2023 NHL Playoff Odds: Conference Championship Predictions

Before the Eastern Conference and Western Conference converge at the NHL Stanley Cup Final, the Prince of Wales Trophy and Clarence Campbell Bowl Trophy will be awarded.

The road to the Stanley Cup Final is often regarded as the most difficult trek in sports. Finesse hockey might work well in the regular season, but Playoff hockey is all about having the most mental and physical fortitude.

In this preview, we’ll be focusing on the NHL futures bets of which teams will win the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference Championships. You can wager on each Playoff series and these NHL Conference odds at the top NHL Betting sites.

2023 NHL Eastern Conference Playoff Odds

The following 2023 NHL Eastern Conference Playoff odds are courtesy of BetOnline:

The NHL Eastern Conference Playoffs will look slightly different to hockey fans this year.

It is the first time since 2007-08 that neither Alex Ovechkin or Sidney Crosby will play in the NHL Playoffs. Additionally, it is the first time since 2006 that the Penguins are not playing playoff hockey¹.

The NHL Eastern Conference Playoff odds favor the Boston Bruins winning the Eastern Conference. Currently, the Bruins have NHL betting odds of +150 to win the Prince of Wales Trophy and +250 odds of winning the Stanley Cup.

The Best NHL Eastern Conference Betting Favorite: Boston Bruins (+150)

The Bruins dominated the regular season with a mark of 65-12-5 and smashed the NHL’s all-time record for most points in a season. Boston’s 135 points broke the previous all-time record set by the 1977 Montreal Canadiens².

Not many teams can say they that have three contributors from over ten years ago still on their roster. In Boston, this is the case as Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Krejci all won the Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011.

Game Won 📸 pic.twitter.com/Yt3Aqan1DD

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 18, 2023

12 years later, these three are breaking records. Experience is crucial for being a successful playoff hockey team. They have been here before and there shouldn’t be any nerves.

The Bruins have a winning playoff recipe, which also includes top-notch goaltending, defense, and grit.

The Best NHL Eastern Conference Value Bet: Carolina Hurricanes (+450)

The Carolina Hurricanes are the second odds on favorite at sports betting sites to win the Eastern Conference at BetOnline.

Following a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders to open the Playoffs, the Hurricanes have +450 odds of winning the Eastern Conference title, which still offers some nice betting value.

If a team is going to beat the Bruins, they are going to have to match their physicality. Soft teams need not apply against the Bruins.

We’re just getting started. #NeverCompromise pic.twitter.com/WRPcam8X5r

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) April 18, 2023

That is asking to get swept. Fortunately for the Hurricanes, this roster is not going to shy away from a physical game.

The Hurricanes finished second in the league in goals against as they conceded an average of 2.56 goals per game.

If you have faith in Antti Raanta, then the Hurricanes are a great value bet at +450 odds to win the East. With only three losses in regulation in 27 games this season, Raanta is one of the most underrated netminders in the playoffs.

The Best NHL Eastern Conference Longshot: Tampa Bay Lightning (+1200)

The Tampa Bay Lightning is not getting much respect. Despite going to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020, 2021, and 2022, the Lightning have +1200 odds of returning.

The Lightning won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021. They lost in six games to the Colorado Avalanche last year, but it was still another successful campaign.

Why are the Lightning being discarded by oddsmakers? For one, a record of 46-30-6 and 98 points was rather mediocre compared to what we are used to seeing with the Lightning. Furthermore, the Lightning are not getting any younger.

Tampa Bay has plenty of experienced veterans on their roster, but many believe that their core is running out of gas. Nevertheless, the Bolts can’t be counted out just yet.

Tampa has playoff experience, toughness, and a goaltender that can carry the load. It’s difficult to count out the Lightning when they have Andrei Vasilevskiy on their side.

Vasilevskiy didn’t have the best regular season, but he can flip a switch at the right time. He’s done it before. The Lightning at +1200 NHL Playoff odds are easily the best longshot in the Eastern Conference.

2023 NHL Eastern Conference Playoffs Prediction

If the Bruins stick to the basics and play their game, the Eastern Conference title is going to be theirs to lose.

The Bruins will only have themselves to blame if they’re heading to the golf course early this season. During the regular season, there wasn’t much competition for them, though.

They passed the eyeball test and were statistically dominant. Boston is first in goals against and second in goals scored per game in the NHL.

The Bruins have allowed 2.12 goals per game, which is miles ahead of the Hurricanes, who are second in the NHL³. Linus Ullmark and his league leading 1.89 GAA and 0.938 save percentage played a major role for the Bruins during the regular season and he will do it in the Playoffs as well⁴.

