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 March 31)

1. Calgary Flames vs. Colorado Avalanche (March 31):
   • The Flames’ own inconsistencies have hurt their chances of making the playoffs. It’s by no means over, but the teams ahead are separating themselves from the pack. Trading winning and losing streaks can only do so much, and the chances of them becoming a lottery team are getting higher by the day. Rookie goalie, Dustin Wolf, who’s had an incredible season, has started to come back down to Earth, with an .895 SV% in the month of March, and no one on the offensive end has taken the charge. Defensemen MacKenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson have been ideal anchors on the blueline, but aside from that, there’s not much else to write home about.
   • Colorado fell to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, but that’s hardly anything to worry about, given the Blues’ nine-game win streak. Before the loss, the Avalanche were victors of four straight and six out of seven. It’s clear that the 2022 Stanley Cup champs are gearing up for another run at the top dogs of the league. Trade deadline acquisition Brock Nelson is starting to fit in perfectly, with six points in his past five games, and his chemistry with Martin Necas has been critical in Colorado’s depth. Additionally, Mackenzie Blackwood’s presence in net is only solidifying the Avs as a legit contender. Goaltending was something Colorado lacked since Darcy Kuemper left, and Blackwood is the perfect piece.
2. Buffalo Sabres vs. Ottawa Senators (April 1):
   • While the season is likely over for the Buffalo Sabres, it doesn’t hurt to see what’s in store for the 2025-26 season. Looking toward next season has been a painful trend for the fans in Western New York, but it’s the harsh reality. Banking on the upward trend of youngsters like Zach Benson and Ryan McLeod will be crucial in building this organization’s depth. McLeod has been a viable piece since arriving from Edmonton and is two goals away from his first-ever 20-goal season. Aside from that, the Sabres know what they have at the top of the lineup. Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin are legit superstars, and yet another season has passed by without making the playoffs.
   • Conversely, the Ottawa Senators keep rolling. Ottawa was having a hard time building a playoff roster, and yet it’s in a decent position to clinch its first playoff berth since 2017. While nothing is solidified just yet, because anything can happen, the Senators are seven points ahead of the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers – who are both tied for the final Wild Card spot. The Sens were in a heated battle with the Penguins, but ultimately lost in overtime, 1-0, but prior, they won three out of their previous four. If they keep racking up points in some way, the Senators will find themselves in the Spring Classic.
3. Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (April 2):
   • The Atlantic Division is an all-out slugfest. Between the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, scratching and clawing for the top seed. One team will eventually come out on top. Currently, the Panthers are doing just fine. They started March on a heater with four straight wins, but since then, have split their last 10 games. Florida is missing Matthew Tkachuk and Aaron Ekblad, however, Sam Reinhart and Aleksander Barkov have been leading the charge. They also recently got Brad Marchand in for his first two games as a Panther, with the former Boston Bruin registering an assist. With Marchand coming in, it’ll provide a much-needed spark for the defending Cup champions.
   • Toronto currently holds the division lead with a huge West Coast road trip, securing points against each of the California teams. Mitch Marner has been huge down the stretch, with points in seven of his last eight games, and it seems like John Tavares is having a resurgence. Tavares has notched 13 points in his last seven games. Not only that, goaltending has also been crucial to this run with a solid one-two punch. Joseph Woll started March with two forgettable games, but he’s picked up his game with a .911 SV%. Anthony Stolarz is also having a wonderful season. Though he missed some time with an injury, this season has solidified Stolarz as a legitimate starter in this league.
4. Winnipeg Jets vs. Vegas Golden Knights (April 3):
   • The Winnipeg Jets keep rolling through the NHL. Currently the NHL points leaders, the Jets have won three in a row, including a win over the Washington Capitals – a team they’ve battled with for the top record in the NHL. Connor Hellebuyck is also in elite company, as he now holds multiple seasons with more than 43 wins in a season. The only other goaltenders who have done that were Martin Brodeur and Evgeni Nabokov. Aside from that, Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor continue to lead the charge, each averaging well over a point per game, and Nikolaj Ehlers is not too far behind. They are, however, missing Gabe Vilardi who suffered a freak injury in the loss against Buffalo on March 23. Vilardi has been a key part of Scheifele and Connor’s success.
