The NHL regular season is coming to a close, and it’s soon time for the Stanley Cup playoffs! Get the top Stanley Cup teams, key matchups, and betting odds for ice hockey’s grand finale.
How Do the NHL Playoffs Work?
The NHL playoffs are a four-round tournament featuring 16 teams, where the top three teams from each division qualify. The final four Wild Card places are awarded to the next best teams based on regular-season records.
Teams play against other teams in their conference until the final round, the Stanley Cup Finals, where the winner of the Western Conference faces the winner of the Eastern Conference. Each round is a best-of-seven series between seeded teams.
Seeds are assigned based on conference position and regular-season records. Higher seeds play their home games first and will host the final game in every series that makes it to Game 7.
Once the NHL playoff bracket is set, we move onto the Stanley Cup Finals. The tournament started on Saturday, April 19, and will run through mid-June, depending on how long the final round lasts.
Top teams to watch
One of the most exciting things about the NHL playoffs is once the tournament starts, any team can end up lifting the Stanley Cup. There are some teams that are more likely to win than others.
According to the oddsmakers, the Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers are the favourites to win the Stanley Cup this year. This despite the Winnipeg Jets having been the best NHL team this season.
The Presidents’ Trophy winners will enter the playoffs as the overall number one seed, and will be a tough team for Western Conference opposition to beat, even if the odds are against them.
Key Stanley Cup Matchups and the Most Promising Teams
A good first-round matchup can make or break a tournament for NHL teams. A favourable draw can help you build momentum, while a mismatch can derail a Stanley Cup push before it even starts.
With this in mind, we’re most excited for the Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche game in the Western Conference. Dallas knocked Colorado out in the second round last season, but the Avalanche won the season series 2-1 against the Stars this season.
Colorado will also have the added boost of having one of Gabriel Landeskog, back for the first time since their Stanley Cup-winning run in 2022.
My top betting pick
In the East, we have our eyes on the Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils series. Like with the Stars vs. Avalanche game, these teams have history. The Hurricanes have knocked the Devils each of the last four times they’ve met in the playoffs.
In 2023, Carolina advanced convincingly, winning four games to one. However, the Devils have one of the best defenses in the NHL, so they could be primed to end their losing streak against the Canes.
What's Your Bet for the Stanley Cup Winner?
In an all-action sport like ice hockey, things can change quickly. A hot goalie can turn the biggest outsiders into Stanley Cup contenders.
For NHL playoff betting odds, check out the best ice hockey sites this playoff season and put you money where your mouth is.
The current NHL odds favour the Carolina Hurricanes (+600), but this year’s Stanley Cup winner might not be so clear cut.
Watch this space: Our next blog in this series will focus on how the second round of NHL Playoffs is progressing, plus our best bets!
