Stanley Cup odds: Sabres, Golden Knights advance; ...
Key takeaways
- The Anaheim Ducks, who came into the playoffs dead last on the odds board at 80-1, eliminated the two-time reigning Stanley Cup runners-up Edmonton Oilers, who entered the postseason at a seventh-best 13-1.
- The Avalanche (+210) and Carolina Hurricanes (+230) remain the clear favorites to win the Stanley Cup.
- Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning forced a Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens with an overtime win Friday.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
The Sabres clinched their series against the Bruins on Friday night. Winslow Townson-Imagn Images Doug Greenberg May 2, 2026, 01:00 PM ETMultiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions Thursday night's Stanley Cup Playoffs action saw two of the top contenders eliminated from contention. First, the Minnesota Wild finished off the Dallas Stars to advance to the second round: Minnesota entered the postseason at 18-1 to lift the Cup and have moved to a fifth-best +950, essentially supplanting Dallas, who came into the fray tied for fourth at 10-1. The Wild are +170 underdogs to defeat the Colorado Avalanche (-205) in the conference semifinals.
The Anaheim Ducks, who came into the playoffs dead last on the odds board at 80-1, eliminated the two-time reigning Stanley Cup runners-up Edmonton Oilers, who entered the postseason at a seventh-best 13-1. Anaheim has jumped to 25-1 after advancing to the next round.
The Avalanche (+210) and Carolina Hurricanes (+230) remain the clear favorites to win the Stanley Cup. The Vegas Golden Knights come in next at +600 and will face the Ducks in the next round after eliminating the Utah Mammoth on Friday. Similarly, the Buffalo Sabres maintained their 10-1 odds after sending the Boston Bruins home.