Stanley Cup odds, futures picks, predictions: Two NHL long shots to win it all

For the primary time in just a few years, the NHL feels large open. Heading into final weekend, there have been solely seven groups in all the league greater than 5 factors out of a playoff spot. That’s a startling distinction to what we noticed final season when the Jap Convention playoff race was principally set by Dec. 1. 

In some unspecified time in the future, we’ll begin to see the pack skinny out, however with so many groups nonetheless within the hunt, now could be a superb time to take inventory of the futures market and see if any groups are flying below the radar. 


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The Tampa Bay Lightning celebrate their Stanley Cup playoff victory
The Tampa Bay Lightning rejoice their Stanley Cup playoff victory
Getty Pictures

Stanley Cup Finals odds

Tampa Bay Lightning (15/1, FanDuel

The Lightning have this distinctive knack for flying below the radar throughout the common season. It’s a wierd phenomenon contemplating the Bolts have been to the Stanley Cup three seasons and received back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021. 

However what’s much more complicated this time round is that the Lightning have been fairly spectacular throughout the first two months of the season. Final yr, Tampa Bay had some lengthy stretches of mediocre play, so it made some sense that the betting market would doubt the Bolts and their odds would drift. 

That isn’t the case this marketing campaign, because the Bolts boasted the eighth-best report and seventh-best objective differential in all the league forward of play on Friday. Moreover, Tampa’s five-on-five numbers look terrific. The Bolts rank third within the NHL in high-danger scoring likelihood fee and seventh in anticipated objectives fee. In different phrases, there’s nothing flukey happening right here. 

You’d assume that will be adequate for a group with the Lightning’s pedigree to leap up the board, however that hasn’t been the case. 

The explanation why Tampa is holding agency because the seventh favourite is as a result of the trail within the Atlantic Division is treacherous. The Bruins are the present Stanley Cup favorites at +550, and the Leafs usually are not far behind at +900. 

The trail could also be arduous, however it’s additionally giving bettors an opportunity to get a reputable contender at an ideal quantity. 

Dakota Joshua #81 of the Vancouver Canucks walks onto the ice
Dakota Joshua #81 of the Vancouver Canucks walks onto the ice
NHLI through Getty Pictures

Betting on the NHL?

Vancouver Canucks (150/1, Caesars

The Canucks have been an absolute sideshow via the primary 30 video games of the season. After beginning the season 0-5-2, it appeared prefer it was inevitable that Vancouver would hearth coach Bruce Boudreau and attempt to change the course of the franchise with an enormous commerce. Neither of these issues have occurred and a 13-8-1 stretch has the Canucks at .500 forward of their thirtieth sport. 

It’s not that spectacular, however the state of the Western Convention implies that it’s adequate for the Canucks to be inside three factors of a playoff spot earlier than the weekend. 

That may be a manageable hole, particularly with Seattle and Los Angeles beginning to pattern within the incorrect route. 

There’s little or no within the numbers that means that Vancouver will flip issues round, however that is extra of a wager on expertise than the rest. Few groups have the ability that the Canucks boast up entrance and if Thatcher Demko — a well-liked Vezina decide earlier than the season — will get wholesome and again on observe, they’ll be capable to course right. 

The Canucks are impossible to tug this off, however when you’re on the lookout for a enjoyable triple-digit lengthy shot to again, they’re the one one which has the upside to be attention-grabbing. 

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