The Chicago Blackhawks enter this weekend’s NHL All-Star Break in their familiar position atop the Stanley Cup betting futures, listed at 5/1 odds to win their third Cup in six years at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Hawks maintain their Stanley Cup betting position despite losing three of their last six games, all as heavy moneyline favourites at the sportsbooks.
Chicago wrapped up play ahead of Sunday’s NHL All-Star Game in Columbus trailing the Central-leading Nashville Predators by three points in the division and sitting just two points ahead of the Winnipeg Jets, who hold down the Western Conference’s top Wild Card spot.
The Blackhawks continue to be closely trailed on the Stanley Cup betting lines by the Anaheim Ducks, who hit the break with odds of 7/1. The Ducks ride a five-game winning streak into All-Star Weekend, and have built a solid 12-point lead over second-place San Jose in the Pacific Division.
The Montreal Canadiens sit as the top Canadian-based team in the current Stanley Cup odds. The Habs, who are deadlocked with the St. Louis Blues at 10/1, are just 3-3 in their past six games following a six-game win streak, including five straight road wins.
The Vancouver Canucks reach the break with the second strongest odds among Canadian NHL teams, pegged at 22/1.
The Canucks, who started the NHL regular season well back of the pack with Stanley Cup odds of 33/1, head into the weekend in control of third place in the Pacific Division, defying predictions that they would not be a playoff contender this season.
The Calgary Flames’ roller coaster ride on the Stanley Cup betting odds continues, as they reach the All-Star Break pegged at 40/1. The Flames have seen their odds fluctuate between 66/1 and 40/1 since opening night, in line with their streaky play this season. Calgary is 4-1 in their last five games, and reach the break just two points out of a Wild Card spot.
The Jets have also improved to 40/1 on the strength of their current five-game winning streak, during which they have surrendered just eight total goals while posting two road wins as moneyline underdogs.
Following their loss to Ottawa on Wednesday, their sixth straight, the Toronto Maple Leafs have tumbled to 75/1, but remain ahead of the Senators, who are a distant 200/1, and the woeful Edmonton Oilers, who are deadlocked with the Buffalo Sabres as 2000/1 Stanley Cup betting longshots.
