SAD NEWS: Alexis Lafrenière Ends Relationship with New York Rangers today after finding out he was…..

The quest for the Cup continues as Florida is the second team to make it to the next round alongside the NY Rangers.

Both teams have not only survived the first round but have done so with convincing victories.

So, how does this affect their odds?  They’re still not the #1 favorite to win it all (more on that in a moment), but they’re proving they’re contenders for the Cup.

While the Eastern Conference seems to be shaping up quickly, we’ll hold off on the editorials regarding the Western Conference until some of the teams make it out of the first round.

The betting odds for the Stanley Cup often tell a story beyond just numbers and this year’s NHL playoff race is no different.

Currently, the Florida Panthers are pegged at +500 to win the Cup, while the New York Rangers are slightly behind at +700.

These odds position them as strong contenders, though not outright favorites, a role that currently belongs to the Carolina Hurricanes at +470. The Hurricanes have held the favorite spot for the Cup since the playoffs began last week.

However, the odds are a dynamic indicator of confidence from sportsbooks and bettors, influenced heavily by recent performances and historical matchups.

Just the other day, Carolina was a +420, and now they’ve been bumped up to +470, which happens to be right after the Panthers made the second round. So, what does that mean about the Panthers?

The Panthers, in an undeniable victory, ousted the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 4-1 series win, finally overcoming a team that had previously thwarted their last three playoff campaigns.