I asked some of hockey Twitter’s best NHL cappers to share how games adjust in the playoffs and/or how they adjust their betting strategy. Here’s what they said.

@PropDr_ 

1. Don’t believe the narrative that the whistle disappears in the playoffs. This tweet from @JFreshHockey before the NHL Playoffs last season shows that the amount of non-offsetting minor penalties goes up in the playoffs rather than the stereotyped – the refs put the whistle away once the playoffs start.

2. Not overexposing your self. Finding an edge is hard enough on a nightly basis, let alone in the playoffs when the sportsbooks have a full season of data on each team and only having to worry about half of the teams, rather than all 32. This also goes for bettors having less games to bet on. Playoff markets are extremely efficient and it will be rare to find a massive edge. Don’t blow up your bankroll being overly aggressive in games that will have the inherently random results that playoff hockey creates.

3. Don’t deviate from your gambling style. We all have different strategies, there is no “one size fits all” to be a successful gambler. We’ve spent an entire season refining our approaches, there is no sense in deviating and trying new things in the sharpest markets of the season. Be selective and stick to the markets where you feel comfortable identifying an edge.

You can find more from @PropDr_ in the BettorProcess discord.

@GatorBetting 

My approach to NHL betting shifts quite a bit once the playoffs roll around. The pace picks up, the intensity ramps way up, and the physicality goes through the roof. But the one thing that usually trends down is scoring. Teams tighten up defensively, play with more structure, and avoid taking unnecessary risks — all of which leads to lower-event hockey. That’s why I often start leaning toward unders, especially in early games of a series or when there’s an elimination on the line. The margins are slimmer, and every mistake is magnified, so the style of play naturally becomes more conservative.

When it comes to strategy, matchups become way more important. Coaches aren’t afraid to shorten their bench or ride their stars, and line matching becomes a huge part of the chess match — especially with home-ice last change. I find value in looking at those Game 3 spots where a team returns home after dropping a couple or splitting the first two on the road — you often get a desperate, dialed-in effort there.

Goaltending and special teams become even more influential once the playoffs start. Power plays are tougher to come by, so teams that lean heavily on them for offense — like the Rangers have in recent years — can find themselves at a disadvantage. On the flip side, a goalie catching fire can completely change the trajectory of a series. If a netminder gets in a groove, I’ll usually look to back that momentum while it’s hot — it’s one of the few things that can single-handedly swing a series and create value in the betting market.

When it comes to bankroll management during the playoffs, I tighten things up. The markets are sharper, there’s way more public money involved, and the edges aren’t as easy to spot. I have become a lot more selective with my bets — the value’s still there, but you really have to dig for it, and oftentimes, you need to have your player prop targets lined up and ready the moment the lines drop.

Watching games takes on even more importance in the playoffs. Just like in the regular season, staying locked in gives you an edge — whether it’s picking up on a nagging injury, a shift in ice time, or a player stepping into a new role. Matchups become critical when betting player props, and home ice plays a huge role. With last change, coaches can create favorable matchups for their stars, making it easier to trust top-line players and volume shooters. On the road, though, it’s a different story — those same guys might get hard-matched against shutdown lines, which can limit their production.

You can find more from @GatorBetting on the Expected Bets For podcast.

@FrancoTheBanker

The pivot away from player props is even more important in playoffs. It’s hard to know which line will be the one that is able to be effective in any given series. Live betting a player to score is a much better way to go if he is passing the eye test. Scoring in general tends to go down, especially after round 1 which makes point props and goal scorer props even harder to predict.

In general I am looking at money lines and totals (mainly shifting to unders later). The zig zag theory is good to keep in mind and other situations when a team has their back against the wall. Additionally draw bets are another way to find value because teams will play tight especially late in games.

If I am going to target any player props it will likely be blocked shots for defensive defensemen or goalie save props (especially with the potential for OT to get us additionally opportunities).

You can find more from @FrancoTheBanker on the Expected Bets For podcast.

@Doyskibets

The NHL playoffs is one of the best tournaments in all of sports. Guys leave everything they have out there and play through almost everything. In the playoffs we see guys playing as hard as they can blocking shots, winning battles, and playing true position. There is much less time in space leading to less high danger chances and overall offense. We also see as the refs tend to put the whistles away and let them play. With the current format, we see many teams develop major rivalries playing year after what such as FLA VS TBL or LAK vs EDM

From a betting stand point it is much harder. With guys constantly doing everything to block shots and less PP opportunities, we see far less shots on goal and overall scoring. On DFS sites such as prizepicks, props such as hits and blocked shots are very interesting markets to target. Unders are a very interesting target as well, particularly late in series. For series reaching game 7, a large majority of these games soar under with everyone doing everything they can to win. Another interesting spot to target is teams in must win spots, who will try their best to produce offense and in some cases pull the goalie early if needed.

Overall in the playoffs I feel as though you need to adjust your bankroll and lower unit sizes with the change in play. The first round we tend to see a bit more offense, especially early in series, but as they go on the players become more and more worn down. With most teams having elite top 6s, many of the top tier guys have inflated lines and tend to miss frequently. Bottom 6 guys commonly become the heros and have interesting value. Overall the NHL playoffs is an amazing experience that navigated well can be very profitable!

