5 Hottest Teams in the NHL in the Final Stretch

With the NHL season in the last 15 or so games, some teams are hitting their stride at just the right time, which makes for some seriously exciting hockey.

Whether it’s dominant scoring, airtight defense, or even clutch goaltending by some of the best netminders in the world, these teams are surging as they gear up for the playoffs. These are the 5 hottest teams in the NHL and their odds to win the Stanley Cup.

Florida Panthers

• Odds to Win the Stanley Cup: +500

The Florida Panthers are proving why they’re one of the best in the Eastern Conference. Sitting at 40-21-3, they’re fighting for first place in the Atlantic Division and showing no signs of slowing down. Sure, they have the Maple Leafs on their heels, but at this rate, they might not be able to catch them. Even with injuries and suspensions impacting their roster, they’ve remained one of the toughest teams to beat and it’s easy to see why.

Sam Reinhart is leading the charge on the offense with 32 goals and 68 points as he’s consistently finding the back of the net. Aleksander Barkov continues to be the heart of the team, putting up 43 assists while also playing elite 2-way hockey — a trait many in the NHL can’t boast. On the defensive end of the ice, Gustav Forsling has been a steady presence, leading the team with a +32 plus-minus rating. That’s one of the best in the league.

Florida made a major move before the trade deadline when they acquired Brad Marchand from Boston. This, for the most part, put the nail in the coffin for them to get another Stanley Cup. His experience and offensive production will be key down the stretch. They also bolstered their goaltending depth by bringing in Vitek Vanecek from San Jose to support Sergei Bobrovsky, who is doing just fine on his own with his 2.49 GAA and .907 SV%.

The Panthers’ penalty kill has been outstanding as well, going 7-for-7 in a statement win over Tampa Bay, where they snapped the Lightning’s 8-game winning streak with a 2-1 win. Barkov scored both goals, while Bobrovsky stopped 28 shots from some of the best players in the league. Despite missing Matthew Tkachuk due to a groin injury and Aaron Ekblad due to suspension, the Panthers keep proving they can compete with the best.

It’s easy to see why the bookmakers are favoring the Panthers for the Cup, though, we thought the odds might be slightly better after the trade deadline.

Dallas Stars

• Odds to Win the Stanley Cup: +550

The Dallas Stars are making a serious push in the Western Conference, currently sitting at 42-20-2 with 86 points. That puts them 2nd in the Central Division, but their odds are better than the Jets due to some serious trade deadline pushes.

They have one of the most balanced teams in the league — they have a strong mix of offensive firepower, undoubtedly reliable defense, and superior goaltending. They have the total package.

Jason Robertson continues to be the team’s go-to scorer, leading the Stars with 28 goals and 66 points. Matt Duchene has provided offensive firepower as well, leading the team with 41 assists and 66 points, while Roope Hintz has been a consistent contributor with 52 points this season. While none of these players are the top in the NHL, it just goes to show that the Stars have the depth to compete with the best teams.

In one of the biggest trades of the year, Dallas acquired Mikko Rantanen from Carolina and immediately signed him to an 8-year, $96 million extension. While this trade shook up the NHL, adding a player of his caliber makes the Stars even more dangerous than before.

Despite Miro Heiskanen being sidelined with a crippling knee injury, Dallas keeps finding ways to win — because they have depth and a complete team.

Jake Oettinger has been nothing less than outstanding between the pipes, collecting 30 wins with a 2.48 GAA and a .909 SV%. The Stars have been clutch in close games, recently pulling off a dramatic 3-2 OT win against Calgary with Robertson scoring a pair, including the game-winner. They also picked up a thrilling 4-3 win over New Jersey, where Thomas Harley scored in the final seconds to seal the game.

Edmonton Oilers

• Odds to Win the Stanley Cup: +700

The Edmonton Oilers have completely turned their season around and they look to be gaining some steam.

After a slow start, they’ve surged into 2nd place in the Pacific Division with a 37-23-4 record. They’re just 4 points behind the Vegas Golden Knights, but they’re gaining ground. With 2 of the best offensive players in the league, they’re a threat to any team.

Leon Draisaitl is having an incredible season with 46 goals and 97 points, showing once again why he’s one of the NHL’s elite scorers. In fact, he’s in the lead for the Rocket Richard Trophy (most goals in the NHL regular season) and it’s not even close. Unless he gets injured, the trophy is his. Connor McDavid is right there with him as well. He’s also sitting at 82 points with 58 assists obviously the playmaker in the duo. Zach Hyman has been a strong secondary scorer with 22 goals, giving Edmonton much-needed depth. In essence, this top 6 is nearly unstoppable.

