NHL Playoff Picture: Dallas Has What It Takes To Win West

The 82-game regular season is over and the 2024 NHL playoffs are going. The field of 16 teams to begin the playoffs has been cut down to eight teams now and will soon drop to four. 

Now it's time to look at that bracket and see who has the best path to hoist the most beautiful and the hardest trophy in pro sports to win.

It's Stanley Cup playoff time baby!

Playoff Series Betting Previews

 Here are the betting previews we've got for each second-round series matchups:

Got a hunch on what side will qualify for the Conference Finals go on and see our Series Prices piece to get the odds.

Eastern Conference Winner Odds

Odds as of May 14

Eastern Conference Favorites: Florida Panthers

I hope you took the odds on Florida just a week ago. They had the fourth-lowest odds at +300 to win the East and are now favored at +225.

I told you all then that just because Florida lost a single game to the Bruins, shouldn't take them out of the running. I saw that loss in Game 1 coming a mile away. Playoff teams just aren't very good with three or more days of rest between games. Since 2019 they're 69-62 SU. That's barely a winning record at 52%.

Florida has bounced back massively winning three straight and putting Boston on the brink. Going to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight season seems like a guarantee. From there I wouldn't doubt them to take the East again.

Eastern Conference Fade: New York Rangers

I said don't trust the Rangers as far as you can throw them. This is a team that isn't great 5on5 and is, of course, losing the 5on5 battle with the Hurricanes thanks to a -2 goal differential.

If not for Carolina's horrifyingly bad power play, the Canes are likely ahead in this series. They've got a single goal in 20 attempts. A pathetic 5% efficiency. That's especially poor when you consider that Carolina had the second-best power play in the league during the regular season at 26.9%.

Plus the Rangers have that pesky President's Trophy curse to contend with here. I can't trust New York in this series with Carolina or even the next one, should they get there.

Western Conference Winner Odds

Odds as of May 14

Western Conference Favorites: Dallas Stars

All is quiet on the Western Front...when it comes to the Colorado Avalanche offense. In back-to-back home games, the Avs' previously potent offense has scored only twice. Oh and now they've lost their leading goalscorer Valeri Nichushkin after violating Stage 2 of the Player Assistance Program, which only happens after a player violates Stage 1 treatment plans.

Like the Panthers in the East, going to the Conference Finals seems certain for Dallas. But winning the West is what we're looking to answer. Look, in the past two seasons, the top seed in the West during the regular season has gone on to win the West in the playoffs. So there's recent precedent to suggest if Dallas makes the Conference Finals they'll win it.

Wester Conference Value Pick: Edmonton Oilers

Something is off with Stuart Skinner. He's been horrid in the second round. But we know there's a good goalie under that Lanny McDonald-level mustache. In his last 18 regular season games, Skins put up a 0.915SV% and a 2.40GAA. More importantly, he powered Edmonton to an 11-3-3 record.

I believe he can be fixed and the second he is Edmonton should be massive favorites to win the West. There just isn't another team in these playoffs with the same level of star power as the Edmonton Oilers.

How To Bet On The NHL Playoffs

There's way more than betting on Conference champions. We've got a ton of markets for you. Maybe you want to take your Conference Finals pick one step further and bet on the Stanley Cup odds. We'll also have you covered with daily NHL expert picks throughout the post-season.

As you follow along by tailing our picks or making your own picks to beat the books, make sure to check out our NHL Computer Picks page to support your handicapping.