- According BetOnline, the Toronto Maple Leafs have the best odds of winning the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final.
- A Canadian team has not won the Stanley Cup since the Montreal Canadiens defeated the L.A. Kings in 1993.
- Regular season favorite, Boston Bruins, experience a stunning upset against the Florida Panthers in the first round.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have won their first playoff series since the 2003-2004 season. Now, according to the latest 2024 Stanley Cup odds, the Maple Leafs are on track to win their first Stanley Cup since 1967. Entering the second round, the Maple Leafs have the best Stanley Cup odds at +350 according to BetOnline.
The Maple Leafs exercised their demons and made it past the first round after multiple failed attempts. Since 2017, the Maple Leafs have lost in the opening round six straight times. From 2006 to 2016, the Maple Leafs only made the postseason once.
For a team with one of the largest fan bases in hockey, it has been a long and frustrating journey. The Maple Leafs have been in this position where they have been expected to win in the past. However, it has often resulted in disappointment.
Toronto ERUPTED after Tavares’ game winner 🙌
(via @MapleLeafs) pic.twitter.com/jsPE9gvkF1
— ESPN (@espn) April 30, 2023
Florida Panthers Shock Bruins, Meet With Maple Leafs In Second Round
The Boston Bruins were the unanimous choice as the favorite to win the Stanley Cup in 2023. With 65 wins and 135 points, the Bruins broke the NHL record for most wins and points in a season.
However, every team starts with no wins and no losses in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After getting out to a 3-1 series lead over the Panthers, the Bruins collapsed in epic fashion.
In addition to blowing the series lead, the Bruins had a 3-2 lead with under a minute left in regulation of Game 7. However, the pesky Panthers did not go away. After tying the contest up on a Brandon Montour goal, Carter Verhaeghe ended things less than 10 minutes into overtime.
And just like that, a rematch between the Bruins and Maple Leafs was thwarted by the Panthers. The Bruins and Maple Leafs’ rivalry in the Playoffs has been well-documented over the last decade.
Their playoff history includes a monumental collapse by the Maple Leafs in Game 7 of the 2013 NHL Playoffs. No Maple Leaf fan wants to be reminded of that game, but a deep run ten years later would fix some old wounds.
Toronto lost to Boston in the 2013, 2018, and 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Rather than the Maple Leafs looking for revenge in an Original Six showdown, we have an unlikely matchup between Florida and Toronto.
RYAN O’REILLY TIES IT FOR THE LEAFS WITH A MINUTE LEFT. WE’RE GOING TO OVERTIME. 😵
(🎥: @MapleLeafs)pic.twitter.com/Tup1vMfLD5
— theScore (@theScore) April 23, 2023
What Is Different With This Maple Leafs Team?
The Maple Leafs have always had a quality team during the Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner era. Despite not being able to get out of the first round, they competed hard and couldn’t get an opportunistic bounce to go in their direction.
Nevertheless, there was always a sense that the Maple Leafs needed something to put them over the hump. Enter Ryan O’Reilly. The Maple Leafs acquired the former St. Louis Blue in a three-way deal in February.
O’Reilly is a hard-nosed veteran that has recent experience winning a Stanley Cup. As a prominent member of the Blues, O’Reilly was an important cog in their 2019 championship run. Not only does the 32-year-old provide experience in the locker room, but he is still a valuable asset to give the Maple Leafs tremendous depth.
Along with O’Reilly, Noel Acciari has played an underrated role on the third line. There is a lot that head coach Sheldon Keefe is able to do with this lineup. Also, do not underestimate the impact of rookie Matthew Knies.
The native of Arizona only played in three NHL regular season games before getting the call for the playoffs. While Knies doesn’t always show up on the stats sheet, he is doing physical work to win puck battles for his team.
As a 20-year-old with little experience, Knies has been a significant contributor who’s getting better with every shift.
Right place, right time. 🕰️ #StanleyCup@Matthew_Knies was on the ice for all three Toronto OT winners in the First Round!
📺: @MapleLeafs vs @FlaPanthers Game 1 tonight at 7p ET on @espn, @Sportsnet, and @TVASports pic.twitter.com/gbuVFJnvcX
— NHL (@NHL) May 2, 2023
Canadian Teams Top The Stanley Cup Odds
The Canadiens beat the Kings in five games to win the 1993 Stanley Cup Final. No one expected to see a Canadian team go without a Cup since then, but 30 years have gone by and still no NHL championship for a team up North.
Following the Maple Leafs, there is another Canadian team high up on the Stanley Cup odds at BetOnline. The Edmonton Oilers have the second-best odds to win the Stanley Cup. Led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers have +375 odds to win the Cup in June.
Following the Oilers, there is a decent drop-off in the Stanley Cup odds. The Dallas Stars have the third-best odds at +525, while the New Jersey Devils are getting respect with +575 odds.
For the first time since 2012, a year they went to the Stanley Cup Final, the Devils are off to the second round. If the Devils want to return to the Stanley Cup Final, it might mean getting past the favorites.
The winner of the Devils vs. Hurricanes series will play the winner of the Panthers vs. Maple Leafs series in the Eastern Conference Finals. In the Western Conference, the winner of the Oilers vs. Golden Knights is scheduled to face the winner of the Kraken vs. Stars tilt.
