Sports betting: Panthers and Avalanche co-favorites to win Stanley Cup title

The Florida Panthers and the Colorado Avalanche have the best odds to win the Stanley Cup at the BetMGM online sportsbook.

Both teams are listed at +750 ahead of this weekend's start to the playoffs.

The Panthers will be looking to become the first team to repeat as Stanley Cup champions since the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021.

No. 1 Maple Leafs vs. No. 4 Senators — Series price: Maple Leafs -190, Senators +155

No. 2 Lightning vs. No. 3 Panthers — Series price: Lightning -105, Panthers -115

No. 1 Capitals vs. No. 4 Canadiens — Series price: Capitals -250, Canadiens +200

No. 2 Hurricanes vs. No. 3 Devils — Series price: Hurricanes -275, Devils +225

Carolina is the biggest favorite of any of the first-round teams in the Eastern Conference, with an implied probability of 73.33% to advance. The most anticipated series will be the Lightning and Panthers. Those two teams have combined to win three of the last five Stanley Cups and they split their four-game regular-season series.

No. 1 Jets vs. No. 4 Blues — Series price: Jets -220, Blues +180

No. 2 Stars vs. No. 3 Avalanche — Series price: Stars +135, Avalanche -160

No. 1 Golden Knights vs. No. 4 Wild — Series price: Golden Knights -250, Wild +200

No. 2 Kings vs. No. 3 Oilers — Series price: Kings +100, Oilers -120

On paper, the Western Conference should be more competitive, especially the Stars-Avalanche and Kings-Oilers. Both of those matchups have the higher seed as the favorite. Colorado won the last two games against Dallas this season, while the Kings won the season series against the Oilers, going 2-1-1.

— Avalanche +750

— Panthers +750

— Hurricanes +800

— Stars +850

— Golden Knights +850

— Oilers +950

— Capitals +950

— Jets +1000

— Lightning +1100

— Maple Leafs +1200

With seven teams at less than +1000 to win it all, the Stanley Cup odds show a number of teams have a good chance of winning the trophy.

The Western Conference may be a little stronger than the East. Four of the six teams with the best odds come from the West.

There are a few prop bets at the BetMGM online sportsbook related to the Stanley Cup winner. Here are a few:

Nation of Winning Team: United States -300, Canada +240

Winning Conference: East +105, West -125

Original Six Winner: Yes +1000, No -2000

Winning Division: Atlantic +230, Metropolitan +375, Central +180, Pacific +333

This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Toronto Maple Leafs' Pontus Holmberg (29) moves the puck around Detroit Red Wings' Moritz Seider (53) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield, centre, celebrates with teammates after their win against the Carolina Hurricanes during third period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Carolina Hurricanes left wing William Carrier (28) tries to score against Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) during third-period NHL hockey game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski (70) celebrates with goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) after the Avalanche defeated the Anaheim Ducks in an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) gets around Tampa Bay Lightning center Jake Guentzel (59) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Voting began Thursday in Uganda’s presidential election despite a days-long internet shutdown that has been criticized as an anti-democratic gesture in a country where the president has held office since 1986.

Crowds gathered and long lines formed in some areas as polling station openings were delayed and voting materials were seen being delivered after the scheduled 7 a.m. opening time.

President Yoweri Museveni, 81, faces seven other candidates, including Robert Kyagulanyi, a musician-turned-politician best known as Bobi Wine, who is calling for political change.

The East African country of roughly 45 million people has 21.6 million registered voters.

Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known as Bobi Wine, right, greets election observers, including former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, at his home in Magere village on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)

Billboards of Uganda President and National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni are seen in Kampala, Uganda, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Samson Otieno)

Electoral workers deliver ballot boxes to a polling station during presidential election in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Voters are reflected in a police officer's sunglasses as they wait in line after voting failed to start on time due to system failures during presidential election in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Voters wait to cast their ballots during the presidential election in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)