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Stanley Cup Predictions & Odds Today: NHL Playoff Expert Picks for Wednesday, April 23

Gary Pearson

Last Updated: April 23, 2025 2:08 PM EDT • 4 min 33 sec read.

Pictured: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid) skates with the puck against LA Kings center Phillip Danault. Photo by Kirby Lee via Imagn Images

Who else is clamoring to see what magic Connor McDavid has in store for the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night? If you're on the East Coast, prepare your IV of coffee for the following morning. 

I'd be remiss not to mention the all-time greatest goal-scorer, who is back in action after scoring his first playoff overtime winner against the upstart Montreal Canadiens.

And then there's Nathan MacKinnon and his Stanley Cup odds favorite Colorado Avalanche, looking to rebound after losing Game 2 in overtime. 

Our Stanley Cup predictions and odds today offer expert picks on each of those games.

🏆 Live Stanley Cup predictions & odds to win NHL playoffs

Stanley Cup odds via our best NHL betting sites. Updated in real time.

Expect an entirely different Avalanche team from the one that got outworked in Dallas in Game 2. The Avs - who have won nine of their previous 12 at Ball Arena - will be out for blood on home ice. 

At Crypto.com Arena, don't be surprised if you see a low-scoring, dogged defensive battle between the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers in Game 2. Neither team will like how that wild affair unfurled, with both outfits set to overcompensate defensively. I'd also be flabbergasted to see the Oilers repeat their no-shots in 48-minute fiasco.

Based on that tidbit, it's hardly surprising that Darcy Kuemper - who had probably nodded off while in the prone position - allowed five goals in just over 20 minutes. 

In Washington, I expect another spirited effort from the Canadiens, but this time for the full 60 minutes plus any potential extracurriculars. 

💰 Best bet to win Stanley Cup: Avalanche (+750 via FanDuel)

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🏒 NHL playoff predictions & best bets for today Wednesday, April 23

Here are our best NHL predictions today for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including our expert picks and full-game previews for every matchup. Odds courtesy of BetMGM; subject to change.

🚨 Game 2: Canadiens vs. Capitals prediction, odds & expert picks

📍 Puck drop: 7 p.m. ET | 📺 TV: ESPN, Sportsnet
📊 Odds: Canadiens (+165) | Capitals -200 | O/U 5.5
🎯 Score prediction: Canadiens 4, Capitals 2

Here is why Gary Pearson is picking the underdog Canadiens:

"After adapting to the pace and physicality of playoff hockey expertly in the final frame, I don't think the Habs will let the Game 1 loss faze them. They're young and exuberant and should be able to move on from Ovi's clutch game-winner."

👉 Check out our full Canadiens vs. Capitals for expert analysis, betting picks, and our favorite prop bets.

🤖 Canadiens vs. Capitals AI prediction 

🎯 Score prediction: Capitals 4, Canadiens 2 

Here is why ChatGPT is picking the Capitals to win: 

"Ovechkin didn’t just score — he imposed himself physically and emotionally on the game. He led both teams in hits and fired five shots on goal. His OT winner — his first career playoff overtime goal, incredibly — felt like a tone-setter for this series. When your captain, nearing 40, is your best player in Game 1, that reverberates through the bench."

🚨 Game 3: Stars vs. Avalanche Game 3 prediction, odds & expert picks

📍 Puck drop: 9:30 p.m. ET | 📺 TV: ESPN, SN360 
📊 Odds: Stars (+145) | Avalanche (-175) | O/U 6.5
🎯 Score prediction: Avalanche 4, Stars 2 

Here's why Gary Pearson is picking the Avs to win in regulation: 

"The fact that they almost beat the Stars after being so comprehensively outplayed is telling, and it won't recur in the Mile High City. The Avs were 9-2-1 down the stretch, with the setback to Vancouver in the final game at Ball Arena more meaningless than learning advanced calculus in high school."

👉 Check out our full Stars vs. Avalanche prediction for expert analysis, betting picks, and our favorite prop bets.

🤖 Stars vs. Avalanche AI prediction 

🎯 Score prediction: Avalanche 4, Stars 3 

Here's why ChatGPT is picking the Avs to win:

"Given Colorado’s offensive depth, home-ice advantage, and the continued brilliance of Nathan MacKinnon, I expect the Avalanche to come out on top in Game 3. The Stars are resilient and can counter if Jake Oettinger plays his best. However, Colorado's ability to exploit mistakes along with playing at home should carry them to a 2–1 series lead."

🚨 Game 2: Oilers vs. Kings Game 3 prediction, odds & expert picks

📍 Puck drop: 10 p.m. ET | 📺 TV: TBS, Sportsnet
📊 Odds: Stars (+115) | Avalanche (-135) | O/U 6
🎯 Score prediction: Oilers 5, Kings 3

Here's why Connor Cooper is picking the Oilers to win: 

"One of the reasons we backed the Kings in Game 1 was because of the potential for the Oilers’ big guns to be sluggish after missing recent action due to various injuries. That certainly appeared to be the case for the first two periods, as Los Angeles surged out to a 4-0 lead and looked well on its way to an easy puck line cash. Things quickly changed in the third period, however. Edmonton fired 15 shots on net in the final frame – five more than it had in the first two periods - and was rewarded with four goals."

👉 Check out our full Oilers vs. Kings prediction for expert analysis, betting picks, and our favorite prop bets.  

🤖 Kings vs. Oilers AI prediction 

🎯 Score prediction: Oilers 4, Kings 3 (OT)

Here's why ChatGPT is picking the 

"After such a heartbreaking loss in Game 1, the Oilers will be motivated to avoid falling behind 0–2 in the series. They have the offensive depth to keep up with the Kings, and their strong comeback should give them confidence heading into Game 2. The Kings’ defense will be tested once again, and if McDavid and Leon Draisaitl continue their high level of play, they will ultimately carry the Oilers to a hard-fought victory."

🔮 Today's NHL expert picks

🧠 Stanley Cup predictions, expert picks 

🥅 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs betting odds & NHL expert picks

Looking to bet on today's games? Here are some helpful tips and our picks to keep you sharp through the Stanley Cup playoffs:

💵 Best hockey betting sites

Ready to place your hockey bets today? Here are the best NHL betting sites and best sportsbook promos for the Stanley Cup playoffs:

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Written By:
Gary Pearson
Gary Pearson has written professionally since 2010, focusing on sports betting since 2014. Before entering the sports betting space, he contributed to the Canadian Press, FanSided, the Hockey Writers, the Calgary Herald, and other publications. His work has also been featured in Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report. Gary, who consumes sports like a blue whale devours plankton, has a penchant for writing predictions and analyses across several sports, including hockey, soccer, football, tennis, and more. He bets regularly, preferring single-game picks, props, and live betting. While there isn't a sport he has yet to dabble in, Gary prefers betting on soccer, hockey, and football. He studied at various post-secondary institutions, including the University of Calgary, SAIT Polytechnic, and Griffith University, located in Brisbane, Australia. Gary has a marketing degree and completed his bachelor's degree in journalism at Griffith University. He feels strongly that life experience is as essential as post-secondary education, helping formulate more accurate predictions and analyses. Gary believes that competing at a high level of amateur sports during his formative years helped him better understand an athlete's psyche and the nuances and complexities of a team's dynamic, both on and off the playing surface. He feels that knowledge is immeasurably important when offering his analytical expertise. He has lived on five continents and currently resides in Canada.