Stanley Cup Odds & Favorites 2024: Hurricanes Favorites in Opening Round; Avalanche Tumble

The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs have begun, and the Carolina Hurricanes remain the favorites by the Stanley Cup odds from our best NHL betting sites.

The Carolina Hurricanes entered the 2024 postseason as the consensus favorites based on the Stanley Cup odds from our best sports betting sites, and they've already shortened up after jumping out to a 2-0 series lead against the New York Islanders.

Directly behind the Hurricanes are a tight pack of teams that enjoyed strong regular seasons and have earned early series leads. The Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, and Edmonton Oilers all lead their series 1-0. However, that list no longer includes the Colorado Avalanche, who tumbled down the oddsboard after a series-opening loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

Odds will continue to move swiftly with the results of every game going forward.

To get you ready for the playoffs, we're breaking down the latest Stanley Cup odds below, and don't miss our Stanley Cup betting guide.

Stanley Cup betting odds 2024

(Stanley Cup odds as of April 23)

2024 Stanley Cup favorites

Hurricanes (+500 via FanDuel)

The Hurricanes boast the NHL's best record since Jan. 1 (32-10-3), good to claim second place in the Metropolitan Division entering the playoffs. 

They added Jake Guentzel, one of the Conn Smythe Trophy odds favorites, and he notched 25 points in 17 games since joining the team from the Pittsburgh Penguins, leading a more balanced Hurricanes attack. He potted a goal and an assist in Carolina's comeback victory over the Islanders in Game 2.

Our Eastern Conference betting preview discussed how Carolina should comfortably win this series. And now the Hurricanes are cruising after jumping out to a 2-0 series lead.

Panthers (+650 via BetMGM)

The Panthers awoke from their slumber just in time, winning four straight games to close the season and claim first place in the Atlantic Division. They rolled that momentum into their series opener against the Lightning, picking up a 3-2 victory.

The in-state rivals squared off three times in the regular season, with Florida taking the first two meetings.

Stars (+1200 via DraftKings)

The Stars finished the regular season with eight wins in their last 10 outings. They have enjoyed separate five- and eight-game winning streaks since Chris Tanev arrived from the Calgary Flames. 

But the Stars dropped their series opener against the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 on Monday. Vegas took a 4-2 lead into the final frame and Dallas was unable to complete the comeback. The Stars face an uphill battle now to get out of the opening round after losing home-ice advantage.

NHL Round 1 matchups

Stanley Cup odds over time

The Hurricanes, Avalanche, Panthers, and Stars have been the biggest movers over the last couple of weeks. The Rangers are also surging, while the Bruins have rebounded from a recent slide. 

Stanley Cup opening odds

Stanley Cup opening odds as of June 13, 2023.

Stanley Cup 2023-24 winning conference odds

Odds as of April 22

Stanley Cup 2023-24 winning division odds

Odds as of April 22

Stanley Cup matchup odds

Odds via FanDuel as of April 20

Stanley Cup exact result odds

Odds via FanDuel as of April 20

Stanley Cup champion: Canadian teams vs. field odds

Odds via DraftKings as of April 22

Stanley Cups won by division

Here's a look at the number of Stanley Cups won by division since the NHL adopted the four-division format for the 2013-14 season.

2024 Stanley Cup playoffs betting previews: Round 1

Here is our collection of first-round preview content to get you ready for the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.

• Stanley Cup betting guide
• Stanley Cup playoffs predictions
• NHL playoff upsets
• Eastern Conference betting preview
• Western Conference betting preview

Past Stanley Cup winners

NHL teams with the most Stanley Cups

How to read Stanley Cup odds

Stanley Cup odds reflect the probability of each NHL team winning the championship and are typically presented in American odds format (+XXX). Lower odds signify favoritism, while higher odds indicate underdog status.

A team with +750 odds to win the Stanley Cup is given an 11.76% implied probability of doing so with a $10 bet returning a $75 profit with a victory. A team with +1500 odds would have higher or longer odds, and a lower implied probability of 6.25%, but a win on a $10 bet would return a profit of $150.

Bettors should consider team performance, roster strength, injuries, and historical trends when assessing odds. By comparing odds across sportsbooks, individuals can make informed betting decisions during the NHL playoffs.

Projected NHL draft order

Draft order as of April 19

Stanley Cup Final FAQs

Who is the Stanley Cup Final favorite?

The Carolina Hurricanes are the Stanley Cup favorites across our best live betting sites, trading as short as +400, representing an implied win probability of 20.00%.

When did the NHL Playoffs start? 

The NHL playoffs began on Saturday, April 20, 2024. 

When will the Stanley Cup Final start?

Last year, Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final took place on Saturday, June 3. The NHL will announce the beginning of the 2024 final closer to next spring. 

Who won the Stanley Cup last year?

The Vegas Golden Knights won the 2022-23 Stanley Cup Final, defeating the Florida Panthers in five games.

NHL betting odds pages

Here are our best NHL betting sites:

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• DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review

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Related pages

• Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)