NHL Playoff Picture 2024: Latest Stanley Cup Bracket, Odds and Picks
April 6, 2024NHL Playoff Picture 2024: Latest Stanley Cup Bracket, Odds and Picks
Predicting the Stanley Cup winner is a more difficult task than it has been for the last few years.
There is no runaway team in the standings, and instead, all seven teams over 100 points entering Saturday have a shot to win the Presidents' Trophy and earn the No. 1 seed in their respective conferences.
The Eastern Conference wild-card race carries even more chaotic characteristics.
The Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings and Washington Capitals all lost on Friday. Philadelphia's loss to the Buffalo Sabres bunched six teams within four points of each other.
If anything, the tight dynamics of the standings should produce an exciting last week-and-a-half of the regular season.
Stanley Cup Odds
Carolina (+650; bet $100 to win $650)
Florida (+700)
Colorado (+700)
Edmonton (+750)
New York Rangers (+900)
Dallas (+900)
Boston (+1000)
Vegas (+1200)
Toronto (+1400)
Vancouver (+1500)
Winnipeg (+2000)
Tampa Bay (+2500)
Los Angeles (+2500)
Nashville (+4000)
Philadelphia (+7500)
New York Islanders (+10000)
Detroit (+10000)
Pittsburgh (+15000)
Washington (+20000)
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
1. Boston - 105 points
2. Florida - 101
3. Toronto - 95
Metropolitan Division
1. New York Rangers - 108
2. Carolina - 103
3. New York Islanders - 83
Wild-Card Race
1. Tampa Bay - 93
2. Philadelphia - 83
3. Washington - 82
4. Detroit - 82
5. Pittsburgh - 81
6. Buffalo - 79
7. New Jersey - 76
We know who six of the eight playoff teams in the Eastern Conference will be.
The top three teams in the Atlantic, the two best in the Metropolitan and the wild-card leading Tampa Bay Lightning are all in.
Boston and the New York Rangers hold edges in their respective divisions. New York appears to be the East's best shot at the Presidents' Trophy.
After that, no one appears to want to get into the postseason.
Philadelphia, Detroit and Washington all missed their opportunities to gain ground in the wild-card race on Friday.
Philadelphia, Washington, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Islanders are all fighting for third place in the Metropolitan as well.
The Flyers lost their sixth straight game on Friday, while the Capitals are now on a five-game skid.
The Flyers and Capitals' bad form made the Penguins and Islanders look better in the wild-card race.
Pittsburgh hosts Tampa Bay on Saturday, while the Islanders play host to the Nashville Predators.
Home wins for both sides would create some separation and potentially make the Penguins and Islanders the favorites to land the final two playoff spots.
Predicted Bracket
Pittsburgh vs. New York Rangers
New York Islanders vs. Carolina
Tampa Bay vs. Boston
Toronto vs. Florida
Western Conference
Central Division
1. Dallas - 105
2. Colorado - 102
3. Winnipeg - 98
Pacific Division
1. Vancouver - 102
2. Edmonton - 97
3. Vegas - 92
Wild-Card Race
1. Nashville - 92
2. Los Angeles - 91
3. St. Louis - 84
4. Minnesota - 81
Friday was a vital day for seeding in the Western Conference.
The Edmonton Oilers delivered a statement win at home over the Colorado Avalanche, while the Vegas Golden Knights surprisingly conceded six third-period goals in a loss to the Arizona Coyotes.
There are now five points between Edmonton and Vegas for second place in the Pacific. Vegas may find it hard to rebound on Monday against the division-leading Vancouver Canucks.
Colorado will likely fall five points behind Dallas in the Central Division after the Stars' road clash with the Chicago Blackhawks. That puts even more importance on the Sunday night showdown in Denver between the Stars and Avalanche.
The wild-card race may be settled already since the Los Angeles Kings need to win three of their remaining six games to clinch a playoff spot.
Los Angeles benefited from a big swing on Thursday, when the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild lost.
Dallas and Vancouver are the West's best chances to win the Presidents' Trophy, but neither side may be able to catch the Rangers.
Predicted Bracket
Los Angeles vs. Dallas
Winnipeg vs. Colorado
Nashville vs. Vancouver
Vegas vs. Edmonton
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