What Is the NHL Playoffs Format?

The regular season ended on April 18, and the playoffs kicked off on April 20, 2024. They're made up of four rounds, each featuring a best-of-seven in a 2-2-1-1 format. The first team to win four games progresses into the next round.

The division winner with the best record in a conference is seeded against the wild card team with the least record. The other division winner plays against the wild card side with a better record. Teams finishing second and third in each division face each other to complete an eight-fixtured first round.

In the second round, the first-round winners in the same bracket play each other over four fixtures to determine which four teams will proceed into the conference finals. The home-ice advantage in the first two rounds goes to the team with the higher standings in the regular season. For instance, the Florida Panthers were at home in the first two games against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.

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In the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup final, the team with the better regular season record is awarded the home-ice advantage irrespective of their final standings in their divisions. Those who want to bet on any of the games may consider using SBD1500 for BetMGM to sign up on the betting platform. With this, you get an offer on your first wager on the sportsbook. The betting app also provides odds for each team to win the Stanley Cup. Apart from NHL matches, there are odds for betting on the NBA, NFL, MLB, and even the MLS.

Who Are the Favorites to Win the Stanley Cup?

Like other top sports competitions, some teams are preferred as favorites to win the Stanley Cup. This is due to their current form, experience, key players, and other factors. Nevertheless, underdogs can pull off surprises.

Most sportsbooks have placed the Hurricanes as the top favorite to claim their second Stanley Cup. BetMGM is backing them with odds of +385 as of April 26, 2024. Despite still searching for their first Stanley Cup, the Panthers are second on the list of favorites with odds of +425. The Jets and the Canucks are other teams in the playoffs who are yet to win a Stanley Cup. They follow each other closely on the list of favorites. While the Jets are backed at odds of +1700, the Canucks have odds of +2000 to win the big prize. The Lightning, the Capitals, and the Islanders are all placed as underdogs. The Islanders are backed with odds of +60000 to win the Stanley Cup.

It's all to play for in this year's Stanley Cup - who will you back?