Gamblers World 2025 Stanley Cup Previews and Picks
Though hockey has never captured the imagination of Americans like football, when the Stanley Cup Playoffs arrive, the interest spikes because arguably, they have the most exciting sports that only the NCAA basketball tournament rivals.
Here is a preview of all eight series and picks, and we’ll start by letting you know who is favored to win the Stanley Cup.
2025 Stanley Cup – Odds to Win (from BetOnline)
Carolina Hurricanes +750
Colorado Avalanche +750
Dallas Stars +800
Florida Panthers +800
Vegas Golden Knights +850
Washington Capitals +900
Tampa Bay Lightning +950
Edmonton Oilers +1000
Toronto Maple Leafs +1000
Winnipeg Jets +1000
Los Angeles Kings +2000
St. Louis Blues +2800
Ottawa Senators +3500
Minnesota Wild +4000
New Jersey Devils +4000
Montreal Canadiens +5000
Eastern Conference
WC2 Montreal vs. M1 Washington
Washington was the top team in the East all season. The Capitals closed the season on autopilot at 4-8 SU. They take on a Montreal
squad that needed a 7-3 surge to reach the playoffs on the next-to-last day of the season. The Caps are a -240 series favorite to advance, and they won two of three versus the Canadiens this season. Alex Ovechkin has been the center of attention all season, but Washington’s strength is its depth, rolling out four lines that can generate offense and find ways to frustrate opponents with the checking. If Montreal steals a game on the road, they finished the season 10-2 SU at the Bell Centre, which could test the Caps. Expect this series to go at least six and maybe seven, with Washington escaping.
M3 New Jersey vs. M2 Carolina
This is the sixth playoff gathering for these two clubs, having met in the postseason two years ago. Carolina has taken the previous four skirmishes, and they are the largest first-round favorite at -265. New Jersey plays a defensive style that minimizes risk. They are #4 in goals allowed, the third-best power-play percentage, and the second-best penalty kill. The Hurricanes were a sparkling 31-10 SU at home and have to work the passing game to break down the Devils’ defense. The home teams won all four meetings, and none were close, all by two goals or more. Carolina is again among the favorites to win the Cup. To build the proper momentum, the ‘Canes need to win a convincing five-game series. They’ll have to match New Jersey’s defensive intensity. We’ll say they do.
WC1 Ottawa vs. A1 Toronto
Anytime two Canadian teams meet in the postseason, it draws a lot of attention in the region. Toronto captured the Atlantic Division or any division title for the first time in 25 years. This is the Maple Leafs’ best team since who knows when and has star power in Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander. One major difference is that the defense is much better (#8), and the Leafs are less scoring dependent on the – Core Four. Ottawa is a franchise on the rise with young talent everywhere. The group pulled together, and bringing in a first-rate goalie like Linus Ullmark made the Senators a playoff squad. This will be an intense series. In truth, Toronto should win in four or five. Because of the Maple Leafs’ playoff failures and not winning a Cup since 1967, we’ll say they’ll make their fans anxious, stretching this to six or seven contests before winning.
A3 Florida vs. A2 Tampa Bay
For the fourth time in five years, Tampa Bay and Florida will meet in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in what is becoming known as – The Battle of Florida. The past two times they’ve met, the winner of this series has gone on to the Cup Finals. That is certainly a possibility again with the Panthers short -115 faves. Florida suffered quite a few key injuries late in the season and is hopeful these players return and get up to speed immediately. Tampa Bay has the top offense and #4 scoring defense, along with a home ice edge in the series. Not much to choose from, but with Florida’s injuries and having made consecutive trips to the Finals, if everyone isn’t 100 percent for the Panthers, can they overcome the mental and physical parts to win an always grueling series? The Lightning moves forward.
Western Conference
WC2 St. Louis vs. C1 Winnipeg
Winnipeg won the Presidents’ Trophy, for the most points in the season, yet is not listed among the Top 7 teams to win
the Stanley Cup. Maybe it’s the Presidents’ Trophy curse or losing in the first round last year after having 110 points. The Jets and Blues will meet in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since the 2019 Western Conference First Round. Winnipeg is a -210 series favorite (3-1 this year) and needs to play an elevated version of its regular season performance, having its #1 power play expose the Blues’ 27th-ranked penalty kill. Connor Hellebuyck is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner (best goalie) and will likely win it again. He needs to give his team a 2-0 lead in this series because St. Louis finished 19-4-3 and goalie Jordan Binnington can get hot. The Jets fly to the quarterfinals.
C3 Colorado vs. C2 Dallas
Dallas has the home ice edge over Colorado, yet the Avalanche are -155 favorites to win the series? What changed is that the Stars enter the postseason on a horrendous 0-7 skid, permitting an unfathomable 4.85 goals a game in those defeats. Dallas has fought against injuries all season, but the latest batch has crushed them, especially defenseman Miro Heiskanen. If the Stars can take the first two games at home, they will have a chance because structurally, they can slow Colorado down, and goalie Jake Oettinger was 24-7 SU on home ice this season. If the Avs earn a split in Big D, go home where they use their speed so well, the Stars are in trouble. Take Colorado to advance.
WC1 Minnesota vs. P1 Vegas
The Golden Knights are looking to win the Stanley Cup for the second time in three seasons and will start that quest against Minnesota. The Wild were the first wild card in the West, have not won a playoff series since 2015, and haven’t been past the second round since losing in the conference final in 22 long years. Minnesota will feel more comfortable having Kirill Kaprizov back as they are 24-15 SU when he’s in the lineup and 21-22 SU when he’s not. Both goalies arrive off career years, yet Vegas has shown they can win in the postseason in their short history, and the Wild has not.
P3 Edmonton vs. P2 Los Angeles
The Kings and Oilers are playing in the first round for the fourth consecutive season. Edmonton won the previous three series, but Los Angeles has home-ice advantage this time and feels it has the talent to advance beyond the first round for the first time since winning the Stanley Cup in 2014. L.A. is starting its fourth different goalie in the playoffs against Edmonton with Darcy Kuemper. He was 31-11-7 with a 2.02 goals-against average, .922 save percentage. The Oilers’ regular netminder, Stuart Skinner, is not expected at the start of the series, having been out since late March. That leaves veteran Calvin Pickard, who has three playoff starts in 10 seasons. Edmonton is a modest -115 favorite, and they hope forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl can be their stars. The Kings have more offensive balance than their counterparts. If they can keep McDavid and Draisaitl a little off their game, Los Angeles can win the series. Grabbing L.A.
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