Pittsburgh Penguins: Stanley Cup Odds For Metropolitan Division After 2015 All-Star Game
By Larry Snyder
The fun for fans during the National Hockey League All-Star Weekend at Nationwide Arena in Columbus is a happy memory. In the meantime, the grease monkeys for the zamboni at Bovada Online Sportsbook have been assembling the odds this month on which team might claim Lord Stanley’s Cup this spring.
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Let’s you and I grab another hot cup of coffee while the snow is falling and take look at how the Metropolitan Division of the NHL’s Eastern Conference shakes out according to our friends at Bovada. The action on the ice is about to get hotter for the second half.
Metropolitan Division Odds Breakdown:
New York Islanders (31-14-1, 63 points) – Odds: 12/1 – Two members of Jack Capuano‘s gang have been lighting the lamp in the first half of the season. First, center John Tavares has put up 21 goals and 24 assists for 45 points. Second, right wing Kyle Okposo has contributed 14 goals, 30 assists for a total of 44 points. It makes a grand total of 89 points for the duo in 46 games. The Isles own the best record against the rest of the division at 15-2-0.
Pittsburgh Penguins (26-12-8, 60 points) – Odds: 12/1 – With the beginning of December, Mike Johnston‘s team has been struggling as they have won 10 of their last 23 contests. The Black and Gold are just 6-8-4 against the rest of their Metro brothers. It may be time for general manager Jim Rutherford to add a veteran defenseman to the mix instead of another forward to support the Pens push in the second half.
New York Rangers (27-13-4, 58 points) – Odds: 14/1 – Alain Vigneault‘s group has won 16 of their last 19 contests to climb into third place in the standings. The speed of the forwards on the attack has been leading the way as the Blue Shirts are 13-3-1 against the rest of the Metro. The reason the Rangers are not higher in the Eastern Conference is they are 5-8-0 against the Atlantic Division.
Washington Capitals (24-13-9, 57 points) – Odds: 28/1 – Barry Trotz‘s troops need to figure out the other side of the NHL as they are 6-7-3 against the Western Conference, and in particular 2-4-3 when they drop the puck with the teams of the Pacific Division.
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Columbus Blue Jackets (20-22-3, 43 points) – Odds: 100/1 – Now with the All-Star Game in the books, it is time for Todd Richards‘ brigade to continue their climb back up the standings. One place to begins is with the defense as the Jacks have allowed the second most goals in the division with 142.
Philadelphia Flyers (19-22-7, 45 points) – Odds 200/1 – Craig Berube‘s squad has surrendered the most scores in the division with 146, and are 10 games under .500 as the season gets back underway this week. General manager Ron Hextall may be making phone calls to change things up on the roster.
New Jersey Devils (17-22-8, 42 points) – Odds: 200/1 – In late December, Adam Oates and Scott Stevens were named as co-coaches of the team after the firing of Peter DeBoer and assistant coach Dave Barr. They will have to figure out some way to jump start the offense as the Boys from Newark are next to last in goals scored in the division with 107.
Carolina Hurricanes (16-25-5, 37 points) – Odds: 1000/1 – Bill Peters crew is in last place, and behind the Isles, Pens, and Rangers by at least 20 points. It should be noted, the Canes won two games in a row before the break, and are 6-3-1 in their last 10 matchups . They are starting to demonstrate there is still pride in PNC Arena.
One thing to keep in mind is that the Penguins still have lots of time left on the calendar. There could be more player movement in the weeks to come. I think we will see these teams move up and down the board as the odds change before the playoffs get under way.
Up Next: The Black and Gold are back home on Tuesday, Jan. 27 when they host the Winnipeg Jets (26-14-8, 60 points). They will drop the puck at 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ROOT Sports Pittsburgh.