The NHL Playoffs betting odds are now available. However, the odds for the Stanley Cup winners’ odds are available. The odds were last updated on July 5, 2021:
| NHL Stanley Cup Winners Odds 2021 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Lightning | -5000 | -15000 | -15000 |
| Montreal Canadiens | +1700 | +3000 | +3000 |
Lord Stanley, then the governor-general of Canada, originally purchased a decorative punch bowl from a London silversmith in 1892 for about $50.
He wanted a trophy that could be awarded to the top hockey club in Canada. It initially stood about seven inches tall and about a foot in diameter.
Today, that trophy is known as the Stanley Cup — awarded annually to the National Hockey League champions. Many tiered rings and bands have been added and retired from the cup over the years, since the name of every member of the winning team is inscribed on it.
The trophy has been awarded 99 times — from 1914 to the end of the 2017 season. Twenty-three teams have won the trophy, 18 of which are still active in the league today.
The Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup a record 24 times. The Toronto Maple Leafs are second with 13, with the Detroit Red Wings next at 11.
Five active teams have yet to earn a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals. Three of these teams have remained in the same location since their inceptions: Columbus Blue Jackets (16 seasons, three playoffs), Minnesota Wild (16 seasons, eight playoffs) and the Vegas Golden Knights (2017 expansion team).
Only two franchises have won the Stanley Cup in at least four consecutive seasons since 1950: Montreal (1956-60, 1976-79) and the New York Islanders (1980-83). These two teams were back-to-back dynasties, winning the championship every year from 1976 to 1983.
Both the Chicago Blackhawks (2010, 2013, 2015) and Pittsburgh Penguins (2009, 2016, 2017) have won the cup three times in the last nine seasons.
The NHL realigned into a four-division, two-conference system for the 2013-14 season. Under the new postseason setup, the top three teams in each division make the playoffs, with two wild-card teams in each conference (for a total of eight playoff teams from each conference). There are 16 teams in the East and 15 clubs in the West, so 16 teams make the playoffs out of 31.
The lower seeded wild-card team plays against the division winner with the best record while the other wild card plays against the other division winner. The other two series match the second- and third-place teams from the divisions.
The winners advance to the second round, then the conference final and, ultimately, the Stanley Cup final. In the NHL final, the team with the best regular-season record holds home ice advantage. For those that are interested in playing the NHL betting odds during the regular season, check out our recommended list of sportsbook providers.
All of the Stanley Cup playoff matchups are best-of-seven series, and overtime is played like a regulation period — there are no shootouts.
The NHL Playoffs are set to start on May 11th. After the end of the reduced regular season on May 8th, the race for the trophy really takes off. Sixteen teams will compete over four rounds for the championship.
Of course, NHL Playoffs betting begins much earlier. You can make futures bets all year-round. Once we’re in the thick of things, you can start making moneyline, props and more.
Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers won their fourth Stanley Cup and lost just two of 18 games in the playoffs in 1988. That’s a lot of wins on the money line. Obviously, no one made money betting against the Oilers that playoff season.
The Great One also set an NHL final scoring record that year with 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) as the Oilers swept the Boston Bruins. That prop bet may not be on the board this year in the championship, but sports books offer many wagering options like the money line, puck line, over/under totals, futures and prop bets.
If you want to get in on all the NHL playoff action, check out the top-rated NHL betting sites available. Also, there are many online options available starting with major sportsbooks like Bovada, GTBets and Betonline.
The NHL playoffs are a great time to get started. You can see a wide variety of bets. Be sure to start small and build from there.
Yes, they are. We have been betting with them for ages and have tested them thoroughly.
You can use any of the NHL betting sites we recommend on this page.
Yes, you can. once the Playoffs get started, you can bet live and watch the odds change by the minute.
In addition to the futures bets that you can make all year long, during the NHL Playoffs you can make moneylines, props, over/unders and more types of bets.
In American representation of Vegas odds, the lower the value, the more likely the market thinks the outcome is.
Probably not. Although it can be a lot of fun, it is tough to be objective when it comes to betting on our favorite hockey team.
