Golden Knights have 2nd best Stanley Cup odds despite struggles
Vegas Golden Knights center Cody Eakin carries the puck up the ice. (Photo by Matt Cohen/Icon Sportswire)
November 15th, 2019
The Vegas Golden Knights are 9-8-3 with just about a quarter of the season in the books, which includes a 3-4-3 run over their last 10 games. They’ve dropped four straight contests, two of which occurred against sub-.500 teams in the Blackhawks and Red Wings, to fall to fifth place in the Pacific Division. And yet, despite their struggles, they still have the second shortest odds to win the Stanley Cup.
Odds to win the Stanley Cup
| Team | 2020 Stanley Cup Odds |
|---|
Boston Bruins | +700 |
Vegas Golden Knights | +900 |
Tampa Bay Lightning | +900 |
Colorado Avalanche | +1100 |
Toronto Maple Leafs | +1200 |
St. Louis Blues | +1200 |
Forward Alex Tuch, who just recently returned from injury, offered this sideline analysis of his club to reporters Wednesday.
“I don’t think it’s anything with personnel or the style of play or anything like that," he said. "I just honestly think it’s a mentality thing. We’ve got to play a little bit harder—little bit chippier. We’ve got to really want to dominate teams. I think we are going out to just try and win. We want to go out and try to dominate. It makes winning that much easier, and I think it makes everyone around us better.”
“I don’t think it’s anything with personnel or the style of play or anything like that," he said. "I just honestly think it’s a mentality thing. We’ve got to play a little bit harder—little bit chippier. We’ve got to really want to dominate teams. I think we are going out to just try and win. We want to go out and try to dominate. It makes winning that much easier, and I think it makes everyone around us better.”
Eakin has struggled mightily
Forward Cody Eakin has garnered a lot of negative attention this year, on the heels of a 22-goal, 41-point 2018-19 campaign. He has failed to find the back of the net in 16 games this season, and has just three assists and a minus-6 plus/minus rating. Moving Eakin to the second line against Chicago on Wednesday yielded little improvement. He didn’t even register a shot on goal over 15 shifts and 11:44 of ice time and lost seven of nine face-offs.What a play by Mark Stone shorthanded. This is nuts. Cody Eakin gets a golden opportunity, but can't get his shot on net. pic.twitter.com/cSnWqvhgD9
— Knights On Ice (@knightsonice) November 10, 2019
St. Louis offers plenty of value
Bettors ought to keep close tabs on the defending champion St. Louis Blues (12-3-4), who are hanging at generous odds of +1300. The Blues defeated the Flames, Oilers and Canucks during a four-game road trip that helped build a seven-game win streak, before they lost in a shootout to the Coyotes on Tuesday.The St. Louis Blues have called up Klim Kostin
— Josh Hyman (@joshhymanNHL) November 13, 2019
Welcome to the big club, Klim
🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/WcGqwNVfCs
They’re doing this all without perennial Richard Trophy threat Vladimir Tarasenko (shoulder), who is not expected to return until the end of the year. And though the Blues also lost forward Alex Steen (ankle) last week for what looks like a month, highly touted prospect Klim Kostin is coming up to take his place on Friday night.
Don't get left in the cold! Check out BetAmerica's NHL odds and futures today.
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