After probably the most stunning playoff runs in NHL historical past, the Florida Panthers look to beat the percentages one final time in opposition to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Panthers are -125 favorites, which might make this the tightest Stanley Cup Ultimate collection value since 2007.
The Panthers entered the postseason at 35-1 to win the Stanley Cup Ultimate. These could be the longest odds for any Stanley Cup champion in over three a long time. Their odds reached 150-1 once they trailed the Boston Bruins 3-1 of their first-round collection.
However since that 3-1 deficit, the Panthers have rattled off 11 wins in 12 video games, regardless of not being favored in any of these video games. The Panthers are up 14.07 models on the moneyline this postseason, which makes them essentially the most worthwhile staff within the final 5 postseasons. In the course of the common season, the Panthers had been -15.14 models, twenty seventh within the NHL and worst among the many 16 playoff groups.
Sergei Bobrovsky has been an enormous a part of that turnaround. The Panthers goaltender was -10.49 models within the common season, going 24-21-3 in his selections. However within the playoffs, he’s 11-2, up 14.27 models.
The Panthers’ 16 straight video games with out being a favourite is their longest drought prior to now 5 seasons. They’re the primary staff to succeed in the Stanley Cup Ultimate with out being favored previous to the championship collection in that span.
Whereas Florida’s futures odds have been a curler coaster all season, the Vegas Golden Knights have been one of many favorites all season. Their odds had been by no means longer than 22-1 this season, they usually entered the playoffs at 12-1. They’re even the early favorites to win the 2024 Stanley Cup (8-1).
This season, Vegas has been the second-most worthwhile staff within the NHL this season, up 18.04 models. They’ve finished most of their injury on the highway, up 14.84 models. Adin Hill has been Vegas’ most worthwhile goalie this season, going 23-10-1, up 7.11 models. He is gone 6-3 within the playoffs (+3.53 models).
Golden Knights video games are 49-45-5 to the beneath this season, although 10 of their 17 playoff video games have gone over. The Panthers have been the alternative, with their video games going 49-41-8 to the over for the season however 6-10 within the playoffs.
These groups met twice throughout the common season with the house staff profitable each instances. Each video games went beneath 6.5. Adin Hill and Sergei Bobrovsky began in each video games.
Highway groups have dominated this postseason, up 16.53 models. During the last 5 non-bubble postseasons, highway groups are up 26.11 models within the playoffs. The Stanley Cup Ultimate has been nearer to even, however highway groups are nonetheless worthwhile, up 1.48 models in that span.
Nonetheless, residence groups have been the play in Recreation 1. Because the 2005 lockout, residence groups are 14-2 in Recreation 1 of the Stanley Cup Ultimate with six straight wins. Overs are 5-0-1 in Recreation 1 within the final six postseasons.