NHL Playoff Odds 2015: Handicapping Every 2nd-Round Team's Stanley Cup Chances

The Stanley Cup playoffs have reached the second round, which means just eight teams have a chance at winning it all.

There isn't much separating the first seven squads, as parity reigns supreme, with the Calgary Flames clearly the longest shot of the group. 

What are the odds of any of these teams winning the Cup? That's a great question. We'll answer it here and take a look at reasons why each squad may or may not make a run at the title.

Read on to see the Stanley Cup odds for each of the eight remaining clubs.

8. Calgary Flames

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Why they can win it all: Well, because they are still in the playoffs, and miracles happen sometimes. They need 12 wins, which will all have to come against superior teams. The Flames aren't very good, and they beat another squad that isn't very good, the Vancouver Canucks, in the first round. Calgary won't catch a break like that again. Jonas Hiller will have to become the best goaltender in the world for six weeks for the Flames to win the Cup. Stranger things have happened.

Why they can't win it all: The Flames are a poor five-on-five team that's missing its best defenseman, Mark Giordano (torn biceps). They won't have home-ice advantage in any remaining series, including their second-round matchup with the Anaheim Ducks. It's already a miracle that the Flames reached the playoffs and won a round.

Stanley Cup Odds: 35-1

7. Washington Capitals

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Why they can win it all: The Capitals have two superstars on offense in Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin and a goaltender in Braden Holtby who's capable of outperforming anyone. They play a physical brand of hockey and are the biggest team remaining in the postseason. They can wear down opponents, especially defensemen, with a steady barrage of hits.

Why they can't win it all: It's hard to win the Cup when you never get past the second round. An Ovechkin-led team has yet to reach the conference final, although this club is plenty good enough to do so. Holtby could fade as well, as he played more games than any goaltender this year. 

Stanley Cup Odds: 10-1

6. Tampa Bay Lightning

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Why they can win it all: An excellent possession team with four solid lines, the Lightning will come at opponents in waves. The Detroit Red Wings just about neutralized Steven Stamkos in first round, but he can carry the Lightning if he gets going. If he doesn't, Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov comprise the NHL's best second line. They are deep along the blue line, and Victor Hedman is a true No. 1.

Why they can't win it all: Goaltender Ben Bishop didn't instill confidence in the first round, and what if Stamkos is held down again? There isn't all that much playoff experience on this team outside of Brenden Morrow and a trio of ex-Rangers (Anton Stralman, Brian Boyle, Ryan Callahan). 

Stanley Cup Odds: 8-1

5. Montreal Canadiens

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Why they can win it all: Carey Price. 

Why they can't win it all: Pretty much everything around their goalie, Price, could be an issue. The Canadiens have had trouble scoring goals, which really showed in the first round against the Senators (with the team scoring just three times in the final three games). But it wasn't a problem because of Price. They're not the smallest team in the playoffs, but there are bigger squads awaiting them. If they don't improve at five-on-five, Price will have to be even better than his .939 showing against Ottawa.

Stanley Cup Odds: 8-1

4. Minnesota Wild

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Why they can win it all: They are deep up front and on defense. Netminder Devan Dubnyk had a six-goal hiccup against the Blues but has otherwise been solid. Zach Parise is a game-changer on offense, while Ryan Suter is the anchor of a solid defensive group. They are the only wild cards left in the postseason but have been one of the NHL's best since Dubnyk arrived in mid-January.

Why they can't win it all: Right away, they need to beat the Blackhawks in the second round, a team that has eliminated them in two straight postseasons. This is a new year, different team and all that, but there's something to be said about a club having your number. And who knows if Dubnyk will turn into a pumpkin along the way in his first postseason. Blackhawks-Wild could be a second-round series for the Stanley Cup.

Stanley Cup Odds: 8-1

3. Anaheim Ducks

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Why they can win it all: The Ducks are large and in charge. The offseason addition of Ryan Kesler paid dividends in the first round, as he scored three goals in eliminating the Jets in four games. That sweep means the Ducks are rested. They also get to face the Flames in the second round, so they basically have a bye into the conference final. They have a deep group of mobile defensemen. There are very few holes in the team.

Why they can't win it all: Remember how the Capitals have never been to the conference final with Ovechkin? Well, that applies to Bruce Boudreau, too, who was coaching the Capitals for most of that stretch. How will Boudreau handle deeper rounds? Will netminder Frederik Andersen stand up to scrutiny as the stakes rise? 

Stanley Cup Odds: 5-1

2. New York Rangers

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Why they can win it all: Henrik Lundqvist can mask any problems the Rangers have at five-on-five. The team got within three victories of a Cup last year, and that experience will be valuable. Rick Nash was actually a useful player in the first round, which bodes well after he was about as useless as it gets in 2014. The Rangers have found ways to win all season despite underwhelming play, and with the remaining field as evenly matched as it is, they can figure out 12 more wins.

Why they can't win it all: Mats Zuccarello is out indefinitely with a likely concussion. That weakens the Rangers at even strength and on the power play, two areas in which they've been mediocre all season. They scored 11 goals in five games against a depleted Penguins squad with Zuccarello around for four-plus games, so offense could derail the Rangers. 

Stanley Cup Odds: 9-2

1. Chicago Blackhawks

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Why they can win it all: The core of this team has won Cups in 2010 and 2013 and can easily do it again. Patrick Kane is back to full health; Jonathan Toews is one of (if not the best) two-way forwards in the game; Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp are there in supporting roles, and Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are still difference-makers on defense. 

Why they can't win it all: There's that whole goaltending issue that hasn't gone away after the series win over Nashville. Corey Crawford will start Game 1 against the Wild; this is after he lost his starting job in the first round because of his league-worst .850 save percentage. The Blackhawks dodged a bullet against the Predators because of Scott Darling's play, especially in relief during a Game 1 victory. If the Blackhawks lose, it will probably be because of the goaltending.

Stanley Cup Odds: 4-1