Apr 3, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Bruins defenseman
Torey Krug(47) and forward
Patrice Bergeron(37) and
Reilly Smith(18) and defenseman
Kevan Miller(86) celebrate a goal by Boston Bruins forward
Brad Marchand(63) during the first period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Bruins and the rest of the National Hockey League are wrapping up their 2013-14 season. The flurry of activity in March was so intense, the betting website Bovada had to update the odds on who they believe is most likely to win the Stanley Cup. That flurry of odds activity was fueled by a Bruins squad that went 15-1-1 in the month of March. They catapulted them to the top of the odds chart. They now acknowledge the Bruins as the odds on favorite, as they edge out the St. Louis Blues with a 9/2 odds.
The Bruins are in cruise control mode, and members of the team and the coaching staff have determined the President’s Cup is a non-issue. So, while it’s another good sign that the Black and Gold may take home Lord Stanley’s Cup, the team can’t afford to get complacent. They took an OT loss away from the Air Canada Centre last night as they tried to earn a few more points (and while the Toronto Maple Leafs are battling for their playoff lives) as they finish off the season.
The Bruins and the Blues are still expected to converge thru the brackets to meet in the Stanley Cup Final. The defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks have fallen to third, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are fourth. The Bruins certainly beat the odds back in 2011 when they were project to go down in five against the Vancouver Canucks. The Bruins won’t take these numbers very seriously, and they’ll just focus on their style of defensive minded hockey.
Here are the updated odds for all the teams (courtesy of Bovada):
Boston Bruins | 9/2 |
St. Louis Blues | 5/1 |
Chicago Blackhawks | 13/2 |
Pittsburgh Penguins | 7/1 |
San Jose Sharks | 8/1 |
Anaheim Ducks | 10/1 |
Los Angeles Kings | 12/1 |
Philadelphia Flyers | 14/1 |
Colorado Avalanche | 20/1 |
Montreal Canadiens | 22/1 |
New York Rangers | 22/1 |
Tampa Bay Lightning | 25/1 |
Detroit Red Wings | 33/1 |
Columbus Blue Jackets | 40/1 |
Minnesota Wild | 40/1 |
Toronto Maple Leafs | 50/1 |
Dallas Stars | 66/1 |
Phoenix Coyotes | 66/1 |
Washington Capitals | 66/1 |