Unfortunately, we here at The Touchback were a year too early with our bet on Florida Panthers to win the Stanley Cup. Not all is lost, however. For some reason, the Eastern Conference champions are an underdog to lift the cup which may seem odd on the surface but actually makes sense when you think about it.
Despite entering the postseason as the eighth seed, Florida was much better than their underwhelming regular season performance suggested. This team had a lot of talent as well as playoff experience having been in some hard-fought series in 2021 and 2022. Those two losses to the Lightening may have sucked at the time but have been invaluable on their run this year.
The Las Vegas Golden Knights have performed well above expectations all season. They have overcome a rotating cast of goaltenders and some other hiccups to make it this far. However, the Western Conference was far weaker than the East in 2023. VGK’s road to get here was far from daunting.
That alone is not why you should bet on the underdog Florida Panthers to win the Stanley Cup. There is another reality that must be considered here. Vegas sportsbooks are being flooded with money from hometown fans wagering on the Golden Knights.
Florida sitting at +110 has everything to do with that fact. Casinos are desperate for people to put money on the Panthers despite what looks to be a very even Stanley Cup Finals on paper. These odds are incredibly generous, all things considered.
And if the house wants to give you a gift, you should take it. Look, the Florida Panthers are by no means a lock to win the Stanley Cup. That being said, they are pretty much equal to the Golden Knights. And with home ice advantage not meaning a whole lot in 2023, there is only one way to bet. You don’t need to be a hockey fan or NHL expert to see that.
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