We are six months to the NHL season and we have some movement for who can win their respective conferences, on top. Teams like Tampa Bay and St. Louis have made their mark and have placed the league on notice using their stellar play. I will be providing my updates on where my input on teams’ opportunities stand and discuss to make the Stanley Cup final. It seems like I’ve been speaking about the Tampa Bay Lightning for six months. The Bolts have been the best team in the league, together with Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov light up the league at the top two point scorers. Opening at +750 at Bovada, the Lightning could be needed for +333 and while a lot will go wrong from now until the Stanley Cup final, nobody should hate on you for dropping some loot on Tampa.
Pittsburgh opened as the East favored at +375 and although they’ve been up-and-down to begin the year (currently fifth in the East), Sid the Kid and his crew know when to flip it on and could easily go on a course to get their third straight Stanley Cup. The Pittsburgh Penguins could be obtained for +550 and the sole cause of bettors to pause continues to be their defense this year. Pittsburgh is enabling 3.6 goals per game and is the only possible playoff team with a negative goal differential in a whopping -17. Yikes!
If you’re searching for an adversary (with value) to dethrone Pittsburgh, look no farther than the Big Apple. The Rangers opened the season at +2300 and bettors who got them at these odds must be salivating at their chances of a payout. The Rangers have won six in a row (8-2 SU at the last 10) following an abysmal October and are now valued at +1400.
The real shocker is New Jersey. The Devils have made the biggest jump — after being ranked dead last to win the East — to +1400. Devils rookies Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt and Will Butcher have been outstanding to start the season and also have pushed the Devils to next from the East. Martin Brodeur isn’t walking through the door but they could make some noise come playoff time.
NHL Conference Futures: Lightning and Blues at the top