Rarely do we see the lowest-ranked side in the NHL's postseason make it far in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Florida Panthers are challenging that notion and could very well make history by winning a Cup as the worst team entering the playoffs.
The lowest-ranked team entering the postseason has never won a Cup and has rarely escaped the first round. In the last 20 years, only six sides made it past the opening round of the playoffs. From there, three of those six sides made it past the second round like Florida, and only two made it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
| Year | Team | Round of Elimination |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Montreal Canadiens | Second Round |
| 2009 | Anaheim Ducks | Second Round |
| 2010 | Montreal Canadiens | Conference Finals |
| 2017 | Nashville Predators | Stanley Cup Finals |
| 2019 | Colorado Avalanche | Second Round |
| 2021 | Montreal Canadiens | Stanley Cup Finals |
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Again, the lowest-ranked side entering the playoffs has never won a Cup and 70% of the time they get dumped in the opening round.Â
Why Is Florida Different?
Going into the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cats are still the 'dogs. Florida’s odds to win its series against Carolina is +115. That’s 47% implied odds of making the Stanley Cup Finals by eliminating the second-best team from the regular season. That means potential for profits here.
Look, Florida isn’t good all of a sudden — the Panthers were third on the Stanley Cup oddsboard as early as October 7.
| Team | Opening Odds |
|---|---|
| Colorado Avalanche | +425 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +800 |
| Florida Panthers | +900 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +1000 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1200 |
Odds as of October 7
This is why the Panthers are different from the other lowest-ranked sides that went on deep Cinderella-like playoff runs. Remember that first table with the six lowest-ranked sides that made it past the opening round since 2002? Not one of those sides was given the same love Florida got from oddsmakers to win the Cup before the season began.
| Team | Opening Cup Odds | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens (2002) | +7000 | 25 |
| Anaheim Ducks (2009) | +1000 | 4 |
| Montreal Canadiens (2010) | +2500 | 12 |
| Nashville Predators (2017) | +1600 | 8 |
| Colorado Avalanche (2019) | +6000 | 21 |
| Montreal Canadiens (2021) | +2800 | 15 |
| Florida Panthers (2023) | +900 | 3 |
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Can Florida Break The Mold?
There's good reason to believe Florida can be the first lowest-ranked side entering the playoffs to go all the way.
Scoring hasn’t been an issue for Florida, as they were the sixth-best scoring side in the regular season with 288 goals. The big issue for Florida during the regular season was between the pipes. Two-time Vezina-winning goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was horrible with a 0.901 SV% and 3.07 GAA.
But somehow Bob has been able to shake off his regular season form and play like a goalie who’s making $10 million on the salary cap.
Bob appreciation post 🫶
— NHL (@NHL) May 13, 2023
Sergei Bobrovsky recorded 50 saves, the most in a potential series-clinching game for the @FlaPanthers, while also becoming the second goaltender in Panthers history with a 50-save playoff performance... is that good? 🤔 #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/82NbWCKjx0
In these playoffs, Bobrovsky holds a respectable 0.918 SV% and 2.82 GAA. In the second round against Toronto, he was even better, stopping nearly seven goals above expected, averaging a 0.943 SV% and 1.90GAA.
With a fixed Bobrovsky who can support that outstanding offense, the Florida Panthers could very well make history by being the first bottom-ranked side to win a Stanley Cup.
Bettors backing Florida to win each of their series will have already made $420 in profits and $965 in profit for those betting $100 on the moneyline. Maybe it’s time you get on this bandwagon as it makes history.
