NHL Betting Tips from our Experts
National Hockey League Prediction 2024/25
Hockey is the most popular sport in a number of countries including Canada and Finland and maintains a passionate fanbase in the United States as well. It doesn't pull quite the same viewership as leagues such as the NFL and NBA but its popularity continues to grow year and year. A large part of the growth is down to the nature of the sport of hockey, which tends to be fast-paced and full of action. This can lead to some thrilling betting moments as there is nothing quite like the thrill of cashing a bet after your team scores in overtime to win the game.
The National Hockey League is made up of 32 total teams, 25 in the USA and seven in Canada. The league is separated into the Eastern Conference and Western Conference based on their geographic location, very similar to how the NBA groups its league. In these two conferences are four total divisions: the Atlantic, Metropolitan, Central and Pacific which each hold eight teams. The regular season spans 82 total games from the months of October to April with the playoffs then beginning in May. Teams generally play every 2-3 days although there are occasions when a team will play on consecutive nights. The NHL is generous in that 16 teams qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Eight teams from each conference get in, with the top three finishing teams in each division gaining automatic entry. The playoffs are three rounds, each being a best-of-seven series. The winners of each Conference Finals face off in the Stanley Cup Finals which is also a best-of-seven format.
The defending champions are the Florida Panthers who beat the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Finals. It went to a deciding game seven before the Eastern Conference champions lifted the cup for the first time in franchise history. It was a third win in five seasons for the state of Florida, with the Tampa Bay Lightning winning back-to-back cups in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons. The Lightning were the beaten finalists in 2021/22 when they were trying to become the first to win three in a row since the New York Islanders in the early 1980s. The Panthers were the beaten finalists in the 2022/23 season so a Florida team has made five straight Stanley Cup Finals. Can either make it six this season?
NHL Key Statistics
We've compiled some key statistics from the previous season to keep in mind when making your predictions for the upcoming NHL season. All of the following statistics are taken from the current recently completed 2023/24 season unless stated otherwise:
- The average goals scored per team across the 32 NHL clubs was 3.15 last season.
- There was an average of 6.3 goals scored per game in the 2023/24 NHL season.
- This was an decrease from 6.32 average goals scored per game in the 2022/23 campaign.
- Last year saw powerplay goals scored at a rate of 21%.
- Power play opportunities in 2023/24 were at an average of 6.03 per game.
- The Montreal Canadiens finished last season with the best against-the-spread puckline record at 53-29 (64.63%)
- The New Jersey Devils had the worst against the spread puckline record last year at 31-51 (37.8%).
Check out the NHL Odds at Bet365
NHL: Our Free Prediction for the 2024/25 Season
The Florida Panthers will take on the Edmonton Oilers for the second straight season in the Stanley Cup Final. This will be the first time that the same two teams have clashed in back-to-back finals since the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings did so in the 2007/08 and 2008/09 seasons.
It took until Game 7 last season for the Panthers to break the hearts of the Oilers but we have been on the side of the Oilers since the first puck dropped on the 2024/25 campaign. We are sticking with them to gain revenge and lift the Stanley Cup for the first time since the 1989/90 season!
Our prediction: The Edmonton Oilers to gain revenge and lift the Stanley Cup!
Head over to our NHL betting odds page to see the latest bookmaker odds!
Odds to win the 2024/25 Stanley Cup
- Edmonton Oilers - 1.76
- Florida Panthers - 2.10
Odds provided by Bet365 prices are correct as of 04/06/2025.
Stanley Cup Final
- Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers
Eastern Conference final
- Florida Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes - Florida Panthers won the series 4-1.
Western Conference Final
- Dallas Stars vs Edmonton Oilers - Edmonton Oilers won the series 4-1.
Eastern Conference semi-finals
- Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers - Florida Panthers won the series 4-3.
- Washington Capitals vs Carolina Hurricanes - Carolina Hurricanes won the series 4-1.
Western Conference semi-finals
- Winnipeg Jets vs Dallas Stars - Dallas Stars won the series 4-2.
- Vegas Golden Knights vs Edmonton Oilers - Edmonton Oilers won the series 4-1.
Eastern Conference 1st round
- Toronto Maple Leafs vs Ottawa Senators - Toronto Maple Leafs won the series 4-1.
- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers - Florida Panthers won the series 4-1.
- Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens - Washington Capitals won the series 4-1.
- Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils - Carolina Hurricanes won the series 4-1.
Western Conference 1st round
- Winnipeg Jets vs St Louis Blues - Winnipeg Jets won the series 4-3.
- Dallas Stars vs Colorado Avalanche - Dallas Stars won the series 4-3.
- Vegas Golden Knights vs Minnesota Wild - Vegas Golden Knights won the series 4-2.
- Los Angeles Kings vs Edmonton Oilers - Edmonton Oilers won the series 4-2.
2023/24 Season Recap
Stanley Cup winners: Florida Panthers
Runner-up (West Champions): Edmonton Oilers
Hart Memorial Trophy winner (MVP): Nikita Kucherov
Conn Smythe Trophy winner (playoffs MVP): Connor McDavid
Best regular season record: New York Rangers 55-23-4
Worst regular season record: San Jose Sharks 19-54-9
