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Coronavirus (COVID-19) NHL Update – Feb. 4th Edition

Coronavirus (COVID-19) NHL Update – Feb. 4th Edition

Written by on February 4, 2021

Coronavirus Sports Betting Schedule, NHL Betting News

The current 56-game National Hockey League Season continued last week. As always, breaking news developed. We must expect news every week in these coronavirus pandemic times. Check out the latest NHL happenings so you can continue betting against their NHL odds.

NHL COVID-19 Update – February 4th Edition

2020-2021 NHL Season

  • When: January 13, 2021 – TBD 2021

NHL 2021 Stanley Cup Odds

Nathan MacKinnon week-to-week and Sabres shut down their facility until Monday

Playing the Sabres-Devils game last Sunday has turned out to be a bad idea. Yesterday, both Buffalo and New Jersey had to cancel this week’s games because 16 players between both teams landed on the coronavirus protocol list.

The Sabres took the extra step of shutting down their facility until Monday. Taylor Hall, Buffalo’s superstar, and the Devils’ young up and coming star Jack Hughes, are on the list. 

The NHL has yet to say when the Devils and Sabres will make up their missed games. Buffalo had two matches versus the Islanders and a couple against the Bruins this week. The Devils were supposed to play the Penguins twice and the Rangers once.

Although unrelated to COVID, the Colorado Avalanche got some bad news as well. The Avs’ best player, and arguably the best player in NHL, is on the bench. Nathan MacKinnon is listed as week to week due to a lower body injury.

The Avalanche haven’t performed as well as many expected. Colorado is in the realigned West Division. Other contenders in the division include the Vegas Golden Knights, St. Louis Blues, and Minnesota Wild. As of February 3, the Avs have 15 points and are tied atop the division with the Blues.

That could change if MacKinnon misses more than a week or so. The West is deep with contenders, meaning its difficult seeing Colorado remaining at the top if their best player doesn’t skate.

Avalanche, Lightning, and Golden Knights now co-favorites to win the Stanley Cup

Colorado’s odds have gone from +600, to +650, to +700. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Golden Knights are also at +700.

The three-team tie for Stanley Cup favoritism shouldn’t surprise. The National Hockey League is the most parity-filled major sports league on the planet. The preseason favorite rarely wins the Cup. 

If there is a surprise, it’s the odds on the Lightning. Nikita Kucherov is out for the season. Also, it’s incredibly difficult to win back-to-back Stanley Cups. Sure, the Pittsburgh Penguins pulled off the repeat in 2016 and 2017.

But the last team to repeat before the Pens were the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998. Tampa is more than capable of winning a second straight Cup. History says they don’t, though. 

Odds on Maple Leafs and Canadiens to win the Cup dive 

If Tampa does win their second straight, they’ll likely have to get past the Toronto Maple Leafs or Montreal Canadiens. Heck, based on the way the NHL has set up the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Tampa may have to beat both to win the title.

Odds on the Canadiens and Leafs have dived. Montreal started the season a +2200 middle of the road choice. The Canadiens are now +1100 to win the championship.

Toronto started the season a +1400 choice. The Maple Leafs are now a lone second-choice at +900 to take the Cup. 

If you like either team, back them as soon as you can. Based on the first three weeks of play, Montreal and Toronto should play well the entire season, which means odds on both should continue to depreciate. 

NHL Betting News

Odds and Lines: NHL Lines | Stanley Cup Odds | Conferences Odds | Conferences Odds

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