The path to the Stanley Cup starts this weekend! Each team has played their 82 regular season games, 1,312 games in total. It’s been an epic ride highlighted by Alexander Ovechkin doing the one unthinkable and breaking the all-time goals record. He’ll lead his Washington Capitals as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Winnipeg Jets secured the number one overall seed and top spot in the Western Conference. Let’s take a look at this Stanley Cup Playoffs preview and best bets.
The Saint Louis Blues head to Winnipeg to face the Jets on Saturday, April 19th with the puck dropping on the Western Conference playoffs at 6:00 p.m. ET on MAX/TNT. It’ll be followed by the Colorado Avalanche facing the Dallas Stars at 8:30 ET also on MAX/TNT. The Eastern Conference will face off Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET with the New Jersey Devils taking on the Carolina Hurricanes on ESPN. That’ll be followed by the Ottawa Senators visiting the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7:00 ET on ESPN2.
Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview and Best Bets
Stanley Cup Champion Odds
Florida Panthers +800
Colorado Avalanche +800
Tampa Bay Lightning +900
Edmonton Oilers +900
Dallas Stars +900
Carolina Hurricanes +900
Las Vegas Golden Knights +1000
Winnipeg Jets +1000
Washington Capitals +1100
Toronto Maple Leafs +1100
Los Angeles Kings +1800
New Jersey Devils +3000
Ottawa Senators +3500
Minnesota Wild +3500
Saint Louis Blues +4000
Montreal Canadians +10000
Best Bet: Colorado Avalanche (+800)
Because of the NHL’s different seeding system, the Avalanche have a tough draw right out of the gate having to go on the road and face the Dallas Stars in the first round. That could be their toughest test in the Western Conference playoffs, and if they can clear that hurdle I’ll feel great about them getting to the finals. They’ll be facing their former star Mikko Rantanen, who now plays for Dallas. The Avalanche however are loaded and they’ve been on this path before.
The last two seasons have ended prematurely, but this feels like a team of destiny. They have reigning MVP Nathan MacKinnon and 30-goal defenseman Cale Maker who won the 2022 playoff MVP. They went all in at the trade deadline adding Brock Nelson and Charlie Coyle. Their captain Gabriel Landeskog has a shot to return for the first time since the Avalanche won the 2022 Stanley Cup.
Eastern Conference Champion Odds
Florida Panthers +350
Tampa Bay Lightning +400
Carolina Hurricanes +400
Washington Capitals +500
Toronto Maple Leafs +500
New Jersey Devils +1400
Ottawa Senators +1700
Montreal Canadians +5000
Best Bet: Toronto Maple Leafs (+500)
The biggest question for the Maple Leafs is, is this the same old story again? A perennial playoff disappointment. I believe the answer is no, and the Leafs are for real this season. They won their division and earned the right to face an easier opponent in the first round to get their feet wet while the Florida powerhouses battle it out against each other. They’ve also made additions that are making a difference.
The coaching change to Craig Berube seems to have been a positive one, and he knows how to win in the playoffs. Anthony Stolarz gave the Leafs their best save percentage (.926) from a goaltender with more than 20 starts since 1966. He’s also contributed 31 goals saved. Chris Tanev has also made a big difference on the defensive side. Only three defensemen had higher defensive ratings this season than Tanev.
Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview and Best Bets
Western Conference Champion Odds
Colorado Avalanche +400
Edmonton Oilers +450
Dallas Stars +450
Winnipeg Jets +500
Las Vegas Golden Knights +500
Los Angeles Kings +900
Minnesota Wild +1500
Saint Louis Blues +1800
Dark Horse: Los Angeles Kings (+900)
Obviously, if I like the Avalanche to win it all, I like them to win the West as well. So, let’s look at a longer shot that may be worth a bet as well. The Kings will first have to get past the Oilers, who’ve eliminated them in three straight Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Kings have a deeper and more potent lineup this season that appears to have a lot of confidence. Darcy Kuemper has been a welcomed addition at goalie with his numbers putting him inside of the top five in the league. Then you have Quinton Byfield the former #2 overall pick finally had his breakout season. His combination of size, speed, and two-way ability could make him a serious playoff threat.
