- At +425, the Carolina Hurricanes have the shortest Stanley Cup odds.
- The Rangers (+650), Panthers (+500), and Hurricanes advanced to the second round.
- The Hurricanes and Rangers will play each other in a rematch from the 2021-22 second round.
The below five Stanley Cup contenders remain unchanged since the start of the playoffs, with three already punching their ticket to the second round, one on the verge of advancing and the other in a 2-2 series deadlock.
According to the Stanley Cup odds, the Carolina Hurricanes are the favourites, with a few teams close behind.
5 Best Stanley Cup Contenders
5. Dallas Stars (+850)
The Dallas Stars’ hockey odds to win the Stanley Cup have lengthened marginally from +700 to +850 since the start of the playoffs. After losing their home games to kick off the postseason, the Stars showcased their supreme ability in enemy environments to win Games 3 and 4 in Las Vegas.
Connect 4 (times with the back of the net) 📽️ pic.twitter.com/mFnuMRU3vO
— z – Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) April 30, 2024
Their Stanley Cup odds lengthened briefly to +2000 after they trailed the Vegas Golden Knights 2-0. The Stars recaptured home-ice advantage with Monday’s 4-2 win, and their Stanley Cup odds improved to +850, the sixth-shortest.
The Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup odds went in the opposite direction, lengthening to +1800. Jake Oettinger was outstanding in both road wins, with his standout performance occurring in the Game 4 victory. His performances have improved with each game, which bodes well for the Stars entering Game 5.
4. Edmonton Oilers (+550)
The Edmonton Oilers are among the favourites to win the Stanley Cup in 2024 and are on this list instead of the Colorado Avalanche, who have found their groove and are a win away from ousting the Winnipeg Jets.
The Oilers delivered the offensive punch everyone expected and also produced a resilient defensive performance to win Game 4 in Los Angeles. Despite not yet punching their ticket to the second round, the Edmonton Oilers’ Stanley Cup odds are the third shortest.
As expected, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, and Evan Bouchard are flying, and so too is the Oilers potent power play.
Edmonton is also enjoying success on the penalty kill and received a heroic performance from Stuart Skinner in Game 4. The Oilers have shown they can win in various ways, including expected wild west-like offensive shootouts, as well as a less likely defensive slugfest.
Kris Knoblauch’s team seems to have learned vital lessons from previous playoff defeats and will be desperate to finish the Kings in five to earn a few extra days off.
3. Florida Panthers (+500)
The Florida Panthers ripped through the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games and will play either the Boston Bruins or Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round. The Panthers will get an additional few days’ rest after the Maple Leafs beat the Bruins in overtime to extend their series to a sixth game on Thursday.
Led by Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe, who have nine points, the Panthers were dangerous offensively and tight defensively against the Lightning. They only allowed more than three goals once, which was the Game 4 loss.
Sergei Bobrovsky picked up where he left off last postseason, winning four of five with a 2.78 goals-against average. While his save percentage (.896) is nothing to write home about, Bobrovsky made countless timely saves, none more important than his behind-the-back glove stop in Game 2, which preserved the tie. The Panthers ended up winning that pivotal contest in overtime.
The Panthers beat the Maple Leafs and Bruins in last season’s playoffs and will feel confident no matter who they play.
2. New York Rangers (+650)
The New York Rangers Stanley Cup odds remained unchanged after sweeping the Washington Capitals. At +650, the Rangers provide excellent value for a futures Stanley Cup pick. They were superb against an overwhelmed and outmatched Capitals team, allowing just seven goals and scoring 15.
They have the fourth-best power play (37.5%) and the fourth-best penalty kill (88.2%) in the playoffs thus far, which mirrors their special teams proficiency in the regular season. Igor Shesterkin was solid when called upon, and Mika Zibanejad led the team with seven points.
The Rangers beat the Hurricanes in six games in the 2021-22 second round, the last time the Metropolitan juggernauts met in the postseason.
1. Carolina Hurricanes (+450)
The Carolina Hurricanes dismantled the New York Islanders in five games and, for the second time in the last three seasons, will face the Rangers in the second round. The Metropolitan foes are two of the most well-rounded teams, with the Hurricanes finishing the season three points behind the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Rangers.
The Hurricanes didn’t allow more than three goals against the Islanders and averaged 3.8 per contest. Frederik Andersen is 13-2 since returning from a serious blood clot in early March, and the Hurricanes are 11-3 in their last 14 games.
In the last 23 games, Carolina is 18-5.