NFL
Most NHL teams are around the halfway mark of their season, so we have seen enough to get an understanding of which teams look set to compete for the Stanley Cup this spring, and which will have to wait for another opportunity.
Since the start of the season, odds have been changing in the Stanley Cup winner market, but in terms of the teams involved, this hasn’t changed too much. There are hundreds of sportsbooks, from Arizona sports betting apps, to newer brands in New York, offering Stanley Cup odds. DraftKings, for example, has listed the Colorado Avalanche as +475 favorites to lift the cup in June.
Behind them, the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Florida Panthers are all joint second favorites at +700. BetMGM, Caesars, and Bet Rivers show a similar outlook. With these three chasing the Avs, plus the Vegas Golden Knights at +800, it is fair to say that the race so far is very tight indeed.
Back-to-Back Champions Make a Strong Start
The Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2021, adding to the cup they lifted in 2020, so this time around, they are aiming to win three in a row. This would be unprecedented in the salary cap era, but so far, the Lightning is putting themselves right in the mix for yet another cup. Given that this team has been very active at the trade deadline over the past two seasons, expect more from them when we get to this stage of the season, as they look to make it three in a row.
TAMPA BAY WINS THEIR SECOND STRAIGHT STANLEY CUP pic.twitter.com/Q9UPvBZt1O
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 8, 2021
Can the Favorites Colorado Bring Home the Cup?
Last season, the Colorado Avalanche spent most of the season as Stanley Cup favorites. This season, they started favorites again, and remain at the top of the betting list. Do they have what it takes to go over the line this time around?
One of the biggest changes we have seen with this team is their character. We are seeing them come from behind and win games, win when the going is tough and things are against them. This is something we haven’t seen before.
Yes, the Avalanche have the skill, led by Nathan MacKinnon, who was recently named all-star captain for his division. But they also have the right mental strength and character to go with that, which makes them a very interesting proposition indeed.
Toronto to Get Involved?
In terms of the questions surrounding the Avalanche and their character, these are the exact same questions that have been asked of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Do they have what it takes to get over the line and win a big game?
We’ve not seen them prove that just yet, though they have been very impressive in the regular season so far. We have seen a more defensive performance from the Leafs this season, led by netminder Jack Campbell, and this is going to help them compete in the playoffs.
Questions need answering, but if they do that, just like Colorado, the chances of Toronto certainly improve.
