The Stanley Cup is often called the most difficult trophy to win in all of sports and it is certainly one of the most famous. The amazing thing about the NHL playoffs is that there are more upsets there than in other sports like the NBA or MLB when the favorites usually prevail.

While most experts are talking about teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Colorado Avalanche or the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning, here is a look at three dark horse teams who could win the Stanley Cup this year.

You can win big if you place a bet on one of these teams at the powerplay website.

3. New York Islanders

The Islanders are a team that is built for the playoffs. They feature a coach in Barry Trotz who has already won a title and Trotz has them playing playoff-style hockey all season long. 

The Isles have two strong goaltenders in Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin and a strong defense led by the top pairing of Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock who are not household names but provide the team with strong play in their own zone. Nick Leddy is solid passer and offensive defenseman.

The big question surrounding the Islanders is offense. Captain Anders Lee was leading the team in goals when he was injured and lost for the season. The Isles acquired Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac at the trade deadline to increase their depth at forward, but do they have enough scoring with Mathew Barzal, Brock Nelson and Jordan Eberle to go on another long Stanley Cup run after reaching the conference finals in 2020?

The East is arguably the deepest division in hockey but the Islanders are certainly capable of beating anybody in a seven-game series this year.

2. Florida Panthers

Head coach Joel Quenneville has won multiple Stanley Cups with Chicago and knows how to lead his teams to victory. The Panthers also have an experienced goalie in Sergei Bobrovsky and a young, exciting alternative in Chris Driedger.

Florida features several exciting players like Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe. On defense, veterans like Keith Yandle, Anton Stralman and Aaron Ekblad can provide the team with steady play on the blueline.

This is still a young team, but if Quenneville can get them to gel at the right time, the Panthers could be a formidable club heading into the playoffs in May.

1. Minnesota Wild

While most of the attention out west is going to the Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights, don’t overlook with Wild who is battling with those two teams for supremacy in the division.

Minnesota features the exciting Kirill Kaprizov who is leading the team in goals and gets balanced production from Kevin Fiala and Mats Zuccarello. Veterans like Zach Parise, Ryan Suter and Jared Spurgeon provide experience and leadership.

The Wild are in the top 10 in both goals scored and goals allowed so while they may not jump out an many people, they are a good all-around hockey team with the talent to surprise. 

The key for Minnesota may be getting more production from their power play in the postseason. If they can do that, there is no reason the Wild can’t shock the hockey world and lift their first Stanley Cup this spring.