The NHL is about to re-start after the Christmas break, and odds makers have had a serious look at possible Stanley Cup winners. As of December 26, Vegas is tied for second favorite in odds to lift the NHL Stanley Cup. Few would have believed an expansion team would have such great futures odds. However, the Golden Knights haven’t been your typical expansion franchise.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are currently odds on favorites to win the NHL Stanley Cup. Listed at +600, the Lightning’s odds reflect their fantastic performance through 35 games. Tampa Bay has the most points in the league (54), most goals scored (133) and rank third in fewest goals allowed (87). The Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov leads the NHL in goals (24) and points (51).
Tampa Bay didn’t make the playoffs last season, and thus far, the club looks to have fixed the problems that kept them from the postseason in 2016-17.
Vegas Golden Knights are a real deal
As of the writing of this article, Vegas is joint-leaders in the Western Conference. The team is level on 48 points with the St. Louis Blues and the Los Angeles Kings. NHL experts continue to rave about the Golden Knights and the team is by far the biggest surprise in the NHL this season.
Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has played eight times this season, but most recently began playing regularly in December. Fleury won all three starts during the month, and gave up just four goals during his trio of games. Defense has been strong to this point, and the Golden Knights are getting timely scoring.
The biggest question mark surrounding Vegas is the squad talent. The Golden Knights were put together through the expansion draft and free agency. Therefore, the club don’t have the same level of talent as its Western Conference rivals. It is doubtful that the team can acquire top talent in the trade market during the second half of the season as there aren’t enticing parts to exchange.
Vegas is currently +1100 and continue to show it is no pushover. But the team is level on odds with rivals the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues.
Following the Christmas break, Vegas clash with the Anaheim Ducks. Vegas has defeated the Ducks twice this season. First in November, 4-2 and then at the beginning of December, 4-3.
Vegas has been hot of late when it comes to scores predictions by ZCode Systems. The team has been predicted to win against the Ducks, 3-2. in Wednesday night’s encounter.
With the Vegas being one of the top teams in odds for the NHL Stanley Cup, the ZCode System Playoff Simulator likes the team’s chances. A simple NHL Stanley Cup simulation using the teams that currently occupy the playoff positions has Vegas going deep into the playoffs.
Surprisingly, maybe even shockingly, the playoff simulation has the Dallas Stars winning the Stanley Cup. Currently, the Stars are +2500 to lift the trophy. But the playoff simulator likes the team’s chances of upsetting the apple cart when the postseason starts.
The NHL season is just under the halfway mark. There is still a lot of hockey to play. The Golden Knights have certainly put themselves into the position to do big things in the postseason. But the team has to get there first.
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