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It’s hard to believe that the 2023-24 NHL playoffs are finally here. After an exciting regular season, only 16 teams remain as they begin their Stanley Cup journey on Saturday, April 20. It’s safe to say it’s the best time to be a hockey fan.
Will the Vegas Golden Knights repeat as champions? Or will see a first-time Cup winner this spring?
All eight Eastern Conference teams will begin their First Round series this upcoming weekend. Which teams will be playing when? We have you covered. #StanleyCup
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— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 17, 2024
While the NHL postseason is fun on its own, it never hurts to add excitement by betting on this year’s Stanley Cup winner. Making a championship pick can be tough, though, given all the talented playoff-bound teams.
That’s why Betting News is here to help.
Let’s get into my NHL playoff preview, which features the latest Stanley Cup odds as well as my postseason predictions and a dark horse pick.
NHL Playoff Preview 2024: First-Round Matchups
Although we know all 16 teams that will be competing in the 2023-24 NHL postseason, not every matchup is finalized. Nevertheless, here’s what the first round of the playoffs would look like if they began today:
NHL Eastern Conference Round 1
Atlantic Division
- 1. Florida Panthers vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
- 2. Boston Bruins vs. 3. Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
- 1. New York Rangers vs. WC2 Washington Capitals
- 2. Carolina Hurricanes vs. 3. New York Islanders
NHL Western Conference Round 1
Central Division
- 1. Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights or Los Angeles Kings
- 2. Winnipeg Jets vs. 3. Colorado Avalanche
Pacific Division
- 1. Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
- 2. Edmonton Oilers vs. 3. Vegas Golden Knights or Los Angeles Kings
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2023-24 NHL Stanley Cup Odds & Championship Pick
The following 2023-24 Stanley Cup odds are courtesy of BetOnline as of Thursday, April 18 at 9:38 a.m. ET.
- Carolina Hurricanes (+650)
- Dallas Stars (+750)
- Edmonton Oilers (+750)
- Florida Panthers (+750)
- Colorado Avalanche (+850)
- New York Rangers (+850)
- Vegas Golden Knights (+1100)
- Boston Bruins (+1200)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (+1400)
- Winnipeg Jets (+1400)
- Vancouver Canucks (+1400)
- Tampa Bay Lightning (+2000)
- Los Angeles Kings (+2500)
- Nashville Predators (+3500)
- New York Islanders (+5000)
- Washington Capitals (+8000)
There are several teams worthy of lifting Lord Stanley’s hardware this spring, but I’m going with the New York Rangers (+850) to be this year’s champions.
The Rangers are one of the NHL’s most storied franchises, having previously won four Stanley Cups. Having said that, it’s been 30 years since New York’s last championship run and I see that drought coming to an end this postseason.
Peter Laviolette’s club established itself as the team to beat this year, finishing the regular season with an NHL-best 114 points. Elite play on both sides of the puck helped the Rangers achieve that success as they finished sixth in goals for, seventh in goals against, and seventh in goal differential.
That’s without mentioning New York’s elite special teams as it ranks third on both the power play and penalty kill.
The Rangers established themselves as an elite presence throughout the 2023-24 NHL season.
Succeeding in the playoffs is about having an elite lineup and that’s exactly what the Rangers boast. They have six players on their roster who tallied at least 57 points during the season, including Artemi Panarin, who paces his teammates in goals (49), assists (71), and points (120).
That’s without mentioning Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck, and Alexis Lafrenière, who also scored between 25 and 39 goals. New York even gets elite play from its backend in the form of Adam Fox, who’s amassed 73 points in 72 games.
Let’s also not forget about former Vezina Trophy-winner netminder Igor Shesterkin. Although the 2023-24 campaign wasn’t his best effort, Shesterkin still looked solid with a 36-17-2 record, 2.58 goals-against average, .912 save percentage, and four shutouts in 55 starts.
Assuming that the Rangers’ best players don’t take a major step back in the NHL playoffs, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be in the Stanley Cup mix until the end.
2023-24 Stanley Cup Pick: New York Rangers (+850)
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NHL Best Bets & Picks Today
Are you hoping to get in on even more NHL betting action today? Be sure to check out our NHL picks page for consensus picks and odds for every 2023-24 playoff game.
You can also check out:
NHL Playoff Preview: 2023-24 Stanley Cup Dark Horse Pick
Although the Rangers are a solid pick to win this year’s Stanley Cup, history has proven that the best team doesn’t always win the championship. With that being said, the Tampa Bay Lightning (+2000) are my dark horse pick this postseason.
Do the Lightning have what it takes to go on another Stanley Cup run this spring?
Even though they missed the 100-point mark for the second straight season, let’s not forget that the Lightning have been one of the more recently successful franchises. After all, Tampa Bay has made it to three of the last four Stanley Cup Finals, even winning back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021.
And yes, they had a slow start to the 2023-24 regular season, but they’ve been one of the best teams throughout the last few months. Since Jan. 9, the Lightning’s 67.1% winning percentage is fifth-best in the NHL and No. 1 in the Atlantic Division. They also rank third in goals for, first on the power play, and second on the penalty kill during that stretch.
The Lightning will also enter the playoffs with a relatively healthy roster. Mikhail Sergachev (leg) is the only player who’s been ruled out for the opening series.
Nobody wants to face a healthy Tampa Bay squad that boasts the likes of Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Brayden Point, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and more. They’re the type of group that’s good and experienced enough to take down any team in a seven-game series.
Assuming that they stay healthy throughout the NHL postseason, there’s no reason why the Lightning can’t win the Stanley Cup.
2024 Stanley Cup Dark Horse Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning (+2000)
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NHL Playoffs 2023-24 FAQ
When are the 2023-24 NHL Playoffs?
- The 2023-24 NHL playoffs are scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 20, and the Stanley Cup Final is expected to begin on Monday, June 3.
Where is the 2023-24 Stanley Cup Final?
- The location of the 2023-24 Stanley Cup Final will be determined once there is only one team remaining from each conference in the playoffs.
How can I watch the 2023-24 NHL Playoffs?
- Every game of the 2023-24 NHL postseason will be airing on ESPN, TNT, and ABC.
Where can I bet on the 2023-24 NHL Playoffs?
- Hockey bettors can wager on this year’s NHL playoffs and Stanley Cup picks on the majority of online sportsbooks, including the following that Betting News highly recommends:
