As we hit the Olympic break for Milano-Cortina 2026, the NHL playoff picture is no longer a blurred mess—it’s a battlefield. While the Tampa Bay Lightnings of the world are already scouting hotels for late May, the “bubble” is where the real money is made. BetOnline has released their updated “To Make the Playoffs” odds, and if you aren’t paying attention to the momentum shifts from this past week, you’re betting blind.
From the surprising resilience in Salt Lake City to a historic collapse in Boston, here is where the value lies before the league goes dark for the Winter Games.
The Utah Mammoth: Salt Lake’s Best Kept Secret
If you still think the Utah Mammoth (-450) are just an expansion novelty, check the standings. They enter the break on a tear, sitting at 30-23-4 after a dominant 4-1 win over Detroit this week. Karel Vejmelka has been a brick wall, and the “inaugural season” energy at the Delta Center is real. At -450, the books are practically shouting that this is a lock. They occupy the first Wild Card spot in the West, and with a nine-game points streak recently under their belt, they aren’t going anywhere.
The Boston “Fading” Bruins
The most shocking line on the board? Boston to MISS the playoffs at -150. After that epic 6-5 shootout loss to Tampa Bay in the Stadium Series last Sunday—where they blew a four-goal lead—the vibes in Beantown have turned toxic. They are currently clinging to the second Wild Card spot in the East with 69 points, but they are on a two-game skid and have been overtaken by the Sabres and Canadiens in the Atlantic. The oddsmakers are finally admitting what the locals fear: the depth isn’t there, and the goaltending is starting to crack under the workload.
The Resurrection in Pittsburgh
Don’t let the recent OT loss to the Islanders fool you; the Pittsburgh Penguins at -230 to make it is a gift. Before this week’s hiccups, Sidney Crosby led the Pens to a six-game winning streak that catapulted them into second place in the Metropolitan Division. They have 68 points and a defense that ranks 7th in the league for Goals Against. When the veteran core gets a sniff of the postseason, they usually close the deal. Fading the Pens in February is historically a losing proposition.
Expert Pick: The Buffalo Value Play
If you’re looking for the best ROI on the board, look at the Buffalo Sabres. Currently, they are -500 to make it, which tells you the “smart money” has already arrived. They have 70 points, a massive +22 goal differential, and Alex Lyon has been playing like a Vezina candidate. They are younger, faster, and more hungover for success than the aging Bruins team they are currently leapfrogging.
The Pick: Buffalo Sabres – YES (-500)
