Fred Faour: How to bet the Stanley Cup futures as we are down to four teams

The NHL playoffs are down to four teams. Vegas and Dallas in the West, and Florida and Carolina in the East.

From a betting perspective, Carolina is the favorite, with Vegas second choice. But if we are looking for value, it is in the other two teams.

Florida is plus-333 to win the Cup. But the Panthers have had the toughest road. They knocked off a Bruins team that had the best regular season in NHL history, then followed it up by destroying a Maple Leafs team that is as talented as any in the NHL. If you want a futures bet, this is a great value.

On the other side, Dallas got past a tough Minnesota team, then beat a surprising Seattle team in seven games to get here. The Stars are plus-275. Either team is an excellent bet to win it all at those prices. We will lean Florida, but there is nothing wrong with taking Dallas. Frankly, you could bet both and still profit, then hedge in the final if one of them loses. They have the most reliable goalies, which is critical this late.

Vegas may be the most talented team left. The Knights are plus-230 to win it all. No one would fault you for going that way over Dallas.

Carolina is favored at plus-187, but the Hurricanes have had a relatively easy path, and even getting past Florida will be a chore. My plays will be Stars plus-275 to win it all, Panther plus-333 to do the same, and Panthers series vs. Carolina at plus-120.

Good luck.