Believe it or not, the NHL Playoffs are fast approaching! The road to the Stanley Cup begins on April 22nd. We have about a quarter of the season to go. The Trade Deadline has come and gone. It’s time to start figuring out which teams can make a run to the Stanley Cup Finals! Everyone knows the top teams, and their odds of making it. Of course, the Panthers, Bruins, and Avs have a great shot to be playing for the right to be Stanley Cup Champions. It’s a lot more fun and interesting to think about which sleeper teams can make a Cinderella run. With that in mind, let’s take a look at one team in each Conference that’s capable of going on a Cinderella run.
Eastern Conference: Toronto Maple Leafs
As of this writing, Toronto’s odds of reaching the Stanley Cup Finals are +650 on FanDuel Sportsbook. They’re currently the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference. There’s a few reasons to like their chances, however. First and foremost, they know how to score. As of this writing, they have scored the most goals in the Eastern Conference. Auston Matthews is a legit Hart Trophy candidate, and he’s arguably been the best player in the whole Conference this season. Max Domi, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares lead a powerful offensive attack that can overwhelm the tightest of defenses. They also know how to win on the road. At the timing of this article, they’re 19-7-6 away from Scotiabank Arena. The biggest key for them is what kind of goalie play they’ll get in the playoffs. Ilya Samsonov and Martin Jones have nearly split time, but Samsonov is the better goalie. If the Leafs could get some solid defense and goalie play, they can be a very tough out in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Western Conference: Winnipeg Jets
The Jets have been one of the top teams in the Western Conference, but due to their lack of offensive output, not many people believe in them. However, it’s their defense that’ll carry them. They are by far the toughest team in the league defensively. Connor Hellebuyck is running away with the Vezina Trophy award. He’s been fantastic between the pipes all year. The Jets knew they needed to add some offensive firepower and acquired forward Tyler Toffoli from the Devils at the Trade Deadline. The Jets have proven to be great whether they’re playing at home or on the road. As the saying goes, good defense travels, and that’s no exception in hockey. As long as Hellebuyck is playing like he is, the Jets won’t need much offense to cause trouble in a loaded Western Conference. At the end of the day, the Jets will need their offense to produce, but if they do, they can beat anybody in the West. As of this writing, the Jets are 34-4-1 when they have scored 3 goals or more this year! Nothing else needs to be said about them! Right now, Toronto’s odds of reaching the Stanley Cup Finals is +700 on FanDuel Sportsbook. A $100 wager would bring back $700.