The Pittsburgh Penguins collected 14 points in their first 10 games of the season despite the absence of some star players; that’s impressed the sportsbooks enough to put them tied atop the Stanley Cup futures list with the Washington Capitals right now.
The Pens are still waiting for Sidney Crosby to return to the lineup, and Evgeni Malkin’s sore knee has kept him off the ice for about half the team’s games so far this season. Led by James Neal and Jordan Staal, though, the Penguins are the 15/2 co-favorites at the Bodog Sportsbook to win the Stanley Cup in the spring.
The Capitals are also at 15/2 on that NHL odds board and they’ve won seven consecutive games to start the season, allowing only 14 goals in those contests. Alex Ovechkin has had a modest start to the year with three goals and seven points, but defensemen Mike Green and Dennis Wideman have already combined for 13 points.
Following the Penguins and Capitals on the Stanley Cup futures at the Bodog Sportsbook are the Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks, each at 17/2, and the Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks, who are each pegged at 11/1 on that list.
The Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, and Los Angeles Kings are all sitting at 12/1 odds to claim the Cup next spring, with the Kings up slightly from their season-opening line of 14/1 thanks to a 5-1-1 start to the year. Los Angeles netminder Jonathan Quick has been the key to the team’s success so far, picking up three consecutive shutouts.
The defending-champion Boston Bruins, off to a slow 3-5-0 start, are down to 14/1 on the Stanley Cup futures, with the Tampa Bay Lightning at 18/1 rounding out the top tier of contenders. Here’s how all 30 teams stack up on that futures odds list right now . . .
Odds to win the 2012 Stanley Cup at the Bodog Sportsbook
Pittsburgh Penguins 15/2
Washington Capitals 15/2
Philadelphia Flyers 17/2
Vancouver Canucks 17/2
Detroit Red Wings 11/1
San Jose Sharks 11/1
Buffalo Sabres 12/1
Chicago Blackhawks 12/1
Los Angeles Kings 12/1
Boston Bruins 14/1
Tampa Bay Lightning 18/1
Anaheim Ducks 28/1
New York Rangers 30/1
Dallas Stars 35/1
Montreal Canadiens 35/1
Nashville Predators 35/1
New Jersey Devils 35/1
Toronto Maple Leafs 35/1
Colorado Avalanche 40/1
St. Louis Blues 40/1
Calgary Flames 50/1
Carolina Hurricanes 50/1
Edmonton Oilers 50/1
Minnesota Wild 60/1
New York Islanders 65/1
Phoenix Coyotes 65/1
Florida Panthers 75/1
Winnipeg Jets 100/1
Columbus Blue Jackets 150/1
Ottawa Senators 150/1