NHL Conference Finals: Best Bets for Each Series

by Ryan Cobbett - 5/19/2026

The NHL semifinals are finally set after the Montreal Canadiens knocked off the Buffalo Sabres in overtime in Game Seven of the series. Puck drop for the semifinals will begin tomorrow night when the Vegas Golden Knights travel to the Mile High City to take on the Colorado Avalanche. The other semifinal series between Montreal and Carolina will begin Thursday night, with the Canadiens traveling down the East Coast to the Lenovo Center in Raleigh. The playoffs have showcased all kinds of incredible storylines thus far, but now we all hold our breath to see which team will reach eight wins, and which ones will go home empty handed.

Doc’s Sports offers NHL expert picks for every game on our hockey predictions page.

Western Conference

Vegas Golden Knights vs Colorado Avalanche

Vegas Golden Knights: +230 to win the WCF

The Golden Knights arrive at the Western Conference Finals after taking out the Utah Mammoth in six games and the Anaheim Ducks in six. Overall, Vegas has won seven out of their last nine contests heading into this series. They rank third in the playoffs in GF/G, as they are averaging 3.67 GF/G. A lot of this offensive production has come from their dominant duo of Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel who have combined for 33 points. Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden have also been dominating and have combined for 17 goals, with the two joined by Marner sitting atop the playoff skaters in goals. The goaltending is allowing 2.58 GA/G, which is much improved from their 2.95 GA/G regular season mark. Carter Hart has appeared in all 12 games for the Golden Knights and has dominated in the blue paint.

Colorado Avalanche: -285 to win the WCF

Colorado arrives in the Western Conference Finals as the most dominant team in the Western Conference. They have lost just once since the start of the postseason, as they swept the Los Angeles Kings and stomped the Minnesota Wild in five games. Overall, the Avs have won 13 of their last 15 games including the regular season. Colorado boasts the only offensive attack that averages more than four GF/G, as they are averaging 4.11 GF/G. They have cashed in on 25% of their power play opportunities and have 10 different players who have scored more than one goal in the postseason. Nathan MacKinnon is leading his team with 13 points (7g, 6a), and he is followed by Martin Necas who has 11 points (1g, 10a). Colorado has allowed 2.56 GA/G through their nine postseason games and have a .906 SV% as a team. Scott Wedgewood has emerged as a strong option between the pipes during the postseason as he has allowed just 2.21 GA/G in eight games, while Mackenzie Blackwood has allowed 3.20 GA/G in his three appearances.

Matchup

The Colorado Avalanche have been the best team in the Western Conference since the beginning of the season. They had a meteoric start to the season and never looked back. They led the NHL in scoring and goals allowed throughout the regular season, they’ve continued to light up the scoreboards in the postseason, and they have a deep depth chart that is producing at every level. Vegas has been solid in the postseason but has definitely shown signs of weakness. Colorado is going to overpower them, like they overpowered the Kings and Wild, and run them right out of the building. Vegas does have plenty of playoff experience on their roster, but they do not have the depth to contend with the Avalanche.

My Pick: Colorado Avalanche in 5, +320

Bonus Pick: Total Games in WCF- Under 5.5, +152
Eastern Conference

Montreal Canadiens vs Carolina Hurricanes

Montreal Canadiens: +230 to win the ECF

The Canadiens have battled their way to the Eastern Conference Finals and what has become an unexpected run. They have, however, played the most games out of anyone in this postseason with both of their series going to seven games. In the first round, they took out the Tampa Bay Lightning and now they are coming off a huge overtime, series clinching win in Buffalo against the Sabres. Montreal has averaged 3.07 GF/G during their 14-game playoff run. Lane Hutson leads the team with 14 points, with Nick Suzuki on his heels with 13 points. Alex Newhook has been incredibly clutch for the Canadiens as he has come up with two big Game Seven goals and he leads the team with seven total goals in the postseason, after finishing the regular season with 13 goals. Jakub Dobes has been in the crease for almost all of the playoffs, and he has allowed 2.52 GA/G and has posted a .910 SV%.

Carolina Hurricanes: -285 to win the ECF

Carolina is the only team in playoffs this year that has not yet lost. They swept the Ottawa Senators in the first round and then cruised past the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round. They have a +14-goal differential and have two shutouts in the playoffs, one in each round. Though they have been perfect in the postseason, one area they have struggled is the man advantage. They have cashed in on just 13.5% of their power play chances. They are also averaging just 3.00 GF/G, way down from their 3.55 GF/G regular season average. Taylor Hall (12 points, 3g, 9a) and Jackson Blake (11 points, 4g, 7a) lead the team in points. Logan Stankoven is nearly playing at a goal per game pace, leading the way with seven goals. They have dominated the blue paint, limiting opponents to just 1.25 GA/G and a .950 SV%. Frederik Andersen has yet to allow more than two goals in a game and has allowed just 10 total goals.

Matchup

Unfortunately for Montreal, their magical run will end here. Carolina, like Colorado, is clearly the better team. Andersen is a brick wall and their tough, “run you down” style is wearing out opponents and keeping them from climbing out of deficits. Carolina still has room for improvement despite being perfect on the bracket, and Montreal has a much meeker outlook in the net. Carolina is not going to lose at home, and they will trump the magical road success of the Canadiens. The Hurricanes finally get past their conference finals curse and reach the Stanley Cup.

My Pick: Carolina Hurricanes in 4, +650

Bonus Pick: Total Games in ECF- Under 5.5, +134

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Start:	May 20, 2026 @ 11:45 PM
Expert:	Griffin Murphy
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NHL Conference Finals: Best Bets for Each Series

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