It’s been more than 100 days since the 2019-20 NHL season was suspended as the league continues to work on a possible conclusion by restarting with the play-offs.
Teams had played 68-71 games at the time of suspension so the obvious way to determine which teams will or won’t make the playoffs would be on a points per game basis.
In May, the NHLPA agreed on a basic framework for a 24-team playoff tournament behind closed doors. This would mean scrapping the remainder of the regular season and the top four teams in each conference getting a bye.
Currently there are ongoing discussions about two possible hub cities to stage the playoffs in the East and West.
Should the NHL season get back up and running as we expect, here are the teams who will be favourites to lift the 2020 Stanley Cup based on the first part of the season:
=1. Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins led the NHL with 44 wins from 70 games at the time of the season’s suspension, with the strongest defence, conceding 17 goals fewer than any other side.
Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins
New customer offers dedicated to Betfred have the 2011 champions as 6/1 co-favourites to win the Stanley Cup for a seventh time. They had been favourites going into last year’s final, before being beaten 3-4 in the finals by the St Louis Blues.
Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, Tuukka Rask and David Pastrnak are four of the NHL’s top players today and all of them play for the Bruins.
=1. Tampa Bay Lightning
One win behind the Bruins in both the Eastern Conference and Presidents’ Trophy race are the Tampa Bay Lightning, who finished last season top of the standing before being dumped out of the First Round of the playoffs with a 4-0 hammering by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning
Jon Cooper’s team have been co-favourites for Stanley Cup success this season, also at 6/1. Prior to the suspension, many felt that a battle between the Bruins and Lightning in the playoffs could determine the Stanley Cup before the final itself.
Tampa Bay’s team includes stars such as Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Steven Stamkos and Brayden Point.
=3. Colorado Avalanche
Arguably the best in the West are the Colorado Avalanche, though the bookmakers only have them equal third favourites with another team in their Conference.
Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Colorado Avalanche makes a glove save
Jared Bednar’s side made it to the Second Round of the playoffs last year, losing 3-4 to the San Jose Sharks. At the time of the 2019-20 campaign’s suspension they had 42 wins from 70 games, compared to St Louis’ 42 wins from 71 games.
The Avalanche have stars including Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.
=3. Vegas Golden Knights
Sitting third in the Western Conference, the Vegas Golden Knights would get a bye in the First Round should the 24-team playoff go ahead.
Mark Stone #61 of the Las Vegas Golden Knights
The San Jose Sharks eliminated them in the First Round of last season’s playoffs but hadn’t been among the favourites to go all the way anyway.
This season’s roster includes Mark Stone, Paul Stastny and Shea Theodore.
- Philadelphia Flyers
The Eastern Conference arguably has the much stronger sides this season and the Philadelphia Flyers should not be overlooked.
Goalie Carter Hart #79 of the Philadelphia Flyers
Although they may need to go through both the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning just to reach the Stanley Cup final, they showed in the first part of the season they are more than capable of causing an upset.
Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier and Jakub Voracek give them a chance to go all the way for the first time since 1975.
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