Betting on the Stanley Cup Finals isn’t for the faint of heart. Hockey, by its nature, is a sport that is lower scoring and has tense overtime affairs. The 2022 Stanley Cup Finals is shaping up to be an exciting affair.
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The teams remaining who could win the championship all feature a unique angle that will keep fans on the edge of their seats. For a look at how to bet on hockey, check out our internal betting guide. While there are two teams that stand out among the rest, there are a few others who may be worth taking flyers on at their current price.
Here’s a look at who is the best bet to win the Stanley Cup and where the value is.
Lightning strikes
Tampa Bay looked vulnerable in the first round of the playoffs, needing seven games to outlast the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, the Lightning looked more like the team that has advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals in six of the past eight seasons. Tampa Bay, which is +260 to win the championship, dominated the division rival Florida Panthers in the second round.
The Panthers, who won the Presidents’ Trophy with the best record in the NHL, averaged 4.1 goals per game in the regular season. Tampa Bay limited Florida to three total goals in a four-game sweep. Having former Vezina Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy in the lineup is a plus for the Lightning.
So far in the playoffs, Vasilevskiy has a .932 save percentage and 2.23 goals-against average. Ross Colton and Corey Perry tied for a team high with five goals apiece. Tampa Bay, which oh by the way has won two straight Stanley Cups, may both worth a bet if you can find the Lightning at plus money.
Seeking an Avalanche
Colorado, which had one of the best teams in hockey during the late 1990s, had spent the past two decades mostly toiling in obscurity. However, once the Avalanche selected Nathan Mackinnon in the 2013 draft their fortunes changed. Colorado has been steadily building back to a Stanley Cup contender.
The Avalanche swept Nashville in the first round before having to tussle with St. Louis. Colorado is the favorite to win the cup because of its balance. The Avalanche produced the fourth-best offensive attack in the regular season, averaging 3.8 points per game. Colorado also was a top-10 defense, limiting opponents to 2.8 goals per game.
McDavid time
Connor McDavid has been tagged as the heir apparent to Sidney Crosby as the league’s next big star. So far, McDavid’s excellence on the ice hasn’t been matched with postseason success. This season could prove to be different.
While the Edmonton Oilers are very much McDavid’s team, they have flourished in the postseason thanks to Evander Kane realizing his potential. Kane, who was a long-talented, but trouble winger, only had six postseason goals in 29 playoff games in San Jose, has come alive.
In 11 playoff games with Edmonton, Kane has scored 12 goals and has a +9 plus/minus. The Oilers’ offense has been deadly in the postseason, averaging 4.3 goals per game. McDavid has 25 points, including six goals and 19 assists. Leon Draisaitl has 22 points, contributing seven goals and 15 assists.
Edmonton is +750 to win the Stanley Cup and it is a nice number for a team loaded with offensive firepower. However, the Oilers do have a habit of being leaky on team at defense. However, if Edmonton can get by Colorado, the Oilers will have a puncher’s chance against either Tampa Bay, Carolina or the New York Rangers.
Metro Madness
The Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes are locked into a brutal battle in their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Both teams have been led by an excellent defense and have been trying to grind out goals against each other. New York goalie Igor Shesterkin has looked strong after struggling in the first round against Pittsburgh.
The only concern with betting on either one of these teams to win is how much gas will they have left in the tank. Carolina had to take Boston to seven games before advancing, likewise with New York against Pittsburgh. Another long series, followed by a series with the two-time defending champions will make it difficult for either side to make a serious run at the Stanley Cup.