Lightning Stanley Cup Odds Storm Up as New Eastern Conference Favorites

The Tampa Bay Lightning opened their second round series against the Florida Panthers as +130 underdogs.

Four games later, they've gone from second round dogs, to the favorite to represent the East in the Stanley Cup final.

That's what happens when you obliterate the Presidents' Trophy winners in four straight; shutting out the Panthers 2-0 in Game 4 in Tampa Bay. It's now the ninth consecutive season where the team with the best record in hockey goes home without hoisting the Cup, and the seventh straight year the Presidents' Trophy recipient failed to get past the second round.

After bowing out in six games a season ago to the Lightning, this postseason was supposed to be different for the Panthers. Their offense finished the regular season at a historic output for goals scored; yet only mustered three total goals in four games vs. Tampa Bay.

The Lightning appear to be on a fast track for a possible Stanley Cup Final three-peat; something no team has done since the New York Islanders won four straight cups from 1980-1983. Tampa has already turned into playoff form, but may be an automatic bet in series-clinching games; winners of 10 straight.

Are the Tampa Bay Lightning the Favorite to win the 2022 Stanley Cup?

At the start of the postseason, the Lightning were tied with the Carolina Hurricanes at +900 at WynnBET Sportsbook to win the cup; tied for fourth-shortest odds on the board.

The Colorado Avalanche began the playoffs as the favorite with +325 odds, and still remain the favorite on the board at +140. With their two series wins, the Lightning are now second on the board at +250, and the favorite to take home another Eastern Conference Finals at -125 odds.

While an argument can be made that the Lightning, based off their first two knockouts of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers should be the new Stanley Cup favorites, it makes sense that Vegas has stayed true to the Avalanche; now up 3-1 in their series vs. the St. Louis Blues. Should St. Louis pull off the upset, win the Western Conference Finals and play Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup Final, it would be the lone available matchup for the Lightning that would offer home ice advantage; finishing with a better regular season record than the Blues.

The Lightning play the winner of the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes series, with the Hurricanes currently up 2-1. The Rangers are a slight moneyline favorite at -115 odds at WynnBET Sportsbook tonight with a projected total listed at 5.5.

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