The NHL All-Star Game is almost upon us, which is a clear sign that we have reached the midway point of the season. That said, there are plenty of teams who still have games to make up before they can reach the true halfway point of the season. That makes things a little trickier when trying to figure out the Stanley Cup favorites versus the pretenders. As the league gets those make-up games played, we are going to see the odds to win it all change, probably rather dramatically, but it’s still fun to look at the Stanley Cup Betting favorites as they currently stand, so let’s get into that now.
Updated Stanley Cup Odds Jan. 25th Edition | NHL Betting
Colorado Avalanche (+460)
Yes, it’s still just the middle of the season, but the Colorado Avalanche are rounding into the type of form that you expect to see from a team that is the favorite in the eyes of the bookies. The Avalanche have, at the time of writing, won 7 in a row and are 9-0-1 through their last 10 games. That has helped them open up a 6-point lead in the Central Division, while still having a pair of games in hand to their closest challenger, the St. Louis Blues. Their goal differential of +49 is the best in the league at this time, so certainly a lot to like with this team.
Tampa Bay Lightning (+690)
You can argue all you want about the strongest division in hockey, but right now, it’s tough to make an argument against the Atlantic Division holding that label. There are 2 teams listed in the top 4 favorites to win the Stanley Cup, and 3 in the top 5. The Tampa Bay Lightning, who just happen to be the defending champions, are in that group. They have amassed 61 points through 43 games, the same point total as the Panthers, albeit with a game more played than their rivals. The Lightning have a +26 goal differential.
Florida Panthers (+710)
Despite being slightly ahead of the Lightning in the standings, the bookies have the Panthers in at slightly poorer odds than the defending champs. This is a very dangerous hockey team, particularly on the offensive end, where they have managed to score 170 goals in 42 games. Where their odds might change is if they can land the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference, as that would mean home ice advantage through the playoffs. The Panthers are a brilliant 21-3-0 in their own building this season, but they would like to be a little better on the road.
Vegas Golden Knights (+730)
The Golden Knights have been a real success story since joining the league a few years back and have been a consistent member of the NHL playoff club. They look to be heading towards another postseason appearance, as they have the lead in the Pacific Division, taking 52 points from 42 games. They will, though, have their eye on the Calgary Flames, who have a ton of games to make up and who could be their biggest challenger for the division title coming down the stretch. Still, the Golden Knights look good and have a goal differential of +26.
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