Can Colorado Avalanche end 21 years of pain in the 2022 Stanley Cup?

It has been two decades of sporting struggle for the Colorado Avalanche, who have battled away in the NHL – to no avail.

Following their Stanley Cup wins in 1996 and 2001, the Avalanche looked on course to be dining at the top table in the NHL for seasons to come.

However, it has been 21 long years since their last triumph, with fans forgiven for thinking their time at the top of the game may never come again.

This season however has seen a sea change in the mindset of both Avalanche players and fans, with the side having blown away all before them in the Central Division of the Western Conference.

With 43 wins from 61 games played, Avalanche have been far too good for most of the sides in the NHL this term and attention is naturally turning to the post-season playoffs and just how far this side can go.

Recent wins over the LA Kings and the Calgary Flames have only strengthened the growing belief around the camp that this could be their year and with matches in the regular season running out, fans, pundits and players are starting to jump on board the bandwagon.

As a consequence of their impressive regular season form, Colorado Avalanche are the hot favorites at +500 to win the Stanley Cup, for the third time in the franchise’s history.

Elsewhere in the running are Tampa Bay Lightning, a side that are embroiled with the Florida Panthers at the top of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference and they are starting to build momentum at the right time of the season.

Qualifying as division champions will be the number one priority for Lightning, who are +750 to go on and clinch the Stanley Cup in 2022.

Divisional rivals Florida Panthers are also sure to be in the mix come the end of the campaign and momentum is building in their camp too.

They have set the standard in the Atlantic Division for most of the season and they will want to come good when it ultimately matters.

At +800, the Florida Panthers are sure to be in the mix when it comes to clinching the Stanley Cup and they are notoriously one of the toughest sides to beat in the NHL, the betting aggregator Offers.Bet informed.

Elsewhere, the Carolina Hurricanes and Calgary Flames are two more sides that are sure to be in the running when the gongs are given out.

The Hurricanes are tearing up the Metropolitan Division and they look set to qualify as the league leaders from there.

How stiff the competition gets after that remains to be seen of course but they look to have the credentials to make a case for a Stanley Cup run this term.

With the attention sure to be on plenty of other sides, the Carolina Hurricanes represent good value at +1000 to go all the way in the Stanley Cup this term.

Calgary Flames are a side often fancied for Stanley Cup glory and their standing at the top of the Pacific Division is a reflection of that.

They look well placed to make a playoff push and they have a side packed with talent and they too cannot be discarded this season at +1100 to win their second-ever Stanley Cup.