The NHL playoffs on April 26, 2026, feature critical matchups, including the Colorado Avalanche seeking a sweep against the Los Angeles Kings. The Avalanche have established a 3-0 series lead, scoring eight goals while limiting the Kings to four. Three other series stand at 2-1, with the Buffalo Sabres leading the Boston Bruins, the Montreal Canadiens ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Anaheim Ducks edging the Edmonton Oilers.
The Avalanche are +240 favorites at FanDuel to win the Stanley Cup. They are followed by the Carolina Hurricanes at +300, the Tampa Bay Lightning at +900, and the Buffalo Sabres at +1100. Despite winning the Cup in 2022, Colorado has struggled to advance past the first round in two of the last three seasons.
The SportsLine Projection Model, which runs simulations of every NHL game 10,000 times, has provided insights for the day’s betting options. This season, the model has a profitable track record, achieving a +550 return on top-rated money line picks. Bettors can explore various options, including spread betting and player prop betting, while considering parlay betting for multiple outcomes.
For the April 26 matchups, the model recommends several bets. It suggests the Sabres +1.5 against the Bruins and the Avalanche money line against the Kings. The Canadiens are advised at +1.5 versus the Lightning, while the Ducks are favored on the money line against the Oilers. The Sabres, riding a 6-1-1 record in their last eight games, are considered underdogs, winning in 49% of simulations.
In terms of goaltending, the Sabres have benefited from Alex Lyon’s strong performance, who saved 24 of 25 shots after replacing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in Game 3. Meanwhile, Boston’s Jeremy Swayman has also shown solid play in net. The model leans slightly towards the Under on the 7.5 goal total due to these performances.
As bettors prepare for the day’s NHL action, they can utilize the latest DraftKings promo code for bonus bets before placing wagers.
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