Prediction markets · 2026-27

Market vs model

Where the venues and our season model disagree: the Stanley Cup, the playoffs, the divisions and the rest, team by team, with the model explained underneath.

Market vs model · every market

The widest gap: Pittsburgh, make the playoffs

Market price minus our model's chance, biggest gaps first. Right of centre the market is more optimistic than the model, left of centre less. A gap is a disagreement, not a tip.

Snapshot 7 Oct, 10:12 AM ET. Market = venue-average implied chance (midpoint). "Best" is the cheapest price to buy Yes after venue fees. Prices are snapshots taken every 15 minutes (season futures hourly), not live. Prediction markets carry risk of loss and are not available in every jurisdiction. 18+/21+ where applicable. How markets work · Affiliate disclosure


Our model · projected standings

How the season finishes, played out 4,000 times

Points so far plus the rest of the schedule. Range is the middle 80% of simulated seasons; the line under eighth is where the playoff places usually end (division places can move a team either side of it).

Eastern Conference

#TeamStrengthPointsRangePlayoffsDivisionCup
1Carolina55.5%10493–11489%47%14%
2Tampa Bay54.2%10291–11282%32%9.8%
3Ottawa53.2%10089–11176%25%6.5%
4Pittsburgh52.1%9887–10868%17%4.2%
5Buffalo51.7%9786–10863%15%3.7%
6Florida50.6%9686–10760%13%2.5%
7NY Rangers49.5%9584–10555%10%1.8%
8Washington49.7%9382–10446%7.7%1.6%
9Columbus49.7%9382–10342%6.6%1.7%
10New Jersey50.1%9282–10342%6.6%1.8%
11Detroit50.0%9281–10340%5.3%1.7%
12Montréal49.3%9281–10338%5.1%1.3%
13Boston48.4%9080–10130%3.3%0.7%
14NY Islanders48.6%9079–10030%3.4%1.0%
15Toronto47.1%8877–9821%1.4%0.4%
16Philadelphia47.4%8776–9719%1.8%0.4%

Western Conference

#TeamStrengthPointsRangePlayoffsDivisionCup
1Colorado55.8%10695–11794%48%14%
2Vegas53.9%10292–11388%43%8.3%
3Utah52.7%10090–11181%18%5.2%
4Edmonton52.5%10089–11082%29%5.6%
5Minnesota51.8%9988–11074%15%3.7%
6Dallas52.3%9786–10865%9.7%3.3%
7Anaheim49.8%9685–10663%14%1.9%
8Winnipeg48.8%9382–10451%4.6%1.0%
9Los Angeles50.1%9281–10348%6.7%1.5%
10St. Louis48.4%9079–10131%2.3%0.6%
11Nashville47.9%8979–10031%1.8%0.7%
12San Jose46.6%8878–9929%3.2%0.4%
13Seattle47.2%8878–9929%3.1%0.3%
14Vancouver44.9%8473–9514%0.7%0.2%
15Calgary45.8%8372–9412%0.9%0.1%
16Chicago44.3%8171–927.9%0.3%0.0%

How the model works

Shot quality in, a season out

Model: 4,000 simulated seasons from each team's shot quality, run after the latest final (7 Oct, 4:07 am ET).

01

Team strength

Each team's share of shot quality: 75% expected-goals share and 25% actual goal share. Last season counts as a 25-game head start, pulled a quarter of the way back to average; this season's games add on top, so the current season takes over as it grows.

02

One game

The chance a team wins a game comes from the gap in strength plus home ice (about 54.5% for evenly matched teams). About 23% of games go past regulation, the loser takes a point, and overtime is closer to a coin flip.

03

The season

Every remaining game is played 4,000 times. Standings use points, then regulation wins; the playoffs use the league format, with best-of-seven series decided by the same strengths.

04

What it cannot see

Injuries, trades, a goalie change, who is in tonight's lineup or how a schedule is weighted by travel. The market can, which is why a gap is worth reading but is never a recommendation.

Methodology → · Team expected goals →


Responsible play. 18+/21+ depending on your state or province and platform. Trading event contracts involves risk of loss and is not appropriate for everyone. Pucks & Stats compares prices and earns affiliate commissions from the venues listed; it is not a broker or exchange. Market prices are not available in every location. Problem gambling? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER. Affiliate disclosure · Responsible gaming