As the season inches near its inevitable conclusion, the online hockey betting picture becomes clearer and clearer. Teams are trying to cement themselves in the top-3 of their division, and those who fall short of that measure have their eye on the Wild Card. Nevertheless, there’s still plenty of uncertainty left in this year’s season to make a future sportsbook prediction both a profitable and worthwhile affair.
Last year, those who bet on NHL witnessed the Pittsburgh Penguins win the Cup in 6 games. Interestingly enough, the ‘Guins were the only ones who were able to win their title match in a defiant manner. All of the other major sports leagues in North America featured a devastating upset.
The NBA Finals saw the Golden State Warriors cruise their way to a 3-1 lead over the Cavaliers, only to have Cleveland comeback and win in the most dramatic of fashions. Additionally, 2016’s World Series featured a very similar, equally as unexpected finale; the Indians sailed to a 3-1 lead before crumbling to the Chicago Cubs. And most currently, the Atlanta Falcons blew a 25-point lead to allow the New England Patriots to deliver the largest comeback in Super Bowl history.
So, amongst all these upsets, the Penguins stand alone as the only professional able to hold onto their lead. While their Stanley Cup victory might not have been as historic as the other title fights we’ve seen recently, it nevertheless is equally as valid.
But enough about the past, sportsbook fans are infinitely more concerned about how this season will turn out. We’ve already passed two-thirds of the schedule, so let’s see what the bookies are predicting for the final stretch of the season.
ONLINE HOCKEY BETTING – STANLEY CUP FUTURES
Anaheim Ducks +2025
Boston Bruins +4550
Buffalo Sabers +10000
Calgary Flames +3350
Carolina Hurricanes +10000
Chicago Blackhawks +730
Colorado Avalanche +65500
Columbus Blue Jackets +1025
Dallas Stars +5050
Detroit Red Wings +15000
Edmonton Oilers +2225
Florida Panthers +5550
Los Angeles Kings +3050
Minnesota Wild +530
Montreal Canadiens +1025
Nashville Predators +2550
New Jersey Devils +25000
New York Islanders +15000
New York Rangers +1425
Ottawa Senators +3350
Philadelphia Flyers +5050
Arizona Coyotes +65250
Pittsburgh Penguins +1025
St. Louis Blues +2850
San Jose Sharks +1625
Tampa Bay Lightning +5050
Toronto Maple Leafs +4050
Vancouver Canucks +6650
Washington Capitals +610
Winnipeg Jets +6650
The Washington Capitals may be leading the NHL with their 80 points but that’s still not enough to convince online hockey betting sites that the Caps will go all the way this season. Instead, from what they’ve seen this season, sportsbooks are thinking that the Minnesota Wild have the best chances of all 30 teams in the NHL.
After competing in 52 games, the Wild have amassed 75 points, 5 points less than the Capitals, but then again Washington has played in 2 more games.
Interestingly enough, the reigning Stanley Cup champions have failed to secure even the third best odds – that honor goes to the Chicago Blackhawks, of the league. The NHL hasn’t seen a team win back-to-back championships in nearly 30 years but Pittsburgh will do their best to snap that streak in 2017.
