Intense Battle Awaits: The Highly Competitive Second Round of the NHL Playoffs Has Begun
The second round of the NHL playoffs kicks off Monday, with no series sweep and two prolonged battles leading to this point. The Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers came out victorious in their grueling series, ready for challenging opponents in the West. Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference, defending champions Florida Panthers and Washington Capitals face off, alongside Carolina Hurricanes.
The Stanley Cup favorites are emerging, with the Panthers, currently at odds of just over 4-1, standing as favorites on BetMGM Sportsbook. The Oilers, Hurricanes, and Stars follow closely behind. Edmonton is favored to conquer the Western Conference and possibly face Florida in the Cup final rematch come June, but a lot lies ahead.
This round's anticipated start is set for Wednesday night, pending the Blues-Jets Game 7 result later on Sunday. The Central Division clash produced the two longest series, owing to its impressive contenders depth.
The Stars staged a fairytale, record-breaking performance against the Avalanche, thanks to Mikko Rantanen's historic third-period hat trick in Game 7. The playoff-proven Stars are determined, with goaltender Jake Oettinger in top form, a key element in their upcoming challenge. They are slowly recuperating key players like Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson.
On the other hand, the Oilers-Golden Knights encounter marks their second meeting in just three years, with Vegas claiming the title in their previous face-off. Much has changed since, like Edmonton's coaching switch and its Game 7 loss to Florida last year. But Connor McDavid and MVP finalist Leon Draisaitl still lead the team.
While the Panthers and Maple Leafs showcase a familiar core since their last encounter in 2023, their current approaches have evolved. Toronto's standout feature is a formidable, five-forward power play unit. The Panthers, on the other hand, have upgraded their penalty kill, supported by acquisitions such as Brad Marchand and Nico Sturm.
The Capitals-Hurricanes encounter in April witnessed intense off-ice rivalry, with multiple fights and severe penalties. The two teams have not clashed in the playoffs since 2019, building fierce animosity between long-time division foes.
Tom Wilson, a Capitals winger, expects a high-energy, physical game, advising focus and discipline to win in the East. As these playoff contenders gear up for battle, it promises to be a thrilling and determined series of games.
AP Sports Writers Stephen Hawkins in Dallas, Mark Anderson in Las Vegas, and Tim Reynolds in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contributed.
Enrichment Data: ### Overall:
The favorites to win the NHL second round playoff series based on current betting odds are as follows:
Eastern Conference:
- Florida Panthers are favored over the Toronto Maple Leafs, with odds leading to the Panthers and Stanley Cup futures odds positioning them as the top contender at +410 to win the Cup[4][5].
- Carolina Hurricanes are favored against the Washington Capitals, with odds around -170 for the Hurricanes and +140 for the Capitals in the series, and +490 futures to win the Stanley Cup for the Hurricanes compared to +1000 for the Capitals[4].
Western Conference:
- Dallas Stars are favorites over the Winnipeg Jets with odds such as -175 in the series line, and +420 futures to win the Stanley Cup, making them one of the front-runners[1][4].
- Vegas Golden Knights hold favor over the Edmonton Oilers but with closer odds; the Oilers have a futures price of +550, slightly better than the Golden Knights at +600, signaling a competitive matchup[4].
In summary, the Panthers and Hurricanes lead favorites in the East, while the Stars and Golden Knights are top picks in the West based on betting odds for the second round series and Stanley Cup futures. The closest matchup appears in the West between the Golden Knights and Oilers, but overall the Panthers, Stars, and Hurricanes have the strongest favorites supported by betting markets[1][4][5].
- The Stanley Cup favorites, as per BetMGM Sportsbook, are the Florida Panthers, currently standing at odds of just over 4-1, with the Dallas Stars closely following.
- Meanwhile, in the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars, favored against the Winnipeg Jets, have odds like -175 in the series line and +420 futures to win the Stanley Cup.
- In the Eastern Conference, the defending champions, Florida Panthers, are favored over the Toronto Maple Leafs, while the Carolina Hurricanes are favored against the Washington Capitals.
- The Vegas Golden Knights hold a slight edge over the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference, with the Oilers having a futures price of +550, slightly better than the Golden Knights at +600, indicating a competitive matchup.
