The NHL is heating up this week with thrilling matchups, playoff races, and star-studded performances. Whether you’re betting on classic rivalries or high-stakes showdowns, bet365 has your back with its $1,000 First Bet Safety Net.

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Key NHL Matchups to Bet On This Week (all stats current as of April 7)

1. St. Louis Blues vs. Winnipeg Jets (April 7):
   • The St. Louis Blues continue to be the hottest team in the NHL, thanks to their lucky Jobu bobblehead. It may sound silly, but since Jobu made his first appearance in the Blues’ locker room on February 22, the Blues have been on a tear with an astounding 16-2-2 record; including their current franchise-record 12-game winning streak. Now, St. Louis has become one of the most dangerous teams heading into the playoffs, inching closer to the Colorado Avalanche, who are five points ahead in the Central Division standings. With five games remaining, St. Louis may not have enough time to reach the Avs, but this run has put every team on notice.
   • The best team in the NHL is ready for the playoffs to start. Winnipeg recently fell to Utah on the road, but with a 28-6-4 record at Canada Life Centre, the Jets are licking their chops to end the Blues’ Cinderella run. Kyle Connor is two goals away from his second career 40-goal season, as is Mark Scheifele, who is averaging over a point per game for the seventh time in his career. It’ll be a curious case to see if Vezina Trophy favorite Connor Hellebuyck takes the crease, or if the coaching staff elects to preserve him for the playoffs. Hellebuyck has lost two games in a row, while backup Eric Comrie has filled in admirably with three wins in his last four starts.
2. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers (April 8):
   • You have to wonder about the Toronto Maple Leafs, and what version will show up. Since the 4 Nations Face-Off, Toronto has won five in a row, lost five out of six, won three in a row, lost two out of three (one in overtime), and is now on a four-game win streak. One of those victories in this current streak was against divisional rivals and defending Stanley Cup champs, the Florida Panthers. The Leafs hold the lead in the Atlantic, but it’s been a dogfight between these two teams and the Lightning. Mitch Marner has been everything and more, registering points in seven straight games, and William Nylander has set a new career high with 44 goals on the season.
   • Florida is going through it right now, falling in three consecutive games, and losing seven out of its last 10. It’s no secret that the absences of Matthew Tkachuk and Aaron Ekblad have distinctly hurt the Panthers this season, but regardless, the Cats still clinched a playoff spot. Tkachuk’s status, though, is still up in the air. Top performers like Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and Carter Verhaeghe have been somewhat invisible and there’s only so much that Sam Reinhart and Aleksander Barkov can do to keep this team afloat. However, Barkov went down with an injury last week as well. Additionally, Sergei Bobrovsky has been inconsistent down the stretch, playing at a sub-.900 SV% pace.
3. Calgary Flames vs. Anaheim Ducks (April 9):
   • Calgary just won’t go away. On paper, the Flames are certainly unspectacular, with no elite playmakers up front, two exceptional defensemen, and a goaltender in Dustin Wolf who is on the rise. It seemed as if the Flames were out of the playoff race, but they’re making a late-season push for the final Wild Card spot. They’ve secured points in eight of their last 10 games. While it is a six-point climb to catch the Minnesota Wild, crazier things have happened in the NHL. They also have two games in hand on the Wild which can create some interesting storylines for the remaining six games on their schedule.
   • The Anaheim Ducks were recently eliminated from the playoffs, but it was an admirable effort. Many pegged the Ducks as lottery-bound from the beginning of the season, however, they stayed alive until the very end. They’re victims of two straight losses to Calgary and Vancouver and will look to gain revenge on the Flames Wednesday. There’s a lot to like in Orange County though. Defenseman Jackson LaCombe has become a dynamic defenseman, and it seems as if Lukas Dostal has earned the trust of the Ducks’ brass as their goaltender of the future.
4. Carolina Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals (April 10):
   • Both of these teams already clinched a playoff spot, but it’s always a spectacle when two juggernauts go at it.
   • The Carolina Hurricanes have suffered two straight defeats to kick off their four-game road trip. Before the trip though, they handled the Capitals a 5-1 loss at home. The difference is, that the Hurricanes are a completely different entity on the road. From their 30-8-1 record at home, they hold just a 16-18-3 record away from PNC Arena. So far, they’ve continued their struggles, by falling to Detroit and Boston, with Buffalo and the Capitals ahead of them on the back end. A lot of Carolina’s roster presents a few questions. Outside of Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis, no one else has stood out in an eye-popping way. Players like Eric Robinson and Jack Roslovic have stood out as solid depth pieces, but Andrei Svechnikov has been a disappointment thus far.
   • Look out Wayne Gretzky, there’s a new leader in town. Alexander Ovechkin completed “The Gr8 Chase,” after taking sole leadership of the NHL goal-scoring record with 895. It’s simply a remarkable statistic, as Ovechkin is in his 14th season with 40+ goals in a season. Lost in this all though, the Capitals are just one point away from the best record in the NHL. Though they lost to the Islanders on Sunday, they’re in a perfect position to make a deep run. Alongside Ovechkin, Washington has gotten career years out of Dylan Strome, Aliaksei Protas, and Pierre-Luc Dubois.
5. Montreal Canadiens vs. Ottawa Senators (April 11):
   • It’s not over until it’s over, but it seems as if these two Canadian franchises will own the two Eastern Conference Wild Card slots.
   • Montreal has wowed a lot of fans across the NHL, especially now, winning five games in a row. Martin St. Louis has gotten the most out of his players, including rookie defenseman Lane Hutson, who has dazzled all season. He’s registered over 60 points and is already one of the league’s elite playmakers. It doesn’t hurt to have exceptional goal-scoring in front of him in Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki. Suzuki is in the midst of a career year, averaging over a point per game for the first time in his career. Caufield has also scorched his previous career-high total, as he’s only four goals away from 40. Montreal only has five games left this season; can he join the exclusive 40-goal club in his fourth full season?
   • The Senators are running wild as well and they’re only two points behind the Panthers for the third seed in the Atlantic Division. Given that Florida has struggled down the stretch, and is dealing with a ton of injuries, it’s the perfect opportunity for Ottawa to strike. Amidst this run, Ottawa has also missed Brady Tkachuk for a week. Tkachuk has had a weird season in terms of injuries, but he’s still managed to make an impact with 55 points and 29 goals. This game against Montreal will be crucial for the Sens, and it’ll be at home, where they’re exceptional – holding a 24-11-2 record.
6. Minnesota Wild vs. Vancouver Canucks (April 12):
   • As mentioned, the Minnesota Wild have a solid grasp on the final Wild Card position. It may not be fully in their grasp, but the stars would need to align perfectly for it to work in Calgary’s favor. Needless to say, the Wild haven’t been running wild a whole lot. They hold a 4-4-2 record in their last 10 games but lost five out of six games from the end of March through early April. It’s not exactly encouraging numbers for a team that is clinging onto their position. However, things may be on the rise. Kirill Kaprizov had a positive update on his injury, and he may be ready by the playoffs or just before. In the meantime, Minnesota will have to continue to rely on Matt Boldy and Marco Rossi. Boldy had a massive game against Dallas on Sunday, where he registered a goal and two assists.
   • Vancouver isn’t out of the playoffs just yet, but it’s not looking good for the Canucks. They currently stand eight points out with five games to go. Starting Tuesday, the Canucks have a tall task ahead of themselves, where they visit the Stars and the Avalanche – both perennial Stanley Cup contenders. If they enter this matchup against the Wild with two wins in their back pocket, this game could be that much more crucial. The problem is the goaltending though. Kevin Lankinen has been underwhelming down the stretch with four consecutive losses and an .813 SV%. If Lankinen underperforms in the slightest, it will drastically hurt Vancouver’s chances of staying alive in this race.
7. Edmonton Oilers vs. Winnipeg Jets (April 13):
   • Since this game will be played on Sunday, we may see Connor McDavid return against the team he was injured against on March 20. There’s speculation that the Oilers captain returns on Wednesday against the Blues, which will be a huge boost. Edmonton began April on the road where it defeated Vegas and Los Angeles, only to lose to the Sharks on Sunday. Monday night, the Oilers finish off the road trip against the Ducks. They certainly didn’t envision themselves being in this position, clawing to clinch a playoff berth but they also didn’t envision both McDavid and Leon Draisaitl going down. Draisaitl’s return has been a massive jolt to a team struggling to put up points.
   • Tonight’s game will also be drastically important for the Winnipeg Jets, who are in a battle with the Stars for the Central Division title. Winnipeg has held onto the division lead for the majority of the season, but with the Stars making an intense run, the Jets have to keep up. Edmonton has had the upper hand on Winnipeg all season long, winning the two meet-ups this season, so depending on how the week goes, if the Jets fall in this matchup, their division title hopes may crumble.

