In a normal year, we wouldn’t even be halfway through the NHL season, so talking about potential Stanley Cup champions might seem foolish. This season, though, each team will play 56 games, and with most already having 30-35 games in the books, we are getting down to the home stretch in the regular season. The new divisional setups have proven to be a hit, with some great playoff races going on in all of them. We all probably have an opinion on who we think might win it all this season, but what do the bookies think as we head into the final few weeks? That is what we are going to talk about right now, as we take a closer look at the favorites to win the Stanley Cup along with their Stanley Cup odds.
Updated 2021 Stanley Cup Odds – NHL Betting
Tampa Bay Lightning (+550)
The defending Stanley Cup champions are once again favored by the bookies to take another run at the title. They are certainly looking the part right now and are one of only two teams to have hit the 50-point mark on the season at the time of writing. While you might think that would be enough to have them running away with the Central Division, the opposite is actually true. It’s a 3-horse race for the top spot there at the moment, with just 2 points separating first, where the Lightning sit, from third. At +41, the Lightning has the best goal differential in the league, which is always a good sign.
Colorado Avalanche (+550)
There is another fantastic race going on in the West Division, with two of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup separated by a single point at the top. The Colorado Avalanche are on 46 points, which is good enough for second, but they have stepped it up a gear of late, going 8-0-2 in their last 10 games. The Avs have one of the best defensive units in the NHL, which is usually a sign that a team might well be able to make a deep run. If Colorado is to go all the way this season, they are likely going to need to get past the team sitting ahead of them in the West.
Vegas Golden Knights (+550)
The Golden Knights have been fantastic since becoming an expansion team a few years back, making it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season. While they haven’t been able to match that run in the years since, they are always a threat come the playoffs. They are one point ahead of the Avalanche at the time of writing and also have a game in hand. Like the Avs, Vegas are solid on the defensive side of the ice, surrendering just 74 goals in 32 games. If defense does win championships, you had better not sleep on the Golden Knights.
Toronto Maple Leafs (+750)
The Maple Leafs came into the season as the favorites, with most fans thinking they would blow through the North Division without too much trouble. They are on top there right now with 46 points, but they have been going through a bit of a sticky patch that saw their lead reduced to just 2 points. The signs are that they are coming out of it, though, as they have now reeled off 3 wins in a row. Still, that run has put some doubts in the minds of the bookies.
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