Goaltending was a problem early in the season, but we think Stuart Skinner has stepped up nicely. He’s notched 22 wins while improving his consistency and getting his GAA down to 2.88%. Backup Calvin Pickard has also been solid, posting a 2.76 GAA, though Skinner usually takes the start against the tougher teams.

The Oilers have been red-hot in their last few games, proving they can win against some of the best. In a thrilling 5-4 victory over Dallas, Draisaitl found the back of the net twice, including the game-winner. Then they also took down Carolina 3-1, with Pickard making 30 saves. Keep in mind that these are some of the top teams in the NHL.

With Evan Bouchard set to return from injury in the coming days, their blue line is only going to get stronger. If Edmonton keeps playing at this level, they’ll be a dangerous team come playoff time. After the heartbreaking loss to Florida for the Stanley Cup last year, they’re hungrier than ever.

Colorado Avalanche

• Odds to Win the Stanley Cup: +700

The Colorado Avalanche are no strangers to deep playoff runs. Seeing that they’re playing like a team ready to make another one, it’s no surprise that they come into the discussion with +700 odds to win it all. With a 39-24-2 record, they’re right in the mix in the Central Division and have been among the hottest teams in the NHL over the past few weeks.

Nathan MacKinnon is having another MVP-caliber season as he leads the team with 27 goals and 75 assists for 102 points. He’s 1st in the NHL for assists and points. Martin Necas, who they picked up earlier in the season, has been just as important, putting up 22 goals and 50 assists for 72 points. Artturi Lehkonen has also been a key contributor to the Avs with 27 goals and 14 assists, giving Colorado much-needed secondary scoring. After all, depth is what wins Stanley Cups.

At the trade deadline, the Avalanche made several moves to strengthen their roster. They acquired Brock Nelson from the Islanders to add yet another scoring threat and some more depth to their top 6. On the blue line, they traded for Ryan Lindgren from the Rangers, adding another physical presence to their defense. Between the pipes, they swapped Alexandar Georgiev for Mackenzie Blackwood in a move to stabilize their goaltending a bit.

MacKinnon recently hit a major milestone, reaching 1,000 career points in a 3-0 shutout win over Chicago. Sure, Scott Wedgewood was the star of that game as he picked up his 2nd shutout of the season, but the 1,000 career points were a spectacle.

With their star players performing at the highest level and their recent trade acquisitions adding some depth to the roster, Colorado looks set for another deep playoff run.

Washington Capitals

• Odds to Win the Stanley Cup: +1000

The Washington Capitals have been one of the biggest surprises this season after barely clinching the playoffs last year. They’re leading the Metropolitan Division and proving they’re still a force to be reckoned with. With a dominant 42-14-8 record, they lead the NHL in points and they continue to win games and stay at the top of the standings. They’re not slowing down as they make the final push for the Stanley Cup.

Alexander Ovechkin is chasing history while still being one of the league’s most dangerous scorers despite his age. At 39 years old, he’s already scored 33 goals in 48 games this season, bringing his career total to 886 — just 8 away from Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record. It’s a stat that everyone is watching. Dylan Strome has been a key playmaker as well as he leads the team in assists with 44, while John Carlson continues to anchor the blue line with his speed and blocks in their zone.

At the trade deadline, Washington made a big move to add Anthony Beauvillier from Pittsburgh, giving them a little more depth. They also locked up goaltender Logan Thompson to a 6-year, $35.1 million extension which only goes to securing their future in between the pipes. Thompson has been outstanding this season, posting a 27-4-5 record with an insane 2.31 GAA good for 2nd in the NHL, and a .925 SV% good for 3rd. It’s no wonder why they locked him in for such a long-term deal.

In a recent 1-0 OT win against Ottawa, Ovechkin delivered the game-winning goal just underscoring once again why he’s one of the greatest clutch performers in NHL history. 

With Ovechkin leading the way and capturing headlines, strong goaltending from Thompson, and key contributions from their supporting cast in the bottom 6, the Capitals are proving they have what it takes to make a deep run this postseason. With odds at +1000, we think they should be closer to +700 based on their recent moves.

Who Will Win the 2025 Stanley Cup?

With the playoffs just around the corner, these 5 teams are peaking at the perfect time and putting together some exciting hockey.

Whether it’s through superstar performances, key trade deadline moves, or improved goaltending, each of them has found a winning combination. As the final stretch of the season unfolds, we expect these teams to make some noise and go on deep playoff runs.