NHL Stanley Cup Betting Odds: Which Bets Are Worth Placing?

With the conference finals rushing toward us like Connor McDavid on a breakaway, we look at immediate and longer-term markets to employ futures bets.

Each remaining team deserves a mention – if not a wager – so find out whether your expert opinions mesh with our random observational advice. We'll provide only suggestions here, so the ultimate decisions rest with you.

Stanley Cup Odds Reset

The Colorado Avalanche present a short window of opportunity in advance of Friday's Game 6 in their Western Conference semifinal series with the Dallas Stars, who were +260 (FanDuel) favorites to win the Stanley Cup entering as of Friday morning.

The Avs, pushed to the brink of elimination, outhit and outshot the host Stars in Game 5 to help secure a 5-3 win and send the series back to Denver.

Top talents Cale Makar (two goals in Game 5) and Nathan MacKinnon (a goal and an assist) are approaching peak form, and that's a problem for the boys from Texas.

If you're inferring that Colorado momentum to be sustainable, jump on your favorite sportsbook and invest.

The Avs rate a narrow choice at -115 (FanDuel) to win Game 6 but a big +310 (DraftKings) to win the series.

Play Colorado to carry the love from a home-ice win in Game 6 into a triumph at Dallas in a do-or-die showdown.

Avalanche +310 (DraftKings) to win Western Conference semifinal series over the Stars

The Boston Bruins, who also avoided the death of their season with a hard-earned win at Florida in Game 5, were a +125 (FanDuel) underdog in Boston for Game 6 against the Panthers, who were the +260 (DraftKings) favorites to win the Stanley Cup entering Friday.

The Bruins can win Friday night, and proved they rate a puncher's chance to win again in Florida.

Before Boston goalie Jeremy Swayman stifled the Panthers in Game 5, winning 2-1, he had allowed nine goals in his two home starts in this series, but maybe Swayman has found the postseason magic.

Extra tip: If you believe Florida won't dispatch Boston in Game 6, you'll need to secure the fat price on the Bs before Game 6 begins.

Bruins +1100 (DraftKings) to win the Eastern Conference.
The New York Rangers used a natural hat trick – all within nine minutes of the third period – to rally from a 3-1 deficit and knock out the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Rangers have serious momentum and are worth taking advantage of a sportsbook disparity (as of early Friday morning) between FanDuel, where they were +300 to win the Cup, and DraftKings, whose odds on the Rangers to become champs were +500.

Rangers +500 (DraftKings) to win the Stanley Cup

The Edmonton Oilers fell to J.T. Miller and the Vancouver Canucks Thursday night in British Columbia, keeping alive the chance to take two teams in the Canada vs. U.S. Stanley Cup champion market.

After shopping the best odds, this prop is most useful at DraftKings, where you can have both Edmonton and Vancouver. If either team takes the Stanley Cup, the payoff is +320 (the "field" was -425).

Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup +320 (DraftKings).