NHL Playoff Picture 2023: Latest Standings and Odds for Stanley Cup

The 2022-23 NHL season is drawing to a close and the race for the playoffs is heating up, with division leaders changing with every win and loss.

The Boston Bruins have dominated in the Eastern Conference, but the Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs will be looking to knock the 60-win team out and end their chances at another Stanley Cup.

In the Western Conference, Las Vegas, Colorado and Edmonton have established themselves as favorites in what has proved to be a wide-open competition.

Where does each team fall in the current playoff standings, which sides are the favorites to hoist the Cup, and which team should fans keep an eye on as the postseason approaches?

Find out with this look at the current NHL playoff picture.

Eastern Conference Standings

Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 2: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs looks on against the Detroit Red Wings during the third period at the Scotiabank Arena on April 2, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)

Metropolitan Division

1. (x) Carolina Hurricanes (50-18-9; 109 points)
2. (x) New Jersey Devils (49-21-8; 106 points)
3. (x) New York Rangers (45-21-11; 101 points)

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Atlantic Division

1. (p) Boston Bruins (60-12-5; 125 points)
2. (x) Toronto Maple Leafs (46-21-10; 102 points)
3. (x) Tampa Bay Lightning (45-26-6; 96 points)

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Wild Card

1. Florida Panthers (40-31-7; 87 points)
2. New York Islanders (39-30-9; 87 points)
3. Pittsburgh Penguins (38-30-10; 86)
4. Buffalo Sabres (37-32-7; 81 points)
   
5. Ottawa Senators (37-34-7; 81 points)
6. Detroit Red Wings (35-33-9; 79 points)
7. Washington Capitals (34-34-9; 77 points)
8. Philadelphia Flyers (29-35-13; 71 points)
9. Montreal Canadiens (30-42-6; 66 points)
10. Columbus Blue Jackets (24-45-8; 56 points)
    

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(p) denotes Presidents' Trophy

(x) denotes clinched playoff spot

Western Conference Standings

Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images

DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 29: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Minnesota Wild at Ball Arena on March 29, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Central Division

1. (x) Colorado Avalance (46-24-5; 98 points)
2. (x) Dallas Stars (42-21-14; 98 points)
3. (x) Minnesota Wild (44-23-10; 98 points)

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Pacific Division

1. (x) Vegas Golden Knights (48-22-8; 104 points)
2. (x) Edmonton Oilers (46-23-9; 101 points)
3. (x) Los Angeles Kings (45-23-10; 100 points)

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Wild Card

1. Seattle Kraken (43-26-8; 94 points)
2. Winnipeg Jets (43-31-3; 89 points)
3. Calgary Flames (36-27-15; 87 points)
4. Nashville Predators (39-30-8; 86 points)
5. St. Louis Blues (36-35-7; 79 points)
6. Vancouver Canucks (34-36-7; 75 points)
7. Arizona Coyotes (27-38-13; 67 points)
8. San Jose Sharks (22-39-16; 60 points)
9. Chicago Blackhawks (25-46-6; 56 points)
10. Anaheim Ducks (23-44-10; 56 points)
    

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(x) denotes clinched playoff spot

Latest Stanley Cup Odds

Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 01: Boston Bruins Right Wing David Pastrnak (88) looks on during the third period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Boston Bruins on April 1, 2023, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Current odds for Stanley Cup winners via Draft Kings:

• Boston Bruins (+380)
• Colorado Avalanche (+650)
• Edmonton Oilers (+800)
• Toronto Maple Leafs (+900)
• Carolina Hurricanes (+1000)
• New York Rangers (+1200)
• New Jersey Devils (+1200)
• Tampa Bay Lightning (+1400)
  
• Dallas Stars (+1500)
• Las Vegas Golden Knights (+1600)
• Los Angeles Kings (+2200)
• Minnesota Wild (+2200)
• Florida Panthers (+2800)
• Seattle Kraken (+3500)
• Winnipeg Jets (+4500)
• New York Islanders (+5000)
  
• Pittsburgh Penguins (+7000)
• Calgary Flames (+8000)
• Nashville Predators (+20000)
  
• Buffalo Sabres (+40000)
• Ottawa Senators (+60000)
• Detroit Red Wings (+60000)
  

Beware of Slick Oilers

Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images

EDMONTON, CANADA - APRIL 01: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers stands for the playing of the national anthem before the game against the Anaheim Ducks on April 1, 2023 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Not only do the Edmonton Oilers have the best player in the game in Connor McDavid, but they are also hot at the right time.

Edmonton has amassed a record of 9-0-1 in its last 10 games and is on a five-win streak. The team has jumped Los Angeles in the Pacific Division and is three points behind Las Vegas for the top spot.

McDavid is the NHL leader in points (147) and the obvious favorite to win the Hart Trophy as the MVP of the league, but he isn't the only Oiler to watch for.

Leon Draisaitl is second in the league behind his teammate, with 123 points and 51 goals. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is third on the team in scoring with 99 points, making the Oilers one of the more dangerous offensive teams in the league and a threat to go all the way in the West.

If the team has a noticeable weakness, it is at goaltender, a position that will have to be more consistent in the playoffs. Luckily, Jack Campbell has improved his save percentage in every one of Edmonton's last five games, including a perfect 36-save game against Anaheim on April 1.

If he and fellow goalie Stuart Skinner can hold up against the likes of Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Dallas and defending Stanley Cup champions Colorado, the Oilers will become the favorites in the West, mostly because there are not many teams that will be able to score with them.

Though Boston has been seemingly unstoppable in the East, there is something to be said about big-time players excelling in major moments and McDavid has proved himself in that role this season.

Throw in the best power play ratings (36.1 percent) and you have a team that looks poised to do damage in the playoffs and perhaps compete for its first Stanley Cup since the 2005-06 season.