NHL Western Conference Odds & Predictions 2025: Dallas in Desperate Need of Receiving Help From Their Defense

• The Dallas Stars are listed as the betting favorite to win the Western Conference title

• Winnipeg currently leads the Western Conference with 108 total points

• The Stars defense ranks 14th overall in Expected Goals Against in All Situations

Heading into the final stretch of the season, oddsmakers believe the Dallas Stars are in a great position to make a deep run in the playoffs as they are currently listed as the betting favorite to win the Western Conference championship. In order for the Stars to avoid making an early exit, their defense must round back into form as their back line ranks 14th in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. 

While the Stars are in desperate need of receiving help from their back line, the Winnipeg Jets are dealing with the opposite issue as their offense must pressure the net at a more consistent rate as their front line ranks 16th overall in Expected Goals For in All Situations. With minimal support from their offense, the Jets will continue to play in high variance contests which hurts their chances of winning.

NHL Western Conference Championship Odds

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Click on the odds in the table below to head to FanDuel Sportsbook and place your bets: Bet $5, Get $250 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins.

NHL Western Conference Championship Predictions and Favorites to Win 

With less variance in their contests, the Dallas Stars are in a great position to break away from their three way tie for second in the Western Conference standings and secure one of the top seeds in the playoffs.

Edmonton Oilers

After helping team Canada secure the championship in the 4 Nations Face-Off, Connor McDavid looks to carry over his momentum into the final stretch of the season and lead the Edmonton Oilers to another run at the Stanley Cup. McDavid has played a massive role in their success this season as the three time Hart Memorial Trophy winner is averaging 0.45 Expected Goals and nearly one assist per game.

Not only has McDavid and company thrived on offense, but their back line has quietly been one of the top units in the league as their defense ranks second overall in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. Should their goaltending be able to give them a high level of individual production throughout the playoffs, then Edmonton will be in a great position to make a second straight appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals.

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Vegas Golden Knights

Even though the Vegas Golden Knights are tied for second in the Western Conference standings, negative regression looms large as their back line continues to struggle with playing at a competitive level. As of writing, the Golden Knights defense ranks 14th overall in Expected Goals Against in All Situations with an average of 2.97 Expected Goals Against per game.

Fortunately for Vegas, their offense has been able to mask their struggles on defense by ranking near the top of the board in Expected Goals For in All Situations and in 5-on-5 Play. Their offense fields plenty of playmakers who are capable of creating high quality scoring opportunities on a nightly basis as eight players currently average more than 0.25 Expected Goals per game. Still, without help from their defense, Vegas will be prone to an early exit in the playoffs.

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Winnipeg Jets

After entering the break on an eight game winning streak, the Winnipeg Jets look to pick up from where they left off and strengthen their claim for the Presidents’ Trophy. Their improvement on offense has helped turn them into a well rounded unit as the Jets continue to steadily climb up the board in Expected Goals For in All Situations.

Should Winnipeg’s front line continue to improve, then the Jets will be a tough out in the playoffs. Especially when Connor Hellebuyck is anchoring their net as the reigning Vezina Trophy winner has been outstanding this season. As of writing, the Jets star goalie is averaging just 2.07 Goals Against per game and a .925 Save Percentage while comfortably leading the league in Goalie Wins.

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Colorado Avalanche

Heading into the year, the Colorado Avalanche were expected to thrive on offense while their defense held them back from being a well rounded contender. Over halfway into the season, that has yet to be the case as the Avs currently rank fifth overall in Expected Goals Against in All Situations while their offense ranks 12th in Expected Goals For. Their struggles on offense can be pointed towards their 5-on-5 Play as they drop down to below league average in Expected Goals in standard situations.

A severely underwhelming performance for a unit who is full of stars, especially with Nathan MacKinnon running the offense as the reigning Hart Memorial Trophy winner currently leads the league in total points while averaging over one assist per game. Until their offense drastically elevates their level of play, then pass on the Avs at their current odds to win the Western Conference Championship.

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Who Will Win the Western Conference Championship - My Pick 

Dallas Stars

While the Stars do not possess a bonafide superstar like Nathan MacKinnon, that has not stopped their front line from playing at a very high level as their offense currently ranks sixth overall in Expected Goals For in All Situations. Their offense is full of playmakers who all excel at creating high quality Shots on Goal as 10 players currently average more than 0.25 Expected Goals per game.

To help strengthen the Stars chances of making a deep run in the playoffs, their goaltending also gives them a high level of play on a nightly basis as Jake Oettinger and Casey DeSmith both average less than 2.50 Goals Against per game. With elite production at all three areas of the ice, place a wager on the Stars to win the Western Conference Championship at their current odds before they continue to crash down.

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Who Won the NHL Western Conference Championship in 2023/2024?

The Edmonton Oilers won the Western Conference in 2023-2024, claiming their 8th conference title.

NHL Western Conference History

Since its inception in 1982, the Western Conference has been dominated by the Edmonton Oilers as they currently lead the West with eight total conference championships in 11 appearances. Even as one of the betting favorites to win the West this season, history has shown that it is not easy to repeat as a conference champion as no one has done it since the Detroit Red Wings did it back in 2008-2009.

Past MHL Western Conference Winners

How to Choose the Best Sportsbook for Betting on the NHL Western Conference Championship

When making a wager on the Western Conference Championship futures market, it’s important to have access to as many sportsbooks as you can get. This gives you the ability to lineshop as odds can drastically vary for the conference winner. The Dallas Stars for example can be found as low as +400 at BetMGM and as high as +430 at FanDuel to win the Western Conference. That is a difference of $30 in profit for a $100 bettor.

Another major benefit of collecting multiple sportsbooks is that you can receive their unique signup bonus. This gives you a boost to your bankroll, giving you a headstart ahead of the NHL season. BetMGM Sportsbook for example is giving new users $150 in bonus bets after winning their first bet of at least $10 with the WSN promo code WSNSPORTS.

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How to Read NHL Western Conference Winner Odds

When making any type of wager, it’s vital to know how listed odds work. Should you bet the Stars to win the conference at their current odds of +430, then a $100 wager would profit you $430 if they win the Western Conference. Should you decide to wait and see if they make it to the Western Conference Finals and are listed with a minus sign in front of their number (ex: -130), then you would need to wager $130 to profit $100 if they win the Western Conference.