The playoffs carry on. The grueling 82-game regular season is behind us and the field of 32 NHL teams looking for a Stanley Cup championship continues to dwindle.
The Panthers won the East by eliminating the second-best regular-season team; the Carolina Hurricanes. Meanwhile, Vegas reached the Stanley Cup Finals after eliminating the Dallas Stars in the West.
2023 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Series Prices
Here's a look at the final series in the playoffs: the Stanley Cup Finals. Which of the final two teams wins hockey's top prize?
Vegas Golden Knights vs Florida Panthers Series Odds
| Team | Opening Odds | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Vegas Golden Knights | -1400 | -130 |
| Florida Panthers | +850 | +110 |
Odds as of June 11
I had picked the Florida Panthers to win the Cup in my write-up for our Stanley Cup Futures piece. And well. I'm shaking in my boots because Florida's not-so-secret weapon of God-like Sergei Bobrovsky has been humbled.
With 13 goals in two games, Bob is sporting a cringe-worthy 0.875SV% and 3.73GAA. After stopping nearly 20 goals above expected through three rounds, Bobrovsky has stopped -0.22 goals above expected. He's back (and worse) than regular-season Bob.
Florida is playing, to borrow a phrase from Michael Wilbon, "scurred".
I'm on the Vegas bandwagon now and have been for a few days now. At -1400 there's no value betting on Vegas to win the series outright. Instead, I think the best course of action is to bet on the correct score of the series.
Five days ago I said this:
Vegas is one of the best road teams with a 6-2 record and a 0.75% win percentage. Taking one win on the road is all they need to bring it back to Vegas and clinch a title. I'm saying they get it done in five games at +240.
Vegas got that road win. Now they head home with a Cup on the brain. The odds on a Knights 4-1 series win have dropped to -165, but that's still good value for any of you who are a little late to the game.
Best Bet: Vegas Wins Series 4-1 (+240)
