Lightning Back to Being 2020 Stanley Cup Favorites at Multiple Sportsbooks
- Tampa Bay has charged back to the top of the Stanley Cup futures at a number of leading sportsbooks
- Sportsbook 1 lists the Lightning as +700 chalk
- Sportsbook 2 has established Tampa Bay as +800 co-favorites along with the Washington Capitals
The Tampa Bay Lightning have struck back in a big way in the 2020 Stanley Cup odds at a number of leading sportsbooks.
2020 Stanley Cup Odds
| Team | Odds at Sportsbook 1 | Odds at Sportsbook 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +700 | +800 |
| Washington Capitals | +900 | +800 |
| Boston Bruins | +1000 | +1000 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +1200 | +900 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | +1200 | +900 |
| St. Louis Blues | +1200 | +1000 |
| Dallas Stars | +1400 | +1400 |
| Arizona Coyotes | +1600 | +2500 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +1600 | +1500 |
| Vancouver Canucks | +1600 | +2000 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +1600 | +1600 |
Odds taken Jan. 28.
The Lightning are 12-2-1 in their last 15 games. Tampa Bay has lost just three times in regulation since Dec. 17. That’s a span of 17 games.
The streak has launched them back into top contender status, a place that they occupied when the NHL season began.
Lightning Coming On Strong
When the first 2020 Stanley Cup odds were released last June, Tampa Bay opened as the +700 chalk. As the regular season got underway in October, the Lightning still held forth as +700 favorites.
However, a 6-4-2 start to the season saw the Bolts surrender the favorite’s role to the Colorado Avalanche.
Their average odds climbed as long as +1200 in December. This month marks the first time they’ve moved back in as the chalk.
Doing It At Both Ends Of Rink
The Lightning rate among the NHL’s top nine in both goals scored (177; fifth) and goals allowed (140; ninth). They own an NHL-best +37 goal differential.
Netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy recently posted a 10-game winning streak for the second season in a row. He’s just the fourth goalie in NHL history to achieve that feat. Vasilevskiy recorded a .946 save percentage and 1.69 GAA during his 10-game win streak. He owns an NHL-leading 24 wins.
Andrei Vasilevskiy not taking the skills competition off pic.twitter.com/HUAfLAiX6W
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) January 25, 2020
Tampa Bay is tied for second in the NHL in road wins (14). The Bolts are 9-3-2 over their past 14 road contests.
Offense is never an issue in Tampa Bay and the Lightning’s stars are heating up. Nikita Kucherov, the NHL’s reigning Art Ross-winner, has netted eight goals over the past eight games. Captain Steven Stamkos has 7-13-20 totals over Tampa Bay’s last 15 games.
Odds Are Even
Tampa Bay played in the Stanley Cup final in 2014-15. But since that campaign, the seasons ending in even numbers have proven to be much more rewarding for the Lightning.
They reached Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final in both 2015-16 and 2017-18, losing each time to the eventual Stanley Cup champion. In 2016-17, Tampa Bay missed the playoffs.
Last season, the Bolts won an NHL record-tying 62 games. But they took the ultimate pratfall in the playoffs. Tampa Bay was swept in the first round by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Could Lightning Strike Twice?
Tampa Bay shares that single-season win record with the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings. Those Wings also failed to win the Stanley Cup. But the following season, Detroit built steadily after a slow start to the campaign and won the Stanley Cup.
Stammer again! With the net empty behind him! Tie game!#GoBolts pic.twitter.com/h8mSiYTtau
— Hockey Daily 365 (@HockeyDaily365) January 28, 2020
The Lightning are seven points back of Boston in the Atlantic Division. Sportsbooks still lists the Bruins (-200) as favorites to win the Atlantic. Tampa Bay is +200.
That could be good news, though. Just one of the past six Stanley Cup champions finished first in their division during regular-season play.
Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning (+800)
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
