Two months into the 2020-21 NHL season and the four divisions in this unique season are taking shape.
Tampa Bay Lightning headed into the season as the defending champions after last season’s 4-2 win over the Dallas Stars back in September.
This season start back in January and is set to conclude in July, with regular season matches only taking place between teams in their own division. Only in the playoffs will teams meet opponents outside of their divisions.
Here’s a look who the bookmakers’ favourites are two months into the season:
Toronto Maple Leafs (6/1)
Not since 1993 and the Montreal Canadiens has a team north of the United States border lifted the Stanley Cup. The Toronto Maple Leafs themselves haven’t lifted the trophy since all the way back in 1967. That was their 13th title, which made them the
Frederik Andersen #31 of the Toronto Maple Leafs
joint-most winners with the Canadiens at the time. Since then, Montreal have won another 11 Stanley Cups.
Toronto currently have the biggest lead in any division and are the first team to reach 18 wins this season. They are also the bookmakers’ favourites with 6/1 odds in Illinois sports betting. Sheldon Keefe’s side have looked very impressive in the opening weeks of the season, which includes 7-3 and 5-1 thrashings of Vancouver and a recent 6-1 thrashing of Edmonton.
Mitch Marner leads the team with 34 points (10 Goals, 24 Assists) in his 24 games, followed by Auston Matthews on 31 points (18 Goals, 13 Assists) in 21 games. The Maple Leafs are currently the highest-scoring team, but the 63 goals conceded in 26 games in high in comparison to other division leaders.
Tampa Bay Lightning (7/1)
The defending champions arguably have the strongest roster on paper, so much so that they have a number of talented players who can’t even make the matchday squad.
Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning
Jon Cooper’s side narrowly top the Central Division, with the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers closely on their tail.
They have points all over the ice – Victor Hedman (24)< Steven Stamoks (22), Brayden Point (21) and Ondrej Palat (20) currently the team leaders.
Only the Vegas Golden Knights have a better goaltending record too and their one less goal conceded has come in one game fewer.
Colorado Avalanche (8/1)
Beaten by the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Second Round last year, the Colorado Avalanche will be looking for a better run in the playoffs in 2020-21.
Mikko Rantanen #96 of the Colorado Avalanche
That’s assuming they make it though as an inconsistent season at 13-8-2 sees them sit in fourth in the West Division. The bookmakers still have them as the equal third favourites tow in the Stanley Cup though.
With Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, Nazeem Kadri and Samuel Girard they shouldn’t have a problem scoring, even against the top teams in the playoffs. They’re fairly strong defensively too.
Vegas Golden Knights (8/1)
Stanley Cup runners-up in their debut season of 2017-18, the Vegas Golden Knights have been among the favourites to win the big prize for a third successive season.
Mark Stone #61 of the Las Vegas Golden Knights
Losers in the Western Conference Finals last season, their star-studded roster currently top the West Division and with games in hand on all their rivals.
Peter DeBoer’s side are very strong defensively but could do with putting a few more goals in the back of the net, particularly when it comes to the knockout stage of the season.
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