Ryan Hodges
Show Bio
The 2022-2023 NHL regular season had plenty of memorable moments. Despite half the teams no longer being suited up, this is the best time of year for hockey. Even for fans whose favorite team is not in the playoffs, this postseason is going to be a treat. This Eastern Conference is as loaded as a conference has been in some time. The Western Conference includes the reigning Stanley Cup Champion and the best player on the planet.
Buckle up for what has all the makings for a historic, memorable NHL postseason. This will be can’t miss television! Among the 8 series’ that kick off on Monday, check out some of our favorite series bets among the Rangers-Devils, Islanders-Hurricanes, Kings-Oilers, and Jets-Golden Knights.
Head over to DraftKings Sportsbook where you can bet on this NHL mega parlay at HUGE +1019 odds. DraftKings has a great new-customer offer where you can bet $5 on ANY team money line and get $150 in bonus bets if they win! Click here to claim this great sign-up offer.
New York Rangers (#3) vs New Jersey Devils (#2) series prediction
This series may be the best in these playoffs. The Devils set new franchise records and if the season was another game or 2 longer, likely would have won the Atlantic. New Jersey finished 4th in the NHL in goals scored per game and 8th in goals allowed per game. They are young, fast, and deep. The Devils will give the Rangers all they can handle.
The Rangers will be prepared for the fast pace this series will bring. This is largely the same Rangers team that went to the Conference Finals last season. They have only improved as they added Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane among other acquisitions. With 4 Stanley Cups between those guys, the Rangers have the depth and pedigree to make a run. These teams are very familiar with each other, they are both loaded, and being only 13 miles apart, both fanbases will travel well. Fans will be treated to this one going the distance.
Best Bet: Series Total Games: 7 (+200)
Make sure to check out our full analysis of Monday night’s playoff opening games.
New York Islanders (WC1) vs Carolina Hurricanes (#1) series prediction
The Islanders and Hurricanes are more similar than a division winner and wild card team would usually be. They both excel in goal prevention while they do not exactly light it up on the offensive side of the puck. They both have a good penalty kill but weaker power play, and they both are very good in the faceoff dot. The theme of this series will be possession and containment. That is how both teams are successful. They won’t just change their style entering the playoffs.
Given the similar styles and team strengths, there will not be much margin for error in this series. The Islanders have been playing playoff hockey for weeks as they battled for this wild card spot. The Hurricanes do not come into this postseason in the best of form. There is a realistic chance the Islanders win this series outright. Regardless, this looks to be a close series.
Best Bet: Islanders +1.5 Series Spread (-130)
All of today’s biggest games are available to bet with BetMGM, the premier destination for online sports betting. New customers can earn themselves a $1,000 deposit bonus by signing up right now! Click here to lock in this great sign-up offer.
Los Angeles Kings (#3) vs Edmonton Oilers (#2) series prediction
Despite the final standings not reflecting it, the Oilers may very well be the best team in the Western Conference. They played unbelievable in the second half of this season, and they sprinted through the finish line of the regular season with 9 consecutive wins. With just 1 regulation loss since March 11, the Oilers are 14-0-1 in their last 15 games. Armed with the best player on the planet and a very good supporting cast, Edmonton is for real this time.
Historically, when the Oilers were successful, it was by winning high scoring games as they have not usually had very good goal prevention. But they ended the season allowing 2 goals in just 1 of their final 7 games. The rest were shutouts or 1-goal allowed performances. The Kings are a fine team, but this just has more to do with the Oilers’ domination and they’re clicking at the right time. This series should be all Edmonton.
Best Bet: Oilers -1.5 Series Spread (-110)
Winnipeg Jets (WC2) vs Vegas Golden Knights (#1) series prediction
If there was anything the Jets did consistently this season, it was being inconsistent. After a strong start to the season where the Jets spent time atop the Central, it has been a downward spiral in the second half of the season. They obviously recovered just enough to hang on to the final wild card spot by just 2 points, but Winnipeg is the overall weaker team in the series and plain cannot be relied on.
The Golden Knights won the Western Conference by catching fire in the second half of the season after a small lull in the middle of the year. They won all 3 head-to-head matchups against the Jets this season by a combined score of 13-8. Vegas ended the season with 13 wins in 18 games and with 12 wins in their last 15 at home. The Golden Knights are the better team in better form at the right time.
Best Bet: Vegas Golden Knights -1.5 Series Spread (+115)
You can bet these odds boosts over at Caesars, which has a great sign-up offer where you can get up to $1,250 back on your first bet! Click here to sign up for Caesars right now.
Pickswise is the home of free NHL Picks and NHL Predictions. Check back for our daily NHL Best Bets, including our favorite NHL Prop Bets.
