Bookies didn’t give the Las Vegas Golden Knights a prayer at the start of the season, installing them as 500/1 shots for glory, however the Knights are on the brink of achieving the unthinkable and are now favourites for Stanley Cup success.
Some teams have to go through long, long periods of drought before they taste sweet success. Just ask the Chicago Cubs, who had to endure 108 years before breaking their streak, or the Cleveland Indians, who are now 70 years and counting for a World Series.
Those fans, as well a number in the Hockey fraternity, could be seen to be a bit jealous of the Vegas Golden Knights, as they’ve gone from last to first in the betting across the season and are now one series away from the most unlikely of Stanley Cup victories.
Oddschecker Spokesman George Elek: “Football has its Leicester City story, boxing has Buster Douglas.
“Now hockey could receive a monumental underdog story of its own if the Vegas Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup.
“Available at 500/1 before the season started, they’ve shocked bookies by consistently winning and now stand on the cusp of history. It would take a brave punter to back against them now.”
Led by Head Coach Gerard Gallant and GM George McPhee, the Golden Knights have surprised everyone consistently, winning their division comfortably before sweeping the Kings and dispatching San Jose 4-2 and Winnipeg 4-1 in the play-offs.
Since the start of the season, a total of 46% of all bets on the eventual winner of the Stanley Cup have been placed on the Vegas team, including punters getting on at 500/1, 300/1, 100/1 and 66/1.
A number of bookies now have the Golden Knights at odds-on to win the Stanley Cup, although you can still get a best price of 11/10 on the biggest sporting shock of the last 12 months having a fairy-tale ending.
Vegas will play either the Tampa Bay Lightning or the Washington Capitals in the Finals, with the former favoured at 9/4 to win the Stanley Cup compared to the Caps at 7/2.
