There are just eight teams remaining in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and that number could be reduced again at some point this weekend. As the second round is underway, Stanley Cup betting odds continue to be adjusted, and this will be the case throughout the remainder of the postseason.
The Colorado Avalanche are listed at +125 to win the Stanley Cup, making them the clear betting favorite. Colorado has been at the top of the list since the season began.
The Boston Bruins (+375) and the Tampa Bay Lightning (+400) are next on the list, and both teams have won a Stanley Cup recently. These three teams are way ahead of the rest of the NHL teams, but things can change quickly in the playoffs.
Series Lines Not Close
Betting odds have also been set for all of the second-round matchups in the NHL, and those lines are not currently close as teams have taken a commanding lead in each series. These odds will also be adjusted after each game, but now would be a great time to bet on an underdog that you feel can turn things around.
The Winnipeg Jets +425 are currently the biggest underdogs to advance to the Semifinals.
Odds to Win Conn Smythe Trophy
- Nathan MacKinnon +125
- Andrei Vasilevskiy +450
- Tuukka Rask +800
- Nikita Kucherov +900
The Conn Smythe Trophy is given to the player that is voted the MVP of the entire playoffs, and it’s not an award given to the player that simply performs the best in the Finals. This list will continue to get smaller as the games are played, but there is a clear leader at this time.
Nathan MacKinnon has racked up 12 points through the first six playoff games, and he is now the clear leader to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. His Colorado team won the first six games they played this postseason, and that certainly helps his case.
A pair of goaltenders, Vasilevskiy and Rask, are next on the list, and both could win this award if they lead their respective teams to a title. Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning currently has the fourth-best odds to win the Conn Smythe.
NHL Still Working With Canada
The National Hockey League is still working with Canadian health officials in an attempt to get a waiver from the current travel restrictions imposed by the country. While the United States has started to slow the spread of COVID-19, the same can not be said for Canada.
Currently, all non-essential travel between the US and Canada requires a 14-day isolation period. Professional sports falls under the umbrella of non-essential travel, and that could effect the final two rounds of the NHL Playoffs.
There is hope that the league will be given a restriction so the winner of the North Division can travel to the United States for the final two rounds of the postseason. If this is not granted, then the league will be looking to relocate the team that eventually wins the North Division.
