Stanley Cup Final Odds: Bruins’ Chances Stalled At NHL All-Star Break
The Boston Bruins enter this weekend’s All-Star Break in control of the top Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, and just one point out of second place in the Atlantic Division. However, the Bruins’ solid first half has failed to buoy their Stanley Cup odds, which remained stalled at 25-1 at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
After missing the playoffs last spring for the first time since 2007, the Bruins kicked off the current campaign amid tempered expectations, opening in the middle of the pack at 25-1 on the Stanley Cup odds before tumbling to 50-1 following a 6-7 start.
Boston has picked up points in 24 of 36 contests since then, including 20 wins, but it has been unable to gain traction on the futures board.
The club also lags in the middle of the pack on the Eastern Conference betting lines, pegged at 12-1, well back of the heavily-favored Washington Capitals, who lead the way with 9-5 odds of claiming the conference title.
The Bruins will have an opportunity to return to action next week on a winning note with three games against the bottom-feeding Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres, before embarking mid-month on a 10-day, six-game western swing that could determine their postseason fate.
The Capitals roll into the All-Star Break atop the Stanley Cup odds as strong 4-1 betting favorites. Washington owns a commanding 15-point lead in the Metropolitan Division, and has been near unbeatable at times, falling to defeat in back-to-back games just once so far this season.
The defending-champion Chicago Blackhawks have closed the gap on the Capitals on the strength of their recent 12-game win streak, lifting their Stanley Cup odds to 11-2, but stumble into the break with just one win in their past four games, including shutout losses to Florida and Carolina.
The Los Angeles Kings continue to lead in the Pacific Division, bolstering their 15-2 Cup odds, but have suddenly been challenged by the red-hot San Jose Sharks, whose current 8-0-2 run has moved them into second place in the Pacific, lifting them from 40-1 to 25-1 on the Stanley Cup odds.
The Dallas Stars closely trail the favorites at 11-1, followed by the Tampa Bay Lightning, whose 9-2 record in January has returned them to the playoff picture and fueled their rise on the Cup odds from 33-1 to 14-1.
Four teams remain deadlocked at 16-1, including the St. Louis Blues, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, and Anaheim Ducks, while the Detroit Red Wings hold steady at a respectable 20-1 at the All-Star Break.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
