Stanley Cup Playoff Odds Update: Panthers Hungry, Knights a Force
The Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights Were Far from Pre-Season Favorites

The current Stanley Cup playoffs odds show the Vegas Golden Knights as -120 favorite to win the Stanley Cup. That number has been bet down from the opening number of -130. We expect most NHL picks to be right down the middle when the puck drops for game one, but so far, 57% of the moneyline money has been on the Golden Knights.
That can mean only one thing, we have classic pros vs joes match-up with the respected money pouring in on the Panthers. We continue our Stanley Cup playoff odds preview with a quick look at both NHL teams against the number in 2022-23.
The Panthers Were Early Favorites
When looking at NHL playoff odds, to begin the season we think people may not remember that this was exactly where most thought the Florida Panthers would be at the end of the season. Florida opened +1100 to win the Cup by various books, that was good enough for the third choice on the board behind the Carolina Hurricanes (+1000) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (+1000).
That was a solid number after the Panthers won the Presidents Trophy a year prior, but experienced some turnover starting with Paul Maurice who took over for interim coach Andrew Brunette. Florida went on to sneak into the playoffs after holding off the Buffalo Sabres by one point.
Heading into the postseason, the oddsmakers made Florida +220 to win the Cup, only four other teams had worse odds. With the Panthers taking out the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Carolina Hurricanes, the books couldn’t be happier after their liability was wiped off the board.
Golden Knights From Out To In
The Vegas Golden Knights didn’t make the postseason last year because they battled a massive amount of injuries for most of the NHL season. Because of that, their opening odds to win the division were +410 behind the Calgary Flames (+220) and Edmonton Oilers (+250).
A Stanley Cup was the furthest thought for most bettors even though the oddsmakers offered +1200, which was the first time since the first season that their Cup odds weren’t less than +900. This was the first season that bookmakers in the desert didn’t have to sweat the Golden Knights winning the Stanley Cup.
In year one when the Knights went to the Stanley Cup Final against the Washington Capitals, the book’s liability was so large with Knights Cup tickets, that some properties offered an early payout at reduced odds. Let’s close out our look at the Stanley Cup playoff odds with a look at a few other ways to bet on the final.
Vegas Golden At Home Against Florida
Dating back to 2017, the Fortress has not been a friendly place for the Panthers who have lost all five road meetings between these two clubs. The Knights not only have won all five games at home but they’ve covered the puckline (-1.5) in every game except one (6-5 SO win in 2019). Overall, VGK is 6-4 against the Panthers.
In addition, the Panthers are +1.5 (+155) to not lose the final by more than two games while the Knights are +250 to do just that. If you think Knights will dominate the final, -2.5 games are +425, +122 for the Panthers to cover +2.5. In series correct score betting the favorite is Vegas in seven games and Florida in six (+550). That does it for our Stanley Cup playoff odds preview, we wish you the best betting the cup.
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