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Oddsmakers at legal US sportsbooks in eight states have been thrown for a loop with the NHL’s top two teams both failing to get out of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
That means there’s no better time to take advantage of what sportsbooks don’t know and bet on your favorite to win the cup.
The Calgary Flames finished with the best regular season record in the Western Conference. However, the Colorado Avalanche eliminated the Flames in five games this past Friday night.
Of course, this was just days after the Columbus Blue Jackets swept a record-tying 62-win Tampa Bay Lightning team from the first round of the NHL’s Eastern Conference playoffs.
This is the first time in NHL history both of the conference’s top seeds have been bounced in the opening round. As a result, the NHL Futures markets at sportsbooks are in flux.
Oddsmakers are clueless on the Stanley Cup favorite
In other words, the oddsmakers at sportsbooks in Rhode Island, and New Mexico have no idea who is going to win the Stanley Cup this year.
That means even a casual hockey fan’s guess is as good as theirs.
The Lightning started the season at +900 to win in the Stanley Cup on DraftKings Sportsbook, a popular sportsbook in New Jersey. That moved down to around +300 by the time the NHL playoffs started. The Lightning were the big favorite at most US sportsbooks.
With the Lightning’s playoff collapse complete, oddsmakers are having a tough time figuring out who the favorite is now.
Along with the Blue Jackets and Avalanche. the Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues, and New York Islanders have all advanced to the second round.
In the meantime, three first-round series are headed to a seventh game this week. The Toronto Maple Leafs will take on the Boston Bruins and the Las Vegas Golden Nights are up against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night. The third game seven is the Carolina Hurricanes versus the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.
Updated NHL Futures markets
Therefore, as of Monday morning, there are 11 teams still in the hunt for the Stanley Cup. Here’s how the odds on each to win it all looked at four of the top sportsbooks in the country:
| 2019 Stanley Cup Champions | FanDuel (NJ) | FOX Bet (NJ) | 888 Sport (NJ) | Parx (PA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Bruins | +750 | +800 | +750 | +750 |
| St. Louis Blues | +600 | +650 | +600 | +600 |
| NY Islanders | +650 | +650 | +750 | +750 |
| Vegas Golden Nights | +750 | +650 | +850 | +850 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +900 | +650 | +1150 | +1150 |
| Washington Capitals | +600 | +650 | +600 | +600 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +850 | +750 | +900 | +900 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | +650 | +550 | +650 | +650 |
| San Jose Sharks | +750 | +1000 | +800 | +800 |
| Dallas Stars | +900 | +900 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +2500 | +2200 | +3500 | +3500 |
Betting on the NHL Futures market is a straightforward process. You pick a team you like to win it all and place a bet. If they win the Stanley Cup, the sportsbook pays your bet at the moneyline odds set when you made it.
For example, let’s say you bet $100 on the Toronto Maple Leafs to win at +900 on FanDuel Sportsbook on Monday morning. If they win the cup FanDuel Sportsbook will pay you $1,000. A $900 win plus your $100 bet back.
Of course, sportsbooks adjust the odds as the NHL playoffs move forward. That most often means the earlier you book the bet, the better the price you’ll lock it in at.
You can see the differences in the prices for each team on the updated NHL Futures market chart above. This highlights the need to shop around for the best price on your pick to win.
Take advantage of what legal US sportsbooks don’t know
However, there is one more thing that should become obvious to you: There is no clear favorite.
That means the first-round exits by the league’s top two teams have oddsmakers around the country scrambling.
It also means if you think one team is a clear favorite to win the Stanley Cup this year, you’re going to get a decent price betting on it right now.
Enjoy the rest of the NHL Playoffs. Find out who will shock the world in becoming 2019 Stanley Cup Champions. Plus, take advantage of what sportsbooks across the country don’t know for a change by betting on the NHL Futures market while the prices are right.
