Stanley Cup Odds: NHL Final Betting Lines Update Ahead of Oilers vs. Golden Knights
The madness of March will transition into an action-packed, adrenaline-filled April as the Stanley Cup playoffs are less than three weeks away. The Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers remain favorites by the Stanley Cup odds, but the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights are close behind.
With at least 10 bonafide Stanley Cup odds contenders fighting for playoff positioning and home-ice advantage, the culmination of the regular season promises to be as electric as the fences separating the dinosaurs from people in Jurassic Park.
But which teams represent the best Stanley Cup picks, and what are the chances tonight's Edmonton Oilers vs. Vegas Golden Knights contest is a precursor to a second-round playoff tilt? We answer those questions and more in our Stanley Cup odds betting update.
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Which Stanley Cup odds favorites are the most dangerous?
⭐ Dallas Stars (+600)
The Stars are the NHL's best team in the 40 games since Dec. 29, with a 29-8-3 record. And they're starting to mesh with new arrival Mikko Rantanen, winning six straight going into Thursday's game against the Nashville Predators. However, according to the Athletic, they had just 43% of the expected goals share in March, better than only the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins.
But at least they're trending toward locking up home-ice advantage for the probable series against the Colorado Avalanche, which could be decisive. That might not be enough, though, as the Stars could be forced to play the Avalanche without the injured Miro Heiskanen.
There is a chance the sizzling Stars overtake the Winnipeg Jets, which would mean a first-round series against the Minnesota Wild or St. Louis Blues (unless, of course, the Calgary Flames or Vancouver Canucks miraculously make the playoffs).
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🐆 Florida Panthers (+650)
Fear not, Panthers fans. Things aren't as they seem. The Panthers have lost four of their last seven games after winning six in a row. The reason for their recent skid? Aaron Ekblad's absence. While a bit of an over-simplification, the Panthers are 4-5-0 since their top defenseman was suspended for 20 games.
He'll be back for the playoffs, though, which is euphoric news for Florida fans. He's not the only marquee player expected back for the dance, with Matthew Tkachuk trending toward starting Game 1 of the postseason. Add those two players to a Brad Marchand, who should be fully acclimated to life in the Sunshine State, and you have a bonafide back-to-back Stanley Cup threat.
⛰️ Colorado Avalanche (+850)
Tied for the second-best point percentage (.813) since Feb. 26, Colorado is building momentum with the force of an avalanche at the end of a catastrophic tumble. Before losing to Calgary and St. Louis, the latter of which is the best team since Feb. 26, the Avs had won 11 straight in the Mile High City.
Add that sizzling form to having arguably the league's best one-two punch in Hart Trophy odds contender Nathan MacKinnon and Norris Trophy odds runaway favorite Cale Makar, and you have a formidable Cup contender. I should have mentioned this before, but it's the Stars with whom they share the second-best record in the last six weeks.
🥊 Is Oilers vs. Golden Knights a playoff preview?
The most simple answer is that it could be. The Oilers, who've sunk faster than a lead pipe in water, face the Golden Knights in Vegas tonight. The Golden Knights are surging and have all but wrapped up the Pacific Division with nine games remaining.
The Oilers, whose best Stanley Cup odds sit at +950, have a ton riding on tonight's game as they try desperately to secure second place and, with it, home-ice advantage.
That could represent the difference between advancing to the second round or getting ousted by the league's best home team, the Los Angeles Kings, for the first time in four successive playoff series.
Edmonton is expected to get all its injured players back in time for the playoffs, including Connor McDavid, Stuart Skinner, and Trent Frederic. Whether they'll be up to the pace of playoff hockey is another question, although I have no doubt McDavid will be barreling at full throttle.
The Golden Knights will most likely face the Wild or Blues, the latter they'll want to avoid.
The bitter Pacific Division rivals have one thing in common: They have a recent track record of playoff success and a wealth of postseason pedigree, which bodes well for tonight's game being a preview of a tantalizing second-round bout.
Oilers vs. Golden Knights odds
Presidents' Trophy odds favorites
| Team | Odds (via FanDuel) | Implied probability | Profit ($10 bet) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jets | -145 | 59.18% | $6.90 |
| Capitals | +185 | 35.09% | $18.50 |
| Stars | +550 | 15.38% | $55 |
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The Washington Capitals and Jets, the NHL's top two teams, currently have the sixth- and seventh-shortest Stanley Cup odds. It shows the comparative lack of trust oddsmakers have in the Eastern and Western Conference pacesetters despite their seemingly unerring regular-season consistency.
Our best sports betting sites acutely understand the difference between being a regular-season juggernaut and a successful playoff team.
Chances are, either the Caps or Jets will win the Presidents' Trophy. The former is the +185 underdogs at FanDuel, while the latter is the -145 favorites.
While finishing the season with the most points is an impressive feat, it's not exactly an honor conducive to winning the Stanley Cup. The 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks were the last team to win the Presidents' Trophy and Stanley Cup in the same season.
The Jets' postseason struggles cast doubt on their Cup-winning pedigree, while the Caps have overachieved all season, leaving many wondering whether they can extend an already miraculous season into June.
NHL betting odds pages
| Stanley Cup Odds | Hart Trophy Odds | Calder Trophy Odds |
| Norris Trophy Odds | Vezina Trophy Odds | Rocket Richard Odds |
| Jack Adams Award Odds | Conn Smythe Trophy Odds | NHL Draft Odds |
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