Pittsburgh has superstar Sidney Crosby back in its lineup and they look poised to continue their assault on the rest of the league as they challenge for top spot all year. On the latest Stanley Cup futures list at the Bodog Sportsbook the Penguins are alone as a 6/1 favorite to take a second Cup in the past four years.
Pittsburgh was a 7/1 favorite along with Washington on the last futures wagering list, but the Penguins have soared while the Capitals have fallen. Pittsburgh has been nearly unbeatable at home, and they had just one regulation loss in the first seven games since Crosby returned.
The San Jose Sharks have jumped up the favorites ladder in futures betting, as they sit at 9/1 odds along with the contending Chicago Blackhawks.
The Flyers are next on that futures list at 10/1, where they have remained for some time. The biggest mover on the futures list is the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins.
The Bruins are now at 11/1 for another spring championship banner, up from 16/1 at last check. Their stock continues to rise so this might be fair odds for a futures wager. Stanley Cup runners-up Vancouver are also pegged at 11/1 odds in futures betting.
Washington jumped out to an early start and it looked full steam ahead, but things came to a halt quickly with the head coach getting fired and the serious lack of production from Alexander Ovechkin. The Bodog Sportsbook has moved the Capitals down the list to 12/1 odds; they once were a 7/1 favorite in NHL futures betting.
Detroit has been keeping pace with the division-leading Blackhawks and sit at 13/1 odds on the futures board, with the Los Angeles Kings next at 15/1 odds.
Rounding out the top list of contenders are the New York Rangers, who are the only team to jump higher in futures lists than Boston; the Rangers went from 30/1 odds to 18/1 odds.
The biggest surprise and steal on the futures boards could be the Minnesota Wild, who are battling to remain as the top team in the NHL; Minnesota is only at 30/1 odds on the futures list and a big bargain at that current price.
Here’s a look at the complete list of NHL championship futures at the Bodog Sportsbook . . .
Pittsburgh Penguins 7/1
Chicago Blackhawks 9/1
San Jose Sharks 9/1
Philadelphia Flyers 10/1
Boston Bruins 11/1
Vancouver Canucks 11/1
Washington Capitals 12/1
Detroit Red Wings 13/1
Los Angeles Kings 15/1
New York Rangers 18/1
Buffalo Sabres 20/1
St. Louis Blues 25/1
Toronto Maple Leafs 25/1
Dallas Stars 30/1
Minnesota Wild 30/1
Nashville Predators 30/1
Tampa Bay Lightning 30/1
Edmonton Oilers 35/1
Florida Panthers 35/1
Montreal Canadiens 35/1
New Jersey Devils 40/1
Phoenix Coyotes 40/1
Colorado Avalanche 75/1
Anaheim Ducks 90/1
Calgary Flames 100/1
Ottawa Senators 100/1
Winnipeg Jets 125/1
Carolina Hurricanes 150/1
Columbus Blue Jackets 300/1
New York Islanders 300/1