NHL Playoffs are here - enjoy exclusive offers at Wildz Sports!

4/17/2025, 9:30:00 AM

Half a year and 82 games per team. That’s what’s in the rearview, and now it’s time to turn our attention to the biggest games of the year: the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The first round kicks off on April 19, and Wildz Sports will be along for the ride all the way to hoisting the Cup.

So what can you expect from now until late June? How about high odds, exclusive promos, and of course, elite performances from the world’s best players? This is it – let the games begin.

NHL Playoff Betting Promotions

Spanning roughly two months, the NHL Playoffs are a celebration of hockey and sports betting at Wildz Sports. This marquee sporting event brings with it a variety of offers for Wildz players, including:

• Boosted odds

• Unique prop bets

• Bet of the Day offers

• Bet & Get promotions

• Predictor Games

You can find boosted odds and Wildz’s own exclusive betting markets on our NHL page, while the Bet of the Day is available on our sports homepage. Throughout the playoffs, we’ll be sharing updates on these offers, along with Bet & Get promos. So make sure you’ve enabled marketing notifications in your account settings to be among the first to learn about new opportunities!

Logged in? You can also join our free-to-play Predictor Game, where you’ll make predictions for your shot at a $10,000 grand prize! Read on to find out more about the playoff picture and you’ll be one step closer to making the right calls once the puck drops.

Playoff Power Rankings

It’s been a wild season in both conferences. The Winnipeg Jets surprisingly clinched the Presidents’ Trophy as the league’s top team, and over in the East, the Washington Capitals shocked many by finishing first in the conference.

Plenty of factors contributed to each team’s regular season success, but both are anchored by key stars. In Winnipeg, it’s all about Connor Hellebuyck, who’s all but locked in his third Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender. In Washington, the spotlight remains on Alexander Ovechkin, still rewriting the NHL record books after two decades of dominance. Definitely keep a close eye on both of these legends as the playoffs unfold.

Next up, we’ve grouped the teams into top contenders, contenders, and underdogs. This basic power ranking is here to help inspire your next Stanley Cup futures. Please note that odds are subject to change.

Top Contenders

These teams have the strongest overall case to win the Cup, based not just on regular season standings but also on playoff matchups, current roster health, and momentum heading into Round 1.

• Winnipeg Jets +1,100

• Vegas Golden Knights +1,000

• Edmonton Oilers +900

• Florida Panthers +800

• Washington Capitals +1,100

Last year’s finalists, Panthers and Oilers, are facing tough first-round matchups, but both have the depth and talent to make another deep run.

Meanwhile, the Jets, Golden Knights, and Capitals enter the playoffs as heavy favourites in their respective series thanks to dominant regular season performances. With plenty of rest and momentum on their side, they’re in a strong position to advance to the second round and beyond.

Contenders

These teams have the potential to run deep in the playoffs, but they all have some problems potentially blocking the way to a championship run. Still, these teams are dangerous, especially if they get rolling early.

• Carolina Hurricanes +900

• Toronto Maple Leafs +1,200

• Tampa Bay Lightning +900

• Dallas Stars +640

• Colorado Avalanche +800

• Los Angeles Kings +2,000

There’s plenty here to interest Canadian fans, especially with Toronto in the mix. Some might be surprised to see Dallas placed here, but they finished the regular season with a six-game losing skid, and now face Colorado without injured star Miro Heiskanen — not an ideal scenario.

Both Carolina and Toronto have reputations for underperforming in the playoffs. Carolina’s possession game hasn’t always translated to postseason success, while Toronto is still heavily reliant on its top-six forwards. That said, both teams have relatively favourable Round 1 opponents, which could help them build momentum.

Underdogs

These teams enter as long shots, but in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, anything can happen. Don’t count them out just yet.

• New Jersey Devils +2,900

• Ottawa Senators +3,400

• Montreal Canadiens +9,900

• Minnesota Wild +3,400

• St. Louis Blues +3,900

Keep an eye on Montreal and St. Louis, who both finished the regular season strong with 7 wins in their final 10 games. That momentum could pose a real challenge for their first-round opponents, Washington and Winnipeg.

One of the most intriguing matchups will be the Ontario rivalry between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto carries all the pressure, and the media heat will ramp up quickly if they drop even one of their first two home games. Expect high drama and pure playoff intensity!

NHL Playoff Format & Schedule

The playoffs begin Saturday, April 19, with two confirmed matchups: St. Louis at Winnipeg and Colorado at Dallas. The full Round 1 schedule will be confirmed by the NHL on Thursday, April 17.

The format follows the traditional bracket style, with best-of-seven series in every round. First, each conference plays down to one team, the conference champion. These two teams will then star in the ultimate showdown: the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Stanley Cup champion should be crowned around the Canada Day long weekend. Until then, we’re in for the best and most entertaining hockey you can imagine. Keep an eye on our latest offers and enjoy all the NHL betting action at Wildz Sports!