Stanley Cup Odds Heading Into Conference Finals
By Robert Duff in NHL Hockey
Updated: March 10, 2021 at 12:41 pm ESTPublished:
- The Vegas Golden Knights continue to be the betting favorite to win the 2020 Stanley Cup at odds of +145
- Second in this betting market are the Tampa Bay Lightning at +180
- The New York Islanders (+500) and Dallas Stars (+650), the other conference finalists, round out the Cup betting lines
Oddsmakers remain convinced that when the Stanley Cup is presented, it will be a golden night with the silver mug.
Or to be more precise, it will be the Vegas Golden Knights who are the team left holding Lord Stanley’s mug.
Entering the NHL Western Conference final against the Dallas Stars, the Golden Knights maintain their status as the team to beat in the Stanley Cup odds. DraftKings list Vegas as the +145 chalk to take the NHL title.
The Tampa Bay Lightning, who face the New York Islanders in the Eastern Conference final, are second in this betting market at odds of +180. The Islanders (+500) and Stars (+650) are the longshots in the Stanley Cup final four.
2020 Stanley Cup Odds
| Team | Odds at Draft Kings |
|---|---|
| Vegas Golden Knights | +145 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +180 |
| New York Islanders | +500 |
| Dallas Stars | +650 |
Odds as of Sept. 5th.
Vegas has never won the Stanley Cup. Tampa Bay won its lone Cup in 2004. Both the Stars (1999) and Islanders (1983) are enduring lengthy stretches without a title.
Lucky #7 For Vegas
Rolling seven games against the Vancouver Canucks could prove advantageous for the Golden Knights. In their astonishing run to the 2018 Stanley Cup final as a first-year expansion team, Vegas lost just three games over the first three playoff rounds.
When their mettle was tested by the Washington Capitals in the Cup final, Vegas capitulated in five games. Thanks to the Canucks, the Golden Knights passed a serious test.
Peter DeBoer has now coached in a Game 7 five times. He's 5-0 in those situations.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) September 5, 2020
Vegas coach Peter DeBoer is now 5-0 in Game 7 as an NHL bench boss.
The Golden Knights can roll four lines and all can put the puck in the net. There’s three reliable defensive pairings. And Vegas has proven it can win with either Robin Lehner or Marc-Andre Fleury between the posts.
Lightning Poised to Strike
The Lightning are like that actor who always gets nominated for an Oscar but never wins. Tampa Bay is in the conference final for the fourth time in six years.
Just once have the Bolts made it to the Cup final over that span. They lost to Chicago in the 2015 final series.
📍 Edmonton, AB#GoBolts pic.twitter.com/UQ2r8ZCkMn
— x – Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) September 6, 2020
Tampa Bay has depth across its forward lines and rearguard. The Lightning have a Vezina winner (Andrei Vasilevskiy) in goal and a Norris winner (Victor Hedman) on defense.
However, their Rocket Richard winner (Steven Stamkos) has missed the entire playoffs. And suddenly, it’s uncertain whether their Art Ross and Hart winner (Nikita Kucherov) will be ready for the start of the Eastern Conference final.
Isles Make Long-Awaited Conference Call
When Tampa Bay reached the 2018 East final, the Lightning lost to the Barry Trotz-coached Capitals. This time, Trotz lines up his Islanders opposite Tampa Bay.
Tampa was the NHL’s most productive offense the past two seasons. The Isles are a defensive juggernaut, #1 in the NHL last season.
The @NYIslanders will be among the final four in the playoffs for the first time in 27 years and 11th time in franchise history. They now face the Lightning for a spot in the #StanleyCup Final. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/DxIjQxnrwS
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) September 6, 2020
If you’re seeking a Stanley Cup sleeper, this is the squad. The Islanders are the lone qualifying-round team still in the hunt.
Logically, they shouldn’t be able to score enough to outlast the Lightning. But a Tampa Bay team minus Stamkos and Kucherov might be a different matter.
Stars Losing Glimmer
Dallas nearly blew a 3-1 lead to a Colorado team down to its third goalie and missing captain Gabriel Landeskog and Erik Johnson.
The @GoldenKnights will face the @DallasStars in the 2020 Western Conference Final, which marks their first all-time head-to-head postseason meeting. #NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/RVyLHxjphB
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) September 5, 2020
Vegas will have a much easier time disposing of Dallas than the Golden Knights did in dispatching Vancouver.
Pick: Vegas Golden Knights (+145).
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
