Editor’s note: This article was updated on September 2nd, 2022.
The countdown is officially on as we are just five weeks out from the opening day of the 2023 NHL season.
Let’s check out some of the biggest odds movers in the market thus far as well as a team that we believe could be undervalued in this 2023 Stanley Cup preseason market.
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Make sure to check back for updated NHL odds.
OddsTrader’s Betting Edge
• The Vegas Golden Knights continue to see their Stanley Cup odds worsen, starting out at +1000 they have since dropped out to odds at +1700.
• Columbus could be a sleeper at +7500 and their odds have shortened since their signing of Johnny Gaudreau and will they sign James Neal.
• Top five teams in the market all see future odds change in recent weeks, is their value now gone?
Here you’ll find the bettings odds for each of the NHL teams to win the 2023 Stanley Cup. All odds are courtesy of FanDuel, as of September 2nd, 2022.
| The Elite | The Contenders | The Pretenders | Longshots |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avalanche +425 | Rangers +1800 | Stars +4500 | Flyers +7500 |
| Maple Leafs +800 | Wild +2000 | Predators +4500 | Ducks +7500 |
| Panthers +900 | Blues +2200 | Canucks +5000 | Sabres +8500 |
| Lightning +1000 | Penguins +2200 | Senators +5000 | Kraken +10,000 |
| Hurricanes +1100 | Bruins +2500 | Red Wings +5500 | Sharks +10,000 |
| Flames +1500 | Kings +2800 | Jets +6000 | Canadiens +10,000 |
| Oilers +1600 | Capitals +3000 | Devils +6500 | Blackhawks +20,000 |
| Knights +1700 | Islanders +3300 | Blue Jackets +7500 | Coyotes +30,000 |
Critical Moves
Golden Knights’ Odds Continue to Worsen
After reaching the Stanley Cup final during their first official NHL season and making it to the playoffs in every single season bar last, it is going to be another optimistic season for the Golden Knights, or are they cooked?
The odds makers certainly seem to think they’re heading in the opposite direction as they have been bumped out to +1700 to lift this year’s Stanley Cup, as opposed to +1000 when the odds opened up.
Understandably we can see why people would be hesitant to back the team from “sin city”. They might not have sinned all that much, but nagging injuries from last season could be a potential problem this campaign,
They are also already going to be without number one goaltender Robin Lehner for the entire season, which is one of the main reasons their odds have shifted.
Can their best players get back to their best form? Will Logan Thompson step up to the plate in the crease? Can Jack Eicher get his Buffalo Sabres form back? These are all big questions to be asked of Los Vegas,
Columbus Blue Jackets Odds Shorten
Following the purchase of Johnny Gaudreau this offseason, Columbus have seen their Stanley Cup odds shorten from +10000 to +7500.
Gaudreau and Patrick Laine could make for a deadly pairing in the NHL. Time will tell, but at +7500, we still believe the Blue Jackets are to be respected.
Practically every team in the Blue Jackets Metropolitan division has gotten worse or stayed at the same level except for the New York Rangers, who are now arguably the top dogs in the Metropolitan division. This is a perfect opportunity for the Blue Jackets to sneak into the playoffs, and for those wondering, they are priced up at +475 just to make the playoffs.
James Neal – the former St. Louis Blues player – was recently signed to a professional try-out. He only managed to score two goals and four points in 19 NHL games last season but fared much better for their AHL team, registering 14 goals and 26 points in 28 games played.
Four of the Top Five Future Favorites Shorten in Price
Colorado remain outright favorites, but their odds have dropped from +550 to +525, and they’re not the only side to lose value in recent weeks.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have gone down two whole dollars, from +1000 to +800.
Florida have seen their odds shorten by just one dollar from +1000 to +900, and there was also a fall in odds from the Lighting from +1200 down to +1000
The only team inside the top five not to lose value over the previous few weeks was the Carolina Hurricanes as they have shifted from +1000 out to +1100.
The value on Colorado still remains the same, but the Hurricanes drifting out by one dollar looks to be an interesting proposition as we can’t see their odds going any higher prior to puck drop unless they get an unexpected injury, etc.
Second Look at Critical Moves
Editor’s note: This article was updated on August 19th, 2022.
Hockey fans always want to know all about the latest and greatest trades, signing, and rumors throughout the NHL, and the OddsTrader BetStation app is bringing all of it to you, as well as the current 2023 Stanley Cup odds in this, our latest installment.
