It has been an up-and-down season across the NHL. Some teams have fallen well short of expectations while others have vastly exceeded pre- and mid-season prognostications. Here we are, nearing the end of the regular season, with no certainties as we embark on another exciting playoff journey.
BetMGM‘s Stanley Cup futures board continues to evolve. Let’s take a look at the latest moves to see which teams are positioned for playoff success!
No One is Catching Colorado
Irrespective of how the final few games play out, no one is catching the Colorado Avalanche atop the futures board. The Central Division champions have seen their stock rise throughout the season, and will be an unstoppable force in the playoffs.
Colorado locked up its third division title in five years, and home ice advantage through the Western Conference bracket. With that, they may take their foot off the pedal to close out the campaign rather than risking injury to any of their top contributors.
The Avs’ rise is also captured in the betting market, going from +800 at the start of the season to +300 now. As inferred, that includes an NHL-leading 14.6% ticket and 19.3% handle.
Sabres Roaring in the East
One of the more unexpected outcomes this season has been the Buffalo Sabres. Partway through the season, the Sabres appeared destined for another unceremonious end to their campaign. Then, they caught fire at the start of December and haven’t looked back.
Fresh off their defeat of the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Sabres are positioned to claim their first division title since 2009-10. It’s far from certain, but tied with the Bolts with five games to play, Buffalo could finish strong and continue its ascent.
That meteoric ascent is also captured in the betting odds. The Sabres were a distant +15000 just a few months ago, but have vaulted to +1500 on the current board. The betting action has been driven by primarily public support, with Buffalo earning a 5.4% ticket and 5.3% handle.
Eastern Conference Contenders
The Eastern Conference betting market is a far more open landscape than the Western Conference. The Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes are the betting favorites, but there is no shortage of support for other teams.
Tampa Bay holds a modest edge over the Hurricanes, outpricing them +450 to +500 to win the Stanley Cup. Still, Carolina has captured a meatier part of the market. The Metropolitan Division winners outpace the Bolts in ticket count (6.5% vs 5.5%) and handle (6.8% vs. 6.0%). More sharp money appears to be flowing in on the Lightning, but we’re not discounting the Hurricanes’ chances.
There appears to be similar betting support among the rest of the Eastern Conference contenders. Led by the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, and Boston Bruins are sandwiched around 1%-3% in terms of ticket count and handle.
Western Conference Challengers
While the Avalanche are the clear betting favorite, there are a few teams that are encroaching on their market.
The Vegas Golden Knights are the desire of public support, representing a 6.9% ticket count. But with only 6.0% of the handle, it’s clear that sharp bettors are steering clear of the Knights.
The Dallas Stars find themselves on the opposite side of the sharp vs. public dichotomy. They fall just short of their Pacific Division counterparts in terms of ticket count (6.6%) but have a much heftier 7.4% handle. The Central Division will likely come down to the Stars vs. Avalanche. The sharpest bettors will leave themselves with hedging opportunities, if that playoff series comes to fruition.
Likewise, the Edmonton Oilers are still garnering their fair share of sharp action on the strength of improved defensive play. The Oilers have seen improved on-ice results since Paul Coffey rejoined the coaching staff. They may have dropped two straight, but the Oilers have made significant headway in the Pacific Division. With that, their 7.3% handle is the third-highest mark in the conference, exceeding their more modest 6.2% ticket count.
Final Thoughts
No sporting event rivals the intensity of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The battles are not yet being fought on the ice, but there is plenty of action in the betting market. Stay tuned as playoff positions are formalized and matchups are confirmed. Assuredly, this futures market is not done moving.
New to sports betting? First, explore our Introduction to Sports Betting. Then check out our recommendations at Flip The Switch for online sportsbooks, along with offers to get started. And if you’re not an avid sports fan, you can still find some fun and unusual bets to enjoy!