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Best NHL Betting Strategies

1. Player Prop Bets:

• Focus on stars like Leon Draisaitl, Mitch Marner, and Mark Scheifele. Popular options include Player to score anytime or Over/Under points.
• Example: Bet on Marner to record Over 1.5 points in Toronto’s games this week.

2. Over/Under Bets:

• When expecting a higher score in a certain game, betting the over is an optimal choice. Alternative totals depending on what sportsbook is in use, are also available. However, depending on what total is chosen, expect the odds to change
• Example: St. Louis vs. Winnipeg’s total is 5.5 which is typically a barometer for a lower scoring game. However, if you have good reason and analysis to suggest a high-scoring game, the over – essentially, that both teams combine to score six or more goals – is the bet you want to place.

3. Live Betting Opportunities:

• Tight games like the Maple Leafs vs. Panthers are ideal for live betting, where momentum shifts can create unique opportunities.
• Example: Toronto took a two-goal lead heading into the third period. Once the third starts, Florida scores a goal in the first minute, creating an opportune time to live bet Florida to continue its momentum.

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Best NHL Bets For This Week

This week’s NHL action promises big matchups and even bigger betting opportunities. With bet365’s $1,000 First Bet Safety Net, you can bet boldly knowing you’ll get a second chance if your first wager doesn’t hit.

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