The best online sportsbook experts are already speculating on who will win the Stanley Cup this season and the odds may not surprise anyone. As the websites start to hand out their numbers, let’s take a look at the top teams and see which ones have a realistic chance at proving the sportsbook agents right and winning it all this year in the NHL.
Chicago Blackhawks (+300)
It would stand to reason that the best online sports betting sites would name the Chicago Blackhawks as the odds-on favorites to win it all considering the regular season that Chicago has had. But as any hockey fan will tell you, the regular season does not mean anything when the playoffs start. The Blackhawks still have problems playing defense and the team does not have the gritty edge that is needed to win it all.
Pittsburgh Penguins (+300)
Few hockey teams play better as a unit than the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Pens lost captain Sidney Crosby for the season with a jaw injury and the team has not missed a step. There are several contenders for the Stanley Cup that will come out of the Eastern Conference, but the Penguins are the class of the conference and will pose the biggest threat when the playoffs begin.
Anaheim Ducks (+800)
If you have been betting on sports, then you know that the Anaheim Ducks are having one of the best seasons in the NHL. This will be a team that is hard to beat in the playoffs because of the way it plays the game. The Ducks grind in the corners and have no problems taking people out from in front of the net. Anaheim should have no problems maintaining its momentum when the playoffs get underway.
Boston Bruins (+800)
The Pittsburgh Penguins will not have a cakewalk in the Eastern Conference as the Boston Bruins have been playing at a high level all season long as well. Boston got the goaltending it needed from Tuukka Rask when Tim Thomas unexpectedly retired at the end of last season. The Bruins picked up veteran JaromirJagr at the trade deadline, but lost high-scoring forward Patrice Bergeron at the same time. It will be interesting to see how Boston balances the loss of Bergeron with the acquisition of Jagr.
Los Angeles Kings (+1,500)
When it comes to postseason betting in the NHL, most experts have learned to not underestimate the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings came out of nowhere last season and won the Stanley Cup. The Kings got off to a rough start at the beginning of this season, but the team has been in contention for a long time now. Los Angeles will make the playoffs and that is bad news for the rest of the Western Conference.
The Bottom Line
It is not easy to repeat as Stanley Cup champion, but the Kings have all of the pieces in place to get the job done.
Click here for more on the Los Angeles Kings and their playoff run.
Pick: Los Angeles Kings
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