Stanley Cup Betting Favorites For Postseason Play

Article ByKyle Garlett

April 17, 2023

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Posted in: US Gambling News, US Sports Betting News

On Monday, the puck drops on the National Hockey League (NHL) postseason, with 16 teams setting their sights on what has been called the hardest trophy in sports to win, the Stanley Cup.

Outside of March and its NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, this is arguably the best tournament in all of sports, and one of the most popular to wager.

Boston Bruins

The Bruins set the record for most wins in a season and most points in a season, and from the very beginning of the year, they have been head and shoulders above everyone else in hockey. The oddsmakers at BetUS.com have Boston as +300 heavy favorites to lift the Cup in June.

The Bruins ended the season scoring the second-most goals in the NHL, while giving up the fewest.

Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche are the betting favorites to come out of the Western Conference, and they are the defending Stanley Cup champions. Colorado is on the board at BetUS.com with the second-shortest odds in the field (+700).

Injuries have been an issue for the Avalanche for much of the season, and they didn’t secure the top spot in the Central Division until the season’s final day. Colorado begins defense of its title against Seattle on Tuesday, April 18.

Edmonton Oilers

While a number of sportsbooks have Edmonton as the clear No. 3 when it comes to Stanley Cup betting favorites, BetOnline.ag has them tied with Colorado at +700.

The Oilers have the best player on planet Earth in Connor McDavid, and they are the highest-scoring team in the league. In each of the last three years, they have advanced one step further in the playoffs, and if that trend continues this year, Edmonton will be in the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2006.

Carolina Hurricanes

If not for the incredible season by the Bruins, the Hurricanes would be getting far more action heading into the playoffs. They finished first in the Metropolitan Division, second in the Eastern Conference, and their 113 points is more than everyone not named the Bruins. They led the league with nine shutouts this season, and were second in the league in penalty killing.

BetUS.com currently has Carolina at +1000 to win the Cup.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Also coming in at +1000 to win the Cup are the Toronto Maple Leafs, the runner-up in the Atlantic Division to Boston. They finished the season with 111 points and 50 wins, which are actually below last year’s totals, when they were a surprise first-round loser.

Look for Toronto to be more focused than a year ago when they begin the playoffs against the Lightning on Tuesday, a team they just beat on April 11.

New Jersey Devils

Next in line is the New Jersey Devils, who begin the playoffs on Tuesday against their cross-river rivals, the New York Rangers. This is New Jersey’s first playoff appearance since 2018, and they are currently paying +1200 to win the Stanley Cup, something they haven’t done in 20 years.

New York Rangers

The Rangers are also paying +1200 to win the Cup, something that they haven’t done since that magical season in 1994. That is the lone Stanley Cup win for long-suffering Rangers fans since 1940.

New York was in the Eastern Conference Finals a season ago, and expectations are high. This year’s team has scored more goals than a year ago, led by 90-plus point scorers Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad.

Las Vegas Golden Knights

Las Vegas is in the playoffs for the fifth time in their six years of existence, and this year’s team set a franchise-record with 111 points. 

At +1400 to win the Cup, this team is eerily similar to the team in 2018 that made the Stanley Cup Finals. They each won 51 games, they each scored 272 goals, and they each began the postseason as the third seed in the Western Conference.

Dallas Stars

The last of the teams paying less than +2000 is Dallas, on the board at +1400 before they open the first round vs. Minnesota on Monday.

The Stars finished second in the Central Division behind Colorado, and they are the fourth seed in the West. However, they might be the hottest team in the conference, coming into the playoffs with six straight wins and eight wins in their last nine games.