Updated Stanley Cup Odds List Lightning as New Favorite After Game 3 Win vs Islanders

• Tampa Bay Lightning have reclaimed the top of the Stanley Cup odds following their Game 3 win over the New York Islanders
• Vegas Golden Knights closely trail Tampa Bay, but face a daunting task to get past the Cinderella Montreal Canadiens
• We’ve got you covered with all the odds and trends as the countdown to the Stanley Cup Final continues

In the wake of their narrow 2-1 victory in Game 3 of their semi-final clash with the New York Islanders, the Tampa Bay Lightning have reclaimed their perch in the updated Stanley Cup odds as short +125 favorites to repeat as champions. The Lightning have overcome a 2-1 series-opening defeat with consecutive wins over the pesky Islanders, and have avoided consecutive losses so far in the postseason. But even if Tampa Bay returns to the Stanley Cup Final this NHL playoffs, they can expect to face a formidable opponent.

Buoyed by their dominating performance while knocking off the Colorado Avalanche in the second round, the Vegas Golden Knights closely trail Tampa Bay as a +140 bet. However, the Golden Knights are quickly discovering that  upset victories over Toronto and Winnipeg were no fluke for the Canadiens, who have emerged as an intriguing +850 wager.

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Here’s a look at how the four teams still standing stack up in the NHL futures as the countdown to this year’s Stanley Cup Final continues.

2021 Stanley Cup Odds

Odds as of June 18

Lightning Striking at Both Ends of the Ice

One of the most offensively prolific teams in the NHL during the regular season, the Lightning have built their steady playoff run on strong play at both ends of the ice. Tampa Bay filled the net knocking off the Florida Panthers in the first round, averaging four goals per game. The Lightning have since demonstrated their ability to get the job done defensively. The club needed just five games to get past the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round, with the two teams combining to score just 23 total goals.

Vasilevskiy 🆚 the @NYIslanders forwards#NHLNow | @Jackie_Redmond | @EJHradek_NHL pic.twitter.com/S3N8uEMPHf

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) June 17, 2021

It has been more of the same so far against Islanders, thanks largely to the play of netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy. The favorite to claim a second career Vezina Trophy after posting an NHL-best 31 wins this season, Vasilevskiy has stopped 80 of 85 shots he has faced in from New York. Despite their recent stingy performance, the Lightning cannot afford to look past New York. No strangers to adversity after overcoming 2-1 series deficits to defeat both Pittsburgh and Boston, the Islanders are not your typical Stanley Cup betting underdogs. With total buy-in to coach Barry Trotz’s defensive style of play, the Islanders wore down both the Penguins and Bruins over long series. New York also has plenty to prove against the Lightning, who bounced them from the Eastern Conference Final last season.

Vegas Under Pressure

It is an eerily similar situation in the other semi-final series, which remains deadlocked at one game apiece heading into Friday night’s clash at the Bell Centre. Emboldened by the sensational play of goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, the Golden Knights dictated the terms of engagement in their second-round clash with Colorado, shocking the previous Stanley Cup favorites by posting four straight wins after dropping the first game of the series.

https://twitter.com/skofarrell/status/1405588916888084484?s=20

It looked that more of the same would be in store after Vegas dominated the Canadiens in Game 1. However, Montreal has made believers out of many skeptics with a stunning Game 2 win at T-Mobile Arena.

Time to Hop on the Habs Bandwagon

Now riding an eight-game win streak when scoring first, the Canadiens have established themselves as a real-deal defensive force capable of shutting down the top offensive forces in the game. Of course, much of the credit must go to veteran goaltender Carey Price, whose spectacular play proved to be the difference in the team’s first-round upset of the Maple Leafs.

Carey Price. That's it. That's the tweet. 🤯#ItsOn pic.twitter.com/fZcvsNWBms

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 17, 2021

Considering how much difficulty the high-powered Lightning and Golden Knights are facing against the defense-first Islanders and Canadiens, it is increasingly difficult to find value at the top of the Stanley Cup odds board. While a victory in Game 4 is crucial for New York, there is no pressure on Montreal as they continue an unlikely playoff run after backing into the postseason while closing out their schedule with five straight losses. With an unblemished all-time record against Vegas at Bell Centre, the Canadiens are well positioned to continue their Cinderella run, and now is the time for sports bettors to enjoy the ride.