The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Edmonton Oilers are trying to turn into the primary Canadian crew to win an NHL championship because the Montreal Canadians gained the Stanley Cup in 1993.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fun a victory in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Scotia Financial institution Area in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Picture: USA In the present day Sports activities)
Eight groups are nonetheless alive within the 2023 NHL playoffs, with two squads from Canada. The Maple Leafs and Oilers head into their respective convention semifinals, attempting to maintain their Stanley Cup hopes alive.
The Maple Leafs are +500 odds to win the 2023 Stanley Cup and are at present third on the DraftKings’ NHL futures board. The Leafs are +285 odds to win the Jap Convention and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the primary time in 56 years.
The Oilers are +550 odds to win the Stanley Cup and are fourth general on the board. The Oilers are +260 odds to win the Western Convention and return to the finals for the primary time since 2006.
Toronto Leafs Lastly Win a Playoff Collection
It’s been almost 20 years because the Maple Leafs made it out of the primary spherical and superior to the convention semifinals. The Maple Leafs have been knocked out of the primary spherical in six consecutive postseasons courting again to the 2016-17 season.
Followers in Toronto skilled laborious occasions when the Maple Leafs certified for the playoffs solely as soon as between 2005 and 2016. That they had one first rate crew within the 2012-13 season however suffered a first-round knockout by the Boston Bruins.
The Maple Leafs defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning within the first spherical of this yr’s NHL playoffs to win their first sequence since 2004. The Lightning had superior to the Stanley Cup finals for 3 consecutive seasons with back-to-back NHL championships in 2020 and 2021 earlier than selecting a runner-up end in 2022.
After a wild weekend of the NHL playoffs, the Maple Leafs awoke on Monday morning because the betting favourite to win the 2023 Stanley Cup at +350 odds. They squared off in opposition to the red-hot Florida Panthers within the second spherical after the Panthers upset the top-seeded Boston Bruins within the first spherical.
The Panthers picked up a road win in Toronto, 4-2, in Sport 1 to take a 1-0 sequence lead. The Panthers are actually the brand new favourite to win the sequence at -125 odds. The Maple Leafs have been the sequence favourite earlier than Sport 1, however they’re now +105 odds after falling behind 0-1.
Oilers Down 0-1 in Western Convention Semis
The Oilers discovered themselves trailing the Los Angeles Kings of their opening-round sequence. Regardless of falling behind 2-1, together with a pair of time beyond regulation losses, the Oilers gained three video games in a row and knocked out the Kings to clinch the sequence in six video games.
All-Star middle Leon Draisaitl scored seven objectives and added 4 assists to assist put away the Kings. The Kings saved Connor McDavid, the NHL’s scoring chief, in verify and restricted him to simply three objectives in six video games. McDavid led the league with 64 objectives and 89 assists this season.
The Oilers face a tricky opponent within the Western Convention semifinals in opposition to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Golden Knights struck first blood throughout a high-scoring Sport 1 after they skated to a 6-4 victory. Draisaitl scored all 4 objectives for the Oilers, and McDavid assisted on two of them, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to place them excessive.
The Golden Knights are actually -140 odds to win the sequence and advance to the Western Convention finals. The Oilers are +120 odds to rally again and win one other sequence after dropping Sport 1.
Canadian Hopefuls: Toronto and Edmonton
It’s been a 30-year drought because the Stanley Cup champion hailed from Canada when the Canadiens defeated the Los Angeles Kings in 1993. Canada final dominated the NHL within the late Nineteen Eighties, claiming seven straight champions between 1984 and 1990. The Oilers gained the Cup 5 occasions, and the Canadiens and Oilers every gained the championship as soon as in that span.
The Canadiens have been the final crew from Canada to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, however they misplaced to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 5 video games in 2021. For the reason that NHL lockout within the 2004-05 season, the Oilers (2006), Ottawa Senators (2007), and Vancouver Canucks (2011) have been the one different Canadian groups to achieve the finals. All three groups got here up empty.
The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Oilers in seven video games in 2006. The Anaheim Geese solely wanted 5 video games to beat the Senators in 2007. The Canucks pushed the finals to seven video games however finally misplaced to the Bruins in 2011.
The Oilers final gained the Stanley Cup in 1990, and it’s been 33 years since their final NHL championship.
The Maple Leafs have the longest energetic drought amongst former champions. It’s been 56 years because the Leafs final gained the Stanley Cup in 1967, marking their final look within the finals. They superior to the Stanley Cup Finals 5 occasions within the Sixties and gained three consecutive championships between 1962 and 1964 earlier than including the franchise’s thirteenth and ultimate title in 1967.
Up to date Stanley Cup Odds: Golden Knights, Hurricanes on High
When the playoffs started in mid-April, the Boston Bruins have been the consensus favourite to win the Stanley Cup at +330 odds. The defending champion Colorado Avalanche have been +650 odds to win the Cup in back-to-back seasons. Each groups did not advance previous the primary spherical after they made disappointing opening-round exits.
The Golden Knights are one of many bettings co-favorites to win the 2023 Stanley Cup at +475 odds, based on a current replace by DraftKings. The Carolina Hurricanes are additionally +475 odds as a co-favorite after they gained Sport 1 of their second-round sequence in opposition to the New Jersey Devils. The Golden Knights and Hurricanes are forward of the Maple Leafs (+500), Oilers (+550), Panthers (+650), Dallas Stars (+700), Devils (+800), and Seattle Kraken (+1300).
On the onset of the playoffs, the Oilers have been +800 odds to win the Cup because the third-highest crew on the futures board. The Maple Leafs have been +900 odds and proper behind the Oilers because the fourth-highest crew on the finish of the common season.
Through the preseason, the Maple Leafs have been one of many early Cup favorites at +700 odds, however the Oilers have been solely +1500.
