The puck has dropped for playoff action and the Stanley Cup chase is on. Only one team will hoist the holy grail of hockey, but of the 16 teams participating in the NHL playoffs, certain teams have better odds than others. The Tampa Bay Lightning have won two consecutive Stanley Cups but don’t enter the playoffs with the best odds. In the Western Conference, teams like the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers dominate the leaderboards as projected winners of the West. The Eastern Conference has beats of its own, including the defending champion, Lightning. Other teams that have great odds at walking away with Lord Stanley include Toronto and Carolina. Any playoff team could win the cup, but the aforementioned teams have the best odds.

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1. Colorado Avalanche

Why are they here?

Owning the best odds of any team, the Colorado Avalanche were top picks to win the Stanley Cup even from the start of the season. Entering the playoffs as one of the best defensive teams in the NHL, Colorado has talent on both ends of the ice that may outmatch the rest of the league. Cale Makar headlines the blueline and has supporting players like Devon Toews and Erik Johnson to help lock down the defensive end of the Avs. Add in players like Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Nazem Kadri and Andre Burakovsky and it’s no surprise that Colorado owns the best odds. However, the best team doesn’t always win. Can the Avalanche overcome the pressure?

Colorado Avalanche

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2. Florida Panthers

Why are they here?

Acquiring Claude Giroux at the trade deadline, the Panthers have one of the scariest offenses in the NHL. However, they have tripped up in previous seasons when they were also projected as a Stanley Cup contender. As one of the best teams at home this season, winning in Florida has not been easy for opposing teams. And the Panthers will have home-ice in every series they compete in up until the Stanley Cup final. Sporting the best offense in the NHL (in terms of goals scored) and a top 10 defense, the Panthers are a favorite to win in 2022.Florida Panthers

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3. Calgary Flames

Why are they here?

Darryl Sutter has whipped this team into shape and the Flames are now Stanley Cup contenders. Former powerhouses, the Flames have not reached the third round of the NHL playoffs since 2004. One thing Calgary has done well this season has been their commitment to defense. The Flames’ defensive group is posting incredible numbers, which is great for playoff hockey. If you’re looking for a team that could definitely win the Cup, that also has valuable odds then the Flames could be the choice for you. Their defensive play combined with their youthful injection of offense makes them a top pick.

calgary flames 2022
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4. Toronto Maple Leafs

Why are they here?

The Maple Leafs have depth – plain and simple. From the top dogs like Matthews and Marner all the way to Spezza and Brodie, Toronto will be a tough team to grind against in the playoffs. Toronto tore up the regular season with some of the best offensive numbers seen in franchise history. As well, Toronto has the 60-goal scorer Matthews and potential Hart Trophy winner on their squad. But can the buds exorcise their demons and win the Stanley Cup, which would be their first since 1967?

Toronto Maple Leafs

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Our Prediction

I think the Stanley Cup comes back to Canada. Of teams that won the Stanley Cup, only 9 of them have won the President’s Trophy in the same season. This means that despite having the best odds, Florida may not be the outright winner in 2022. Colorado is a decent pick as well but I am unsure if they will have the legs to skate to the final.  I think the cup returns to Canada in the province of Alberta. But don’t jump for joy just yet, Edmonton fans. I am speaking of Calgary. Their defensive prowess makes them a top pick already. Add in the fact that their offense could explode at any time and I think the Flames win the Stanley Cup in 2022.

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Patrick covers the NHL, MLB, and NCAA football for BettingTop10 Canada. He's a huge fan of both sports – as well as many others. He is also a fan of the Ducks and the Cardinals, despite them being nowhere close to his birthplace of Ottawa, Canada. Patrick always wanted to be a writer, and sports were his favourite thing in the world, so he combined the two to make a career. He is a long-time gambler and sports betting writer that isn’t afraid to look at the underdog or specials.