Tampa Bay has been the class of the NHL for the entire regular season, but a recent slump has allowed the field to catch to them. The Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche are the two hottest teams right now in each respective conference. The Bruins have won five straight heading into the break while the Avalanche, although they’ve lost two in a row, have actually won 10 of their last 12 games.
You can really make a case for any of the top 10 teams in these power rankings to win the Stanley Cup, so there is good value on the board. The break starts on Friday, January 26th, going until January 30th with the All-Star Game taking place on Sunday, January 28th in Tampa. Here is a look at this week’s power rankings.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +650
The Lightning (31-12-3) kicked off an eight-game road trip with a 5-2 loss in Minnesota, and it’ll continue in Chicago, Nashville, Philadelphia and Winnipeg. It is the first time this season that the Lightning have lost three games in a row, and they have lost the three games by a combined score of 14-4. It isn’t enough to start panicking yet for the Lightning, but they would like to have the ship righted before the All-Star break.
2. Vegas Golden Knights
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +850
The Golden Knights (31-11-4) lost in Florida in overtime and then won in Carolina, and they’ll return home to host Columbus and the New York Islanders before visiting Calgary after the All-Star break. Marc-Andre Fleury might be the best story on the NHL’s best story as the veteran goaltender has been on fire lately, allowing seven goals in his last five starts with a save percentage of .951.
3. Boston Bruins
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +900
The Bruins (27-10-8) won 4-1 in Montreal and they’ll host New Jersey next before heading to Ottawa. A home game with Anaheim awaits after the All-Star break. The Bruins have been incredible lately, winning 12 of their last 15 games and their three losses have all come in overtime and in a shootout. After a slow start, the Bruins have come alive.
4. Nashville Predators
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +110
The Predators (28-11-6) won over Arizona in a shootout and over Florida, both at home, where they’ll stay to host Tampa Bay. Then Nashville will head to New Jersey, then it is back home to host Chicago. The Predators have won five in a row and all five wins have been by a single goal, including the shootout win over Arizona. Pekka Rinne has been in excellent form as of late, allowing 11 goals in his last five starts with a save percentage of .929.
5. Winnipeg Jets
Stanley Cup Odds: +1300
The Jets (28-13-7) won in Calgary in a shootout and then at home over Vancouver. They’ll head out to visit San Jose and Anaheim next, and then it is back home to host Tampa Bay. Connor Hellebuyck was great in those two games, allowing one goal on 59 shots and he stopped all 29 shots he faced in a 1-0 shutout of the Canucks. The Jets don’t have many big names, but they’re going to be a tough team to play for the rest of the season, especially at home where they are 17-3-1 this season.
6. Washington Capitals
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1400
The Capitals (28-15-5) lost to Montreal and Philadelphia, the latter in overtime, and both games were at home. They’ll head to Florida before hosting Philadelphia, and the Capitals have now lost three in a row with two losses coming in overtime. Scoring six goals in three games isn’t like the Capitals, and they’ll try to put some more points on the board going into the All-Star break.
7. Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1500
The Maple Leafs (26-17-5) lost in Philadelphia in overtime, but they did win in Ottawa. Next, the Maple Leafs will host Colorado before heading to Chicago and Dallas, and then they’ll return home to host the New York Islanders. Morgan Reilly didn’t play on Saturday in Ottawa and won’t play on Monday against Colorado because of an upper-body injury, and the Maple Leafs might just rest him until after the break. Reilly is their best defenseman and they won’t want to lose him for too long.
8. New Jersey Devils
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1600
The Devils (24-13-8) won at home over Washington in overtime, but they lost i Philadelphia. They’ll host Detroit, then visit Boston, then host Nashville before heading to Buffalo. Goalie Keith Kincaid had started three games in a row before going down with a groin injury, but Cory Schneider appears to back from an illness. Kincaid had been playing very well in Schneider’s absence, and the Devils will be hoping that a little break was good for Schneider. He has given up 21 goals in his last five starts with a save percentage of .868.
9. San Jose Sharks
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1800
The Sharks (26-14-6) lost in Colorado, and then won at home over Pittsburgh and in Anaheim. They’ll host Winnipeg and the New York Rangers next, and then head to Pittsburgh and Detroit. Aaron Dell is in goal in place of the injured Martin Jones, and he has allowed seven goals in his last four starts with a save percentage of .929. Jones is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, but as long as Dell is playing well, the Sharks can afford to let him recover as long as he wants with the All-Star break coming up. Dell has played in 20 games to 31 for Jones, but Dell has the better numbers anyway.
10. Columbus Blue Jackets
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1800
The Blue Jackets (26-18-3) won in Dallas and will head to Vegas and Arizona before returning home to host Minnesota. The win over Dallas came by a 2-1 score in a shootout, and it was encouraging that Joonas Korpisalo was in goal as he stopped 35 shots to lead the Blue Jackets to the win. This allows the Blue Jackets to give Sergei Bobrovsky some more rest as he has cooled off after a hot start to the season.
The 2017-18 NHL season is heading down the home stretch. Keep an eye on the odds to win the Stanley Cup as they are constantly change. Click here to get the latest hockey lines from BetDSI, including moneylines, totals, props and futures!
