by OddsShark (@OddsShark) – Sponsored Post
With almost two thirds of the regular season schedule in the books the Edmonton Oilers continue to lag behind the favourites on the Stanley Cup odds, sitting at a line of +1700 on those futures (wager $100 to win $1700) at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Edmonton’s odds have fluctuated in line with what has been a roller coaster season for the team. The Oilers’ odds remained relatively steady through the offseason, and sat at an attractive +2300 to start the season. That number then improved during the team’s 11-2-0 run a month ago, peaking at +1600 before tumbling back to their opening-night position in the wake of Toronto’s crushing three-game sweep of them to open the month of March.
Winners in three straight before seeing this week’s three-game set in Montreal postponed due to a reported COVID-19 outbreak within the Canadiens organization, the Oilers are once again gaining momentum. The Oilers’ recent surge has lifted them into a virtual tie with the Maple Leafs atop the North Division standings, boosting the team to a +400 bet to win the division at sports betting sites.
It remains a close four-team race at the top of the Stanley Cup odds, with the Tampa Bay Lightning leading the way as +550 chalk. A model of consistency all season long, the Lightning have started to pull away from the pack in the Central Division standings. Winners in 14 of its past 16 games, Tampa Bay leads the league with 24 wins and 50 points, and has suffered consecutive losses on just two occasions so far this season.
The Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche closely trail, both sitting at +650, followed by the Vegas Golden Knights at +700 on those NHL odds. After leading the overall standings for much of the first half of the season, Toronto has struggled since its recent dominating sweep of the Oilers. With goaltender Frederik Andersen turning in subpar performances and backup Jack Campbell battling injury, the Maple Leafs have won just two of their past eight games, and have dipped to reduced -190 favorites to hang on to win the North Division.
The Avalanche have overcome inconsistent play and a stretch of COVID-related postponements to win seven of their past eight outings. Colorado has also averaged over five goals per game in its past six outings, and now sits two points back of the equally red-hot Golden Knights in the West Division standings.
Further down the Stanley Cup futures, the surging Carolina Hurricanes have improved to +1200. The East Division leading New York Islanders join the Washington Capitals at +1500, while the Boston Bruins remain knotted with the Minnesota Wild at +1600, and the Florida Panthers trail Edmonton as a +1800 wager.
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