Updated Stanley Cup Championship Odds – December 20th

We’re nearing the midpoint of the 2017-18 regular season in the National Hockey League, so it’s time to take a look at one of the biggest sports betting futures in the game — which team has the best odds of taking home Lord Stanley’s Cup at the end of that season and four rounds of playoffs. There are some surprises up near the top — such as the expansion Vegas Golden Knights — but there are also some teams that we thought would be doing much better by now, like the Montreal Canadiens. Check out our latest list of Stanley Cup odds to win the whole thing.

Updated Stanley Cup Championship Odds – December 20th

A 100 years ago today the @NHL started play with 4 teams playing for the #stanleycup that looked like this. Today 31 teams and the trophy looks like this. Hockey history! Come to the @HockeyHallFame and see the original @NHL minute book. pic.twitter.com/UqnBl7jk3i

— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) December 19, 2017

Tampa Bay Lightning (3/1)

December has been friendly to the Lightning, as they have rolled to seven wins against mostly soft opposition. The rest of the month looks good too. But Tampa Bay isn’t a mirage — they have speed up front but also get back to play defense.

Nashville Predators (7/2)

The Predators haven’t lost a regulation result in December. They’re showing that same pop on offense that took them all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals last year. Pekka Rinne is still standing on his head — and the team just got star Ryan Johansen back.

Vegas Golden Knights (4/1)

Vegas may have the best pair of goaltenders in the league, in Marc-Andre Fleury and Malcolm Subban. Plus, they score goals in bunches. Could an expansion team really hoist the Cup?

Washington Capitals (7/1)

Alex Ovechkin already has a dozen points in December, and Jakub Vrana has responded to being scratched from the lineup by tallying three points in the last three games. And Braden Holtby is occasionally making big stops in net. The Capitals just might be back.

St. Louis Blues (10/1)

Since December 1, the Blues have been held to one goal or fewer in five of their contests. That needs to change. They still have that shutdown defense, though.

Winnipeg Jets (12/1)

Patrik Laine needs to keep shooting. He has put at least three pucks on net in 15 games so far this year. In those games, he has a dozen goals. It seems obvious, but a lot of players overthink the whole scoring thing.

Los Angeles Kings (12/1)

Anze Kopitar already has 17 goals this season. He only had 12 all of last year. The Kings got swept by the Devils, Rangers and Islanders but should bounce back once they get back to the Golden State.

Chicago Blackhawks (14/1)

Patrick Kane continues to score, putting up seven points in the last five games — all Blackhawk wins. With a little more resolve on defense, this team could shoot up the standings.

Columbus Blue Jackets (14/1)

The Blue Jackets haven’t played anyone tough in December yet. They’re winning, though, in relatively dominant fashion — which is what the good teams do.

New Jersey Devils (15/1)

The Devils beat Dallas and Los Angeles by a combined 10-3. We know the Stars are ridiculously inconsistent, but the Kings are a solid win.

San Jose Sharks (15/1)

Brent Burns had a lengthy scoring drought come to an end, as he scored his first six goals of the season in a hurry. Can the Sharks make up ground on the Golden Knights and the Kings?

Toronto Maple Leafs (20/1)

This young team is missing their biggest star in Auston Matthews, and their offense has stalled. They need others to step up until he comes back, or they’ll keep sliding down the table.

Minnesota Wild (20/1)

Love the Wild’s youth movement and their video-game offense. The problem is that this offense has largely disappeared in the last week and a half.

Boston Bruins (20/1)

The B’s have gotten points out of David Pastrnak in a dozen straight games. Goalie Tuukka Rask appears to be earning his contract money. Can Boston really overcome that shaky blue line corps and contend?

Philadelphia Flyers (25/1)

The Flyers put together a nifty six-game winning streak, stopping a slide that looked to have them heading for a seller’s market. Can they keep things going?

Dallas Stars (30/1)

Great talent up front in Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza, so they can score at will. A defense that plays some nights and takes other nights off, led by inconsistent blueliner John Klingberg. Not sure this team could win four of seven if they had to.

N.Y. Rangers (30/1)

Love this team’s offense, which is scoring under the radar, thanks in part to the contributions of rookie Pavel Buchnevich.

N.Y. Islanders (30/1)

The Isles are treading water in that Metropolitan Division. They’ve lost two games to Dallas by a combined 10-3 this season.

Pittsburgh Penguins (30/1)

Where’s Sidney Crosby been lately? Did this team really just win the Stanley Cup?

Carolina Hurricanes (40/1)

Justin Williams definitely needs help, because he can’t score all the goals for this team.

Calgary Flames (45/1)

The Flames have 37 points in 34 games. That hit-and-miss result comes from inconsistency on the back line.

Anaheim Ducks (45/1)

The injury bug has hit Anaheim, with Corey Perry just the latest casualty.

Colorado Avalanche (50/1)

The Colorado netminders let in goals at a pace that even their youthful speedsters can’t outscore.

Edmonton Oilers (50/1)

This young team started out ice-hot. Connor McDavid cannot carry this team by himself; the Oil needs to go after a winger who can help out.

Vancouver Canucks (60/1)

This team can’t score and can’t defend. That’s not a good combination.

Montreal Canadiens (60/1)

Even the return of Carey Price in net can’t make the Canadiens score goals. He put up 35 saves against Ottawa — and the Habs still lost.

Florida Panthers (70/1)

Did you know Florida has two players in the top 25 goal scorers? The problem is that they have no defense.

Detroit Red Wings (75/1)

We just saw the Red Wings lose to Montreal, 10-1. No additional commentary needed.

Ottawa Senators (90/1)

What happened to Matt Duchene? These are the Senators that took down the Rangers in the playoffs, just last year.

Buffalo Sabres (100/1)

Eight wins in 33 games. But that’s one more than…

Arizona Coyotes (500/1)

That’s right. Seven wins.