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Lightning vs The Field: Field Given +200 Odds to Win 2019 Stanley Cup

David Golokhov

by David Golokhov in NHL Hockey

Updated Mar 31, 2020 · 2:59 PM PDT

Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning
Nikita Kucherov had 128 points during the 2018-19 season for Tampa Bay. Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire.
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning are heavily favored to win the Stanley Cup
  • Tampa Bay tied a league record for 62 wins and won the Presidents’ Trophy by mid-March
  • The Lightning have won 10 of their last 13 games

The Tampa Bay Lightning have the shortest odds to win the Stanley Cup. As a result, there’s been a posted prop that pits them versus the field. Are they a good bet to win it all, or is it wiser to take every other team in the 16-team field at odds of -240? Let’s take a closer look.

Lightning vs The Field Odds

Winner Odds
Tampa Bay Lightning +200
Field -240

*Odds taken 04/10/19

Lightning are Heavy Favorites

As the playoffs begin, the Lightning are viewed as the team to beat. That’s because they tied a league record for 62 wins, won the Presidents’ Trophy by mid-March and finished the regular season with 128 points; the next closest team had 107.

Furthermore, this team doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses, is healthy going into the playoffs, and rides in having won 10 of 13. At this point, there are no signs indicating that this team will experience any hiccups.

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Path in the East is Easy

One key for the Lightning is that their path in the East should be relatively easy. To start, the way the playoff bracket is working out, the Lightning will only have to face either the Boston Bruins or Toronto Maple Leafs, not both. They dodge a bullet there and then probably won’t sweat too much with any other team.

The Lightning will only have to face either the Boston Bruins or Toronto Maple Leafs, not both.

Yes, there is the defending champion Washington Capitals but they don’t look as strong as they did last season. There’s the New York Islanders, who have had a nice year but probably aren’t built for a long playoff run, and then there are teams like Carolina and Columbus, who shouldn’t really threaten.

The Pittsburgh Penguins could challenge but they don’t look as crisp as they have in recent seasons. They did finish the year 11-4-3, so they have some momentum, but Tampa Bay would have to really underachieve to lose this series.

What About the West?

The Lightning probably aren’t too worried about the West as there aren’t any serious concerns as of right now. The Calgary Flames are at the top of the conference and while they’re a strong, young team, they don’t have a ton of playoff experience. They also have some questions in net with David Rittich, who has an .898 save percentage since the All-Star break.

There’s also the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators, but both have been disappointments. The Predators labored to get to 100 points as their offense has been very mild this season. Meanwhile, San Jose enters the playoffs having lost nine of 12.


Vegas is a team to be wary of as they made it to the Stanley Cup Finals last season and finished the year 11-6-2. Keep in mind that streak includes having lost seven of eight, although much of that was while they were resting star goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

Bet the Lightning Individually

The Lightning do look like a good bet versus the field but the odds just aren’t there to support the decision. They’re a -380 favorite to win their opening round series but are +200 to win it all in this prop. Even if they were a -250 favorite in every other round, which is high, you’d still get a payout of +245 betting it individually.

That means it makes more sense to bet on the Lightning to win their opening round series, then bet them to win each series the rest of the way. Your payout should still be higher and then you decide round-by-round instead of being locked in long-term.

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