The regular season is slowly ending, and National Hockey League fans are still on the edges of their seats. The main reason is that the postseason will officially commence a few days from now, on April 17, 2023, leaving them no time to rest, which still keeps their heart pumping for more.
The good news is that even with less than a month left, many things have already occurred. Meanwhile, the bad news is that all the updates aren’t the cherry on top, which means unfortunate news and surprises have also taken place so far. However, to motivate you further to the NHL’s Stanley Cup, here are a few essential updates you need to know.
NHL Updates
News and updates are more crucial as the season is nearing the Stanley Cups. For the most recent news and updates, here are two headlines you should be aware of:
Pittsburgh Penguins Regain WildCard Chance in East
As of writing this article, there are only a few more days until the 2022-2023 NHL regular season, but there’s still a possibility that an amazing plot twist will occur for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Penguins could regain an appearance in the 2023 Playoffs if they could defeat the Philadelphia Flyers on April 2, 2023. Fortunately, they did, and they completed it successfully. The Penguins won over the Flyers 4-2 last Sunday, which earns them the Eastern Conference’s second wildcard spot.
Vancouver Canucks to Miss Playoffs Three Years Straight
After the devastating loss against the Los Angeles Kings with 4-1, the Vancouver Canucks Will miss another playoff. Although many have already foreseen this far, it’s still unfortunate news for the team, especially since they’re only 14 points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the last spot in the Western Conference for the Playoffs.
This is also the seventh time in eight years that NHL fans will not see Vancouver play in the Playoffs. Aside from that, it’s also the team’s third year in a row not to make it to the postseason.
NHL Standing
On the other hand, with still a few days left, many things can still happen, and the standings can still significantly change. Nonetheless, knowing the status of your favorite team will give you an idea of how far they could possibly go to the Stanley Cups Playoffs. In the meantime, here are the standings of the top teams from each conference.
Eastern Conference (win-loss, points)
- Atlantic Division
- Boston Bruins. 60-12, 125 points
- Toronto Maple Leafs. 45-21, 100 points
- Tampa Bay Lightning. 45-26, 96 points
- Metropolitan Division
- Carolina Hurricanes. 49-18, 107 points
- New Jersey Devils. 48-21, 104 points
- New York Rangers. 45-21, 101 points
Western Conference (win-loss, points)
- Central Division
- Minnesota Wild. 44-23, 97 points
- Colorado Avalanche. 45-24, 96 points
- Dallas Stars. 41-21, 96 points
- Pacific Division
- Vegas Golden Knights. 47-22, 101 points
- Los Angeles Kings. 45-22, 100 points
- Edmonton Oilers. 45-23, 99 points
Stanley Cup Favorites
As mentioned, various elements can still affect the current standings, affecting their odds of winning the Stanley Cups. Still, bettors and experts have expressed their picks while also considering the events unfolding throughout the season. To give you an idea of what’s going on in the market, here are the NHL odds of the current favorites to win the Stanley Cup.
- Boston Bruins (+380). The Bruins quickly become the favorite to win the 2023 Stanley Cup, especially since they have the ever-talented core Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pasttrnak, and their outstanding goalie, Linus Ullmark. Aside from that, thanks to the team’s consistently outstanding performance, they’re currently highly favored to win this year’s Cup.
- Colorado Avalanche (+700). Although they’re currently sitting in second place in the Central Division of the Western Conference, they still have a relatively pretty record comparable to their last season’s. However, the apparent injury increase made fans anxious about the team’s future games. As long as the other members remain unfazed, the Avs still have a pretty good chance.
Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge
Various experts have published their bracket predictions concerning the current standings, while other fans also give their shot at the bracket challenge to make things more fun for them. The bracket challenge is the NHL’s official game for fans and bettors alike to participate in correctly predicting the outcome of the actual Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket. However, the 2023 bracket challenge was closed last April 3, 2023.
However, don’t fret! You can still partake in the Playoffs and the Stanley Cup as a fan or bettor in several ways. You can sign up for sportsbooks online and enjoy their various betting lines.
Final Thoughts
Regardless if you’re here to watch for the Stanley Cup Playoffs or wagering to win, the NHL hockey games are undeniably one of the most enjoyable sports. So, it’s easy to get lost in the events and down yourself with the news and updates. Take your time catching up with what’s new and what’s up as you prepare for this year’s postseason.
If you’re up to earning money on the sideline, then today is the best day to sign up on sportsbooks online to bet on the winning favorites.