The NHL playoffs loom, with what is traditionally the wildest postseason in U.S.-based sports promising another unpredictable few weeks in the race for the Stanley Cup.
The Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals finished atop the heap in the Western and Eastern Conferences, respectively, but the NHL standings are rarely ever a reliable guide once the playoffs arrive. With stars like goalie Connor Hellebuyck and the inimitable Alex Ovechkin, both teams could easily win it all, but they’re hardly the only teams being given a real shot by the oddsmakers.
The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are certainly going to be formidable, while Toronto Maple Leafs fans will be hoping that decades of playoff misery finally come to an end. Over in the West, the Colorado Avalanche are a legit contender, while the Dallas Stars could still turn around a late-season skid.
Here are power rankings for the NHL playoffs, listing each team in order of odds to claim the Stanley Cup:
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Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, April 17.
Favorites
The bookmakers have given the edge to two teams that won’t have home ice in the first round, and who finished just fifth in their respective conferences. The NHL playoffs are always a little crazy, and it seems like the odds reflect possible upsets to come.
However, Florida has been to two consecutive Stanley Cup finals, winning it all last year, while lots of underlying metrics point to Colorado’s record in the regular season not reflecting their actual caliber. Carolina, meanwhile, has one of the deepest teams in the NHL, and the playoffs always seem to look kindly on teams that skate as well as the Hurricanes.
Contenders
One would think Dallas and Washington would have some of the shortest odds, but there are questions about both teams. The Stars enter the playoffs on a troubling seven-game losing streak, while the Caps haven’t had the best goaltending in the last month (along with some underlying metrics saying they overachieved all season).
Still, both teams have the talent to win it all, as do Vegas and Edmonton. Some of the best players in the NHL lead these squads, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see them lift the Stanley Cup in June.
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Don’t count them out
It’s a bit of a shock to see the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Jets here, along with a division winner in Toronto, but in reality the gap between these teams and the favorites is actually pretty small. That reflects the realities of the NHL playoffs, where chaos reigns.
All four of these teams will have home ice in the first round, so bettors might see an opportunity (particularly with Winnipeg or a battle-tested contender like Tampa Bay).
Long shots needing some playoff magic
The four wild-card teams, along with New Jersey, are seen as the least-likely Stanley Cup winners, which should be no major surprise. Of this group, Ottawa might have the best chance of upsetting the odds, given that their first-round pairing is against the seemingly cursed Toronto Maple Leafs.
Spare a thought for the Canadiens, who are in a category all on their own here after getting into the playoffs despite a -20 goal differential, easily the worst of the 16 qualifiers.
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