NHL Hockey

2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Western Conference Matchups

Posted by Nick Brown
April 18, 2023

At the beginning of postseason NHL betting action, the Colorado Avalanche are favored to win the West. The defending Stanley Cup champions are on a roll. Colorado took the Central Division title in their final game. The Avalanche take on the upstart Seattle Kraken in the first round. Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars meet the Minnesota Wild in what could be a 7-gamer. The top-seeded Vegas Golden Knights are favored in their series against the Winnipeg Jets. And then the rampaging Edmonton Oilers meet the Los Angeles Kings.

2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference Matchups

3-Colorado Avalanche -260 vs. 7-Seattle Kraken +210

Avalanche vs. Kraken Schedule

Game 1 (at COL): April 18, 10 ET (ESPN)
Game 2 (at COL): April 20, 9:30 ET (ESPN)
Game 3 (at SEA): April 22, 10 ET (TBS)
Game 4 (at SEA): April 24, 10 ET (TBS)
Game 5 (at COL): April 26, TBD
Game 6 (at SEA): April 28, TBD
Game 7 (at COL): April 30, TBD

Overall, the Seattle Kraken are 46-28-8 straight up and 36-40 under the top online sportsbook total. Seattle is 7^th in the Western Conference playoff standings. The Colorado Avalanche are 51-24-7 straight up and 34-42-6 over/under the total. Also, Colorado is 3^rd in the Western Conference playoff standings.

The Colorado Avalanche stumbled out of the gate for the first half of the Betting on NHL season. Naturally, there was an understandable Stanley Cup championship hangover. But with that Stanley Cup came the necessity to adjust the roster to salary cap compliance. That meant important contributors to last year’s championship team were replaced. Hence, Colorado’s poor performance for much of the season. But the Avs have bossed the cashier’s cage since the All-Star break. And they won the Central Division title on the season’s final day.

Best Bet: Colorado Avalanche

4-Dallas Stars -140 vs. 3-Minnesota Wild +120

Stars vs. Wild Schedule

Game 1 (at DAL): April 17, 9:30 ET (ESPN2)
Game 2 (at DAL): April 19, 9:30 ET (ESPN2)
Game 3 (at MIN): April 21, 9:30 ET (TBS)
Game 4 (at MIN): April 23, 6:30 ET (TBS)
Game 5 (at DAL): April 25, TBD
Game 6 (at MIN): April 28, TBD
Game 7 (at DAL): April 30, TBD

The Minnesota Wild are 46-25-11 straight up and 34-44 over/under the pro hockey betting total. Also, Minnesota is 6^th in the Western Conference playoff standings. In turn, the Dallas Stars are 47-21-14 straight up and 33-43-6 over/under the total. Also, Dallas is 4^th in the Western Conference playoff standings.

First-year head coach Peter DeBoer wasted no time making a huge difference for the Dallas Stars. Dallas enjoyed a 10-point improvement under DeBoer over last season. But the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs are where the rubber meets the road. And Dallas has one of the toughest first-round matchups.

Dallas will face the Minnesota Wild, who finished five points behind the Stars. Dallas has significantly more offensive firepower than the Wild. However, Minnesota locks games down like few other teams in the NHL. And in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, defense often prevails.

Best Bet: Dallas Stars

1-Vegas Golden Knights -170 vs. 8-Winnipeg Jets +140

Golden Knights vs. Jets Schedule

Game 1 (at VGK): April 18, 9:30 ET (ESPN2)
Game 2 (at VGK): April 20, 10 ET (TBS)
Game 3 (at WPG): April 22, 4 ET (TBS)
Game 4 (at WPG): April 24, 9:30 ET (ESPN)
Game 5 (at VGK): April 27, TBD
Game 6 (at WPG): April 29, TBD
Game 7 (at VGK): May 1, TBD

The Winnipeg Jets are 46-33-3 straight up and 23-53-6 over/under the hockey betting total. Also, Winnipeg is 8^th in the Western Conference playoff standings. The Vegas Golden Knights are 51-22-9 straight up and 35-41-6 over/under the total. Additionally, Vegas is 1^st in the Western Conference playoff standings.

First-year Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy landed on his feet after getting fired last summer by the Boston Bruins. To illuminate, Cassidy was swooped up by the Vegas Golden Knights, the most successful expansion franchise in major sports history.

Cassidy and the Golden Knights suffered from an inconsistent first half of the NHL gambling season. But in the season’s second half, the VGK powered to the Pacific Division title.

Best Bet: Vegas Golden Knights

2-Edmonton Oilers -250 vs. 3-Los Angeles Kings +200

Oilers vs. Kings Schedule

Game 1 (at EDM): April 17, 10 ET (ESPN)
Game 2 (at EDM): April 19, 10 ET (ESPN)
Game 3 (at LA): April 21, 10 ET (TNT)
Game 4 (at LA): April 23, 9 ET (TBS)
Game 5 (at EDM): April 25, TBD
Game 6 (at LA): April 29, TBD
Game 7 (at EDM): May 1, TBD

Overall, the Los Angeles Kings are 47-25-10 straight up and 42-36-4 over/under the total. Los Angeles is 5^th in the Western Conference playoff standings. The Edmonton Oilers are 50-23-9 straight up and 46-27-9 over/under the total. Also, Edmonton is 2^nd in the Western Conference playoff standings.

Last year was a great breakout for the Edmonton Oilers. After Jay Woodcroft took over as head coach midway through the 2021-22 season, the Oilers clicked. And that momentum continued in the postseason. Edmonton advanced to the Western Conference Final before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche. Part of Edmonton’s playoff journey last season was a first-round 7-game series win over the Los Angeles Kings. At the onset of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Oilers face the Kings in the opening round.