New Jersey online sports bettors love to place wagers on the NHL, and with the 2021 season now in full swing, there is plenty of great wagering action for fans to enjoy from in-play live betting options through to a range of props, moneylines, point spreads, and of course, the ever-popular NHL parlay wagers. However, some of the best betting action and best betting value to be found on the Futures Betting Markets on who will take out the 2021 Stanley Cup title. With the 2021 NHL season to be an abbreviated one due to the ongoing effects of the global pandemic, availability of futures odds is compressed this year, so get in quick to place your wagers. Let’s examine this year’s Stanley Cup’s best betting chances (apologies to New Jersey Devils fans). Tampa Bay Lightning FanDuel – 2021 Stanley Cup Odds – +800 888Sport – 2021 Stanley Cup Odds – +800 With a phenomenal goal tending from Andrei Vasilevskiy, the Lightning are hard to break down and getting great offensive output from captain Steven Stamkos coming back from injury. Yanni Gourde is also doing well in front of the net for the first time in many seasons and center Anthony Cirelli is also bouncing back nicely. With hard men like Brayden Point and Victor Hedman leading the way, expect Tampa to be in the frame at the pointy end of the NHL season. Colorado Avalanche FanDuel – 2021 Stanley Cup Odds – +700 888Sport – 2021 Stanley Cup Odds – +750 Just like the Lightning, the Avalanche boast a superb goalie in Philipp Grubauer and star defenseman in Cale Makar to hold other teams at bay. Up forward, if Nathan MacKinnon can stay fit, Colorado should not suffer in attack. In fact, following a recent injury to MacKinnon, the Avs showed plenty of quality player depth to cover in the goal scoring department, and consequently had their Stanley Cup futures odds slashed. Player depth is always a great sign of a championship team and Colorado have it in spades. Vegas Golden Knights FanDuel – 2021 Stanley Cup Odds – +700 888Sport – 2021 Stanley Cup Odds – +750 Built on a rock-hard defense, Vegas are not troubling the scorers much, however, they are scoring enough to win games. The team is also well-rested after having almost 2 weeks off due to Nevada’s state global pandemic protocols. They’ve come back well since restarting and less goal shy than the past. Goalie Cal Petersen is an out-and-out star and leads the formidable Golden Knights defenseman with an intensity that few others in the league can match. Toronto Maple Leafs FanDuel – 2021 Stanley Cup Odds – +1100 888Sport – 2021 Stanley Cup Odds – +900 Benefactors of having their deepest roster in decades, the Toronto Maple Leafs also have the benefit of playing in a much easier division this year. That will see the Leafs stars well-rested come play-off time which could be crucial in a compressed season. Toronto’s increased veteran depth and upgraded defense have been highlights already this NHL season. Boston Bruins FanDuel – 2021 Stanley Cup Odds – +1200 888Sport – 2021 Stanley Cup Odds – +1000 After a rough off-season losing key players, the Bruins have impressed where it counts: on the ice. David Pastrnak, last season’s leading NHL goal scorer came back from injury earlier than expected as has been back to his best. A full regular season for their young and learning, yet outstanding defensemen, Brandon Carlo and Charlie McAvoy, should see Boston as a team that most would want to be avoiding come play-off time. Honorable mentions go to the Flyers, Capitals, Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens, the biggest movers in 2021 Stanley Cup odds since the season began.
