Hurricanes Enter Conference Finals as Stanley Cup Underdogs; Is There Value?

• The Carolina Hurricanes have been assigned the longest odds to win the Stanley Cup among the NHL’s four conference finalists
• The Hurricanes won their only Stanley Cup in 2005-06
• Carolina advanced to the Stanley Cup from two of three previous conference final appearances

The history of the Carolina Hurricanes franchise is that they tend to be an all-or-nothing team. This spring, nothing they accomplish seems to hold any sway with the oddsmakers.

Rod Brind’Amour of the @NHLCanes became the first rookie NHL head coach to reach the Conference Finals since Guy Boucher did so in 2011 with Tampa Bay.

More #NHLStats: https://t.co/wb4qNQYPtl #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/U87TjUD2U4

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 4, 2019

The Hurricanes will face the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference final. Carolina has the longest average Stanley Cup odds.

2019 Stanley Cup Odds

Odds taken 05/09/19.

Carolina won the Stanley Cup in 2005-06. The Hurricanes lost in the 2001-02 Cup final.

Hurricanes Blowing Through Opponents

In the first-round, Carolina displayed its resilience. The Canes bounced back from a 3-1 Game 7 deficit to defeat the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals in double overtime.

The @NHLCanes are the 1st team in 26 years (9th in NHL history) to sweep a team that was coming off a 4-0 series win in the previous round.

The Canadiens were the last to do so, sweeping the Sabres in the 1993 Division Finals (after BUF's 4-0 W vs BOS). #NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/k2VYGlVGkN

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 4, 2019

In the second round, they swept the New York Islanders. The Isles opened postseason play by sweeping aside the Pittsburgh Penguins, Stanley Cup champions in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

Little to Choose

The Eastern Conference final showdown with the Bruins is about as close as two teams can match up. Boston won two of three regular-season meetings. One of the two Bruins’ wins was earned in overtime. Both teams scored 10 goals in the three games.

The @NHLBruins' eight Conference Finals appearances since 1982 are the sixth-most among all teams behind Chicago (12x), Detroit (10x), Edmonton (9x), Philadelphia (9x) and Pittsburgh (9x). #NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/TFrcOeRXCU

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 7, 2019

Carolina was the third-best NHL team from January 1st onward, collecting 62 points. That was one point better than the Bruins.

Where’s the edge? Boston has Vezina Trophy winner Tuukka Rask in goal, and he’s playing his best hockey of the season right now. Journeyman back-up Curtis McElhinney is between the pipes for the Canes.

Tuukka Rask was one save shy of matching the @NHLBruins record for most in a shutout at any point in a postseason since 1955-56 (40), a mark set by Gary Cheevers (Game 1 of 1969 QF vs. TOR). #NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/doo0AEaKRI

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 7, 2019

Carolina can’t match Boston’s top line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak, the best two-way unit in the league. The Hurricanes are deeper on defense and lead the playoffs with 26 five-on-five goals. If they can stay out of the penalty box, that would be a huge advantage.

Storm Warning

Full disclosure – we’re picking Boston to win the Stanley Cup. But our second choice would be Carolina.

For one thing, the Canes have been there and done that. Neither of the Western Conference finalists, the San Jose Sharks or St. Louis Blues, have ever won a Cup.

Rod Brind'Amour timeline:

2002 – Assist on GWG in Game 6 to put CAR into CF
2006 – Assist on GWG in Game 5 to put CAR into CF
2009 – Scored tying goal in #Game7 to help put CAR into CF
2019 – Head coach as @NHLCanes swept 1st-ever best-of-seven to reach CF#NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/0Czw8kNEXm

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 4, 2019

Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour was captain when the team won the Cup in 2005-06.

Still, we think the Bruins have too much for the Canes to handle. We also believe that the East is a much better and deeper conference than the West.

The @NHLCanes won each of their first five home games in a postseason for the first time in franchise history.

More #NHLStats: https://t.co/rcHD4Ugh0x #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/rpvY0CG3zG

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 4, 2019

Our advice is to bet Boston to win the Cup. But if you want to hedge your bets, a second smaller wager on Carolina wouldn’t be a foolish play.

Pick: Boston Bruins (+200)