2021 Stanley Cup Betting Odds Updated
2021 Stanley Cup Betting Odds
Roughly a week and a half into the 2021 NHL season, we're already seeing COVID-19 heavily impact the already-condensed calendar. Four Washington Capitals players, including Alex Ovechkin, are in COVID-19 protocol, and the team was fined for violating protocol.
Both the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes have seen their games postponed due to outbreaks throughout the team.
While schedules change and players move in and out of lineups, Stanley Cup futures betting may be tougher than ever this season. Here, we've broken the teams up into tiers, from the favorites to the longshots, to give a sense of where the teams may end up at the end of the year.
All odds used are presented by DraftKings.
The Favorites
- Colorado Avalanche +700
- Vegas Golden Knights +700
- Tampa Bay Lightning +750
- Toronto Maple Leafs +1100
- Philadelphia Flyers +1100
Before COVID-19-necessitated division realignment, many had pegged the Avalanche and Golden Knights as the two best teams in the Western Conference. Now, they're playing each other in the West Division eight times in the regular season and will likely meet in the playoffs.
Vegas (4-1-0) is tied with the Minnesota Wild for the top spot in the West, while Colorado (3-2-0) is fourth behind the St. Louis Blues.
Tampa Bay will be without leading scorer Nikita Kucherov through at least the regular season, but it is cruising along in his absence. The Lightning are averaging 3.75 goals per game, fifth-best in the league, so there is no shortage of scoring from the defending Stanley Cup Champions.
Toronto got off to a shaky start with losses against the Senators and Oilers. The Maple Leafs have also been hit with injuries, as Joe Thornton will be out for the next four weeks after a rib injury.
Philadelphia lost center Sean Couturier to a rib injury as well, leaving a big hole in its lineup. However, young forwards Joel Farabee, Oskar Lindblom, and Nolan Patrick are helping to pick up the scoring.
The Contenders
- Boston Bruins +1500
- Montreal Canadiens +1700
- St. Louis Blues +1700
- Carolina Hurricanes +1900
- Pittsburgh Penguins +2100
Boston slumped out of the gate, going more than three games before scoring an even-strength goal. With David Pastrnak out until March, it could be tough for the Bruins to hang around until his return.
Montreal has stormed out of the gate, picking up points in all six games to begin the year. The strong play of winger Tyler Toffoli (five goals, three assists) and defenseman Jeff Petry (two goals, five assists) is the biggest reason for Montreal's league-leading 10 points in the standings.
The Blues have been anything but consistent to start the season, causing a downward trend in their odds. They stunned Colorado in the opener, then were shut out 8-0 in their second game against the Avalanche. A one-goal win over the Sharks followed by a shootout loss doesn't inspire confidence at this point.
Carolina won't play again until Jan. 26 due to COVID-19, and it gets the Lightning in its first game back. That game will set the tone for the rest of the season, and a win would vault the Panthers up the odds list.
Pittsburgh is still figuring things out defensively and in net, allowing 4.2 goals per game, third-worst in the league. At this point, the Penguins are scoring only 3.2 goals per game, which won't be good enough if the goals-against figure doesn't decrease immediately.
The Hopefuls
- New York Islanders +2200
- Calgary Flames +2400
- Dallas Stars +2400
- Washington Capitals +2400
- Edmonton Oilers +2700
- Nashville Predators +3000
- New York Rangers +3000
The Islanders are off to a roaring start thanks to Semyon Varlamov, who has allowed one goal in three games, leading the league with a .988 save percentage.
The Flames are 2-0-1 to begin the season, the odd team out during the North Division's seven-team rotation. Goaltender Jacob Markström has started all three games and should see most of the workload this season.
Dallas started late after 17 players tested positive for COVID-19 one day before the start of the season. In the Stars' return to the ice, they walloped the Nashville Predators 7-0.
Washington has played well under new head coach Peter Laviolette, picking up points in every game. However, the Capitals will be without Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Ilya Samsonov, and Dmitry Orlov for several games after positive COVID-19 tests and protocol violation.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are once again on a point-per-game pace for the Oilers. Mikko Koskinen has played every game in net. With a 2-4-0 record so far, Edmonton could fall behind if it doesn't right the ship in a hurry.
Nashville has split its games to start the year, cruising past the Columbus Blue Jackets but losing to the Hurricanes and Stars. Filip Forsberg and Luke Kunin are the only Predators with more than one goal this year.
First overall pick Alexis Lafrenière is without a point through his first four games for the Rangers. Once he gets going, it will be a needed spark, as the team has allowed as many goals (11) as it has scored so far, with half its scoring total coming in one game.
The Longshots
- Minnesota Wild +4000
- Winnipeg Jets +4300
- Columbus Blue Jackets +4500
- Florida Panthers +4700
- Vancouver Canucks +4700
- New Jersey Devils +5000
- Buffalo Sabres +5500
- Arizona Coyotes +7000
- Anaheim Ducks +7500
- San Jose Sharks +8000
- Los Angeles Kings +10000
- Chicago Blackhawks +12500
- Ottawa Senators +12500
- Detroit Red Wings +30000
Two teams in this section to keep an eye on are the Jets and Blue Jackets. The teams swapped star young forwards Saturday, which could shake things up the rest of the year.
Patrik Laine, the second overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, was sent to Columbus, along with Jack Roslovic, while Pierre-Luc Dubois, third overall the same year, is headed to Winnipeg.
Vancouver advanced to the Western Conference semifinals last year but is 2-5-0 to start the season and is allowing a league-worst 4.71 goals against per game. If the Canucks can turn things around in net and at the blue line, they're capable of sneaking into the playoffs as well. Still, it's hard to picture a Cup in the cards this year.
If you're interested in placing a wager on the Stanley Cup 2021 winner, I would suggest checking out our Sportsbook reviews to find the best site for you.
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