NHL Teams Could Rest Stars Heading Into Stanley Cup Playoffs

The NHL regular season is down to two days and a straggler on Sunday (Winnipeg-Seattle). Now, every Stanley Cup Playoff spot is clinched.

With the playoff dance cards decided, the beginning of “load management” is a factor in the remaining games, as teams decide whether to rest certain players.

All any playoff team needed to see was the injury to Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros in deciding whether to put full rosters on the ice during the next couple of days.

On Wednesday, the New York Rangers put something resembling a pre-season lineup on the ice against the Montreal Canadiens. The result was that the Habs’ Jeff Petry enjoyed a magical night and a Montreal win, by 4-3.

Arizona howled back from a three-goal deficit to beat the Dallas Stars in overtime. Dallas made the NHL betting playoffs with the point.

Montreal wins the race to finish worst in the NHL. Montreal now has the best odds to garner the first overall pick. They have not done so since 1980, when the Canadiens selected Doug Wickenheiser. The draft lottery takes place on May 10.

Canadian Teams Take The Ice Tonight

Four Canadian teams are in action tonight. The issue now becomes which teams rest which players.

Teams like Calgary and Edmonton want to play their talent but do not want more injuries.

Even Vancouver may join in on some of this “load management.” Does Thatcher Demko see much action along with some of the regulars who are banged up? Will Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller, or Bo Horvat get a rest as well?

By the time this information becomes public, it will be too late to change betting trends.

Live Betting An Attractive Option

The best approach to tonight’s NHL slate might be just to wait until the games start. Live betting is an even more attractive idea tonight.

When there are that many question marks with lineups, sometimes the best offensive betting strategy is a good defense.

For example, Montreal was still plus-money on the moneyline throughout most of the first period last night against the Rangers. These are the type of things to look for tonight.

Hang in there, Ontario sports betting bettors. The NHL playoffs start Monday.