NHL Playoffs Begin Today with Three Key Matchups

As the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs begin, the Vegas Golden Knights are seen as strong contenders, favored over the Minnesota Wild in their first-round series, largely due to their offensive depth and strong defensive metrics. Minnesota, despite regaining key players from injury, is expected to rely on a defensive style and keep games low-scoring. Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs face the Ottawa Senators in a rare playoff matchup, though Ottawa has dominated their recent head-to-head games and enters with a strong record against Toronto. Toronto, despite a strong playoff streak, has historically struggled in Game 1s, and Ottawa's goaltender Linus Ullmark has performed well against them this season. Across the league, teams like Carolina are statistical favorites in their matchups, while Canadian teams aim to end the country's decades-long championship drought. Sportsbooks are offering a range of promotions for bettors during the playoffs, reflecting the high interest and competitive odds across multiple matchups.