Pacific betting preview: Oilers vs. Golden Knights in a top-heavy division
We've covered the Atlantic, Metropolitan, and Central Divisions, which leaves us with the Pacific as the last one to cover before regular-season games start on Oct. 10.
The group out west is headlined by the defending Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights and one of this year's top favorites, the Oilers.
The betting market suggests these two powerhouses should be fighting for the division crown all season.
Futures| Team | Stanley Cup | Western Conf. | Pacific Div. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oilers | +900 | +500 | +185 |
| Golden Knights | +1200 | +600 | +245 |
| Kings | +2500 | +1000 | +425 |
| Flames | +3500 | +1200 | +800 |
| Kraken | +3500 | +1800 | +1000 |
| Canucks | +7500 | +2500 | +1500 |
| Ducks | +30000 | +10000 | +20000 |
| Sharks | +30000 | +10000 | +20000 |
The Oilers head into another campaign with Stanley Cup aspirations. Connor McDavid is coming off the best season of his career, tallying 153 points and winning his third MVP award. Alongside Leon Draisaitl, this duo is by far the best one-two punch in the league.
However, Edmonton's core lacks playoff success. The team's reached the conference finals only once in McDavid's eight-year career, getting swept by the Avalanche in 2022.
Oddsmakers are giving the Oilers a 10% chance of winning their first Cup since 1990.
The Golden Knights hoisted their first Stanley Cup last season in the franchise's sixth campaign. A large portion of the roster is returning, and the betting market believes Vegas has a 7.7% chance of repeating.
Defending isn't all that uncommon. Two teams - Lightning and Penguins - have won back-to-back Cups in the past eight years.
To Make The Playoffs| Team | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Oilers | -750 | +450 |
| Golden Knights | -650 | +400 |
| Kings | -400 | +280 |
| Flames | -180 | +135 |
| Kraken | -130 | +100 |
| Canucks | +125 | -160 |
| Ducks | +1500 | -5000 |
| Sharks | +1800 | -5000 |
The betting market indicates that three teams from the Pacific should make the playoffs. The Kings have an implied probability of 80% before a steep drop off to the remainder of the clubs.
The Flames, Kraken, and Canucks appear to have a decent chance of reaching the postseason. Only Seattle made the playoffs of this group last season.
What could work in this trio's favor is that two of the worst teams in the NHL are also in the Pacific. Playing additional games against the Ducks and Sharks is a luxury that clubs on the bubble in the Central Division don't have. Those extra contests could prove extremely important when the wild-card spots are up for grabs late in the campaign.
The Sharks (+275) and Ducks (+350) are the favorites to have the worst regular-season record.
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