Stanley Cup Championship Odds Updated

With the start of the second half of the 2015-16 NHL season about to get underway following this weekend’s annual all-star affair, NHL betting aficionados everywhere need to know which teams stand the best chances of cashing in on their season-long NHL Stanley Cup Finals odds, which ones are legitimate title contenders and which teams are nothing more than ‘fake’ pretenders.Thanks to this look at the updated 2016 Stanley Cup Odds, you’re going to be well-armed with expert betting knowledge that could help you cash in over the second half of the regular season and well into the postseason.With a full slate of NHL betting action taking place tonight, let’s get started.

Updated 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Odds

The Favorites

Team Odds Chicago Blackhawks 5/1 Los Angeles Kings 7/1 Dallas Stars 8/1 Washington Capitals 9/2 New York Rangers 12/1 Tampa Bay Lightning 12/1 Florida Panthers 18/1

Stanley Cup Favorites To Win Betting Analysis

It’s no wonder the reigning champion Chicago Blackhawks are sitting on top in the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup odds, seeing as how they’ve compiled the best record in the Western Conference heading into the second half (33-16-4). Not only that, but Patrick Kane and his merry mates are also ranked seventh in the ATS standings (25-28, +$251) and look like they’ll be a solid wager for the remainder of the season. The L.A. Kings, (30-16-1-2) winners of the 2014 Stanley Cup are looking like they’ll seriously challenge Chicago for the Western Conference crown at the very least. Remember however, that the Kings are just 16-33 ATS (26th). The Dallas Stars (31-14) are in second place in the Central Division, just two wins behind Chicago, but the Stars are also just 3-6-1 in their last 10 games so they bear watching in the second half. As far as the Washington Capitols are concerned, Alex Ovechkin (28 goals) and company are the only team in hockey to have yet to reach double digits in losses (35-8). The Caps lead all of hockey in scoring (3.32 gpg) and rank second in defense (2.19 gpg). The New York Rangers are in third place in the Eastern Conference (27-17-3-2) and went 7-3 over their last 10 games prior to the all-star break, most likely because they rank fifth in scoring (2.86 gpg). The Tampa Bay Lightning rank second to Florida in the Atlantic division and they’ve gone 8-2 over their last 10 games despite not ranking inside the top five in any significant offensive or defensive statistical category. Last but certainly not least, the Florida Panthers (29-15) won their final three games before the all-star break and look like they’ll be a strong wager for the remainder of the regular season as they rank first in scoring defense (2.18 gpg).

The Contenders

Team Odds Anaheim Ducks 12/1 St. Louis Blues 17/1 San Jose Sharks 30/1 Colorado Avalanche 45/1

Stanley Cup Contenders Odds Analysis

The Anaheim Ducks (22-18) were supposed to be legitimate title contenders this season, but they’re currently in 10th pace in the race for a postseason berth in the Western Conference despite having leading the league in penalty killing (89.6 %). If the season ended today, the St. Louis Blues (28-16-5-3) would be in the playoffs, although I don’t think they’ll do much, if they even make it out of the first round. The San Jose Sharks (26-18) are sitting in second place in the Pacific division and although they rank fourth in scoring (2.92 gpg) I believe they’ll have a tough time getting past L.A., Chicago or Dallas out west. The Colorado Avalanche (27-22-3) would also be in the playoffs if the season ended today and they rank fifth in the ATS standings (32-20, +$401), but I just don’t see them getting past the more elite teams in the Western Conference.

Pretenders

Team Odds Arizona Coyotes 75/1 Detroit Red Wings 20/1 Boston Bruins 22/1 Pittsburgh Penguins 25/1 New York Islanders 20/1 Montreal Canadiens 20/1 Minnesota Wild 22/1 Nashville Predators 28/1 Ottawa Senators 85/1 Vancouver Canucks 85/1 Calgary Flames 100/1 New Jersey Devils 100/1 Philadelphia Flyers 100/1 Winnipeg Jets 100/1 Edmonton Oilers 150/1 Carolina Hurricanes 200/1 Columbus Blue Jackets 300/1 Buffalo Sabres 500/1 Toronto Maple Leafs 500/1

NHL Stanley Cup Pretenders Analysis:

Out of this grouping of teams that I have labeled as pretenders, I like Boston (26-18), Detroit (25-16) and Arizona (24-20) most of all. The Bruins are ranked third in scoring (2.94 gpg), fifth in power play offense (25.9 %) and fifth in defensive penalty killing (84.4 %).