Odds to Make 2019 NHL Playoffs: Columbus & Colorado Favored to Get In

• The Avalanche have climbed into a playoff spot despite losing Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog to injury
• A lengthy losing slide has stripped the Arizona Coyotes of control of their playoff destiny
• The Blue Jackets trail the Montreal Canadiens, who could benefit from season-ending matchups with playoff-bound opponents

As the NHL enters the final two weeks of its regular-season schedule, the race for a coveted wild card spot is heating up in both the Eastern Conference and Western Conference.

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche have struggled to stay in the playoff picture, but both clubs open the week pegged as narrow favorites to eventually earn a berth in this year’s NHL playoffs, sporting identical -135 odds.

Can the Blue Jackets and Avalanche do what’s required to punch their tickets to the NHL postseason? Here’s a look at how they stack up against the competition on the ice, and at the sportsbook.

NHL Western Conference – Odds to Make the Playoffs

All odds taken 03/25/19

On Sunday, the Avalanche missed a golden opportunity to solidify their position as the second wild card in the Western Conference by blowing an early lead on their way to a 2-1 overtime loss in Chicago. By picking up a single point in Chicago, the Avalanche moves two points up on both the Minnesota Wild and Arizona Coyotes in the wild card race, and remain in control of their own playoff destiny.

However, a return to the postseason is far from assured for the upstart Avalanche. The biggest concern facing hockey fans in Colorado is the health of Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog.

Here's the hit on #GoAvsGo Mikko Rantanen that caused him to leave the game. Clearly an upper-body injury of some sort after L'Esperance delivers a hard check into the Dallas bench #COLvsDAL pic.twitter.com/MluJCs5suj

— Nathan Kanter (@NathanKanter11) March 22, 2019

Rantanen missed both halves of this past weekend’s home-and-home series against Chicago with an undisclosed injury. The 22-year-old sniper has seen his point production drop off dramatically of late, recording just 13 points in his past 24 appearances after leading the NHL in points early in the season. Landeskog, meanwhile, has missed the past eight games with an upper body injury.

Grubauer Making the Difference in Colorado

Fortunately, the club has received outstanding goaltending from netminder Philipp Grubauer, who has stopped 171 of 177 shots while leading Colorado on a 4-0-1 run in its past five outings, including victories over playoff rivals Minnesota and Dallas. But can Grubauer maintain the hot hand in the club’s next outing against the Vegas Golden Knights?

Avalanche’s Philipp Grubauer named NHL’s third star of the week #Avs https://t.co/ZvMfLmL1bj

— Denver Post – Avs (@avsnews) March 25, 2019

The defending Western Conference champs have caught fire down the stretch, scoring 4.08 goals per game during an impressive 10-1-1 run. However, the Avalanche have surrendered just one total goal while claiming victory in two all-time home meetings with Vegas, and a victory over the Golden Knights would give the club a huge lift going into a must-win home date with the Coyotes on Friday night.

Losing Streak Pushing Coyotes to the Brink

Losers of five straight, time is running out on Arizona’s playoff hopes. Currently two points back of the Avalanche for the second wild card, the Coyotes’ playoff hopes likely hinge on this weekend’s upcoming matchups with the Avs and Wild.

With only seven games left this season, the @ArizonaCoyotes cannot afford any more slip-ups in their hunt for the playoffs #Yotes #OurPack https://t.co/Q1KckyXnbD

— Howlin' Hockey (@HowlinHockey) March 24, 2019

But even with wins over Colorado and Minnesota, the Coyotes must still find a way to reverse lengthy stretches of futility against their final two opponents of the regular season, Winnipeg and Vegas, if they are to have any chance of ending a seven-year playoff drought.

After posting wins in just three of 11 games, Minnesota is pegged as an optimistic +300 longshot to make the playoffs.

The Wild likely face the toughest road of any Western Conference team with realistic playoff hopes. After posting wins in just three of 11 games, Minnesota is pegged as an optimistic +300 longshot to make the playoffs ahead of a stretch-run featuring dates with Nashville, Vegas, Winnipeg, and Boston.

NHL Eastern Conference – Odds to Make the Playoffs

Over in the Eastern Conference, the Blue Jackets cling to -135 odds of snagging a playoff spot despite entering the week lagging two points back of the Montreal Canadiens, with one game in hand.

Trade Deadline Gamble Yet to Pay Off for Columbus

Columbus has yet to reap the benefits of its all-in strategy ahead of the trade deadline, when they beefed up their lineup with the additions of Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel, Adam McQuaid, and Keith Kinkaid.

Despite some big trade deadline moves, the Blue Jackets are currently on the outside of the NHL playoff picture. @SportsnetSpec breaks it down.https://t.co/eALVXlr07e

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 22, 2019

The Blue Jackets have won just six of 14 since the deadline passed on February 25, and must find a way to string wins together before hitting the road for four of their final five contests. The trip includes stops in Nashville, where they have lost four straight, and Buffalo, where they have lost three of five.

The Blue Jackets have won just six of 14 since the deadline passed on February 25.

However, the Blue Jackets’ upcoming road trip may well be meaningless unless they can find a way to get past the Montreal Canadiens, who visit Nationwide Arena on Thursday night.

Canadiens Could Benefit from Stretch-Run Matchups with Playoff-Bound Opponents

The Canadiens are currently pegged as -135 favorites to miss the NHL playoffs for the third time in four years despite remaining in control of their own playoff destiny, and helping their own cause by earning seven of eight points over their past four outings.

Habs' showdown in Columbus shaping up as pivotal game in playoff race https://t.co/Kxt9eiJdtq pic.twitter.com/Kj0C0geHCM

— Hockey Inside/Out (@HabsIO) March 25, 2019

The Canadiens’ stretch-run schedule looks daunting on paper, with matchups scheduled against the Jets, Lightning, Capitals, and Maple Leafs.

However, with the Lightning and Maple Leafs already locked into playoff spots, and the Jets looking poised to clinch top spot in the Central Division, la Sainte-Flanelle could benefit if those clubs elect to rest stars in the final week of the season. That prospect leaves the Canadiens looking like an attractive -105 bet to eventually lock up a berth in the postseason.