Heading into April, the Stanley Cup appears to be a 2-team race between the +380 Boston Bruins and the +650 Colorado Avalanche. Following the Bruins and Avs in the betting are the Carolina Hurricanes at +850. The Toronto Maple Leafs are fourth choice at +900 while the New Jersey Devils are fifth choice at +1100. Keep reading for updated Stanley Cup odds along with bold betting predictions for the 2023 NHL Playoffs.

A Closer Look at the 2023 NHL Playoffs

NHL Morning Skate – March 29, 2023

▪️ Nugent-Hopkins matches career high with five-point night
▪️ @NHLFlames and @PredsNHL continue their chase for playoff positioning
▪️ @NYIslanders, @Capitals to face off on @NHL_On_TNT #NHLStats: https://t.co/KzRugJfhNb pic.twitter.com/dXs96JJ2GX

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 29, 2023

READ MORE: 2023 NHL Playoffs Picture & Predictions

Toronto loses in the first round

We’re not courageous enough to write the Boston Bruins lose their first round series. But we are brave enough to say the Maple Leafs lose their first round series.

As of March 27, the Leafs are second in the Atlantic Division. No matter which team Toronto ends up facing in the NHL Playoffs, they’re destined to bow out early.

Toronto may have to take on the Lightning in the first round. The Leafs won’t beat Tampa Bay. They won’t beat the New Jersey Devils if they battle them, or the New York Rangers, if Toronto ends up taking on NYR.

When it comes to the playoffs, the Maple Leafs are snakebit. So it doesn’t matter who they play. Toronto is going to lose.

The Wild also lose in the first round

We’re going out on more of a limb with this prediction. Toronto is a bad playoff team. So picking the Maple Leafs to lose in the first round isn’t exactly bold.

But picking the possible Western Conference’s top seed to fall in the first round is. If Minnesota grabs one of the top two seeds, they must play the Seattle Kraken or Winnipeg Jets.

Either one of those teams can beat the Wild. If Minny ends up in second or third place in the Central, or a wild card, they’d have to take on the Stars, Kings, Golden Knights, or Oilers. No matter which team the Wild face in their first playoff series, it won’t turn out well.

The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference Finals

Boston is a heavy favorite to lift Lord Stanley’s hardware. Favorites don’t always perform well in the playoffs.

This season, the chalk is going to lose the Eastern Conference Finals to the Carolina Hurricanes. Sure, the Canes always seem to choke in the postseason.

But this season’s Carolina squad is solid. Martin Necas, Sebastian Aho, and Jordan Staal are three fantastic scoring options. Necas is also a master at dishing the puck. The Hurricanes get it done.

The Los Angeles Kings upset the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Finals

The Kings will beat the Colorado Avalanche in seven games and win the Western Conference.

The Kings have improved a lot from last season. Goalie Jonathan Quick has some hockey left. Not only that, but Pheonix Copley and Cal Peterson are there to spell Quick should he need a day off.

Kevin Fiala has 48 assists. Fiala is fantastic at setting up top goal scorer Adrian Kempe. Also, Anze Kopitar remains on the roster. So the Kings can score from all over the place.

Carolina and the Kings play seven at the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the winner will be…

Los Angeles will beat Carolina and win the 2023 Stanley Cup. It won’t be easy, the prediction is seven games, but the Kings prevail.

The main reason the Kings prevail is because they have slightly more scoring options. Also, Carolina always chokes in the playoffs. Carolina won’t choke in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, but they will choke in the Stanly Cup Finals.

After what will be an entertaining 7-game series, the Los Angeles Kings will lift Lord Stanley’s hardware.

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*All stated odds are subject to change without prior notice.