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How'd your team do this season?

Once the Eastern Conference mercifully sorts itself out in the coming days, 16 teams will have failed to make the playoffs, and two months from now, 31 will have failed to win the Stanley Cup. However, that doesn't mean every team that doesn't do ceremonial circles around the ice with the Cup gets a thumbs-down on the season.

That's why betting is so fun. We have a market available before the season that sets a preliminary bar for what should constitute a successful campaign: regular-season point totals.

No matter what happens the rest of the way, the 2023-24 season will be remembered by Canucks backers as the easiest win imaginable on an over ticket, as Vancouver cleared 89 points weeks ago. The Jets surpassed expectations at nearly the same level.

Regular-season point totals: Over winners

Team	Regular-season point totals
Hurricanes	107.5
Stars	105.5
Rangers	102
Bruins	100
Panthers	98.5
Lightning	95.5
Jets	91.5
Canucks	89
Predators	87
Red Wings	85.5
Capitals	85
Blues	84.5
Flyers	75.5
Canadiens	72

Fourteen teams are considered winners for their bettors, and even if the Red Wings, Capitals, and Flyers don't make the playoffs, they'll be considered winners in some circles. On the flip side, if you preferred to bet against achievement, the Sharks, Blackhawks, Senators, and Flames were the four biggest disappointments of 13 teams that clinched their under totals (though most teams that didn't get to their prescribed numbers weren't even close).

Regular-season point totals: Under winners

Team	RSP Totals
Devils	107
Maple Leafs	106.5
Golden Knights	102.5
Penguins	97.5
Wild	96.5
Flames	94.5
Kraken	93
Sabres	92.5
Senators	91.5
Blue Jackets	73.5
Blackhawks	71
Ducks	67.5
Sharks	66.5

Of course, the Maple Leafs, Golden Knights, and Penguins could still win the Stanley Cup, but that won't be much consolation for those who felt they'd have better regular seasons.

Twenty-seven teams have either paid out their backers or faders, which leaves five teams hanging in the balance for the season's final week:

Regular-season point totals: Markets TBD

Team	Point Totals	Points Needed	Games Left
Avalanche	106.5	2	1
Oilers	106	5	3
Kings	100.5	4	2
Islanders	90	1	2
Coyotes	76.5	2	1

The Avalanche play their finale against the Oilers at home Thursday. That game may be meaningless for both, but not for either team's bettors, since Edmonton has to get two wins in its final three games to clear its regular-season points total, potentially without Connor McDavid.

An up-and-down season for the Kings closes with two home games against below-average teams (Wild and Blackhawks). Well rested and motivated for playoff positioning, those who need L.A. to go over 100.5 should feel good, but nothing's guaranteed.

The Islanders are no worse than a push and have two games to manage one point. Appropriately, one more point should get New York into the playoffs, as well, so the art of betting is imitating life here.

Here's a fun one: The Coyotes have one more game to get two points needed to go over their total, and it's against the Oilers in what could be their final game in Arizona before moving to Utah.

The cheat sheet

Each week, we balance market information from regular-season point totals and in-season advanced metrics - with an even-strength focus - to determine the win probability for each team and the moneyline needed to bet on either side.

You can compare those prices with our "price to bet" column to see if you're getting any value with either side's moneyline. There's a possibility that a moneyline moves into a bet-friendly range at some point between the market opening and puck drop.

DATE	GAME	WIN PROB. (%)	PRICE TO BET
Apr. 15	MTL@DET	39.2/60.8	MTL +184/DET -149
	NSH@PIT	42.7/57.3	NSH +159/PIT -129
	BOS@WSH	59.1/40.9	BOS -139/WSH +171
	NYI@NJD	47.2/52.8	NYI +131/NJD -107
	BUF@TB	43.3/56.7	BUF +154/TB -126
	OTT@NYR	41.4/58.6	OTT +167/NYR -136
	SJS@EDM	20.4/79.6	SJS +508/EDM -366
	MIN@LAK	41.8/58.2	MIN +165/LAK -134
Apr. 16	CAR@CBJ	75.9/24.1	CAR -298/CBJ +397
	DET@MTL	52.8/47.2	DET -107/MTL +131
	OTT@BOS	40.3/59.7	OTT +175/BOS -142
	WSH@PHI	43.2/56.8	WSH +155/PHI -126
	TOR@FLA	47.7/52.3	TOR +121/FLA +101
	SEA@WPG	43.6/56.4	SEA +152/WPG -124
	CHI@VGK	21.4/78.6	CHI +476/VGK -347
Apr. 17	TOR@TB	50.8/49.2	TOR +107/TB +114
	PIT@NYI	50.7/49.3	PIT +108/NYI +114
	STL@DAL	25.5/74.5	STL +365/DAL -277
	EDM@ARI	60.3/39.7	EDM -146/ARI +180
Apr. 18	SEA@MIN	42.7/57.3	SEA +159/MIN -129
	VAN@WPG	46.4/53.6	VAN +136/WPG -111
	SJS@CGY	22.7/77.3	SJS +434/CGY -322
	EDM@COL	36.3/63.7	EDM +210/COL -168
	ANA@VGK	27.3/72.7	ANA +328/VGK -253
	CHI@LAK	20.5/79.5	CHI +504/LAK -364

It's worth mentioning as the season concludes: The above odds imply both teams have full interest in the game. For example, the Oilers' numbers reflect McDavid sitting out, since there seems little reason for Edmonton to bring him back before the playoffs. Other teams with secure playoff positioning may opt to put any number of roster combinations on the ice, so tread lightly.

Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.

Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider relays that Quick appears likely to start Thursday's home game against the Flames.

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