NHL 2024-25 Strength of Schedule

Welcome to Canada Sports Betting‘s NHL Strength of Schedule. Starting on October 4th and finishing up on April 17th, the 2024-25 NHL regular season will be a grind for hockey bettors. Teams will play a total of 1,312 games, and if a bettor is going to have success, and ultimately win some money, they must stay on top of the schedule. That’s where Strength of Schedule (SOS) comes in.

We calculate our NHL strength of schedule by averaging bet365’s regular season point totals of each team’s opponents. Plus, our metrics encapsulate factors like game location and travel versus rest days providing you with a better idea of how teams will perform during their upcoming games and even the Stanley Cup Finals! Use this page hand in hand with our 2024-25 NHL Projections and Stanley Cup Playoff Chances page to inform your futures betting and much more.

2024-25 NHL Strength of Schedule

This page was last updated on Wednesday, January 30 at 9:30 A.M. MT.

Teams	Strength of Schedule	Games Remaining
Chicago Blackhawks	93.0	32
Detroit Red Wings	92.8	32
Vancouver Canucks	92.1	33
Montreal Canadiens	92.0	32
Anaheim Ducks	91.8	32
St. Louis Blues	91.8	31
Boston Bruins	91.7	30
Seattle Kraken	91.3	30
Calgary Flames	91.2	33
New York Islanders	91.2	33
Los Angeles Kings	91.2	35
Winnipeg Jets	91.1	30
New York Rangers	91.1	32
San Jose Sharks	91.1	29
Buffalo Sabres	91.0	32
Columbus Blue Jackets	91.0	32
Colorado Avalanche	90.5	30
Dallas Stars	90.3	32
Minnesota Wild	90.1	32
Philadelphia Flyers	90.1	31
New Jersey Devils	89.5	30
Edmonton Oilers	89.5	32
Pittsburgh Penguins	89.5	30
Toronto Maple Leafs	89.3	32
Utah Hockey Club	88.7	33
Vegas Golden Knights	88.6	31
Carolina Hurricanes	88.1	31
Ottawa Senators	87.8	32
Nashville Predators	87.6	34
Tampa Bay Lightning	87.5	33
Florida Panthers	87.2	31
Washington Capitals	87.2	32

How To Use Strength of Schedule

Have you heard a sports bettor toss around the phrase “buy low, sell high”? Well, knowing each team’s strength of schedule will inform you of when it’s time to do just that, but it can also tell you when to dig in. This can be especially helpful in futures betting and bettors can use SOS to pick out the risers and fallers ahead of time.

How to Read NHL Strength of Schedule

The three columns we use above are fairly self-explanatory, but let’s dive into what these numbers actually mean. A lower number, or “ranking,” indicates a more difficult schedule with strong opponents, whereas teams with higher rankings have easier schedules and a greater chance of winning.

So, starting from the top of our table, teams like the Red Wings, Canucks, and Ducks have an easier season compared to the Penguins, Maple Leafs, and Panthers. Comprende?

What Affects NHL Strength of Schedule?

Of course, a face-off against a formidable, fearsome foe—or “high-ranking opponent” for our anti-alliteration audience—will result in a lower SOS ranking. However, many factors can affect a team’s NHL schedule strength:

• Rest between games – Being well-rested has a major impact on teams’ overall success. Some teams have to play back-to-back events throughout the week and struggle to rest on the road. Additionally, certain players will ride the bench more than others—fantasy owners, especially, should consider the amount of rest between games for starting vs backup goalies.
• Travel – The strain of travelling, sleeping in a different bed every night or on a cramped airplane, and entering different time zones can all negatively impact players’ performances. Some teams can power through a bit of jetlag—but typically, a big travel week affects how well teams play.
• Game location – Besides the impact of travelling to play tenacious opponents, the actual game location is significant. Although a home versus away game might seem trivial, game location is a major factor as home teams have the advantage of familiar conditions and a crowd of loyal fans cheering them on! Plus, superstitions and traditions may also affect players on game day.
• Strength of opponents – Looking at who made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs last year is not enough to accurately determine the strength of opponents. There are several considerations, including teams’ win-loss records, goal differentials, and advanced stats like expected goals.

Certain sites will use different metrics and sportsbooks to create their strength of schedules, which is why it’s crucial to double-check how your chosen site determined their rankings. Rest assured, our strength of schedule is a comprehensive resource using the world’s leading sportsbook: bet365!

Futures Betting

For futures like division winners or Stanley Cup champs, the NHL schedule strength is an indispensable resource. Later in the season, teams with an easier NHL strength of schedule remaining boast better odds of securing higher playoff seeds. Weighing competing teams’ respective NHL SOS rankings for upcoming games is a helpful way to predict who will win.

Of course, there’s much more to placing a smart bet, and keeping up with the latest NHL odds is a great way to stay ahead of the competition. And if you’re a novice hockey bettor looking to make your debut, check out our page on the best NHL betting sites to hit the ground running.

Fantasy Hockey

There are countless variables to consider when drafting fantasy teams, so having a concise resource like schedule strength is a perfect starting point. By analyzing the strength of schedule, NHL fantasy owners can:

• Target players with easier schedules during league playoffs
• Avoid players more likely to fall into a slump due to grueling travel or back-to-back games
• Pick fan favourites and rising stars with favourable matchups

Although the NHL remaining strength of schedule is an invaluable tool for fantasy and sports bettors, it’s not the end all be all! Some teams with challenging schedules might face all the odds and come out on top, so you should only wager what you’re willing to lose. But if you’ve ever heard the phrase “buy low, sell high,” our NHL strength of schedule is the perfect tool to scratch that itch!

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NHL Strength of Schedule FAQs