2025-2026 NHL Betting Recap:
Another NHL season is in the books as the Carolina Hurricanes captured their first Stanley Cup in 20 years following their 3-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday, taking the series in six games. Thank you, Jordan Staal, for being named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) and cashing my 100/1 wager. The Canes 16-3 record in the Stanley Cup playoffs was second only to the 1988 Edmonton Oilers, who went 16-2 on their way to winning their fourth Cup in franchise history.
I want to thank everyone who made this column part of your daily reading during the NHL season, as well as all who reached out on Twitter (X) with your kind words of appreciation. Many thanks to those who help in getting my column on the website daily. From Bill Adee to Adam Burke to Michael Dolan and Mike Sansone, their hard work and dedication in “cleaning up” my butchering of the English language at times, and the quick turnaround to get the column on the website for all of you to read.
A couple of years ago, I was a weekly guest with Mike Palm (VP of Circa, The D and Golden Gate as well as VSIN personality) on VSIN. He would do a segment with me looking back from my prior appearance on his show called “Where Jonathan was right and Jonathan was wrong.” In that spirit, let’s look back on my predictions that I gave out in my team previews.
Colorado Avalanche – Over 103.5 points (win)
Dallas Stars – Jason Robertson Over 80.5 points (win)
Minnesota Wild – Kirill Kaprizov Under 100.5 points (win)
Utah Mammoth – Over 92.5 points (loss – finished with 92)
St. Louis Blues – Under 92.5 points (win), Jordan Kyrou Over 67.5 points (loss)
Nashville Predators – to miss the playoffs (win)
Winnipeg Jets – Under 97.5 points (win), to miss the playoffs (win)
Chicago Blackhawks – Under 67.5 points (loss)
Buffalo Sabres – Under 84.5 points (loss)
Tampa Bay Lightning – to lead the NHL in goals scored (loss)
Montreal Canadiens – No play
Boston Bruins – Under 80.5 points (loss)
Ottawa Senators – Over 95.5 points (win), Brady Tkachuk to lead the league in shots on goal (loss)
Detroit Red Wings – Over 84.5 points (win)
Florida Panthers – Under 105.5 points (win)
Toronto Maple Leafs – William Nylander Over 39.5 goals (loss)
Carolina Hurricanes – to Win the Metropolitan Division (win), to be eliminated in round two of the playoffs (loss), to be eliminated in the Eastern Conference Final (loss)
Pittsburgh Penguins – Under 78.5 points (loss)
Philadelphia Flyers – Matvei Michkov Over 67.5 points (loss), Matvei Michkov to record 1+ hat tricks (loss)
Washington Capitals – Alexander Ovechkin Over 60.5 points (win)
Columbus Blue Jackets – Over 84.5 points (win)
New York Islanders – Over 83.5 points (win)
New Jersey Devils – Under 99.5 points (win)
New York Rangers – Over 95.5 points (loss), Adam Fox to win the Norris Trophy (loss), Rangers to win the Eastern Conference (loss)
Vegas Golden Knights – Mitch Marner Over 92.5 points (loss)
Edmonton Oilers – Connor McDavid Over 35.5 goals (win)
Anaheim Ducks – Over 84.5 points (win), To make the playoffs (win)
LA Kings – Adrian Kempe Over 70.5 points (win)
San Jose Sharks – No play
Seattle Kraken – No play
Vancouver Canucks – Over 90.5 points (loss)
Calgary Flames – To Miss the Playoffs (win)
