The NHL playoffs are chugging along, and everyone’s eyes are on the Florida Panthers as they try to defend their Stanley Cup title. Can Connor McDavid and the Oilers take down the Panthers this season? Will we see a new champion for the fifth year in a row? Let’s take a peek at the Stanley Cup champion odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of May 18 and see how each second-round series is shaping up.
Stanley Cup Odds
The Oilers are sitting pretty with odds of +255, meaning you could potentially win $35.50 total if you bet $10 on them. The Stars are close behind at +260, with the Hurricanes not far off at +275. The Panthers are a bit of a dark horse at +500, while the Maple Leafs are a long shot at +900.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
In the Jets vs. Stars series, the Stars emerged victorious with a 4-2 win. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights were no match for the Oilers, who took the series 4-1.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
The Hurricanes have been dominating the series against the Capitals, leading 4-1. On the other hand, the Maple Leafs and Panthers are deadlocked at 3-3, with the series winner odds favoring Florida at -130 and Toronto at +110.
It’s been a wild ride in the NHL lately, with a different team taking home the Stanley Cup in each of the last four years. The Lightning managed to repeat their victory in 2020 and 2021, but before that, it was a mix of Penguins and Red Wings securing back-to-back wins. The Panthers are looking to make history by becoming the first team since the Red Wings to win consecutive titles in 1997 and 1998.
Over the last decade, the Eastern Conference has had the upper hand, producing six of the last 10 champions. However, the West isn’t too far behind, with four wins to their name. The Stanley Cup Finals have been anything but predictable, with only two series going to seven games in the last 10 years. The last sweep dates back to 1998, when the Red Wings steamrolled the Capitals 4-0.
The Stanley Cup winner hasn’t always been the team with the best regular-season record, with the Chicago Blackhawks being the last to achieve this feat in 2013. The Winnipeg Jets finished the regular season at the top of the standings this year, but their quest for the Cup continues as they have never claimed the ultimate prize in hockey.
Not really sure why this matters, but the NHL has seen its fair share of upsets and surprises over the years. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like the unpredictability of the playoffs is what makes them so exciting. As the playoffs progress, it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top and etch their name in hockey history.
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