   • Hosting the NHL leaders is the Vegas Golden Knights, who are no slouches either. Vegas leads the Pacific Division with a seven-point lead over the Kings and are winners of six consecutive games, capping off a three-game road trip with wins all around. Jack Eichel has been a marvel, having a career-best season, and he’s not even finished. The Knights also got back lead defenseman Shea Theodore, who got injured during the 4 Nations Face-Off and returned on March 25. Amid this stretch, Adin Hill has been the goaltender Vegas has yearned for, when it signed Hill to a six-year extension. Hill has performed admirably with an 8-1-1 record and a .930 SV% in March.
5. Chicago Blackhawks vs. Washington Capitals (April 4):
   • Chicago’s destiny has already been written. The Blackhawks continue to work in rebuild mode, as they’re destined for another top-two pick in the upcoming NHL Draft. But there’s reason for hope in the Windy City. Chicago hopes to get an extended look at its future, recently signing first-rounders Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel to entry-level contracts. Additionally, it’s gotten a career-best season out of forward Ryan Donato, who’s one goal away from a 30-goal season. It may not be the dynasty run that the Blackhawks had in the early 2000s, but the future is now in Chicago.
   • Getting lost in the Washington Capitals’ astounding season is “The Gr8 Chase” where as of today, Alex Ovechkin is only five goals away from taking the all-time goal-scoring lead ahead of Wayne Gretzky. However, Ovechkin isn’t the only reason for this incredible season in the America’s capital. Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas are leading the team in scoring, with Protas taking the biggest leap of all. Before this season, Protas’ career high in goals was only six in two and a half seasons. Now he’s lit the lamp 30 times with more room to grow. Additionally, it’s been a huge season for both Connor McMichael and Jakob Chychrun, who are registering career-high seasons as well.
6. Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings (April 5):
   • There are a lot of questions and concerns coming out of Edmonton, as the Oilers continue to lose ground in the playoff race. Leon Draisaitl returned from injury and helped the Oilers come out on top in the Battle of Alberta. However, we still haven’t seen Connor McDavid since March 20. Whispers are going around that McDavid won’t return until April 9 against the Blues, however, neither coach Kris Knoblauch nor the Oilers have confirmed this report. Should that be true, we won’t see #97 suit up in this duel against the Kings – a team that has played Edmonton tightly this season. It’s a pivotal matchup in the Pacific Division and could be a major game in deciding seeding within the division.
   • The Kings avoided a three-game losing streak after pulverizing the Sharks on Sunday, 8-1. However, aside from the two losses suffered at the end of March, Los Angeles won nine out of 10 games and has gotten hot at the perfect time. Not only that, the fit between the Kings and goaltender Darcy Kuemper has been seamless. Kuemper is posting a .919 SV% which is his best season since winning the Stanley Cup with Colorado. Additionally, his March has been unmatched, playing like one of the best goaltenders, with an astounding .932 SV% in March.
7. Montreal Canadiens vs. Nashville Predators (April 6):
   • Montreal is in a fight for its life. The Canadiens are currently in a six-way battle for the final Wild Card position and are currently tied with the Rangers with 77 points each. However, it seems like no one wants to walk away with the spot. The Habs have gone 4-3-3 in their last 10 games, and securing those three points in overtime battles has helped their case significantly. The problem is, before beating the Panthers, the Habs were getting rocked every which way. Including two overtime losses to the Islanders and Avalanche, Montreal lost five in a row at such a critical point in the race. Yet, here we are. Leading up to this battle against Nashville, it will host Florida for a rematch, and then host Boston and Philadelphia. 
   • What a disappointing season it has been for the Predators. Nashville, with all the hype in the world after a busy offseason, was the third team eliminated from the playoffs this season and looks ahead towards potentially acquiring a top-three draft pick. Filip Forsberg has continued to look the part, but everyone else has struggled. Steven Stamkos had a lot of growing pains in his first year in Nashville as well as Jonathan Marchessault. Not only that, both Juuse Saros and Ryan O’Reilly have had down years, along with an injury to captain Roman Josi, who’s been out of commission since February 25.

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Best NHL Betting Strategies

1. Player Prop Bets:

• Focus on stars like Nathan MacKinnon, Mitch Marner, and Jack Eichel. 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: Calgary vs. Colorado’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 Oilers vs. Kings are ideal for live betting, where momentum shifts can create unique opportunities.
• Example: Edmonton took a two-goal lead heading into the third period. Once the third starts, Los Angeles scores a goal in the first minute, creating an opportune time to live bet Los Angeles 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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