The best 2025 NHL bracket challenges and playoff contests offer excellent opportunities for various prizes for free! They can also make the upcoming postseason extra exciting, so we strongly recommend joining one or more of them.
Furthermore, you can always invite your friends to prove you are the smartest person in the room when it comes to hockey! Even if you don’t know anything about the NHL or hockey, there is nothing to lose from entering these free NHL Playoff contests.
The puck drops on the Stanley Cup Playoffs opening round soon, so now’s the time to join a bracket challenge or a playoff contest. Most of them close at April 22, so check out our top suggestions now:
Best NHL Playoff 2025 Bracket Challenges and Contests Summary
| CONTEST | ENTRY FEE | PRIZE POOL | JOIN NOW |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetOnline $10k Stanley Cup 2025 Bracket | Free ($25 in bets placed) | $10,000 | Join |
| NHL Bracket Challenge | Free | NHL Trip for two + more prizes | Join |
| The Sports Geek’s NHL Goal Scorer Bingo | Free | $25 daily | Join |
BetOnline $10,000 NHL Stanley Cup 2025 Playoffs Bracket
BetOnline’s $10,000 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket 2025 allows you to pick the winners and correct scores for all 15 series in the NHL playoffs. You earn points for each correct pick, and the contestant who accumulates the most points will be awarded the grand prize of $500!
Here’s how it works.
How To Play
The $10,000 NHL Playoffs Predictor is a free contest that concludes at the end of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. BetOnline customers must make their selections before the first round commences.
Note: The Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Final do not count towards this NHL Playoff contest. BetOnline may offer a separate contest for the final rounds, but for now, here’s how to enjoy this one.
1. Register for a free sports betting account at BetOnline.
2. Enter the $10,000 NHL Playoffs Bracket Challenge by heading to the contests page.
3. Provide predictions for all series in the NHL playoffs.
4. Bet at least $25 in real money on the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
5. Each correct prediction brings you points as follows:
- 1 point for every correct selection in the First Round
- 2 points for every correct selection in the Conference Semifinals
- 4 points for every correct selection in the Conference Finals
- 8 points for every correct selection in the Stanley Cup Finals
6. The BetOnline customer who records the most points will be awarded the grand prize of $500!
Prize Pool – $10,000 Guaranteed
Similar to BetOnline’s NBA Playoff Contest, a guaranteed $10,000 pool will be paid out. The minimum payout for the top 500 is a $10.00 prize. Find the pay structure for the top 10 winners below:
| PLACE | PRIZE |
|---|---|
| 1st | $500.00 |
| 2nd | $300.00 |
| 3rd | $200.00 |
| 4th | $150.00 |
| 5th | $100.00 |
| 6th | $80.00 |
| 7th | $75.00 |
| 8th | $65.00 |
| 9th | $55.00 |
| 10th | $50.00 |
In the event of a tie after the tiebreakers settle, contestants will split the prize and the next lowest cash reward. For example, a tie for 4th would split $150 and $100.
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge
The official 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket challenge presented by the NHL is now accepting registrations! If you like the March Madness-style bracket contests, consider signing up to play the NHL Playoffs Bracket Challenge.
The objective of the contest is simple: Fill out your Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket and predict which teams will win each series! Picks must be made for the first round through the Stanley Cup Final.
How To Play
1. Register for an account on the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge
2. Join a league or play on your own for the top prize.
3. Make your picks for every series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs until the bracket is complete.
4. Contestants are required to enter how many games each series will last.
5. Points are awarded based on correct selections for each round:
- 10 Points for the First Round
- 25 Points for the Second Round
- 50 Points for the Conference Finals
- 100 Points for the Stanley Cup Final
- *3 Bonus Points for predicting the length of each series
Grand Prizes – NHL Trip for Two
The player who secures the most points by the end of the Stanley Cup Final will win the grand prize: an NHL trip for two for next season! We don’t know precisely what the package includes, but based on previous years, it’s travel and accommodation, as well as tickets for two.
The Sports Geek's DAILY Goal Scorer Bingo
We have our own NHL contest that will run throughout the playoffs: the goal scorer bingo! Pick enough goal scorers on any given day with hockey action to win a $25 Amazon gift card. The prize might seem small compared to bracket challenges, but it’s available daily.
How To Play
1. Go to our NHL Goal Scorer Bingo contest page and join for free.
2. Share your goal scorer predictions for each available day to win a $25 Amazon gift card.
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