Top six teams to capture the Stanley Cup:
Tampa Bay Lightning +700
Boston Bruins +1000
Toronto Maple Leafs +1000
Vegas Golden Knights +1100
Nashville Predators +1500
St. Louis Blues +1500
Washington Capitals +2000
The ’Ning have a lot to prove after winning 62 games and recording 128 points but getting swept in the first round of the playoffs last season. I can see Tampa Bay being the Virginia Cavaliers of college basketball.
After being embarrassed two years ago in the first round of the NCAA tourney, the Cavaliers made an epic run to capture the crown and the Lightning are so talented at 7-1 that that type of scenario could happen with ease.
Toronto kind of tailed off in the second half of the season and it culminated with blowing a 3-2 series lead to Boston in the first round of the playoffs last year.
This team still had 100 points and is loaded on offense with Scottsdale, Arizona native Auston Matthews (73 points in 68 games), Mitch Marner (his OVER/UNDER on points this year is 94.5), and puckhound John Tavares (his OVER/UNDER on points is 87.5).
However, what might push Toronto over the top this year is the acquisition of defenseman Tyson Barrie from Colorado. Barrie was huge for the Avalanche in the playoffs last year as he recorded eight points in 12 games. The Maple Leafs at 10-1 are a team that will challenge for the Cup all season long.
A team that proved you don’t have to challenge for the Cup all season is the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues.
At 15-1, can the Blues repeat is the question of the season. The answer is probably not, but this is a team you can never count out since they were in last place in the league on January 2 and unbelievably turned their season around to capture the Cup for the first time in their franchise’s 52-year history.
Prediction: Maple Leafs (10-1) beat Flames for Stanley Cup
Total Points Scored for Regular Season Prop
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers - 116.5 points, O/U -115 both sides
McDavid has scored 324 points in the last three years and had 116 points last year but is coming off having surgery to repair ligament damage in his left knee. With that injury, that number of 116 just seems like a lot especially when an injury to a knee is involved.
Prediction: McDavid UNDER 116.5 Points for the Season
Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche - 99.5 points, O/U -115 both sides
First off, MacKinnon showed no fear as he was a scoring machine in the playoffs last season, scoring 13 points in 12 games. In the 2016-17 season, he played 82 games and tallied 53 points. In the last two seasons, he has averaged a whopping 98 points per season. The Avalanche played lights-out at the end of the season to qualify for the playoffs. This team is even better than last season’s (team’s total for season points is 98.5) and that means MacKinnon will more than likely be the main reason.
Prediction: MacKinnon OVER 99.5 Points for the Season
Vladimir Tarasenko & Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues - Tarasenko 70.5, O’Reilly 73.5, O/U -115 both sides.
Both guys were not only scoring machines in the playoffs but they scored in clutch situations. However, even though on my Against All Odds podcast with Cousin Sal, I called that the Blues would be the champions of the league if they won their first-round series, which is exactly what happened, I can’t see a repeat and the Blues hover back to mediocrity. O’Reilly recorded 77 points last season, the most in his 10-year career, but I think goals will not be as prevalent for him and Tarasenko.
At 5-1, I do believe O’Reilly does have a great shot to win the Lady Byng Award. O’Reilly was the consummate professional all playoff season long for the Blues.
Prediction: Tarasenko & O’Reilly UNDER 70.5 & 73.5 Points for the Season
Team to Score the Most Goals for the Season
Tampa Bay Lightning +350
Toronto Maple Leafs +600
Calgary Flames +700
Colorado Avalanche +1400
San Jose Sharks +1400
Washington Capitals +1400
The Flames led the Western Conference with 289 goals last season thanks in part to Johnny Gaudreau (OVER/UNDER points for season is 92.5), who had 99 points. The Lightning led the league with 326 goals but again I’m going to side with the high-powered offense of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Matthews, Marner & Tavares may sound like a law firm but on the ice they are as talented a trio as you will find in the league in creating offensive opportunities.
Prediction: Toronto Maple Leafs 7-1 to Score Most Goals for Season
Number of Canadian Teams to Make the Playoffs
3.5 OVER +130
3.5 UNDER -160
1. Calgary Flames
The Flames put up 107 points last year, won the Pacific Division and like I mentioned, Johnny Gaudreau is an offensive machine and playmaker.
2. Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto is a powerful team that also put up triple digits for points a season ago.
3. Winnipeg Jets
The Jets had a solid regular season with 99 points and finished just a point away from winning the Central Division.
The fourth potential Canadian team, I can tell you, won’t be either the Ottawa Senators or Vancouver Canucks, who are both going through growing pains and different changes.
So that leaves us with either the Montreal Canadiens or the Edmonton Oilers.
Montreal really faded in the last quarter of the season and missed the playoffs by two points. The Eastern Conference is going to be so tight with teams that didn’t make the playoffs but are much improved this season. Montreal will be on the outside looking in again.
4. Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers will be the surprise team in the NHL this season. Besides McDavid, they have another 100-plus scorer from a season ago in the form of Leon Draisaitl, who had a total of 105 points. Edmonton made the playoffs two seasons ago mainly because of McDavid and goaltending.
Goaltending has been their problem lately, but with the addition of veteran Mike Smith, if he can trim that three-goals-a-game average that Edmonton goalies gave up last year, the Oilers are too talented to stay out of the playoffs.
Prediction: OVER 3.5 (4) Canadian teams will make the playoffs
The regular season drops the puck on Wednesday, October 2.
Ottawa @ Toronto
Washington @ St. Louis
Vancouver @ Edmonton
San Jose @ Vegas
