The Stanley Cup playoffs have been as entertaining as they always are, with great action and a ton of surprises being delivered through the opening two rounds. The divisional part of the playoffs is now over, and we are into the final four, with the winners of these series moving on to go head-to-head in the Stanley Cup Final. This has been a playoff where the odds have gone out the window a little, with underdogs pulling off surprises along the way. We have what looks to be a pair of series that should deliver two definite winners, but there are zero guarantees at this stage of the season. Let’s take a look at the 4 remaining teams and their odds to win the Stanley Cup.
2021 NHL Stanley Cup Betting Odds & Predictions Up to Date
Vegas Golden Knights (-120)
Regardless of the sport, when a new franchise comes into the league, there is an expectation that they will struggle for a couple of seasons before finding their feet. That was not the case with the Vegas Golden Knights, though, as they went to the Final in their inaugural season and have been playoff regulars ever since. This year, they are really beginning to look like the team to beat. They have proven to be a talented team that also has a good deal of grit. They won a Game 7 in Round 1 to knock off the Minnesota Wild, and then came back from a 0-2 hole against the Colorado Avalanche to win that series in 6. They looked very good in beating the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of the semi-final series, winning that one 4-1.
Tampa Bay Lightning (+260)
If you like the Tampa Bay Lightning to repeat as champions, now might be the time to get in on the action, as this is a very good price that may not stay that way for long. The Lightning started both of their first two series by winning 2 games right at the start. Going up 2-0 in a series is no guarantee of a win, but it does put that team in a position of real power. We are going to get to see what the champs are made of now, though, as they lost their opening game of the series to the Islanders in the semis. Can they avoid falling into that 0-2 hole?
New York Islanders (+370)
The other two teams taking part in the Stanley Cup semi-finals have to be considered a bit of a surprise. The Islanders came into the playoffs as the #4 seed in the East Division, but they were really not that far out of first, finishing just 6 points back of the #1 seeded Pittsburgh Penguins, who they dispatched in 6 games after going 2-1 down in the series. They were also in a 2-1 hole against the Boston Bruins in Round 2 before storming back and winning in 6 games. As already mentioned, they stole the opening game of the semi-final series with a 2-1 win over Tampa. Their odds will shorten if they nab Game 2.
Montreal Canadiens (+1700)
The Canadiens are, at this stage of the proceedings, essentially playing with house money. No-one expected them to get past the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 1, especially after going down 3-1 in the series, but they pulled off a stunning comeback to win it in 7. They then waltzed into Round 2 and made things look easy with a sweep of the Winnipeg Jets. You hate to make rash judgements after 1 game in a series, but Montreal looked to be seriously outclassed in Game 1 versus the Golden Knights. Is this finally the end of the road?
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