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OddsTrader’s Betting Edge
• The Flames lost two of the best players on the planet in Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk and those losses will not be mitigated by signing Nazem Kadri.
• Rumors were rampant that Bruce Cassidy was not very well-liked by his players and once he was given his pink slip, the opportunity to woo Patrice Bergeron back to Boston for one more year and get David Krejci to return was greatly enhanced.
• The Edmonton Oilers had plenty of offensive firepower but what they didn’t have was a showstopping goaltender who could steal a game on those rare occasions when the offense sputtered. They have one now in Jack Campbell.
• Calgary did acquire Jonathan Huberdeau (30-85-115 last season) in the Tkachuk trade and subsequently signed him to an eight-year, $84 million extension.
Here you’ll find the bettings odds for each of the NHL teams to win the 2023 Stanley Cup. All odds are courtesy of FanDuel, as of August 19th, 2022.
| The Elite | The Contenders | The Pretenders | Longshots |
| Avalanche +450 | Rangers +1700 | Stars +4500 | Flyers +7500 |
| Maple Leafs +1000 | Penguins +1700 | Predators +4500 | Ducks +7500 |
| Hurricanes +1000 | Wild +1800 | Canucks +5000 | Sabres +8500 |
| Panthers +1100 | Bruins +2700 | Senators +5000 | Kraken +10,000 |
| Lightning +1200 | Blues +3000 | Red Wings +5500 | Sharks +10,000 |
| Oilers +1500 | Islanders +3000 | Jets +6000 | Canadiens +10,000 |
| Flames +1600 | Kings +3500 | Devils +6500 | Blackhawks +20,000 |
| Knights +1700 | Capitals +4000 | Blue Jackets +7500 | Coyotes +30,000 |
Critical Moves
Flames Sign Kadri
The needle on Calgary’s Stanley Cup odds didn’t even flinch with the signing of Nazem Kadri to a seven-year contract worth approximately $50 million. And why would it? The Flames lost two of the best players on the planet in Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk and those losses will not be mitigated by signing Nazem Kadri.
Speaking of Kadri, what did they really get and why hand a seven-year contract to a player who will be 32 when the season begins? Kadri is coming off the best season of his career which also just happened to coincide with the final year of his contract.
- Will Kadri Mantein his All-Star level?
He became an All-Star and a Stanley Cup champion for the first time in his career during the 2021-2022 season, scoring 28 goals with 59 assists for 87 points in 71 games. Kadri also had an enormously talented group to work with and it would surprise no one, except the Flames’ management who signed him, if he never sniffs those numbers again.
To be fair, we should also note that Calgary did acquire Jonathan Huberdeau (30-85-115 last season) in the Tkachuk trade and subsequently signed him to an eight-year, $84 million extension. And as much money as that is, at least they got a player who just turned 29 and still has several peak years in front of him.
Bruins Ink Bergeron and Krejci
Patrice Bergeron decided he needed one more bite at the apple and signed a one-year deal with a base of $2.5 million and incentives of $2.5 million. The total is an easy $5 million for the veteran Bruin as all he needs to do is play 10 games to earn the incentive. It was a bit of cap mastery by the Bruins executive team and enough to get the captain back on board the ship.
Boston also signed David Krejci to a one-year contract worth $1 million plus an additional $2 million in performance-laden incentives through the 2022-23 season. Krejci played 15 years for the Bruins before leaving Boston for the Czechia league and playing for HC Olomouc.
- Coincidence?
Krejci led his team in goals (20), assists (26), and points (46) while also representing his native country, the Czech Republic, at the 2022 Olympics and the IIHF World Championship in Finland.
It may not be coincidental that both players returned after Bruce Cassidy was fired as head coach. Rumors were rampant that Cassidy was not very well-liked by his players and once he was given his pink slip, the opportunity to woo Bergeron back to Boston for one more year and convince Krejci to return was greatly enhanced.
Oilers Land Critical Piece
The Edmonton Oilers had plenty of offensive firepower with arguably the best 1-2 punch in hockey, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but what they didn’t have was a showstopping goaltender who could steal a game on those rare occasions when the offense sputtered. They have one now in Jack Campbell.
Campbell is a goaltender that plays best when he allows his natural ability to take over while his mind surrenders to the moment. But Campbell has been known as an overthinker, and at times that has plagued him.
However, he gets a fresh start in Edmonton after a three-year stint in Toronto and can hopefully bring this team over the edge after coming so close last year before bowing to the eventual Stanley Cup Winners from Colorado in the Western Conference Finals.
