NHL Bets to look at following recent news like Hurricanes and Habs getting top prospects, Avalanche to get back Gabe Landeskog

The NHL season is almost over with few games mattering as the playoff picture takes shape and makes great values, harder to find than ever. As we anxiously await the start of the postseason, there is some news around the league that we can look to and find a potential play within the story.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

Top Prospect Alexander Nikishin joins the Carolina Hurricanes

The Canes have hit a rough patch recently with four straight losses but fans shouldn't worry as they've called for backup. Carolina will get their 2020 third-round pick into the lineup for the first time and the 23-year-old defenceman should make an impact. Over the last three seasons in the KHL, Nikishin has flourished into a must-see talent with impressive offence from the backend that totalled 45 goals and 112 assists for 157 through 193 games.

The 6-foot-4 blueliner has also proven to be a difference-maker when it counts, playing with physicality that should translate to the Stanley Cup playoffs, while also adding subtle offence with 12 points over his last 25 KHL playoff games.

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Carolina has the second-highest odds to win the East at +330 and once Nikishin makes his impact felt, I predict they will be rolling through their final four games and will drop their odds closer to the top ranked Panthers, who sit with +310 odds.

The Hurricanes bring a wealth of playoff experience, having won a playoff series in each of the past six seasons and securing multiple series victories in two of those years.

Carolina to beat the injury-plagued Devils at -250 is a free win but we would also suggest an early shot at an Eastern Conference championship as the Capitals may be out of gas after helping captain Alex Ovechkin break the all-time goal record plus the Atlantic teams like the Panthers, Bolts and Maple Leafs may feed on each other before making the Conference Finals. Don't wait on the Canes as Nikishin will make sure they look like nothing but Stanley Cup favourites.

Habs Get Russian Superstar Ivan Demidov Early, Expected to Maker Debut Monday Versus Chicago

The Habs have been blazing hot with a 14-5-5 record since the Four Nations break. They've managed to leapfrog several contenders and put themselves in the last Eastern Wild Card spot. Montreal is set up for a first round matchup versus the top seed in the East with the Washington Capitals.

Canadiens top prospect Ivan Demidov terminated his KHL deal & signed with Montreal 👀 (via KHL_eng/X)Canadiens top prospect Ivan Demidov terminated his KHL deal & signed with Montreal 👀 (via KHL_eng/X)✔️ Subscribe to ESPN+ https://plus.espn.com/✔️ Get the E...

This could set up for a massive series back in Russia as Ovechkin will line up against the next big Russian star in Montreal's Ivan Demidov, who is joining the team to finish off the season. The 19-year-old winger was the Habs' first round pick this past year, where he was selected fifth overall. He went back to play in Russia's KHL for SKA St. Petersburg, where he recorded almost 50 points in 65 games.

Some experts are calling him the best prospect out of Russia since Ovechkin himself and would make the first round series between Montreal and Washington must-see tv. Demidov's role hasn't been lined out just yet but if he makes his debut Monday, he should be able to take advantage and get on the scoresheet at least once against a Blackhawks defence, that has the second-worst goals against average at 3.57 this season.

Whatever the odds are for a Demidov point, I would suggest taking it as he should have an explosive NHL debut.

Avalanche Captain Gabriel Landeskog On Verge of NHL Return after Long Battle with Injuries

The Aves haven't had their captain in the lineup since winning the Stanley Cup in 2022 and since they've struggled without his leadership with one playoff series win over the last two seasons.

Landeskog, 32, has finally returned to the ice this past week after being sidelined for nearly three years with a severe knee injury that require multiple surgeries to repair it.

Some thought he may never play again but he prevailed despite all odds and is now at the AHL with the Colorado Eagles on a conditioning assignment to get the longtime Avalanche captain back up to speed. Colorado is slated for a first-round matchup with the Dallas Stars and should make for a stellar series between the third and fifth-best teams in the West.

The odds are dead even for the series with each team having -110 odds to advance to the second round but when Landeskog makes his return, it'll ignite a fire in the Avalanche locker room that many teams may not be able to handle. It may be wise to get in on them early as they have +500 odds to Western Conference and +850 odds to win the Cup.