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2020-21 NHL Betting: Stanley Cup Predictions, Division Picks and Huge Hurricanes Odds
The 2020-21 NHL season is here, and the Colorado Avalanche are looking very capable of living up their hype as pre-season favorites to lift the Stanley Cup.
Led by the best defense in the league, Colorado are in prime position to lead the West Division provided they win all their games in hand, hopping to contest their first Stanley Cup Finals in 20 years.
Coach Jared Bednar’s side started out as the betting frontrunners, and little has changed with the team still out in front at +600, according to Unibet New Jersey. The Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and defending champions the Tampa Bay Lightning each trail shortly behind at +800 apiece, but the Avalanche have looked like an unstoppable force of nature at times this term:
But a much-changed 2020-21 campaign is long and will have many bumps ahead, with no guarantee the early performers are the ones who will finish on form. The Lightning placed second in the Atlantic Division en route to last year’s triumph, giving hope to those who may not be the obvious candidates to shine.
That being said, the Carolina Hurricanes are one such pick with standout form since the early stages of the season, and the +1000 moneyline odds for them to clinch this year’s Stanley Cup are liable to fall should they hold momentum in the title chase.
The incumbent leaders of the Central Division boast the most productive offense of any team in the United States (62 goals in their first 16 games) and are earning praise in high places:
Praise from one of the greats 💪 pic.twitter.com/EDFgH9Zt31
— x – Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) February 22, 2021
Carolina—whose last Stanley Cup Finals appearance came when they lifted the trophy in 2006—have also bagged wins in successive meetings with reigning champs Tampa Bay, which Andrew Schnittker illustrated is no small feat:
The Tampa Bay Lightning came into tonight's game leading the NHL in goals per game. They have not scored a goal in two games against the Carolina Hurricanes
— Andrew Schnittker (@aschnitt53) February 21, 2021
What sticks out about this season’s Canes is the scoring contribution coming from all areas of their roster. Despite the fact theirs is the best attack of any American team, they don’t boast a single player inside the league’s top 10 scorers at this stage of the season.
Through 16 games, Vincent Trocheck, Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho are the team’s joint-top scorers on 16 points apiece, but there are five other players in the double digits for the year. That takes the responsibility off any one player to uphold the burden over the course of a campaign, putting Jordan Staal’s side in better stead if/when injuries occur down the line.
What’s more, this is a team whose resilience only appears to be improving as the season progresses. Some may suggest their walls will break down when they encounter higher-class competition like the Avalanche, Boston Bruins, or Vegas Golden Knights, but a shared responsibility across the roster makes for promising preparation for a demanding season.
Stanley Cup 2021 Predictions
- Stanley Cup Champion: Carolina Hurricanes (+1000)
- Central Division Winner: Carolina Hurricanes (+100)
- East Division Winner: Boston Bruins (-143)
- North Division Winner: Toronto Maple Leafs (-286)
- West Division Winner: Vegas Golden Knights (+195)
2021 NHL Moneyline Odds Leaders
Team |
Winner Odds |
Colorado Avalanche |
+600 |
Boston Bruins |
+800 |
Tampa Bay Lightning |
+800 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
+800 |
Carolina Hurricanes |
+1000 |
Vegas Golden Knights |
+1000 |
Montreal Canadiens |
+1500 |
Edmonton Oilers |
+1600 |
Philadelphia Flyers |
+1900 |
St. Louis Blues |
+2000 |
Florida Panthers |
+2300 |