2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round Betting Odds

Odds Courtesy of SportsInteraction.com

Boston Bruins (-323) vs Florida Panthers (+272)

The Bruins are a heavy favourite to win their first-round series against the Florida Panthers. That should come as no surprise since the Bruins won the President’s Trophy. Florida is entering the series as a team that had to punch its ticket to the playoffs in the final week of the season. Usually, that hard work will pay off in the playoffs. We have seen wild card teams pull an upset, but this feels like Boston’s series to lose. Florida may take a game, but this feels like the series could see a gentleman’s sweep.

Tampa Lightning (+138) vs Toronto Maple Leafs (-156)

It is a rematch of last year’s first round that saw the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Toronto Maple Leafs. One thing that is surprising the Maple Leafs are a favourite to beat Tampa Bay. Yet the Maple Leafs have not won a playoff series since 2004. While the Lightning have gone to three straight Stanley Cup Finals. This feels like the Maple Leafs year with all the changes they made at the trade deadline, but so did last year and the year before. If the Leafs are gonna win this is the year you would think with the Lightning playing so much hockey over the last three years. But then again Tampa Bay has the biggest x-factor in the series with Andrei Vasilevskiy manning the pipes.

New York Islanders (+178) vs Carolina Hurricanes (-204)

This is going to be a low-scoring series with the way these two teams play defence so if you are betting single games, it might be wise to bet the under. Especially with the Islanders as Ilya Sorokin does not give up many especially on home ice. Carolina is only a slight favourite and it feels like the Islanders are a good value here to pull the upset. No Andrei Svechnikov for Carolina, while the Islanders get Mathew Barzal back into the lineup. Both teams are good on home ice so this series will come down to who can win in the other’s barn.

New York Rangers (+103) vs New Jersey Devils (-116)

This feels like a pick’em series between these Hudson River Rivals. The Devils won the season series against the Rangers. It will be the seventh time these rivals met in the playoffs with the Rangers leading 4-2. However, the Devils have won two of the last three series. But all the pressure is on the Rangers to win hence why it feels like they are the favourites in the series despite the Devils having home ice. Nobody expected the Devils to be in this position or even go far in the playoffs. But one thing is for sure this series will go the distance.

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Colorado Avalanche (-250) vs Seattle Kraken (+219)

This is a fascinating series as the Seattle Kraken are making their first playoff appearance against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche. Colorado won the Central Division on the last day of the regular season. Even without no Gabriel Landeskog, the Avalanche should win this series with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen playing the way they are. Not to mention Cale Makar is back. Does anyone expect Seattle to be like Vegas in their first year in the playoffs? No, but they have played Colorado close. Don’t be surprised if they take a game or two on home ice.

Dallas Stars (-141) vs Minnesota Wild (+124)

Do not be surprised this series goes seven games. Look at the goalies Jake Oettinger for Dallas and most likely Filip Gustavsson for Minnesota. That is the real unknown who starts for the Wild. Do they go back to Marc-Andre Fleury and potentially have a repeat of last year or do they go with a hot guy in Gustavsson? We will find out in Game 1. One thing is for sure there is a lot of firepower in this series and for Minnesota to pull the upset they have to keep the Dallas powerplay off the board.

Winnipeg Jets (+145) vs Vegas Golden Knights (-164)

The Vegas Golden Knights are back in the playoffs. They have home ice advantage. Mark Stone is returning to the lineup. Everything is going in their favour except they are playing a Winnipeg Jets team that has elite goaltending. Yes, Vegas is favoured, but would it shock anyone if Vegas lost to Connor Hellebuyck and the Jets? That has been their demise in playoffs past. However, what Winnipeg team will we get? When they play their best they can beat anyone. However, they have laid eggs before too. Not to mention Winnipeg is good on the road, while Vegas has been average in the fortress. Like with the Hurricanes-Islanders series, the Jets are a sneaky good play to pull the upset.

Los Angeles Kings (+167) vs Edmonton Oilers (-213)

It is a rematch of the first round from last year as the Oilers and Kings face off. The Oilers are heavy favourites after finishing the season with nine straight wins. Edmonton has the best powerplay in the league and the Kings will need to avoid the box if they have any chance in this one. Los Angeles made it a series last year as it went the distance. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have different ideas with a more balanced attack. The question for Edmonton is can they stop Andrian Kempe, who lit the Oilers up this season? Not to mention goaltending, but that is every series.

The choice is yours and yours alone, but these are some helpful tips to guide you through the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs that begins Monday, April 17th.

Here are full series previews of the Eastern and Western Conferences from Full Press Hockey.