NHL Playoff odds: Rangers now favorites in East after 2-0 start vs. Hurricanes

The Eastern Conference is the Rangers’ to win after going up 2-0 on the Hurricanes. 

The Blueshirts are prohibitive favorites to come out of the East, with BetMGM Sportsbook pegging them at +145 to win the conference heading into Wednesday’s Stanley Cup Playoff action. 

Despite winning the Presidents’ Trophy and sweeping the Capitals in the first round, the Rangers were sizable underdogs against Carolina before the second-round series.

But after two straight home wins as an underdog, the Rangers are now in control over the Hurricanes, who have consistently been one of the top Stanley Cup contenders throughout the 2023-24 season. 

The Rangers are now a heavy -300 favorite to move on to the conference finals and +425 to finish off the Canes in a sweep. 

If they’re able to take care of Carolina, the Rangers would face the winner of the Bruins and Panthers sereies. 

As the series shifts to Raleigh, the Rangers are again an underdog (+145, BetMGM) ahead of Thursday’s Game 3. 

It’s been a wild ride for the Blueshirts, who came into the season with a shot at winning their first title since 1994 but were far from a shoo-in to make a deep playoff run. 

The Rangers were outside the inner circle of contenders in the East preseason, registering the fifth-best odds (+700) to win the conference at open. 

Betting on the NHL?

By the time the postseason kicked off, the Rangers had become popular with the betting public to walk away with the Stanley Cup.

Before the series against the Hurricanes, the Rangers were the fifth-favorite to win the Stanley Cup at +650, but have quickly vaulted up the odds board and now sit at +425, tied with the Avalanche and Oilers for the best chance in the league.