Hockey Handicapping Articles

2025-26 Vegas Golden Knights Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 10/1/2025

Last season the Vegas Golden Knights finished with 110 points which was the second-best total in the Western Conference last season. They had a +56-goal differential while their 29-9-3 home record was one of the best home records in the league. They came back from a 2-1 series deficit against Minnesota in the first round, stealing the series in six games. Unfortunately, their season ended in the second round as they were dominated by Edmonton and lost in five games.

2025-26 Vancouver Canucks Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 10/1/2025

Last season was rather disappointing for the Vancouver Canucks. They had issues internally that caused some regression in their core and resulted in some midseason trades like J.T Miller. The Canucks finished with 90 points and a -17-goal differential, and they missed the playoffs by seven points. Vancouver also had one of the worst home records in the league as they went just 17-16-8 in front of their home fans.

2025-26 Winnipeg Jets Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 10/1/2025

Last season was one for the ages for Winnipeg fans. Their 116 points was good enough to bring in the Presidents Trophy, and they claimed the Central Division and the top seed in the Western Conference. Unfortunately, that was the height of the campaign. They barely escaped the St. Louis Blues in the first round thanks to a miraculous comeback in Game Seven and then they fell to the Dallas Stars in the second round, losing in six games.

2025-26 Toronto Maple Leafs Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 9/30/2025

The Toronto Maple Leafs were finally able to win some in the playoffs this past year. They escaped a series comeback by Ottawa as the Maple Leafs took the series in six games and then they took Florida all the way to Game Seven where they ultimately fell short of reaching the Conference Finals. They did win the Atlantic Division as they finished the season with 108 points, and they had a +37-goal differential on the year.

2025-26 Utah Mammonth Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 9/30/2025

Their first season in Utah was better than expected as they finished the season above their projected point total with 89 points. Though the Utah Mammoth missed the playoffs by eight points, there was a lot to like for Utah. They finished the season with a winning record on the road, though their goal differential was -10.

2025-26 Tampa Bay Lightning Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 9/29/2025

Last season ended in disappointing fashion for the Tampa Bay Lightning. They ended the regular season with 102 points and finished second in the Atlantic Division. Their +75-goal differential was the best mark in the Eastern Conference and the second best in the league. Unfortunately, none of that mattered as they were dominated in the first round of the playoffs by the Florida Panthers who won the Battle of Florida in five games.

2025-26 St. Louis Blues Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 9/29/2025

The St. Louis Blues fought their way into the playoff picture last season. They were one of the hottest teams in hockey to close out the season last year and they hung on to secure the final wild card spot in the Western Conference. They finished the regular season with 96 points and a +21-goal differential. Unfortunately for St. Louis, their hard-fought efforts fell short in the first round as they took Winnipeg to seven games but ultimately lost in double overtime after an ugly late game collapse.

2025-26 Seattle Kraken Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 9/29/2025

Seattle’s record and point total did not accurately reflect the Kraken’s performance last season. Their goaltending struggled, but Seattle seemed at times to play much better than their 76 points indicated. They finished the season with a -18-goal differential, which was the best amongst teams who did not reach the 80-point mark on the year.

2025-26 San Jose Sharks Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 9/26/2025

Once again, the San Jose Sharks found themselves in the basement of the NHL. They managed to reach the 52-point mark on the season, which was nine points behind the 31st ranked Chicago Blackhawks. Their -105-goal differential was 35 goals worse than the Blackhawks’ second worst mark of -70. They won a league worst eight road games and the Sharks managed to win just 14 games in regulation.

2025-26 Pittsburgh Penguins Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 9/26/2025

The Pittsburgh Penguins failed to put together a playoff caliber team last season as they finished the year with 80 points and a -50-goal differential. They struggled tremendously on the road as they went just 13-21-7 away from home last season. Unfortunately, the winning days with Sidney Crosby and company seem to be behind Pittsburgh and a rebuild is imminent.

2025-26 Philadelphia Flyers Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 9/26/2025

The Philadelphia Flyers have been progressing through their rebuild and as a result they were not competitive last season. They finished last in the Eastern Conference with 76 points. Their -48-goal differential was the third worst mark in the conference, and their 13 road wins were tied for the worst mark in the NHL.

2025-26 Ottawa Senators Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 9/26/2025

Last season went better than expected for the Ottawa Senators as they cracked the playoff picture. They finished the season with 97 points, narrowly missing out on the final guaranteed spot in the Atlantic Division. Ottawa did finish in the top wild card spot and finished the season with a +9-goal differential.

2025-26 New Jersey Devils Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 9/25/2025

Thanks to the addition of Jacob Markstrom, the Devils were finally back to being a real threat in the Eastern Conference. They finished with 91 points and snagged the final guaranteed spot in the Metro Division. They finished with a +20-goal differential and were one of the better road teams in the league as they collected nearly 53% of their points on the road. Unfortunately, their playoff appearance was short lived as the Carolina Hurricanes eliminated them in five games and they finished the series with a -7-goal differential.

2025-26 New York Rangers Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 9/25/2025

The New York Rangers joined Nashville in terms of an incredibly disappointing season. After winning the Presidents Trophy the year before, the Rangers finished with just 85 points and missed the playoffs. Though they did end the season with a +1-goal differential, they struggled at home, and their success was held back due to internal issues.

2025-26 Los Angeles Kings Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 9/25/2025

The Los Angeles Kings finished the regular season with 105 points which was good enough for a second-place finish in the Pacific Division. They recorded a +44-goal differential while going 31-6-4 at home which was the best home record in the NHL. Unfortunately for the Kings, their season ended at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers for the fourth straight season after Edmonton overcame an 0-2 series deficit to eliminate Los Angeles in six games.

2025-26 New York Islanders Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 9/25/2025

Last season the New York Islanders threw in the towel at the deadline and dealt away some key pieces which resulted in the team missing out on the playoffs after finishing with just 82 points. They finished with a -36-goal differential thanks to little offensive support. Their 12 overtime losses were tied for the most in the Eastern Conference.

2025-26 Montreal Canadiens Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 9/25/2025

Last season was a big surprise in Montreal as the Canadiens found their way into the playoffs despite some lowly expectations. They finished the regular season with 91 points which was good enough for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately for Montreal, their playoff run was short lived as they lost in five games at the hands of Washington, finishing the series with a -6-goal differential.

2025-26 Nashville Predators Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 9/25/2025

There have been a lot of disappointing seasons in sports history, where high expectations never came to fruition. However, there may not have been a more disappointing season in recent memory than what the Nashville Predators turned in last season. They were projected to be a near 100-point team and a formidable playoff opponent. Despite their lofty expectations, they finished with the third lowest point total in the league with just 68 points. Their -60-goal differential was the third worst mark in the league, and they won just 10 games on the road.

2025-26 Minnesota Wild Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 9/25/2025

Last season the Minnesota Wild finished the regular season with 97 points and claimed the top wild card spot in Western Conference. Their -11-goal differential was the worst amongst playoff teams in the conference. With the top wild card, they squared off against Vegas in the first round of the playoffs. Unfortunately, their playoff stay was short lived as they were eliminated in six games after fumbling a 2-1 series lead.

2025-26 Edmonton Oilers Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals
by Ryan Cobbett - 9/24/2025

The Edmonton Oilers season ended in heartbreak last season as they once again fell short in the Stanley Cup Finals. They dominated the Kings in the first round while beating Vegas and Dallas in five games. Unfortunately, their dominant run would end in six games as the Florida Panthers repeated as Stanley Cup Champions. The Oilers finished the regular season with 101 points and a +23-goal differential.