First Look
Editor’s note: This article was updated on July 31st, 2022.
The Colorado Avalanche dashed the dreams that the Tampa Bay Lightning had of three-peating their way to another Stanley Cup victory. The Avs ousted the defending champs in six games. But that’s in the history books and below we will discuss what the future holds for the 2022-2023 NHL season.
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OddsTrader’s Betting Edge
• Will it be Toronto’s year? They are still loaded with talent and breezed through the regular season with 54 wins, a record that was only bested by two other teams.
• It wouldn’t surprise us if the Tampa Bay Lightning made another Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2023.
• The Oilers resigned Evander Kane which means its offense will continue to terrorize opposing defenses and be a notable threat to supplant the Avs at the top of the Western Conference.
• There are too many questions surrounding Vegas this year so don’t roll the dice on the Knights.
Here you’ll find the bettings odds for each of the NHL teams to win the 2023 Stanley Cup. All odds are courtesy of FanDuel, as of July 31st, 2022.
| The Elite | The Contenders | The Pretenders | Longshots |
| Avalanche +450 | Rangers +1700 | Stars +4500 | Flyers +7500 |
| Maple Leafs +1000 | Penguins +1700 | Predators +4500 | Ducks +8500 |
| Hurricanes +1000 | Wild +1800 | Canucks +5000 | Sabres +8500 |
| Panthers +1100 | Bruins +2700 | Senators +5000 | Kraken +10,000 |
| Lightning +1200 | Blues +3000 | Red Wings +5500 | Sharks +10,000 |
| Oilers +1600 | Islanders +3000 | Jets +6000 | Canadiens +10,000 |
| Knights +1600 | Kings +3500 | Devils +6500 | Blackhawks +20,000 |
| Flames +1600 | Capitals +4000 | Blue Jackets +7500 | Coyotes +30,000 |
The Beasts of the East
Toronto Maple Leafs (+1000)
- Last Season’s Record: 54-21-7
Will it ever be the Leafs’ year? They are officially still loaded with talent and breezed through the regular season with 54 wins, a record that was only bested by two other teams (Panthers and Avalanche) but drew the 2x Stanley Cup champs in the opening round.
Despite taking a 3-2 lead, they watched the next two games fall to the Lightning and exited in the first round for the sixth straight season! They are now 0-9 in playoff elimination games over their last five postseason appearances.
And while many will insist this franchise will continue to choke when the money is on the line, we see them as the legitimate threat in the East to hoist the Stanley Cup with an amazing young core led by Hart Trophy winner Auston Matthews and captained by the stellar veteran John Tavares.
The biggest question mark is between the pipes as the Leafs signed Matt Murray and unrestricted free agent Ilya Samsonov to replace Jack Campbell.
At odds of +1000, this looks like plenty of value to us.
Carolina Hurricanes (+1000)
- Last Season’s Record: 54-20-8
The Canes bounced the Bruins in the opening round only to take a 3-2 lead over the Rangers in the next series. However, a lack of offense and an uncharacteristically lackluster defense saw them drop both games by scores of 5-2 and 6-2 before they took their bow from the postseason.
So, what will be different this time around? Is this a team built to last when the cream rises to the top in the playoffs? Well, Carolina’s goaltending duo of Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta is about as good a tandem as a team could ask, especially after they took home the Jennings Trophy last season. Had Andersen not torn an MCL and played in the postseason, things could have gone quite differently.
Tony DeAngelo may be gone but he was replaced by an upgrade in former Sharks defenseman Brent Burns. The Canes also acquired an offensive force in veteran Max Pacioretty from Vegas which should help mitigate the losses of Vincent Trocheck and Nino Niederreiter. Overall, Carolina is shaping up as an Eastern Conference power yet again.
Florida Panthers (+1100)
- Last Season’s Record: 58-18-6
As we have seen so often in the past, the best record during the regular season only guarantees a team the statistically easiest postseason path. It does not ensure anymore than that as evidenced by Florida’s 4-0 series loss at the hands of the Lightning in the second round.
Matthew Tkachuk is one of the brightest young stars in the league and the Panthers traded a fortune to get him. Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, a prospect, as well as a 2025 first-round pick was a haul to obtain his services.
At age 24, Tkachuk will be playing on the Panthers’ roster for years to come and he should be able to fill the immense void left after Huberdeau’s departure. The Cats are stacked and at odds of +1100, they could be the last team standing if they build off what they learned in their early exit last year and the defense gets tougher.
