NHL Best Bets & Predictions: How to Bet Hockey’s Regular Season Finale

Welcome to the final night of the 2023-24 NHL regular season. All playoff spots are locked up; it is just a matter of finalizing postseason seeding. There are 10 games on the schedule tonight, which should make for one final great day on the ice. If you need help finding a winner from this slate, we have got you covered with our three NHL best bets.

The only thing undetermined heading into the playoffs is who will play whom in the Western Conference. The Vegas Golden Knights could fall into a Wild Card spot with a Los Angeles Kings victory over the Blackhawks tonight.

Anyway, let’s focus on what should be a great end to the regular season. Here, we will break down our three favorite NHL best bets and predictions.

Read More: NHL Odds | Stanley Cup Odds

NHL Best Bets & Predictions – April 18

Blackhawks vs. Kings: Los Angeles ()

The Los Angeles Kings are back in the postseason and will be looking to advance out of the first round for the first time since 2014 when they won the Stanley Cup. A win tonight will give the Kings the third spot in the Pacific Divison and a matchup with the Edmonton Oilers. 

On the other side, Chicago is one of the worst teams in hockey, but this was a very promising year for rookie Connor Bedard and the future of this team. Some roster spots and future lines still need sorting out, and that process can begin tonight with nothing to play for. 

Expect the Blackhawks to experiment with their lines tonight to get a fresh look at roster strategy heading into the offseason. Chicago already had the worst defense in five-on-five play and ranked 26th in power-play kill rate. 

This game comes down to two simple facts: Chicago has nothing to play for (and stinks), and the Kings are playing for an improved playoff seeding. Take the Kings on the puck line in this regular-season finale. 

Sharks vs. Flames: Over () Goals

Neither team will make a run to the Stanley Cup this season, but there is still one more game to be played.

San Jose is the worst hockey team this season. They rank last in points (47), score just 2.2 goals per game, and are dead last in goals allowed per game (3.9). Meanwhile, Calgary is a middle-of-the-pack team that ranks slightly below league average on both ends of the ice. 

Scoring has been an issue for both teams this season. However, the play between the pipes has been much worse, as Jacob Markstrom for the Flames is having a nightmare season. The Sharks will be between Devin Cooley, who is allowing over four goals per game, and Georgi Romanov, who performed well in relief on Monday. 

Either way, we expect this final game to have plenty of action, which should be enough to push this game over the total. 

Canucks vs. Jets: Under () Goals 

This game features two teams that are locked into their playoff spots. Because of this, neither side has much to play for. However, the Jets should give a little effort, especially on defense. Winnipeg goaltenders Laurent Brossoit and Connor Hellebuyck could secure the William M. Jennings Trophy for the fewest goals allowed in the NHL. 

For this to happen, they can only allow one score against Vancouver. Luckily, the Canucks rank 26th in shots per game, and again, they are not playing for much. It also helps that Vancouver’s goalie, Thatcher Demko, ranks in the top three in SV% (.918) and goals saved above average. 

Look for both teams to slow the pace and try to come out of this game healthy. That should give us enough dead time for this game to be under the total. 

NHL Betting Promos

The NHL regular season ends tonight. However, there are still plenty of NHL betting bonuses to take advantage of. Our top-ranked sports betting apps will offer the best odds and lines for tonight’s NHL slate. 

Users can also claim the best welcome offers and in-app bonuses. These include profit boosts, insurance tokens, and bet-and-get offers. If you live in a legal sports betting state, check out our list of the top NHL online sportsbooks below.