The Stanley Cup has been won by an 8-seed in the past. Top teams go out in the first round all the time. Even those who don’t love hockey have a hard time avoiding the NHL Playoffs, which is non-stop intensity for almost two months.

The Golden Knights finished with the second-most regular-season points in the NHL's Western Conference. How does that set them up in the Stanley Cup odds? Here are our best bets for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Stanley Cup sits on a table in front of a portrait of Martha Washington during an event where U.S. President Donald Trump honored the 2024 Stanley Cup Champions Florida Panthers at the White House on February 03, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Florida Panthers are the 2024 Stanley Cup Champions.Kevin Dietsch/Getty