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NHL odds: Under-the-radar teams in the quest for the Cup
Two months into the NHL season, we already have a good idea of who the front-runners are in the push to win the Stanley Cup. But are there a couple of dark horses in the midst looking to upend expectations?
The Boston Bruins are back to dominating the Atlantic Division after winning three straight games, and the New York Rangers continue to be their biggest competition in the East thanks to winning three straight of their own to top the Metropolitan. In the West, the Vegas Golden Knights continue their stronghold on the Pacific — despite a November swoon — while the Colorado Avalanche keep clutching to the top of the Central after losing three straight games.
There are a couple of other teams, however, with a good chance of shaking up the standings and making a convincing case to hoist Lord Stanley's Mug. Here's a look at a couple of under-the-radar teams in the competition.
Last season it felt like Quinn Hughes' shot was in no way a threat.
— Wyatt Arndt (@TheStanchion) December 3, 2023
This season? He's finding so many ways to get the shot off and from different angles. He's terrorizing teams with it. Incredible evolution in his game. pic.twitter.com/9kBbHR2UZb
The Carolina Hurricanes are still a threat in the East, but bettors should keep their eyes on the Florida Panthers as well. DraftKings has the Big Cats listed as 16-1 longshots to win the Stanley Cup this season, but there is plenty of reason to believe that Matthew Tkachuk and company can get back to the Final after their surprise run last season. Florida may be at a fairly even 5-4-1 over their last 10 games, but they remain a sneaky pick in the 2023-24 run at the Cup.
Things are even more interesting in the Western Conference. The Dallas Stars are sneakily running things in the Central Division thanks to an impressive 8-1-2 road record and a plus-17 goal differential. Jamie Benn's team are currently listed at 10-1 to win the Cup, and they are very much worth keeping an eye on down the stretch.
Of course, you can't talk about the Stanley Cup without hearing that a Canadian team hasn't won one since the 1993 Montreal Canadiens. (The Habs were also the most recent Canadian squad to make it to the Final, before losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021.) But the Great White North has a dark horse in the current race, as the Vancouver Canucks continue what has already been an impressive 2023 campaign. The Canucks may be 30-1 longshots in the most recent Stanley Cup odds at DK, but Rick Tocchet's team has a league-leading plus-32 goal differential and Norris Trophy-favorite Quinn Hughes leading the way. They are currently just three points behind Vegas in the Pacific Division standings and are threatening to take over, so it wouldn't be surprising if their odds to win the Stanley Cup shortened over the next month.
Could another surprise team become a betting favorite by the halfway point of the 2023-24 NHL season? Check back in soon to find out.
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