NHL Betting Tips from our Experts

Odds

Results

Betting Tips

National Hockey League Prediction 2023/24

NHL prediction 2023-24

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 Vegas Golden Knights are the defending champions after defeating the Florida Panthers in the finals four games to one. It was the first Stanley Cup in the franchise's history following their creation as an expansion team in 2017. By winning the championship last year, Vegas also set the record for the fastest expansion franchise to win the Stanley Cup at six years, just one year ahead of the previous record held by the Flyers. The Knights enter the 2023/24 season as the bookmakers' sixth-favorites to defend their title and lift the famous cup again. The NHL has seen two teams win back-to-back Stanley Cups in the last eight years alone. Will Vegas become the next to do so? Be sure to visit our NHL results page throughout the season to keep up with the latest scores!

See all the NHL betting odds!

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 2022/23 season unless stated otherwise:

The average goals scored per team across the 32 NHL clubs was 3.18 last season.
There was an average of 6.36 goals scored per game in the 2022/23 NHL season.
This was an increase from 6.28 average goals scored per game in the 2021/22 campaign.
Last year saw the highest power play percentage since the 1985/86 season at 21.27%.
Power play opportunities also saw a seven-year high in 2022/23 at an average of 6.14 per game.
The Seattle Kraken finished last season with the best against the spread puckline record at 57-39 (59.4% - regular season and playoffs).
The Calgary Flames had the worst against the spread puckline record last year at 31-51 (37.8%).
Last season saw an average of 1.60 goals scored in the first period, 2.00 goals scored in the second period and 2.00 goals scored in the third period.
Last season saw teams scoring on average 28% in the first period, 34% in the second period and 34% in the third period.
The Boston Bruins set the all-time points record by a single team in the 2022/23 season at 135.

Check out the NHL Odds at Bet365

NHL: Our Free Prediction for the 2023/24 Season

NHL betting advice 2023-24

The Edmonton Oilers are looking set to put together a serious Stanley Cup in the 2023/24 campaign. Edmonton made it to the second round of the playoffs last year, beating the Kings in the first round before ultimately being bounced out by eventual champions Vegas. The Oilers had an impressive regular season which saw them win 50 games and finish with the third-best record in the Western Conference. They also finished as the highest-scoring team in the NHL with an average of 3.96 goals scored per game, some way ahead of the next highest team at 3.66. Their relentless offensive is down to the superstar duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl who form what is likely the most potent pair currently playing.

McDavid is the reigning and three-time MVP despite being just 26 years old. He cracked the 150 points mark last season, becoming the first player to do so since Mario Lemieux in the 1995/96 season and Wayne Gretsky before him. To Draisaitl's credit as well, he is the fourth-favorite at the moment to win the MVP award, meaning that Edmonton possess two of the current top four MVP candidates. They'll also have more experience in the goalie department as Stuart Skinner enters his second season and they should have an increased defensive cohesion between Nurse and Ekholm. If they can improve on their defense while maintaining their outrageous offensive production, the Oilers will be an extremely tough out for any team. That's why the Edmonton Oilers are our current pick to win the 2023/24 Stanley Cup. Head over to our NHL betting odds page to see the latest bookmaker odds!

Place your NHL bets at Vbet!