Tampa Bay Lightning (+1200)
- Last Season’s Record: 51-23-8
It’s impossible to ignore the team that has landed in the Stanley Cup Finals the last three consecutive years. Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the best goaltenders in the world and although he did not consistently sparkle in his Stanley Cup performances, there are few, if any, goalies Tampa Bay fans would rather see patrolling the crease.
Ryan McDonagh departed but Mikhail Sergachev has arrived for the Bolts and with a solid nucleus of battle-tested playoff veterans, this is one team you can’t count out this season. The Eastern Conference will be loaded again this year and it wouldn’t surprise us if the Lightning made another Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
Best in the West
Colorado Avalanche (+450)
- Last Season’s Record: 56-19-7
To no one’s surprise, the reigning Stanley Cup champions are the chalkiest play on the board at +450 according to the oddsmakers at FanDuel. It took only 20 games for the Avs to claim the title, the second-fewest number of games since the NHL went to best-of-seven series in all four rounds back in 1987. Will they be that good again this season?
Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen will lead the charge along with the preternatural skills of Calder Trophy defenseman Cale Makar. MacKinnon is the greybeard of the group at the ripe old age of 26 and if the Avs can get Nazem Kadri back in the fold it would be a home run.
The only chink in the armor could be between the pipes. Darcy Kuemper took the money and ran to DC but Colorado dealt for Rangers’ backup Alexandar Georgiev who plied his trade in the Big Apple under the daunting shadow of the immensely talented Igor Shesterkin.
Edmonton Oilers (+1600)
- Last Season’s Record: 49-27-6
The one-two punch of Edmonton’s dynamic duo, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, is as good as it gets in professional ice hockey. The Oilers also resigned Evander Kane which means this offense will continue to terrorize opposing defenses and be a notable threat to supplant the Avs at the top of the Western Conference.
We should also note that Edmonton made an outstanding move in signing former Leafs’ goalie, Jack Campbell, to a five-year deal. Although the Oilers could use more depth on the blueline they should be able to weather any shootout with the talented offense they possess.
Vegas Golden Knights (+1600)
- Last Season’s Record: 43-31-8
Jack Eichel has played sparsely over the last two seasons due to injury and it is fair to ask how well he will respond to the full-time grind of an NHL season after his spinal disc surgery.
This is a real concern for the Knights as they have plenty of offensive depth with several double-digit scorers from last season, led by Jonathan Marchessault, but they don’t have a bona fide wizard that can score from anywhere, ala Auston Matthews or Connor McDavid.
Lastly, the health of Mark Stone is in question, and is having Robin Lehner backstopping the Knights really the best solution? There are too many questions surrounding Vegas this year so don’t roll the dice on the Knights.
Calgary Flames (+1600)
- Last Season’s Record: 50-21-11
It’s hard to envision the Flames will be better than last season after their top goal-scorer and one of the NHL’s finest talents skated away to Columbus for 9.5 million reasons per season. Johnny Gaudreau is the immensely talented forward we speak of and he will be sorely missed in the Flames’ lineup.
Couple that loss with their second-best player, Matthew Tkachuk, getting dealt and Calgary just watched a combined 82 goals and 219 points pack their respective bags. It’s startling that the NHL odds of +1600 are not appreciably higher.
But all is not lost as the Flames did receive healthy compensation for Tkachuk when they landed Florida’s top offensive producer and the league’s second-leading point-getter (tied with Johnny Gaudreau) Jonathan Huberdeau in the deal as well as center prospect Cole Schwindt, defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, and a conditional first-round draft pick in 2025.
All is not lost for the Flames but if they bowed to the Oilers, 4-1, in the second round last year, can we honestly expect them to do any better this season?
A Look At 2022
Editor’s note: This article was updated on June 12th, prior to the start of the Stanley Cup Finals on June 15th.
OddsTrader wants to be your go-to resource for NHL Power Rankings and everything else you need to handicap your NHL picks with our AI algorithm.
That’s why we take a look at the betting odds for the Stanley Cup Finals, which will begin on Wednesday, June 15th. Make sure to check back for updated lines on NHL matchups and every other major sport as well. Now, let’s check out the NHL odds.
OddsTrader’s Betting Edge
• The oddsmakers’ two preseason favorites to win the Stanley Cup, Colorado (+400) and Tampa Bay (+650), are the two teams in the Stanley Cup Finals nine months later.
