There are just four teams left in the hunt for the Stanley Cup this spring, and none of the remaining clubs are a big surprise to those that follow the NHL futures at the sportsbooks.
Back before the shortened National Hockey League season got underway in January the Pittsburgh Penguins (17/2), Boston Bruins (12/1), Chicago Blackhawks (14/1), and Los Angeles Kings (14/1) were among the top six teams on the odds to win the Stanley Cup at the sportsbooks.
Flash forward to the third round of the NHL’s postseason, and those teams remain in contention to pay off on the Stanley Cup odds. The Penguins will take on the Bruins in the Eastern Conference final, while the Blackhawks will meet the Kings in the Western Conference final.
And it’s the Penguins that sit as the favorites on the odds to win the Stanley Cup at Bodog entering the conference finals, with Sidney Crosby and company at 3/2 to win the title. Pittsburgh beat the Islanders in six games in the first round and the Senators in five games in the second round.
The Blackhawks are next at 12/5 odds, and they’re coming off a Game 7 victory over the Red Wings in the second round of the playoffs. Chicago needed only five games to get past the Wild in the first round of the postseason.
The defending-champion Kings are third at 10/3 on the current Stanley Cup futures at Bodog, and they topped the Sharks in Game 7 of their second-round series. Los Angeles got past the Blues in six games in the first round of the playoffs.
Finally, the Bruins are fourth at 9/2 on the odds to win the Stanley Cup right now after they knocked out the Rangers in five games in the second round of the postseason. Boston used all seven games to eliminate the Maple Leafs in the first round.
Odds to Win 2013 Stanley Cup at Bodog
Pittsburgh Penguins 3/2
Chicago Blackhawks 12/5
Los Angeles Kings 10/3
Boston Bruins 9/2
Eastern Conference Final
Boston Bruins vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Game 1 – Sat, June 1 – Boston at Pittsburgh
Game 2 – Mon, June 3 – Boston at Pittsburgh
Game 3 – Wed, June 5 – Pittsburgh at Boston
Game 4 – Fri, June 7 – Pittsburgh at Boston
Game 5 – Sun, June 9 – Boston at Pittsburgh
Game 6 – Tue, June 11 – Pittsburgh at Boston
Game 7 – Wed, June 12 – Boston at Pittsburgh
Western Conference Final
Los Angeles Kings vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Game 1 – Sat, June 1 – Los Angeles at Chicago
Game 2 – Sun, June 2 – Los Angeles at Chicago
Game 3 – Tue, June 4 – Chicago at Los Angeles
Game 4 – Thu, June 6 – Chicago at Los Angeles
Game 5 – Sat, June 8 – Los Angeles at Chicago
Game 6 – Mon, June 10 – Chicago at Los Angeles
Game 7 – Wed, June 12 – Los Angeles at Chicago