A week from today marks the start of the NHL playoffs, and there are plenty of dominoes yet to fall as the postseason bracket takes form.
Playoff seed positioning is tightening by the hour, as almost every team in the mix has specific clinch scenarios that rely on the results of other teams’ games as well as their own.
But on Saturday, the Vegas Golden Knights are in control of their own destiny, as a win over the Colorado Avalanche clinches a postseason berth.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild are set for a first round battle as the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in the Western Conference, but who hosts that series may be determined today if the Stars can take care of the New York Rangers.
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First Pick: Vegas Golden Knights ML (+117) over Colorado Avalanche
Rundown: While the Golden Knights head into one of the most important games of their season on Saturday, the Avalanche are cruising into the postseason.
With the Presidents’ Trophy already in tow, Colorado does not have much to play over the final stretch of the season.
The overwhelming betting favorites to come out of the Western Conference, the Avalanche have not hit quite the same gear in 2026 as they did in the first chunk of the season as they rank 12th in the league in points percentage since the start of the new year.
Additionally, Colorado will be without Nazem Kadri and Cale Makar against a mostly healthy Vegas team.
Expect the Golden Knights to clinch their postseason spot with an upset here.
Second Pick: Dallas Stars -1.5 over New York Rangers
JON BRYAN - The Sporting Tribune
The Los Angeles Kings left wing Andre Lee (47) skates with the puck against the Dallas Stars at the Crypto Arena on January 12th, 2026 in Los Angeles California.
Rundown: On a day where almost every team has matchups with playoff implications, the Rangers are one of just four teams already eliminated from postseason contention, making more a favorable matchup for a Stars team desperate to create some distance between them and the Wild.
The Stars are not exactly peaking down the stretch, going 4-5-1 in their last 10, but head into Saturday on a two-game win streak, with Wyatt Johnston racking up three goals in those victories.
Johnston has been a major source of offense for the Stars, scoring 15 goals in 22 games since the Olympic break.
Expect a big day for Johnston and company, as Dallas decidedly takes care of a floundering New York squad with home-ice advantage in round one of the playoffs on the line.