NHL Playoff Schedule 2015: Latest Stanley Cup Championship Odds and Guide

We're just one round into the 2015 NHL playoffs (almost), but the biggest Stanley Cup contenders from each conference have already withstood early tests and proven they're up for the challenge.

While the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning have yet to wrap up their first-round series that is headed toward a Game 7, the other seven second-round teams have already punched their tickets. Cinderella stories are few and far between at this time of year, as only the best still remain in the NHL's elite eight.

Just as well, every team that makes it this far sees its Stanley Cup odds drastically increase. But only two clubs will get the chance to represent their conferences in the big event.

Let's take a look at which team has the best chance in each conference after we break down the latest schedule information and Stanley Cup odds.

Remaining First-Round Schedule

Date	Matchup (Game 7)	Time (ET)	TV	Series
Wed., April 29	Detroit Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning	7:30 p.m.	NBCSN	Tied 3-3

Information on second-round scenarios available at NHL.com.

2015 Stanley Cup Odds

Team	Odds
New York Rangers	11-4
Montreal Canadiens	13-2
Minnesota Wild	13-2
Chicago Blackhawks	9-2
Anaheim Ducks	9-2
Tampa Bay Lightning	10-1
Calgary Flames	14-1
Washington Capitals	19-2
Detroit Red Wings	25-1

Odds courtesy of Odds Shark, last updated April 29

Upcoming Series to Watch: Rangers vs. Capitals

Julie Jacobson/Associated Press

The New York Rangers stood up to the task when the world's best player came calling in Round 1. Now, they'll have to do the same against another elite talent with a bit more around him to work with.

Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins made the Rangers work to pull out of their five-game series, but it was no secret that the Penguins were a step or two off of their normal championship-caliber self. The same can't be said of New York's next opponent.

Under first-year head coach Barry Trotz, the Washington Capitals have rekindled their defense and physicality to become a beast of the East. Oh, and they still have that Alex Ovechkin guy who scored 53 goals and added 28 assists this season.

But for all of the firepower Ovechkin possesses, a fine-tuned defense has been the biggest improvement. That was never on better display than in Game 7, when Washington battened down the hatches to allow just 11 Islanders shots on goal.

However, that's not to say that the Rangers aren't ready for the challenge, as Martin St. Louis told NHL.com's Dan Rosen: "I know they're a physical team, and that's going to be expected, but you're in the second round of the playoffs, you should expect some physicality. It's not going to be any different from what a second round [series] should look like."

The Rangers seem to breeze by most physical opponents due to their incredible speed advantage with perhaps the NHL's fastest forwards, but they'll be out one of their quickest skaters.

Mats Zuccarello took a puck to the head in New York's opening series, and now he's going to miss time for the foreseeable future, as the team's Twitter account noted:

Regardless of if the Rangers are able to outsprint the Capitals in this series, viewers will at least get an anticipated rematch of a postseason series that has been both common and breathtaking. 

Spectacularly enough, these two teams have met in five of the last seven postseasons. In three of the last four years, the series has gone to seven games. 

So for those of you in the Big Apple area who are still disappointed by how close you were to an all-New York conference semifinals between the Islanders and Rangers, calm down. The series you have received in its place is nothing to complain about.