The first round of the NHL playoffs has already started, which is an opportune time to re-visit Eastern Conference futures. That’s exactly what we’re doing in this article. You’re going to want to stick with us to get updated picks on which teams win the NHL Eastern Conference title!
But first things first, we should analyze the latest Eastern Conference title odds, to begin with. The following teams are most favored to win the championship, per top-rated NHL betting sites:
| Team |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | +120 | +120 | +120 |
| NY Rangers | +400 | +400 | +400 |
| Carolina | +550 | +550 | +550 |
| Toronto | +650 | +650 | +650 |
| Tampa Bay | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| NY Islanders | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
Picks To Win 2023 NHL Eastern Conference Championship
We’re going to make not one but two picks to win the Eastern Conference. There are two reasons behind this: one, the conference — more so than the West — is absolutely loaded. Realistically, you could make strong arguments for four or five teams to win. The NHL playoffs are notoriously unpredictable, so it’s better not to risk it all on one team.
Reason two, though, did you see the odds above? Bookmakers are giving you a cushion to bet on multiple teams since the top teams are all plus money at the moment. With that said, here are the two teams we’re eying with bets:
New York Rangers
The Rangers find themselves in a battle with the rival Devils right now. As it stands, New York is ahead 2-1 in the series. It was oh so close to being 3-0, but New Jersey squeezed out a Game 3 victory in overtime. Regardless, our confidence remains sky-high for the Rangers.
Before this overtime thriller, New York was running away with things. Both Game 1 and 2 ended with 5-1 victories for the Rangers. Those wins really encapsulated why the Rangers are our priority pick in the East: goaltending.
Igor Shesterkin is that dude (again). We get it, and he had an up-and-down season. But the former Vezina Trophy winner has been on a tear for a month now. To close out the regular season, Shesterkin went 9-2-1 down the stretch with a .944 save percentage and 1.74 GAA. Shesterkin has only surrendered four goals in three games this series so all signs point to that hot streak being alive and well still.
Beyond Shesterkin, we also love the championship-winning experience the team purposely added before the trade deadline. Players like Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko were added up front — two veterans that have led teams to titles in recent memory. We’re betting the presence of both is enough to put this franchise “over the top” per se.
Tampa Bay Lightning
We wanted to up the risk level with our second futures bet. By risk, we’re taking a team currently down 2-1 in their playoff series and in desperate need of a victory come Game 4. But this isn’t any team — it’s the three-time reigning Eastern Conference champions. They’ve been in this situation before during this incredible run and found a way through each time. Our money says that happens once more.
This Game 3 also went overtime. But Toronto was able to escape with a 4-3 victory on Tampa Bay’s own ice. Here again, we’re confidently backing the Bolts because, like the Rangers, they have experience, and more of it, in fact. This core of players that makes most of its roster has raised two Stanley Cups together and also collapsed in the first round. There’s no panic button after those extreme highs and lows.
If anything, these pressure-packed situations bring out the best in the Lightning. Let’s be real; this team mailed it in the second half of the season. A playoff spot was all but guaranteed by the half-point in the season — and by then, they weren’t going to catch the Bruins for the division title either. So we have a sneaking suspicion Tampa is going to “flip the switch” the rest of this series against the Maple Leafs, a team known for choking in these exact moments.
The last thing, we believe Tampa at +1000 odds is a steal too. There are currently four teams with better title odds than them. Ain’t that selling short a team that has every right to call itself a dynasty? And until we see that dynasty fall, we wouldn’t overlook them quite yet. Take the Lightning here at these steep odds. You won’t need to wager a lot to come up big with a +1000 line, believe that.
How To Bet On 2023 NHL Futures?
NHL futures bets are a great way to mix up playoff gambling. There’s a wide array of these bets available too — not just on conference winners, but the entire Stanley Cup champion. Odds are in flux as the postseason goes on, but you can find up-to-date NHL odds on ‘em by visiting one of the underneath bookmakers.
All five sites you see listed are “cream of the crop.” They’re some of the most-used bookmakers around so you can be guaranteed your money is safe with these betting sites. Click on one of the links below to get fast-tracked into NHL betting.