@AdamsDigest

My approach to playoff hockey is to lean UNDER on shots from anybody not on a top Powerplay unit. There a few exceptions to this rule. Jordan Staal is a perfect example off this. He plays technically the 3rd line but especially at home he’s playing against top comp so his minutes sky rocket each game.
Top line guys play more minute come playoff time and shots are very hard to come by with how heavy the hitting gets.

I also lean OVER on blocked shots, especially players like Chris Tanev. Elsa Lindell, etc. Guys playing 23 minutes a night and on top Penalty kills.

You can find more from @AdamsDigest on OddsShopper.

@gretzkybetzkys

I typically don’t look at blocked shots or hits props until the playoffs. In the regular season game scripts can be a bit more unpredictable, especially towards these defensive props. Once playoffs hit, if a team is down in the series and facing elimination, you better believe you will be seeing blocked shots. Early in series you can find value on hits, as larger teams may try to intimidate their opponents and bring the body.

Since game scripts become more consistent, so do goalie saves props. If a team who was middle of the back in shots against is up against a top team in shots for, then I will look to lean into the team’s goalie who gave up more shots. I know they will be facing the same team several times too so I can judge the prop a bit better by how the games play out, especially if the team who allows more shots takes an early series lead.

Shots on goals is a prop I become a bit more selective with. Since players wont be chasing milestones or facing their favorite bad team in the league I try to pivot towards players who are leading their team in shot attempt volume and play big roles for their team. I want the player I am taking for shots to have the most opportunities, especially if my sportsbook counts shots in overtime.

Points is almost the opposite, where I will ride a player of a line who are hot. You will often see hockey lines outright dominate their opponent in a series. When this is happening don’t be afraid to bet those players’ point props every game that series. Especially because if they move on, they may get shutdown in the next series. Certain players will outright “win” their series for their team, and if we are able to stack those players points we should get a ton of value.

You can find more from @gretzkybetzkys in the Parlay Science Discord,  Betting News and Clean Hits Hockey.

@SpittinPicklets

The Stanley Cup playoffs are a different beast than your typical regular season betting for hockey. Everybody loves betting overs, and you’ll see more favourable betting lines come playoff time, but don’t get too tempted.

In the playoffs, defence is the key focus for every team. You’ll see players dive face first into a shot block to help their team win. So, if you are hungry for overs, maybe take blocked shots over for those Ryan McDonaugh / Chris Tanev defensive defenceman type.

However, in the first round, when you’re getting a matchup against a weaker opponent, you can attack those shots and point props. But as the series go on, you’ll see the goal totals and shots on goal will decrease come playoff time. So when you see a typical 3.5 shots on goal line guy down at a 2.5 and at a playable price, don’t immediately hammer that.

The way I target player props (as a main player prop bettor) is bet as you would for the first round. But as the rounds go on, consider some unders. Which, I agree, is no fun. But if the slip is green, we’re all happy.

Good luck everybody during this playoffs, and make sure to check ShotPropz.com for my hand-written SOG by position charts, posted every morning!

You can find more from @SpittinPicklets at CanucksArmy.com.

@BigNumber55

Playoff hockey is a different beast. The pace is intense, the scoring usually drops, and the physicality ramps up as teams aim to wear down their opponents—especially the stars. Penalties are less frequent, as referees often let players decide the outcome unless a call is absolutely necessary. This style of play brings out the heart and grit in players, where fancy stats take a backseat and true hockey IQ becomes a deciding factor. It’s about who can win battles, withstand pressure, and adjust in the moment. Every shift matters, and watching how each team responds under playoff conditions reveals a lot more than numbers can.

Another major factor is coaching and line matchups. The playoffs often turn into a chess match, with coaches constantly tweaking lines and chasing favorable matchups. Stars like Kucherov or Ovechkin might find themselves shadowed by third-line grinders playing double their usual minutes. This leads to unexpected heroes stepping up—players who usually fly under the radar becoming difference-makers. Watching the games closely helps uncover these shifts, and noticing subtle changes in deployment or body language can offer early clues on where a series might be headed.

Find more from @BigNumber55 on X.

@TopCheddarPicks

When it comes to betting in the playoffs, I don’t really change my unit size—if anything, I might increase it depending on trends within the series or the importance of the game. There’s just so much to read into once teams get deeper into the playoffs.

While star players are obviously critical in the big moments, there’s a lot of hidden value in depth guys. Playoffs have a way of turning lesser-known players into heroes—guys stepping up with clutch goals or key plays that can swing a game or a series.

Matchup-wise, I definitely start to zone in more. The style of betting shifts a bit—there tends to be fewer goals and points overall, so I start leaning into props like shots on goal, blocked shots, and hits. Playoff hockey is just a different beast. It’s tighter, more physical, and every play matters more.

And when teams face off for four or more games in a row, it actually builds confidence in certain bets. You start to see patterns in how the teams are attacking each other, where the weaknesses are, and which matchups are being exploited. That kind of consistency can be really valuable.

You can find more from @TopCheddarPicks in The Lab discord.

A HUGE thank you to all the contributors to this article. Best of luck in the playoffs everyone!