At long last, the matchups for the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are finally set. The quest for Lord Stanley’s Cup begins in earnest on Wednesday, April 13, and as recent hockey history has shown, all 16 teams are fully capable of making a run. Some have a better chance than others, though, at least according to the odds.
Before the puck drops, let’s take a look at the updated odds for some of the favorites to win this year’s championship, as well as a sleeper and long shot pick that could prove to be very profitable. And for more Stanley Cup coverage, check out our Game 1 previews of the Red Wings vs. Lightning and Islanders vs. Panthers.
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2016 NHL Stanley Cup Odds – April 13
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Washington Capitals
The Caps, who have a long history of playoff disappointment, have been in cruise control for the last month of the regular season. They’ll have to rediscover their early-season form in a hurry with the dangerous Philadelphia Flyers waiting in the first round.
Chicago Blackhawks
Despite a mediocre 9-11 record to end the regular season, the odds still see the Chicago Blackhawks as one of the main Stanley Cup contenders. The defending champions, who are priced at +650 to claim their fourth Cup in seven years, have just the veteran-laden squad to get the job done.
Reigning Art Ross winner Patrick Kane and their other stars better turn it on in a hurry, though, because they’ll face a very tough St. Louis Blues team that’s actually favored at -120 to knock the champs out in the very first round.
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings, meanwhile, are priced at +700 to win their third Stanley Cup in the last five years. Defense has been the cornerstone of the Kings’ success, and it remains their big weapon this season. They had a 2.34 GAA in the regular season, third best in the NHL.
Former Conn Smyth winner Jonathan Quick is still one of the very best goalies around, and is always capable of raising his game to another level when necessary. Meanwhile, Drew Doughty is a Norris-caliber defenseman fully capable of commanding the blue line.
Sleeper
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks have become a punch line for their playoff meltdowns, but don’t sleep on them at +1,800 to finally exorcise those postseason demons this year.
They’ll have a tough first-round assignment against the Los Angeles Kings, who famously came back from 3-0 down to knock San Jose out in 2014. But the Sharks are right where they want to be this year with no home-ice advantage. That’s because the Sharks went 28-10-3 on the road, the most road wins in the NHL.
Long Shot
Detroit Red Wings
Surprise, surprise. The Detroit Red Wings are back in the playoffs for the 25th-straight year and wouldn’t you know it, they also lucked into a very vulnerable Tampa Bay Lightning team that’s missing a number of key players. And if they get past Tampa Bay, they’ll get next either the Florida Panthers or the New York Islanders, who aren’t exactly major powerhouses.
The Wings are one of three teams currently priced at +3,000 to win the Stanley Cup, and based on how the bracket shook out in their favor, they’re definitely worth a look as a long shot bet to make a shock cup run.
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