The Stanley Cup Finals are the highlight of the highlight of the hockey season, and this year’s competition promises to provide an exciting end to another action-packed NHL season
With only four teams left in the running at the time of writing, this is a good moment to consider who is likely to take home the prestigious trophy.
The Carolina Hurricanes
Going into the postseason phase, it was the Boston Bruins who were classed as the Stanley Cup favorites, but since their elimination from the tournament, the Carolina Hurricanes are widely regarded as favorites to be the eventual winners and claim their second NHL championship.
The Canes first reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002 and won the championship for the only time in 2006 when they defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-3. This remains the only major sporting championship achieved by a men’s team from North Carolina, so it would be a big deal if they do it again this season.
Last season, they finished on top of the Metropolitan Division for the first time and with the greatest number of wins in the franchise’s history. They beat the New Jersey Devils 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Second Round to now face the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final.
The biggest problem for the Canes is likely to be their relative lack of firepower, with injuries robbing them of some of their most explosive players in this respect. On the other hand, they remain a tough, hard-working team that makes it extremely difficult for anyone to score against them.
The Florida Panthers
As the biggest underdogs left in the postseason race to glory, the Florida Panthers will be looking to spring a major surprise. Part of the reason that they’re not classed as favorites is that the Panthers have only reached one Stanley Cup Final in their history, losing to the Colorado Avalanche in 1996.
In fact, their postseason record is extremely poor overall, with very few playoff victories to their name during their history. This season, they unexpectedly beat the Bruins 4-3 and the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 to get to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in almost three decades. They didn’t beat two of the favorites through luck though, as the Panthers were outstanding in the playoff games and appear to now be genuine contenders to win the Stanley Cup.
A powerful and relentless offense is their key weapon although doubts remain about their defensive strength under pressure. According to the latest NHL betting odds, the Panthers are the least likely of the four teams left to win the trophy, as their odds are currently even. However, as well as betting on the outright winner, you could also bet on individual games and player or team statistics in those games.
The Vegas Golden Knights
The other game that will determine who plays in the championship game this year sees the Vegas Golden Knight against the Dallas Stars. So far, the team from Las Vegas has reached the Finals stage several times since their founding in 2017, but has yet to win the Stanley Cup.
They missed out on the postseason last year, but got there again this season, winning the Pacific Division championship for the third time and claiming the number one seed for the Western Conference. They beat the Winnipeg Jets 4-1 and the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 to advance to the Western Conference Final, where they meet the Dallas Stars at this stage for the second time in their relatively short history.
The Golden Knights are often classed as a sturdy or even stodgy team, as they make it extremely difficult for others to create high-quality scoring opportunities against them. Their impressive record this season comes despite having to change their goalie several times and they’re particularly strong on the road.
The Dallas Stars
This team from Dallas won the Stanley Cup for the only time in 1999, but has three Western Conference championship titles. Dallas has made it to the Stanley Cup Finals on five occasions since being formed in 1967, with the last one in 2020 ending in a 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay.
During the postseason so far, Dallas has progressed through the playoffs by beating the Minnesota Wild 4-2 and then the Seattle Kraken 4-3 to reach the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights. While they’re not particularly highly rated by some analysts, the Stars have a strong roster with Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson among the key players they rely on.
Dallas is a solid, well-rounded team that could surprise fans by winning the Stanley Cup season, although they’re currently only classed as third favorites in the betting and were neglected in the list of nominees for the NHL Awards ceremony 2023. On paper, their game against the Golden Stars is the most evenly-matched of the championship games so they should feel quietly confident about reaching the final.