- Los Angeles (+130) and Vegas (+140) are co-favorites to capture the Pacific this season
- Connor McDavid’s Oilers (+1200) are in danger of missing the playoffs
- The Vancouver Canucks (+500) are off to a sizzling start under new head coach Rick Tocchet
It has been a long road back for the Kings. After winning two Stanley Cups in three years, the franchise patiently rebuilt around center Anze Kopitar and defenseman Drew Doughty. Having not advanced past the first round of the playoffs in nine years, Los Angeles finally looks like a contender again.
Can Todd McLellan’s club fend off the reigning Cup champs in the Pacific or will the Golden Knights claim their fourth division title in the past six seasons? Before we check the odds, here’s where you can find the best Stanley Cup betting sites and the top betting sites for NHL hockey in 2023-24.
Pacific Division Winner
Vegas baby!
Vegas (+140) leads the Pacific with 34 points, but they’ve played four more games than the Kings, who have the third-best points percentage (.725) in the NHL. The reigning champions (15-5-4) have had an impressive start to the season considering they were still playing hockey in mid-June .
Just as he did in last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, Adin Hill is standing on his head in net with a league-leading 1.87 goals against average and a .935 save percentage. Bruce Cassidy led the Bruins to an Atlantic division title in 2019-20 and the Golden Knights to a Pacific crown in 2022-23. So, don’t expect the veteran head coach let his foot off the gas.
Adin Hill to start this season:
.933 S% (1st)
1.95 GAA (1st)
10.8 GSAx (2nd)
0.815 GSAx/60 (1st among starters)He is the clear Vezina front runner right now. pic.twitter.com/zPMxCqZI8v
— Landon (@Bozzyy_) November 29, 2023
Crown the Kings?
Los Angeles (+130) sits near the top of every Power Rankings list thanks to their smothering defense and goaltending. Todd McLellan’s squad is allowing the second-fewest goals per game (2.35) in the league and 36-year-old Cam Talbot has saved 11.14 goals above average (#2 in the NHL).
Captain Anze Kopitar is averaging a point per game in his 12th season and his protege at center ice, Quinton Byfield, has taken the leap with four goals and 12 assists in 20 games. If the 13-4-3 Kings can get improved play out of offseason acquisition Pierre-Luc Dubois, they’ll be almost impossible to beat.
Canucks come out of nowhere
With a 15-8-1 record, Vancouver (+500) currently sits in second place in the division in between Vegas and LA. Seeking only their second playoff berth in the past nine years, the Canucks traded picks to Calgary for big Russian defenseman Nikita Zadorov.
After a blistering start, Rick Tocchet’s club is only 3-5 in their past eight games with an embarrassing defeat to the Sharks and lopsided losses to the Avalanche and Golden Knights. However, you can’t write them off completely. With the league’s top goal scorer Brock Boeser and defenseman Quinn Hughes, who is tied for fourth in the NHL with 33 points, Vancouver could stay in the mix in the Pacific.
Quinn Hughes doing it all by himself 🎯 pic.twitter.com/MiYtloMjbO
— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) November 21, 2023
Lucky longshot
Connor McDavid has scored 13 points to help Edmonton (+1200) to four-straight wins, but the Oilers are still three games under .500. While it’s far too early to count them out of the playoffs, don’t bother betting on them to win the division. Even with three quarters of the season remaining, 15 points is a lot to make up.
Best bet
We like the LA Kings (+130) to win their first Pacific crown in the 30-year history of the division.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
