all of the games taking place on Friday night:
| Favorite |  | | Underdog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Panthers | -280 | +225 | Montreal Canadiens |
| Pittburgh Penguins | -330 | +255 | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 130 | +105 | Boston Bruins |
| New York Rangers | -115 | -105 | Washington Capitals |
| Buffalo Sabres | -130 | +110 | Chicago Blackhawks |
| New Jersey Devils | -155 | +135 | Detroit Red Wings |
| Philadelphia Flyers | -125 | +105 | Ottawa Senators |
| Calgary Flames | -170 | +140 | Winnipeg Jets |
| St. Louis Blues | -190 | +160 | Vegas Golden Knights |
| Colorado Avalanche | -135 | +110 | Minnesota Wild |
| Dallas Stars | -235 | +190 | Anaheim Ducks |
| Edmonton Oilers | -185 | +155 | Vancouver Canucks |
| Seattle Kraken | -120 | +100 | San Jose Sharks |
| Nashville Predators | -280 | +225 | Arizona Coyotes |
Indeed, many bigger-picture questions can be answered by tracking what we see to close out the regular season. Can the New York Rangers finish on a high note and prove they're Stanley Cup sleepers? Will the Pittsburgh Penguins fend off a last-minute push from the Washington Capitals for a higher playoff seed? Who will finish with the second-best record in the Western Conference: The Calgary Flames or Minnesota Wild?
Remember to always double-check these odds on the NHL if you aren't placing your wager right away. Though single game lines don't typically move that much, the end of the season is always an exception. Odds on the NHL will shift drastically if news breaks that certain teams are resting select players.
With the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs right around the corner, you should also make it a priority to check out our online sportsbooks reviews. We've made them to help you spot the best hockey betting sites in 2022.
Will the Rangers Finish Their Season on a High Note?
It initially looked like the Rangers would give the Carolina Hurricanes a run for their money atop the Metropolitan Division. That isn't the case anymore.
New York has lost three straight, during which time they have shown regression on both sides of the ice. The good news: This team still has all the talent to shut down opposing offenses on defense. Even better news: They usually get up for games against opponents on a similar level, and the Capitals are exactly that.
OSB Prediction: New York Rangers (-115)
Pittsburgh will Solidify Playoff Positioning vs. Columbus
The Penguins will be thrilled if our Rangers over Capitals prediction pans out.
Despite boasting a much better point differential overall, Pittsburgh leads Washington by just one point for third place in the Metropolitan Division. While this doesn't sound like a huge deal, it's actually massive.
Whichever team finishes with the better record will have a more favorable path through the postseason. And given how much more consistent the Penguins have been on defense, as well as the fact they get to face a bad team in the Columbus Blue Jackets, we're inclined to favor them.
OSB Prediction: Pittsburgh Penguins (-330)
Minnesota Needs an Upset Against Colorado
The Wild and Flames are currently tied for the second-best record in the Western Conference. A win from either of them will go a long way toward determining who gets that spot and the rosier playoff bracket.
This does not bode well for Minnesota. They have pulled a matchup against the NHL-best Colorado Avalanche. And while Colorado doesn't technically have anything left to play for, having clinched the conference's best record, it hasn't stopped them from performing like one of the league's top road teams in recent weeks.
OSB Prediction: Colorado Avalanche (-135)
Calgary Can Wrap Up Second Place in the West with Win Over Winnipeg
If we assume the Wild will lose to the Avalanche, it opens a window of opportunity for the Flames. And we expect Calgary to blow right through it.
The Flames went nine straight games without suffering a loss (seven wins, two ties) before their most recent letdown. They have not taken their foot of the gas whatsoever. There's no reason to think they'll start now.
OSB Prediction: Calgary Flames (-170)
Nashville will Get a Boost from Victory vs. Phoenix Coyotes
While the Nashville Predators already edged out the Vegas Golden Knights and Vancouver Canucks for one of the final wild card spots in the West, they have the chance to get a leg up on the Dallas Stars, the other team that just slid into the wild card.
Many have lowered their expectations for Nashville following a midseason malaise. We're in a different camp. The Predators have often looked like one of the best two-way teams in the business—and that includes over the past month or so.
If that's not enough to sway you, their opponent should be. The Phoenix Coyotes currently rates as the NHL's worst team.
OSB Prediction: Nashville Predators (-280)
Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can decide which one to use for all of your NHL betting:
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