Stride for Stride: Matching Top NHL Playoff Lines to Four of Horse Racing’s Finest Trios

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon

Serious question hockey fans: if someone gave you $50 to bet on this year’s Stanley Cup winner, who would you choose? Perhaps more importantly, how much confidence would you have in said choice?

Your answer, much like the betting favorite, may change week-to-week or even day-to-day. In all honesty, it would be strange if it didn’t. The 2023-24 NHL regular season produced several excellent teams, including the current cup favorite Carolina Hurricanes (+700 on bet365), but none head-and-shoulders above another.

To celebrate one of the more wide-open Stanley Cup Playoff races in recent memory, your pals at MyRailbirds matched some of the best lines competing for Lord Stanley’s Mug with four of horse racing’s finest horse-jockey-trainer trios.

Tonight’s starting lineup:

First Line (Horse-Jockey-Trainer): National Treasure-Flavien Prat-Bob Baffert

NHL Equivalent: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-Connor McDavid-Zach Hyman, Edmonton Oilers

Otherwise known as the Spider-Man meme personified, there’s few trios, if any, equipped with more star power than these two right here.

On the Thoroughbred side, the dream team of 4-year-old colt National Treasure ($1.7 million), rider Flavien Prat ($6.8 million), and trainer Bob Baffert ($5.7 million) currently sit first, first, and third on their respective North American earnings leaderboards for 2024. Led by a Hall of Famer in Baffert, and future inductee in Prat, National Treasure captured the $3 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream back in February.

Their frozen pond equivalent, the Edmonton Oilers’ first line, also has its sights set on hoisting a cup come June. While the historic franchise’s top line only has one sure-fire Hall of Famer in Connor McDavid (rough, right?), it boasts two of the best complementary players the league has to offer in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman.

The ideal pairing for McDavid, both Nugent-Hopkins and Hyman possess the extraordinary hockey IQ necessary to thrive alongside the sport’s best player. The three-pronged attack unit with over 275 points between them has the Oilers (+700) tied with the Hurricanes atop the list of cup favorites.

Second Line: Sierra Leone-Tyler Gaffalione-Chad Brown

NHL Equivalent: Jonathan Drouin-Nathan MacKinnon-Artturi Lehkonen, Colorado Avalanche

It’s been a perfect start to the year for 3-year-old colt Sierra Leone and Co., who pushed all the right buttons to score February’s Remsen (G2) and more recently, the $1 million Bluegrass (G1) on Apr. 6. Having top rider Tyler Gaffalione and trainer Chad Brown calling the shots isn’t too shabby, either.

The formidable ensemble possesses the perfect balance of talent and experience to deliver one impressive performance after another. It’s that nearly unmatchable level of night-in-night-out consistency that draws parallels to the Colorado Avalanche’s top line.

Captained by big-time Hart Trophy hopeful Nathan MacKinnon (-350), the Avalanche’s premier offensive outfit also features a resurgent Jonathan Drouin and steady as they come Artturi Lehkonen. Despite a tough stretch for the team as a whole (3-5-2 in the last 10 games), the group of 6-foot tall linemates remain one of the last sights opponents want to see come playoff time.

The 2021-22 Stanley Cup Champions head into Saturday at +900 to win it all.

Third Line: Stronghold-Antonio Fresu-Philip D’Amato

NHL Equivalent: Jason Robertson-Roope Hintz-Joe Pavelski

After a promising but fruitless debut season, 3-year-old colt Stronghold burst onto the scene with two major victories to begin his 2024 campaign. Under the tutelage of veteran trainer Phil D’Amato, Stronghold and rider Antonio Fresu aligned for wins in the Sunland Park (G3) and Santa Anita (G1) Derbys.

The triad may not carry the same kind of name recognition as members on the first or second line, but they don’t need to be in the spotlight to get the job done. That sure sounds a lot like the understated but immensely talented top line of the Western Conference-leading Dallas Stars.

Headlined by leading scorer Jason Robertson (80 points and counting), the green and black’s top offensive unit is driven by veteran stalwart Joe Pavelski. In his 18^th NHL season, the Plover, Wisconsin native remains as reliable as they come both on and off the ice (67 points and counting). Oh, and the third member of the line, Roope Hintz, has 65 points himself.

The winners of eight of their last 10, the Stars (+750) own the fourth-best odds of taking this year’s Cup.

Fourth Line: Just F Y I-Junior Alvarado-William Mott

NHL Equivalent: Cole Smith-Michael McCarron-Kiefer Sherwood

Every good team, regardless of the sport, requires some grit to win in the playoffs. In the Thoroughbred game, that team is made up of 3-year-old filly Just F Y I, jockey Junior Alvarado, and trainer William Mott.

Known for her fearless approach to racing, Just F Y I is more than willing to handle the dirty work in pursuit of victory. A gritty come-from-behind win in her professional debut set the stage for two straight grind-it-out type stakes wins (Grade 1 Frizette and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies). The Breeders’ Cup event was particularly impressive, as it came by a neck at 7-1.

That kind of warrior mentality reflects that held by the Nashville Predators fourth line, one that will have no problem wearing opponents down over a seven-game series. For those who aren’t familiar with the imposing line configuration of Cole Smith (6’3” 195 lbs), Michael McCarron (6’5” 237 lbs), and Kiefer Sherwood (6’0” 194 lbs), one moment please.

Racking up a combined 468 hits between them (exactly 234 each), Smith and Sherwood enter the final days of the regular season tied for the 14^th most knocks in the show. It would be wise to stay away from McCarron too, who’s 100 penalty minutes rank, you guessed it, 14^th league wide.

At +2500 to hoist the Cup, the odds aren’t in the Predators’ favor. But don’t tell Smith, McCarron, or Sherwood.