• The Lightning are 5-1 over their last six games in Colorado but have lost both regular-season meetings to the Avalanche this year.
• Colorado is the highest-scoring team in the postseason, averaging 4.64 goals per game.
• Colorado’s starting goalie, Darcy Kuemper, has been sidelined with an injury since May 31st but is expected to start Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Below we have the NHL Stanley Cup Finals odds, courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.
- Tampa Bay Lightning: +160
- Colorado Avalanche: -190
The Tampa Bay Lightning are now in position for a third consecutive Stanley Cup title after fending off the Rangers to cop the Eastern Conference crown.
Nevertheless, they will have one last obstacle to overcome when they face off against the Western Conference Champions, the Colorado Avalanche. But can the Bolts stymie the offensive juggernaut from Mile High?
The Stanley Cup Finalists
Tampa Bay Lightning (+160)
- Eastern Conference Champions
The oddsmakers’ two preseason favorites to win the Stanley Cup, Colorado (+400) and Tampa Bay (+700), are the only two left standing nine months later. And the Lightning will now attempt to win their third consecutive Stanley Cup, a feat that has not occurred in nearly 40 years since the Islanders won four straight Cups back in the early 80s.
The Lightning began their postseason journey by rallying from a 3-2 series deficit to the Maple Leafs in the opening round to win the next two games by razor-thin margins. A 4-3 overtime Game 6 victory and a 2-1 Game 7 win.
After that grueling seven-game series the Lightning would be on the road to face the President’s Trophy-winning Florida Panthers in the next round. One would expect the Bolts to have a bit of a letdown but any doubts they may have had about taking on the NHL’s top team were quickly dispelled with a 4-0 sweep.
Eastern Conference Finals Recap
While the Lightning had plenty of time to rest their bones and tend to their bruises, their opponent in the Eastern Conference Finals, the New York Rangers, were roaring back from a 3-2 series deficit to the Hurricanes. The Blueshirts dominated the final two contests to punch their ticket into a series matchup with the well-rested Lightning.
But that rest would manifest as rust. New York came out flying in Game 1 and claimed a 6-2 win over the Lightning at Madison Square Garden. By the time the venue shifted to Tampa, the Lightning would find themselves staring at a 2-0 deficit.
That change of scenery was all the Bolts needed though, as they went on to win the next four games to secure their date with destiny and a trip to their third consecutive Stanley Cup Finals.
Colorado Avalanche (-190)
- Western Conference Champions
- Central Division Champions
The Avalanche entered the season as the favorites to win the Stanley Cup and they are proving the oddsmakers prescient as they prepare to battle the defending champs from Tampa Bay. Speaking of which, Colorado won both regular-season meetings against the Lightning by scores of 4-3 (shootout) and 3-2.
Colorado entered the playoffs as the top team in the West with 119 points, trailing only Florida with 122, and faced off against a Nashville team that was overmatched from start to finish. The Avalanche buried the Predators in the series, 4-0, and outscored the lowest-seeded entry by a margin of 21-9 over those four games.
Western Conference Finals Recap
The gritty St. Louis Blues proved to be a tough out in the second round as they did not go quietly against the high-flying Avs. But in the end, superior talent overcame steely resolve and Colorado advanced to the Western Conference Finals with a 4-2 series victory.
Edmonton was lying in wait for the Avalanche after earning a gentleman’s sweep of the Flames. But the Oilers were not nearly slick enough to overcome Colorado’s offensive blitzkrieg that torched them for 22 goals over the four games in which the Avs recorded the sweep.
OddsTrader’s Analysis
Colorado is the highest-scoring team in the postseason, averaging 4.64 goals per game while Tampa Bay is averaging a much more modest 3.06 goals per contest.
However, Tampa Bay has a bolt of lightning between the pipes in All-Star Andrei Vasilevskiy who has fashioned a 2.27 GAA and a .928 save percentage in the postseason.
The Lightning have a closet full of postseason experience and one of the world’s best goalies while the Avalanche have fallen short in the playoffs in four consecutive seasons, most notably last year when they entered as the President’s Trophy winners.
Darcy Kuemper Coming Back For Colorado
We should also note that Colorado’s starting goalie, Darcy Kuemper, has been sidelined with an injury since leaving Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on May 31st in what resulted in an 8-6 win over Edmonton.
What Kuemper will look like when he returns is anyone’s guess but prior to the injury, he recorded a .897 save percentage which is pedestrian at this stage of the game.
