Updated Stanley Cup Playoff Odds: A Set of Incredible Matchups
Even if hockey isn't at the top of your list of favorite sports, there are a ton of intriguing matchups in the second round of this year's Stanley Cup playoffs that should get you interested.
For the third straight year, Washington is facing Pittsburgh in the playoffs. We get to see Ovechkin versus Crosby once again. But we'll also watch two teams who swept their first-round opponents go up against one another (that'd be Vegas and San Jose), and two other matchups between numberFire's top-four power-ranked squads (Tampa Bay versus Boston and Nashville versus Winnipeg).
In sum, the remaining eight teams do deserve to be playing. Per our metrics, they're the eight best teams in hockey. But how will things look at the end of the second round? Here's what our algorithm thinks will happen:
| Team | Conference Semis Odds | Stanley Cup Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville Predators | 52.38% | 17.52% |
| Winnipeg Jets | 47.62% | 14.99% |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 51.07% | 14.53% |
| Boston Bruins | 48.93% | 13.97% |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 53.77% | 11.59% |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 50.35% | 9.76% |
| Washington Capitals | 49.65% | 9.15% |
| San Jose Sharks | 46.23% | 8.49% |
