The Stanley Cup race is heating up, and it's anyone's guess who will take home the trophy. The last four seasons have seen four different teams claim victory, and this year's competition is shaping up to be just as unpredictable. The defending champions, the Florida Panthers, and the 2022 winners, the Colorado Avalanche, are leading the pack with +750 odds on BetMGM. But don't count out the other contenders just yet. Seven teams have odds shorter than +1000, making for a tight and exciting race.

The Carolina Hurricanes are hot on the heels of the co-favorites, with +800 odds. They've made it out of the first round for the past four seasons, but this year, they'll face a tough matchup against the New Jersey Devils. The Devils have the lowest point total of any playoff team, but that hasn't stopped them from causing upsets in the past. The Hurricanes are the biggest favorite in the first round, but anything can happen in the playoffs.

The Panthers, on the other hand, have a tough road ahead. They'll face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round and won't have home-ice advantage. The Lightning are a formidable opponent, having knocked out the Panthers in the first round last year. But if the Panthers can pull off a victory, they could emerge as a clear favorite to take home the Cup. The Lightning, meanwhile, have +1100 odds and could also be a strong contender if they can get past the defending champs.

The Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights, Edmonton Oilers, and Washington Capitals are also in the mix, with odds ranging from +850 to +950. This makes the NHL drastically different from the NBA, where only four teams have odds shorter than 25-to-1. The NHL postseason is truly anyone's game, with 16 teams all vying for a chance at the Stanley Cup.

But while the competition is fierce, it's looking like a tough road ahead for the Montreal Canadiens. They enter the postseason as the longest shot to win it all, with +8000 odds. Habs fans may be disappointed, but at least they're back in the postseason for the first time since 2021. The Canadiens will have to pull off some major upsets if they want to take home the Cup.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, meanwhile, have a solid chance of advancing in the first round against the Ottawa Senators. They're clear favorites with -190 odds, but even that doesn't guarantee a victory. The Leafs have a history of playoff heartbreak, and fans are hoping this year will be different. But even as a clear first-round favorite, the Leafs are only fifth in the odds to advance out of the Eastern Conference.

In the Western Conference, the Colorado Avalanche are the favorites to take home the Cup. But the Winnipeg Jets, despite finishing with the league's best record, are only fifth in the odds. The Jets are clear favorites to get by St. Louis in the first round, but their potential second-round opponents are well ahead of them in the ratings. Even with strong regular seasons from the Jets and Maple Leafs, it doesn't look like this will be the year Canada ends its 32-year Stanley Cup drought. American teams are heavily favored to take home the trophy, with +240 odds for a Canadian winner and -300 odds for an American winner.

Canadians Face Uphill Battle in Stanley Cup Chase

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