The playoffs for the current Stanley Cup will take place from April to June 2024. After the end of the regular season, the top eight teams from the Western and Eastern Conferences advance to the 1/8 finals. So 16 teams will compete for the trophy of the strongest hockey league in the world.
The four main contenders for the championship in the National Hockey League, according to bookmakers, are: Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers. By studying the path of teams in the regular season, you can more accurately predict who has the best chance of winning the Stanley Cup.
Carolina Hurricanes
After 77 matches played, Rod Brindamore's boys guaranteed themselves participation in the playoffs. At that time, the club from Raleigh was third in the Eastern Conference, two points behind the second Boston Bruins and just as ahead of the Florida Panthers. Having won 48 victories, the “red-white-gray-blacks” suffered 29 defeats. It should also be noted that the Canes had a fairly strong attack and one of the best defenses in the East, which on average conceded just over 2.5 goals per 60 minutes of playing time.
The representatives of North Carolina have a competitive lineup and the team looks very good in terms of gameplay. At the same time, the battles in the playoffs are significantly different from the regular championship, and it will not be easy for the Hurricanes to prove themselves in the relegation battles. If you want to bet on NHL matches and make money from it, then install mostbetuz.app .
Colorado Avalanche
Jared Bednar's team, after 77 matches played in the regular championship, were third in the West and guaranteed themselves participation in the playoffs. Four points ahead of the Winnipeg Jets, the Denver club was behind the second Vancouver Canucks by additional indicators and continued to fight for victory in the conference. Having suffered 29 defeats, the Evs won 48 victories (40 in regular time). In addition, the “burgundy-blue-black-white-silver” had the strongest attack in the league, which averaged just over three and a half goals per match.
The Avalanche's roster is strong enough and the Colorado Avalanche are quite capable of winning their second Stanley Cup in the last three years. But for this, Gabriel Landeskog and his partners need to properly prepare for the relegation battles.
New York Rangers
Peter Laviolette's boys, after 77 matches played, were the holders of a ticket to the playoffs. At that time, the New York Rangers led the Eastern Conference and were three points ahead of the second Boston Bruins. Having won 52 times, the “blue-red-white” suffered 25 defeats. At the same time, the Broadway Blueshirts had the worst defense in the top four in the East. But near the opponent’s goal, Jacob Truba and his partners acted more convincingly.
Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider scored more than 200 points between them in the goal-plus-assist system and were included in the list of the main contenders for winning the Stanley Cup. The Broadway Blueshirts look extremely competitive and the New York Rangers are quite capable of winning the NHL for the first time in the 21st century.
Edmonton Oilers
Chris Knobloch's team deservedly receive the title of the most controversial team of the current season of the NHL regular championship due to its winning and losing streaks. Nevertheless, after 75 matches played, “oil” guaranteed itself participation in the playoffs. The Blue-Orange-Whites were fifth in the East. While trailing the fourth-place Winnipeg Jets by one point, the Albertans were five ahead of the seventh-place Nashville Predators and eighth-place Vegas Golden Knights. It should also be noted that Connor McDavid and his partners had one of the strongest attacks in the league.
The last time the Edmonton Oilers won the Stanley Cup was more than 30 years ago. In the current season, the “blue-orange-white” have a good chance of winning the trophy, but given the instability of the team, the maximum for the “oil” may be reaching the Western Conference finals.
Our forecast
The Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes don't have much playoff experience. So it’s hardly worth expecting serious achievements from these teams in relegation battles. Most likely, the Colorado Avalanche and New York Rangers have the greatest chances of reaching the finals. If the Blueshirts do not lose the passion that the New York club had in the regular season, then Jacob Trouba and his partners will be able to defeat the Avalanche. So preference here should be given to the residents of Madison Square Garden.