If the oddsmakers want to give us +160 on the savvy, experienced team with one of the best goaltenders on the planet, then we’ll take it!
NHL Stanley Cup Prediction: Lightning 4-2
Stanley Cup Finals Schedule
Game 1: Wednesday, June 15 – 08:00 PM EDT (at Colorado)
Game 2: Saturday, June 18 – 08:00 PM EDT (at Colorado)
Game 3: Monday, June 20 – 08:00 PM EDT (at Tampa Bay)
Game 4: Wednesday, June 22 – 08:00 PM EDT (at Tampa Bay)
Game 5*: Friday, June 24 – 08:00 PM EDT (at Colorado)
Game 6*: Sunday, June 26 – 08:00 PM EDT (at Tampa Bay)
Game 7*:Tuesday, June 28 – 08:00 PM EDT (at Colorado)
First Round Preview
The Avalanche have not won a Stanley Cup in over 20 years but this could be the season they break their streak. As the NHL Playoffs get underway, OddsTrader will go over everything you need to know about this year’s NHL postseason.
Colorado is the oddsmakers’ top choice to claim the Cup followed closely by the Calgary Flames and the Eastern Conference kings, the Florida Panthers.
Don’t forget to shop around to secure the best NHL odds for each game of the NHL Playoffs.
OddsTrader’s Betting Edge
• The top-seeded Avs drew the Predators in the opening round but curiously lost all three regular-season meetings.
• Calgary faces off against Dallas in the opening round, a team they defeated twice in three meetings during the regular season.
• During the regular season, the Panthers were the No. 1 ranked goal-scoring club, averaging 4.11 goals per game.
• The Toronto Maple Leafs were the No. 1 team on the power play, converting 27.3 percent of their opportunities during the regular season.
• The Carolina Hurricanes were the top-ranked defensive team in the league.
Here you’ll find the odds for each of the NHL teams in the NHL Playoffs. All odds are courtesy of Bet365.
| Team | Odds |
| Colorado Avalanche | +300 |
| Calgary Flames | +600 |
| Florida Panthers | +650 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +800 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +850 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1400 |
| Minnesota Wild | +1400 |
| St. Louis Blues | +1700 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | +1700 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +1900 |
| Boston Bruins | +2000 |
| New York Rangers | +2000 |
| Washington Capitals | +3200 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +4200 |
| Dallas Stars | +6500 |
| Nashville Predators | +9000 |
The Contenders
Colorado Avalanche (+300)
- Western Conference Regular Season Champions
- Central Division Champions
When the curtain closed on the 2021-2022 NHL regular season, the Avalanche proved to be the best in the West, compiling a 56-19-7 record and registering 119 points, trailing only the Florida Panthers. Therefore, it is understandable why the NHL odds are revealing the Avs as the top choice to win the Stanley Cup.
Colorado averaged 3.76 goals per game, good for fourth in the league, and was led by sharpshooters Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon but also had help from five other 20-goal scorers, including former Calder Trophy winner, defenseman Cale Makar.
The top-seeded Avs drew the Predators in the opening round but curiously lost all three regular-season meetings. However, Colorado snapped that streak in dramatic fashion by winning Game 1, 7-2, taking a 1-0 series lead.
Calgary Flames (+600)
- Pacific Division Champions
Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk both tallied north of 100 points this season and were instrumental in Calgary’s ascent to the top of the Pacific Division and near the apex of the NHL regular-season mountain. Elias Lindholm joined Gaudreau and Tkachuk in the 40-goal club with 42 while Andrew Mangiapane chipped in with 35 this season.
And as prolific as the Flames’ offense was this season, we would be remiss in not acknowledging the sparkling performance of veteran goaltender, Jacob Markstrom, who flashed a 37-15-9 record with a 2.22 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage, good for third in the league.
Calgary faces off against Dallas in the opening round, a team they defeated twice in three meetings during the regular season and claimed a hotly contested 1-0 victory in Game 1 of the playoffs.
Florida Panthers (+650)
- Eastern Conference Regular Season Champions
- Atlantic Division Champions
If it’s an offense you are seeking then look no further than the Florida Panthers. The Presidents’ Trophy winners were also the No. 1 ranked goal-scoring club, averaging 4.11 goals per game, and the NHL’s top shooting team averaging 37.3 shots per game.
Jonathan Huberdeau piloted this high-octane offense with 115 points and led the league in assists with 85 helpers on the season. Florida boasted four 30+ goal scorers and had the best plus/minus margin with a +94.
