NHL Betting: Which Team Will Pace the Western Conference in Points?

With NHL All-Star Weekend now in the past, it's time to look forward to the remainder of the 2023-24 regular season.

The NHL has been as exciting as ever this season, and a big reason why is the rise of new teams in the Western Conference. The race for which squad will have the most points in the conference is one of the more intriguing ones of the second half, with the conference being so top heavy with elite teams that are all similar in talent.

Via the NHL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, here's a look at the market for which Western Conference team will record the most points this regular season.

NHL Western Conference Most Regular Season Points Odds

Vancouver Canucks (+175)

The Vancouver Canucks have been one of the best teams in hockey all year and are rightfully the frontrunners for most points in the Western Conference. Dominance has been the name of the game for Vancouver on both ends of the ice. It’s a big reason they’re at the top of the Western Conference and have the odds to back them up in this market.

They have the second-best Goals For per 60 minutes (3.76) and have held opponents to 2.53 Goals per 60 minutes, which is also ranked second-best in the NHL.

The Canucks currently sit at 33-11-5, tying them for the NHL lead with 71 points. The 71 points are 4 ahead of the Colorado Avalanche -- the team with the next most points in the Western Conference.

Vancouver has 33 games left in the campaign and has shown zero signs of slowing down through the regular season. Why bet against them now? They also made a big splash by adding Elias Lindholm over the break, giving them yet another top player to help their elite offense.

This is the team to beat in the Western Conference, and they're a deserving +175 favorite in this market.

Colorado Avalanche (+350)

History and a track record do a lot of good for the Avalanche.

The Avalanche have been at or near the top of the Western Conference for several seasons now. After all, they’re only two years removed from winning the Stanley Cup. There’s reason to believe they can do the same this season, and they are a legit contender to have the most points in the West.

Right now, the Avalanche sit just behind the Canucks with 67 points over the same amount of games played. Considering it’s just four points, it’s still wide open for Colorado to surpass the Canucks.

Offensively, the Avs have been elite. They boast a 63.28 Corsi For per 60 minutes, which ranks seventh in the NHL. It only gets better for them as they score the most in the league with 3.8 Goals For per 60 minutes.

If the Avalanche can stop the pucks from going in their own net (3.07 Goals Against per 60 minutes) while keeping up their scoring pace, this will be the team to consider in this market.

Winnipeg Jets (+370)

The Winnipeg Jets are just two points back of the Avalanche with two games in hand. By the time they play 49 games, the Jets may be closer to Vancouver than the Avs are.

Winnipeg brings top-of-the-line defense to the ice every single night. That’s a big reason why we shouldn’t be counting them out in this race.

No team has stopped opponents from scoring like the Jets have as they are holding opponents to just 2.28 Goals Against per 60 minutes. That is such an impressive number, and it ranks as the best clip in the NHL by a strong margin. Winnipeg is even better in five-on-five situations, posting a minuscule 1.62 Goals Against.

It’ll be that defense that carries them due to their offense being in the middle of the league (15th in Goals For). What remains to be seen is if the Jets make any offensive acquisitions at the trade deadline. If they add, it could bolster their offense and help them chase down the points lead.

Edmonton Oilers (+700)

The Edmonton Oilers are the hottest team heading into the final stretch of the season, and they have a lot of games in hand to get right back into the points race.

Under head coach Kris Knoblauch, the Oilers are an incredible 26-6-0 and are in the midst of a 16-game winning streak. Overall, they have a 29-15-1 record, giving them 59 points through 45 games.

If they can keep up the momentum they've created through this streak, a run to the points lead isn't out of the question.

The Oilers are clicking on both ends of the ice as their defensive strategy has made them among the elite. We always knew that Edmonton packed a punch on the offense. When you have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading the way, that much is inevitable.

Since Knoblauch took over, Edmonton is tops in offense with their second-ranked Goals For per 60 minutes (3.81) and eighth-ranked in Corsi For per 60 minutes (63.52). They've been great defensively, too, with their second-ranked Goals Against per 60 minutes (2.26) and third-ranked Corsi Against per 60 minutes (54.91).

Of late, no team has matched the Oilers' all-around production on both ends, so if you're looking for a longshot in the market, Edmonton is worthy of consideration.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.