- The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs start Saturday with the primary spherical.
- The Florida Panthers are defending champions and enter the Stanley Cup playoffs as co-favorites together with the Colorado Avalanche at BetMGM at +750.
- These are the favorites, however who’re the sleeper groups you have to be contemplating who can increase Lord Stanley’s Cup in June? I’ve two groups you should think about betting on.
Sports activities followers know there’s nothing higher than the Stanley Cup playoffs. You’ve got playoff beards, handshake traces, rats (and different critters) hurled onto the ice, extra time video games that by no means appear to finish — and also you by no means need them to finish.
Winnipeg was the very best workforce within the West this season, adopted fairly intently by Vegas. Within the East it was the Yr of Purpose 895 and Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.
Completely none of which means something now. Playoff hockey seems to be completely different, feels completely different and is completely different. Overlook the favorites, neglect what occurred, develop the beard, present some respect. I’ve two sleeper groups who can win the Cup.
Edmonton Oilers (+950 at BetMGM)
My first standards after I’m evaluating a sleeper workforce is latest historical past and questioning simply why they could be thought of a sleeper to start with.
Edmonton was within the Cup finals final 12 months and went all the best way to Recreation 7 earlier than dropping a thriller 2-1 to Florida. The explanation why they’re getting such good odds is evident, they’re banged up, however on this planet of NHL hockey, nobody is saying precisely how dangerous issues are. Defenseman Mattias Elkholm is out for the primary spherical, then there’s a bunch of maybes. Evander Kane? Perhaps. John Klingberg? Perhaps.
What we do know is the Oilers received 48 video games within the common season. All that bought them was the three seed within the Pacific. They’ll should undergo the Kings and doubtless Vegas to get again to the Western Convention Finals.
Edmonton has performed the Kings the final three years within the first spherical and beat all of them 3 times. Some would say, nicely, it’s the Kings time. I’d say, the Oilers are just like the KC Chiefs, sure, positive, it’s at all times Joe Burrow’s time, or Josh Allen’s time, or Lamar Jackson’s time, after which the Chiefs present up and beat them. Like at all times.
Edmonton has two of the video games greatest gamers, in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Yeah, prime goalie Stuart Skinner has been banged up, however he can lean on what occurred final 12 months. I really feel like Edmonton has purposely held again some injured guys to be prepared for this playoff run. Gifted groups can try this.
Tampa Bay Lightning (+1100 at BetMGM)
Let’s do the identical standards check right here on Tampa. Latest historical past and why are they being valued this low? They completed 4 factors behind Toronto within the Atlantic (they misplaced all 4 video games to Toronto) and so they simply haven’t been in a position to get previous their rivals Florida.
However Tampa additionally checks a bunch of packing containers. Bear in mind, they have been near successful three straight Cups, they received in 2020 and 2021 and reached the finals in 2022. They’ve the No. 1 offense within the NHL, and have been third in targets allowed. Nikita Kucherov had 121 factors this season to guide the NHL. He’s received Cups. Brayden Level and Jake Guentzel every scored over 40 targets this season.
Tampa Bay additionally nonetheless has Andrei Vasilevskiy in internet. He’s received two Cups, and a Conn Smythe. That’s an incredible resume.
Tampa Bay break up with Florida this season, however did misplaced to the Panthers within the first spherical final 12 months. If they’ll get previous the Panthers, then they might get Toronto within the semifinals. Have you learnt the strain Toronto shall be below the deeper they get within the playoffs? Does the 12 months 1967 imply something to you?
I really like the Lightning at these odds. They’ve a Cup pedigree and a path to glory.
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