Getting plus money on the Bruins winning the Eastern Conference is a decent deal. Expect the Bruins to return to the NHL Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2019.

2023 NHL Western Conference Playoff Odds

The following NHL 2023 Western Conference Playoff odds are courtesy of BetOnline:

Unlike with the Bruins in the Eastern Conference, the situation isn’t as clear in the Western Conference.

The defending Stanley Cup champion, the Colorado Avalanche, are favored to win the Western Conference Playoffs. However, the Avalanche have some company around them on the NHL Western Conference Playoff odds at BetOnline.

Colorado is favored to win the Western Conference with +275 odds. Despite losing Game 1 to the LA Kings, the Edmonton Oilers are holding strong as the second favorite at +325 NHL Playoff odds.

The Best NHL Western Conference Betting Favorite: Colorado Avalanche (+275)

The Colorado Avalanche are not the same team that they were last season. While the Avalanche are still very good, it would be a disservice to Gabriel Landeskog to say they’re just as good.

Landeskog has been ruled out for the 2023 NHL Playoffs due to a lingering knee injury. The injury goes back to the 2019-20 season. He is still having issues getting back to full health.

More.
Of.
This.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/a2fdzjE2Gp

— y – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 19, 2023

It isn’t like the Avalanche aren’t short of firepower, though. Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon make the Avs a dangerous offense that can strike at any moment.

That being said, the Avalanche are not as dangerous as last season. They had a Top 5 offense in the 2021-22 campaign. Colorado notched 3.76 goals per game for fourth in the NHL⁵.

In the 2022-23 regular season, the Avalanche were 11th with 3.34 goals scored per game. With 2.72 goals against per game, they just made it inside the Top 10 on defense⁶.

There are better options than betting on the Avalanche at +275 odds.

The Best NHL Western Conference Value Bet: Dallas Stars (+700)

The Dallas Stars had a strong campaign in the regular season. You wouldn’t know it if you look at their Western Conference Playoff odds, though.

The Stars finished a point behind the Avalanche in the Central Division. That was the only distance between the favorites and a +700 underdog.

Mind you, the Stars opened up the playoffs with a loss in overtime and lost Joe Pavelski to an injury. They lost a marathon double-overtime thriller against the Wild at home in Game 1.

Nevertheless, the Stars are getting some value at +700 odds. If Pavelski is lost for the playoffs it would hurt. However, Matt Dumba’s hit on Pavelski can also be seen as a motivator.

Matt Dumba lays a late hit on Joe Pavelski and receives a 2-minute minor penalty for roughing. pic.twitter.com/a6XTWf4Hup

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 18, 2023

The Stars are equipped with Jason Robertson, Jamie Benn, Roope Hintz, and Miro Heiskanen. There is plenty of talent without Pavelski on the ice.

This team was one of the most balanced during the regular season. They finished seventh in goals per game and third in goals against per game⁷.

The Stars should be considered at +700 odds to win the Western Conference Playoffs.

The Best NHL Western Conference Longshot: Seattle Kraken (+1600)

Why not the Kraken? We noted that the Western Conference Playoffs are going to be a wide-open affair. The Kraken always play hard and never stop coming at opponents.

In the franchise’s first trip to the NHL Playoffs, this is slightly reminiscent of the Vegas Golden Knights. Against all odds, the Golden Knights went to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season.

We don’t need them to believe in us because WE believe in us. pic.twitter.com/r20OMuf7rY

— x – Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) April 18, 2023

The Kraken will need more time than Vegas did, but the never-quit Kraken might surprise here. They finished the regular season with a record of 46-28-8 and 100 points.

This was a much better year for the Kraken than their NHL Western Conference Playoff odds suggest. Heart and determination can also go a long way this time of the year.

Consider backing the largest underdog in the Western Conference Playoffs at +1600 odds.

2023 NHL Western Conference Playoffs Prediction

There are some juicy underdogs in the Western Conference Playoffs. The Stars, Kraken, and Jets all have Western Conference odds of +700 or higher. Any of these teams have a shot at going the distance to the Stanley Cup Final.

At the end of the day, though, it’s hard to ignore a well-built Stars squad. Their series-opening loss against the Wild was a good thing for bettors looking for the best value.

Due to the loss, the Stars are catching a mighty attractive price at +700 odds. With the Stars, you are getting a Top 10 offense and Top 3 defense at +700 to win the Western Conference.

There is a perfect blend of veteran experience and youthful talent on this team that should pay off in a tight series. The Western Conference Playoffs should play close in every series.

A team like the Stars that has consistently won close games should benefit. It won’t be an easy road, but you have to like this price on the Stars.