At the onset of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs is the expectation of change. The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning are still a respected contender in the Eastern Conference. But the Bolts are not the favorite. Tampa Bay’s intra-state rival Florida Panthers have taken the point in the minds of gamblers. A late regular season surge by the Toronto Maple Leafs has made them the second choice of the masses. Tampa Bay is the third choice, followed by the solid Carolina Hurricanes. Boston was also closing the regular season strong to gain support. But the New York Rangers may prove to be a hidden gem. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals are considered aging and lacking depth.
2022 NHL Eastern Conference Championship Odds
Florida Panthers +250
Toronto Maple Leafs +450
Tampa Bay Lightning +500
Carolina Hurricanes +550
Boston Bruins +800
New York Rangers +800
Pittsburgh Penguins +900
Washington Capitals +1600
Odds Analysis
The Eastern Conference is comprised of a hybrid between legacy franchises such as the Maple Leafs, Bruins, and Rangers with upstart teams such as the Panthers. Those older franchises carry a lot of credibility on the board with their large fan bases. Florida may actually prove to be a bargain. If Toronto had the Panthers’ record, they would be close to even money chalk.
Florida Panthers
Florida is the top seed in the Eastern Conference and one of the most exciting teams in the NHL. No team has more skill than the Panthers. The big worry about Florida is its defense and goaltending. Both must tighten up for a championship.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs are the Yankees of hockey in that they are the most popular brand on the NHL board with a lot of history. The Leafs haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1967, the final pre-expansion season of the Original Six teams. Like Florida, the Leafs are highly skilled and exciting but play loose on the back end with unproven goaltending.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning are coming off consecutive Stanley Cup championships and are the ultimate proven brand. But winning a Stanley Cup is a taxing process of energy and mental fatigue. Trying to do it three years in a row is impossible in the eyes of many. Tampa Bay has arguably the best goalie in the game with Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes win the old fashion way with defense. Carolina allowed the fewest goals in the NHL this season. Now that is Old Time Hockey! Problematic is that Carolina may lack a finishing scorer and secondary scoring.
Boston Bruins
The Bruins draw a lot of public support with their worldwide generational fan base. The Bruins lack secondary goal scoring and rely on defense and goaltending like the Hurricanes. Their netminders were strong in the regular season but are unproven in the playoffs.
New York Rangers
The Broadway Blueshirts were the most improved team in the NHL. New head coach Gerard Gallant has a proven track record of jumpstarting teams at the start of his tenure. Goaltender Igor Shesterkin is quickly making Ranger fans get over the retirement of Henrik Lundqvist.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh lost steam down the stretch with its odd hybrid of aging veterans and newer players. Sidney Crosby remains on the Penguins marquee.
Washington Capitals
Since their 2018 Stanley Cup championship, the Capitals have reverted to their old ways. This trait means that the Caps are all about Alex Ovechkin and not much else.
2022 Eastern Conference Prediction
Playoff hockey is a different sport in itself. And that is what puts the Panthers and Maple Leafs in peril. Carolina has enough goal-scoring to complement its airtight defense and comes at a great price.
BookMaker Pick: Carolina Hurricanes
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