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We all know that in contrast to the scale of other major sports’ postseasons, the Stanley Cup playoffs are truly a 16-team arms race.
For the thicket of clubs around the equator of the NHL standings in mid-March, the final month of the season unofficially marks the beginning of playoff-style hockey, given that a bid into the dance could mean anything.
As the playoff picture shakes itself out a little more each day, let’s take a look at who carries the best value to clinch both conferences and Lord Stanley.
Rangers to Win Stanley Cup (11/1, BetMGM)
I do think the Panthers will be the team to knock off in the East while the West cannibalizes itself.
But a team that boasts a price just too good to pass on is the Rangers, who sit at 11/1 to raise the Cup at BetMGM.
The Rangers have tied Florida with a .691 points percentage after securing two wins over the weekend.
Nothing seems to be yielding the Rangers despite any roster setbacks; they’ve pocketed points in 17 of their past 20 games and have posted a league-best 11-1 record in the second legs of back-to-backs.
Igor Shesterkin has reclaimed his game at an auspicious time with a 1.92 goals-against average since the All-Star break. Considering Jonathan Quick’s masterful revival in the wings, the Rangers hold a goaltending edge over any opponent in a playoff series.
The Rangers’ five-on-five play is also taking substantial strides.
Their 1-0 victory against the stubborn Hurricanes on March 12 displayed responsibly driven play that can wear and tear the best opponents at even strength.
It comes down to whether the Rangers’ best forwards can produce, which was ultimately the kryptonite last season. But Artemi Panarin’s 1.38 points per game has spearheaded the offense all season, along with a reliable and dangerous power play.
With Peter Laviolette’s track record of deep playoff runs taking the reins on a group galvanized by two disappointing postseason finishes, there’s plenty of poise in New York to support the questionably juicy odds here.
Florida Panthers to Win Eastern Conference (+350, Bet365)
It’s rare you’ll ever see a team follow up a run to the Stanley Cup Final with a flop season.
The Panthers have been on a mission from the get-go by neutralizing opponents in all three zones of the ice.
The Bruins and Panthers — the past two Presidents’ Trophy winners — are jockeying atop the conference with 95 and 94 points, respectively. Florida holds one game in hand and still has two matchups against Boston left to play.
Betting on the NHL?
Before this season, we could have talked about how Sergei Bobrovsky’s contract had the Panthers handcuffed, but he has had a sensational redemption year.
The 35-year-old veteran has anchored the Panthers’ 27.6 shots on goal allowed, with the No. 3 overall goals saved above expected.
We could have bought much lower on Florida a couple of months ago, but at +310 odds, they are the safe pick that still offers some value in the final stretch.
Winnipeg Jets Most Regular-Season Points Western Conference (+230, FanDuel)
The Canucks are favored to tally the most points in the Western Conference with +210 odds, but there are three teams in the Central Division breathing down their necks that are significantly superior at five-on-five.
The Avalanche, Stars and Jets are all within a couple points of Vancouver, while each ranking in the top 10 of expected goals rate and Corsi percentage.
Winnipeg has at least one game at hand on everyone in the mix, with games still to play against Vancouver, Colorado and Dallas.
Rick Bowness not only runs a tight ship defensively, but has league-leading digits in the cage with Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck has fortified the Jets with a No. 1 overall goals against average and save percentage; he’s pretty much a shoo-in to win the Vezina Trophy.
This team has been impressively consistent all season, which presents confidence in hammering its attractive market price with a potential 30 points still on the table.