Despite Florida’s No. 1 seed in the East, they won’t have it easy against the No. 8 ranked team from Washington. The Panthers defeated the Capitals, 2-1, in the season series but all three games were decided by one goal.
Washington claimed a 4-2 win in Game 1 and took the home-ice advantage away from the Panthers, a team that boasted the best home record (34-7) in the league.
Toronto Maple Leafs (+800)
The Maple Leafs enjoyed a stellar regular season campaign, registering 115 points which ranked them fourth in that category. However, it has been 65 years since Toronto hoisted the Stanley Cup and, despite some excellent seasons recently, Toronto has been spectacularly disappointing in the postseason.
Auston Matthews is the key to Toronto’s Stanley Cup aspirations, coming off a 60-goal season and very much in the Hart Trophy conversation. Thus, it’s not surprising Matthews had a pair of goals in the Leafs’ 5-0 shutout of the Lightning in Game 1.
Toronto is ranked second in goal-scoring, averaging 3.8 goals per game, and No. 1 on the power play, converting 27.3 percent of their opportunities.
Carolina Hurricanes (+850)
- Metropolitan Division Champions
If it’s a relative dark horse you’re looking for in your NHL picks then you do much worse than the top-ranked defensive team in the league, the Carolina Hurricanes, at current odds of +850.
Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Teuvo Teravainen provide the offense for the Hurricanes but it was the Vezina Trophy-caliber play of Frederik Andersen that stoned opposing goal-scorers throughout the season. Unfortunately, Andersen has been out with what is rumored to be a left leg injury he sustained on April 16th.
However, his backup, Antti Raanta acquitted himself quite nicely in Carolina’s 5-1 Game 1 victory over Boston in which he turned aside 35 shots and copped the No. 1 Star of the game.
Tampa Bay Lightning (+1400)
Steven Stamkos led the Lightning this season with 42 goals and 64 assists for 106 points but he and the rest of the Lightning were silent in Game 1 as they fell, 5-0, to the Maple Leafs in Game 1.
Tampa Bay boasts the No. 8 ranked offense, averaging 3.5 goals per game, as well as the No. 8 power-play unit, connecting on 23.9 percent of its man-advantage opportunities. The Lightning also has one of the premier netminders in the world, Andrei Vasilevskiy, patrolling the crease. The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions know how to win when it counts so expect a better performance going forward.
Minnesota Wild (+1400)
The Wild acquired one of the best goalies in history when they swung a deal with Chicago for the sublime, Marc-Andre Fleury, at the trade deadline. However, Cam Talbot turned in an All-Star season and was platooned with MAF since he arrived in mid-March.
The Blues will not be an easy first-round opponent as they defeated the Wild all three times during the regular season and secured a 4-0 Game 1 victory as well. St. Louis has now defeated Minnesota in 10 of their last 11 meetings.
St. Louis Blues (+1700)
Jordan Binnington backstopped the Blues to Stanley Cup glory in his rookie season but this time around it will be another rookie, Ville Husso, tending the twine for St. Louis.
The Blues are taking a similar path to the playoffs as they did in 2019 when they defeated Boston in the Stanley Cup Finals. St. Louis has caught fire over the last two months and Husso has been nothing short of sensational.
Boasting the third-ranked offense, the Blues own their first-round opponents from Minnesota, defeating the Wild in all three games this season and enjoying a winning streak that spans over a year.
The Longshots
Pittsburgh Penguins (+1900)
Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Jeff Carter, Bryan Rust, and Jake Guentzel comprise the core of the Penguins but most of them are also long in the tooth. Thus, this could be the final chapter in what has been a string of fine seasons with Sid the Kid at the helm.
The Pittsburgh offense can still motor but the injury to their starting goalie, Tristan Jarry, could be a killer to any chances of a deep postseason run. The Penguins are off to a good start in their series with the Rangers, notching a 4-3 triple-overtime victory in Game 1.
Edmonton Oilers (+1900)
One would think the Oilers’ scoring production would be even better than No. 7 considering two of the league’s top four point-getters are on the team. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are devastating weapons for Edmonton but they are not deep enough to merit serious Stanley Cup consideration.
The Oilers also lost their series opener to the Kings, 4-3, which revealed the defensive liabilities that could also haunt them should they advance to the next round.
