Updated Stanley Cup Odds Heading Into Conference Finals

• Updated Stanley Cup odds have the Golden Knights (+175) and Lightning (+180) as heavy favorites to meet in the Final
  
• The Islanders (+500) have allowed the fewest goals in the NHL this postseason
  
• The Stars (+750) offense has suddenly caught fire with 40 goals in 10 playoff games

After defeating the Boston Bruins in five games, the Tampa Bay Lightning will relocate from the Toronto bubble to the bubble in Edmonton, the hub city for the conference finals and Stanley Cup Final.

With leads in their respective series, the Vegas Golden Knights, New York Islanders and Dallas Stars could soon be joining them in the final four. Let’s check out the latest odds to see who’s favored to hoist Lord Stanley in 2020.

ODDS TO WIN 2020 STANLEY CUP

WESTERN CONFERENCE

The Golden Knights (+175) didn’t have much trouble versus the Blackhawks or Canucks (+10000), but their competition was notably weaker than the Stars (+750), who dispatched the Flames in six games in Round 1 and now hold a 3-2 series lead on the Avalanche (+900).

A controversial social media post at the start of the Vancouver series by Marc-Andre Fleury’s agent proved no distraction for Vegas, who turned the net back to the Flower in the Knights’ 5-3 win over the  Canucks on Sunday.

Shocking tweet by Marc-Andre Fleury’s agent is removed and Fleury tells media his agent is known for passionately representing him. LVSB story has Fleury’s 5-minute media session:https://t.co/q2o4avC7Jw
What’s your take? Did Fleury know about agent’s intention before Sat tweet? pic.twitter.com/pTafX3yOTi

— LVSportsBiz.com (@LVSportsBiz) August 23, 2020

Whether it’s Fleury or Robin Lehner in the Western Conference Finals, they’ll need to be sharp against a Dallas offense that has caught fire to score 40 goals in 10 playoff games after ranking just 26th in the league in goals per game during the regular season.

Dallas still needs to finish off a dangerous Avalanche (+900) team that was favored to win the Stanley Cup after the conclusion of the Qualifying Round, but they’re stiffer competition for Vegas than the latest odds would suggest. We would advise holding off on a Golden Knights bet at this point.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

It has been a painful few years for the Lightning (+175), who fell in the Finals to the Blackhawks in 2015, lost in the Conference Finals in seven games to the eventual Cup champs in both 2016 (Penguins) and 2018 (Capitals), and then were swept by the Blue Jackets in 2019 after becoming only the second team in league history to win 62 games.

Tampa now has yet another golden opportunity to sip from Lord Stanley after making quick work of their Atlantic-division rivals in Boston in Round 2. Assuming the Islanders (+500) wrap up their series with Philadelphia (+3300), however, it won’t be easy.

Brayden Point (14-19—33 in 33 GP) is one of three players in @TBLightning history to produce at a point-per-game pace in his postseason career (min. 10 GP).

The others: Martin St. Louis (1.08 P/GP in 63 GP) and Brad Richards (1.04 P/GP in 45 GP). #NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/laYlD7xVON

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) August 29, 2020

One win away from their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 27 years, New York has given up the fewest goals in the NHL this postseason and outscored their opponents 19-5 in the 3rd period.

Considering they had lost 11 of 13 games and were in danger of missing the playoffs altogether when the pandemic shut down the NHL, the Islanders’ current run is looking every bit as magical as the one the worst-to-first Blues went on in 2019.

Make no mistake – superstar Brayden Point and the Lightning (+180) will in all likelihood win the Cup, but a +500 bet on the Islanders is an ideal hedge.

Best Bet: Islanders (+500) at Betway.