NHL Playoffs 2023: Odds, Hot Takes, Top Storylines Entering Postseason

The Boston Bruins have had a historic season. They set the regular-season records for wins (65) and points (135), cruising to the Presidents' Trophy and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

But it's highly likely that Bruins players won't consider this season a success unless they win the Stanley Cup, which would be the franchise's first since 2011. And it's almost time for them to begin that postseason quest.

After the 2022-23 NHL regular season concludes Friday with two final matchups, the Stanley Cup playoffs will get underway Monday. At that point, 16 teams will begin to battle it out until only one is crowned champion.

Here's a look at the latest Stanley Cup odds, followed by hot takes/top storylines for the playoffs.

Odds to Win Stanley Cup

Harry How/Getty Images

DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 15: The Stanley Cup Final logo is displayed on center ice before the start of Game One of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on June 15, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Boston Bruins: +330 (bet $100 to win $330)

Colorado Avalanche: +650

Edmonton Oilers: +800

Toronto Maple Leafs: +900

Carolina Hurricanes: +1100

New York Rangers: +1200

New Jersey Devils: +1200

Vegas Golden Knights: +1400

Tampa Bay Lightning: +1400

Dallas Stars: +1500

Minnesota Wild: +2200

Los Angeles Kings: +2200

Florida Panthers: +3000

Winnipeg Jets: +3500

Seattle Kraken: +4000

New York Islanders: +5000

Via DraftKings Sportsbook

The Bruins Will Not End Up Winning the Stanley Cup

Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 11: Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) and Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm (27) confer during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals on April 11, 2023, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Boston is the clear favorite to win the Stanley Cup after how dominant it was throughout the regular season. The prediction here is that it will instead be one of the other 15 playoff teams celebrating with the Cup come June.

The regular season and the postseason are completely different. Even though the Bruins have had only two brief losing streaks (one of three games and another of two), it only takes four losses in a best-of-seven series to be eliminated.

In order to win the Stanley Cup, Boston needs 16 playoff wins. But the competition is going to be tough, and it will only be playing strong teams, especially as the postseason gets deeper.

The Bruins enter the playoffs having won 15 of their last 16 games. Some team will need to try to slow that momentum.

However, the fact that Boston has yet to endure much adversity could benefit its opponents if it loses a game or two in a series. The Bruins could begin to feel the pressure at that point, and the other team will likely be one strong enough to capitalize on it.

With other top Stanley Cup contenders such as Carolina, New Jersey and Toronto in the East and Vegas, Edmonton and Colorado (the defending champions) in the West, Boston has some major obstacles in its way. Could the Bruins emerge with the Cup? Sure.

But that's going to be a difficult task. So don't be surprised if Boston gets knocked out late in the postseason (potentially even in the Stanley Cup Final) and its historic season ends without a championship to cap it off.

Lightning, Kings Could Be Sleeper Teams in Postseason

Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

ELMONT, NY - APRIL 06: Tampa Bay Lightning Right Wing Nikita Kucherov (86) is congratulated by teammates for scoring a goal during the second period of the National Hockey League game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Islanders on April 6, 2023, at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Looking for teams seeded in the bottom half of their conference that could still make deep runs in the Stanley Cup playoffs? The Lightning and/or the Kings could fit that bill.

Let's start with Tampa Bay, which is a franchise known for having postseason success. The Lightning are three-time Stanley Cup champions, having won the title in 2004, 2020 and 2021. They also reached the Stanley Cup Final last year, when they fell to the Avalanche.

In the first round, Tampa Bay will have a challenging matchup against Toronto. And an even more difficult opponent in Boston could be waiting after that.

But still don't count out the Lightning, who snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over the Red Wings to end the regular season on Thursday. With experienced playoff competitors such as Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos on its roster, Tampa Bay could be in a great position to pull off some upsets this postseason.

As for Los Angeles, it's coming off an up-and-down regular season. However, the Kings have shown they can get on a roll, such as in early March, when they won five straight games and seven of eight against some quality opponents.

Los Angeles has been great on the power play, converting 25.3 percent of its opportunities. That ranked fourth in the NHL behind only Edmonton (32.4), Toronto (26.0) and Tampa Bay (25.4). The Kings will likely need to continue to capitalize on those chances if they hope to have postseason success.

It's also why Los Angeles may be difficult to beat in a best-of-seven series, especially if its opponent commits too many penalties. The Kings have a balanced lineup of scorers who can get hot at any time, too.

So while Tampa Bay and Los Angeles may not be the most popular picks to win the Stanley Cup, neither should be counted out. Perhaps one will even make a surprise run deep through the postseason.

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