Boston Bruins (+2000)
Rumors abound that this could be the curtain call on Patrice Bergeron’s outstanding career. Boston has talent upfront with Bergeron and Brad Marchand but both players are older veterans. David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy stand as the bright lights of the Bruins’ future.
Boston’s road to the Stanley Cup will be difficult as they have two untested playoff goalies in Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman while their defense is underwhelming after the top pair of McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm. The Bruins trail the heavily favored Hurricanes, 1-0, after dropping their Game 1 contest by a score of 5-1.
New York Rangers (+2000)
The Rangers boast one of the best power-play units in the league, converting 25.2 percent of their opportunities, and also employ the impenetrable Igor Shesterkin between the pipes. Shesterkin is a game-changer, having the best save percentage and goals saved above average in the NHL.
Fortunately, for New York fans, the Rangers have not missed a beat since King Henrik Lundqvist abdicated his icy throne. New York enters Game 2 of their first-round series down a game after dropping a 4-3 decision to the Penguins.
Washington Capitals (+3200)
As long as the Capitals have Alex Ovechkin, they have a chance. The 36-year-old offensive terror is still doing it after all these years. He scored 50 goals during this last campaign and is only adding to a Hall-of-Fame career that was etched long ago.
The Capitals have veteran talent, much like the Penguins, and thankfully have John Carlson anchoring the defense because their goaltending situation is suspect. However, Vitek Vanecek silenced his critics in Game 1 with a solid 32 save effort in his team’s 4-2 opening game victory over the best team in hockey, the Florida Panthers.
Los Angeles Kings (+4200)
The Kings are resilient if nothing else. They have played well since the loss of one of their key defensive anchors, Drew Doughty, a former Norris Trophy winner when he suffered a season-ending wrist injury on March 7th.
The Kings are in the postseason due in large part to veteran goalie Jonathan Quick who has rekindled some of the magic that allowed him to carry the Kings to a pair of Stanley Cup titles in 2012 and 2014.
But the Kings don’t have finishers around the net as evidenced by LA being ranked 5th in shots on goal (34.9 per game) yet 20th in goals scored (2.9). Nevertheless, they stunned the Oilers in Game 1, 4-3, and could be a postseason Cinderella.
Dallas Stars (+6500)
If the Stars could get more out of the underperforming Tyler Sequin and Jamie Benn, they would have a much better chance of advancing in the postseason. However, they are playing an elite scoring machine in the Flames and it will be a tall task to slow them down.
Yet, if there is such a thing as a good loss, it could be their 1-0 setback to Calgary in Game 1, proving they can contain their forwards for at least one game.
Nashville Predators (+9000)
The Predators are a feisty underdog but unfortunately, they are woefully unprepared to take on the likes of the Colorado Avalanche, as evidenced by their 7-2 Game 1 loss.
If the Predators could play as they did from mid-October to the beginning of January when they recorded a league-best 23-7-2 record, they might have a chance. Unfortunately, they have proven they cannot maintain that caliber of play.
Props and Bonuses
You can find a list of prop bets at all of the best U.S. licensed online sportsbooks found right here at OddsTrader. Online sportsbooks like BetMGM, Caesars, FanDuel, PointsBet, Bet365, Unibet, SugarHouse, BetRivers, SBK, MaximBet, and DraftKings all offer props like “Who Will Win the NHL Playoff MVP Award” and futures to win the Stanley Cup as well as generous signup bonuses.
Shop for Odds
If you want to compare the various NHL Odds then click on the link and you will see the point spreads, moneylines, and totals at all of the best books in the industry.
NHL Betting FAQ’s
Question: Where can I go to make a bet on the NHL playoffs?
Answer: The best online sportsbooks are the safest online sportsbooks, which are those licensed in jurisdictions where online sports betting is legal in the United States.
The top-rated books are BetMGM, Caesars, FanDuel, Bet365, Unibet, BetRivers, SugarHouse, SBK, MaximBet, PointsBet and DraftKings.
Question: What types of bets are popular with NHL hockey?
Answer: The most popular bet is the moneyline where the underdog returns more money than you wagered while the favorite requires you to risk more than you could win. There is no point spread in moneyline wagering, it’s strictly whichever team wins the game wins the bet.
However, puck lines are also common, with the underdog getting +1 goal while the underdog is giving 1 ½ goals. Totals, or over/under betting, is another typical hockey bet where the bettor can bet over or under the posted total.
Question: Do I have to bet a lot?
Answer: No, the minimum bet is as low as $1 and accounts can be funded with as little as $10 at many of the books across the nation.
