NHL North Division Betting Report: Maple Leafs Lead Stanley Cup Odds
Based on the current standings we’ll look at each team’s record, how they got to where they are, and preview their upcoming week.
You can always check out the updated odds to win the North Division on the NHL Futures page.
1.) Toronto Maple Leafs
Position last week: 1 (11-2-1)
Leading scorers: Mitch Marner (21 points); Auston Matthews (11 goals)
Key injuries: Jack Campbell (out indefinitely – leg); Wayne Simmonds (late March – hand); Joe Thornton (late Feb. – upper body)
Upcoming games: vs. MTL (Feb. 13); vs. OTT (Feb. 15); vs. OTT (Feb. 17); vs. OTT (Feb. 18)
Odds to win North Division: Opening line +120; Current odds +105
Toronto, the league’s +591 Stanley Cup favourite, has become the No. 1 team in the league by capitalizing on offensive opportunities. Despite ranking 20th in shots per game (29.29) and 26th in power play chances (3.07), the Leafs are third in goals per game (3.71) and fourth in power play percentage (34.88). This is in large part due to Auston Matthews, who leads the league with 11 goals and has taken the second most total shots in the NHL (with a 20 per cent shooting rate). With three homes games against Ottawa this week, the Leafs have a great chance to separate themselves further from the rest of the pack in the North Division.
2.) Montreal Canadiens
Position last week: 2 (8-4-2)
Leading scorers: Jeff Petry (14 points); Tyler Toffoli (nine goals), Josh Anderson (nine goals)
Key injuries: none
Upcoming games: @ TOR (Feb. 13)
Odds to win North Division: Opening line +415; Current odds +135
Montreal is the highest scoring team in the league for a reason. They average the most shots per game (34.54), which has translated to the most average goals per game (3.85). The Habs’ special teams sit around the middle of the pack for the most part, but one area of concern is discipline. Montreal’s 67 minor penalties is 15 more than the next closest team in the NHL and with a penalty kill that ranks 16th in the league (80.36 per cent), the Carey Price–Jake Allen goaltending tandem will be essential as the season goes on. With a full week off after the Leafs game on Saturday, Montreal likely won’t climb any higher in the standings, but it will be a rare chance, in a condensed season, to rest and work on the finer details.
3.) Edmonton Oilers
Position last week: 4 (9-7-0)
Leading scorers: Connor McDavid (28 points); Connor McDavid (nine goals)
Key injuries: Ethan Bear (out indefinitely – head)
Upcoming games: vs. WPG (Feb. 15); vs. WPG (Feb. 17)
Odds to win North Division: Opening line +450; Current Odds +1,400
At first glance Edmonton’s numbers are fairly average for the most part. They’re 14th in average shots per game (30.73), 11th in power play percentage (24.07) and 24th in average goals against per game (3.47). The problem is these numbers drop considerably if you take Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl out of the equation. McDavid (28 points) and Draisaitl (26 points) are No. 1 and No. 2 in league scoring. Do you want to know how important these two are to their team’s success? Edmonton’s 3-2 win over Ottawa on Tuesday was the first Oilers win in four years without McDavid or Draisaitl contributing at least one point. Balanced scoring is the key for Edmonton moving forward.
4.) Winnipeg Jets
Position last week: 3 (8-4-1)
Leading scorers: Mark Scheifele (17 points); Nikolaj Ehlers (nine goals)
Key injuries: Nate Thompson (out indefinitely – lower body)
Upcoming games: vs. OTT (Feb. 13); @ EDM (Feb. 15); @ EDM (Feb. 17)
Odds to win North Division: Opening line +800; Current odds+700
This could be a separation week in the North Division between the bottom three teams and the top four teams. With two games against Ottawa and two games against the Oilers, Winnipeg is primed to jump Edmonton in the standings. It’s great timing for Pierre-Luc Dubois, who should see some extended ice time against the Senators. The Jets are slightly above the league average in goals scored per game (Jets 3.42, league average 3.03) and power play percentage (21.43), so Dubois should bump those numbers higher as he gets more comfortable.
5.) Calgary Flames
Position last week: 6 (7-5-1)
Leading scorers: Johnny Gaudreau (14 points); Johnny Gaudreau (eight goals)
Key injuries: Derek Ryan (out indefinitely – finger)
Upcoming games: @ VAN (Feb. 13); @ VAN (Feb. 15); vs. VAN (Feb. 17)
Odds to win North Division: Opening line +496; Current odds +1,400
After a rough season last year, Johnny Hockey is back and looks better than ever. With three games in five days against the Canucks, this is a make-or-break week for Calgary. The Flames only lead Vancouver by one point, but they have four games in hand over their B.C. rivals. While a sweep would be ideal, even two or three wins out of four games will create major separation for Calgary and allow them to focus on catching Winnipeg and Edmonton for a playoff spot.
6.) Vancouver Canucks
Position last week: 5 (6-11-0)
Leading scorers: Quinn Hughes (17 points); Brock Boeser (10 goals)
Key injuries: Travis Hamonic (mid Feb. – upper body); Tyler Motte (out indefinitely – undisclosed)
Upcoming games: vs. CGY (Feb. 13); vs. CGY (Feb. 15); @ CGY (Feb. 17)
Odds to win North Division: Opening line +800; Current odds +1,600
With 17 points in 17 games, Quinn Hughes has picked up where he left off as the runner-up for the Calder Trophy, last season. Brock Boeser has looked strong with 10 goals to start the season, but the Vancouver lineup has been average to this point. They’re not bad statistically, just very average. They’re 16th in shots per game (30.31), 15th in goals per game (3.13), 18th in power play percentage (17.54) and 14th in penalty kill percentage (80.60). What’s really hurting the Canucks is defence and as a result, goaltending. Vancouver gives up the most average shots per game in the league (34.69), so it’s no surprise they give up the second most goals (3.94). Even we can do the math to figure out that giving up more goals than you score will not get you in the win column. With three games against Calgary this week, by next Friday the Canucks could be back in the playoff race or hanging with Ottawa at the bottom of the division.
7.) Ottawa Senators
Position last week: 7 (2-12-1)
Leading scorers: Brady Tkachuk (eight points); Tim Stutzle (four goals)
Key injuries: Erik Brannstrom (late Feb. undisclosed)
Upcoming games: @ WPG (Feb. 13); @ TOR (Feb. 15); @ TOR (Feb. 17); @ TOR (Feb. 18)
Odds to win North Division: Opening line +3,500; Current odds +20,000
It’s pretty simple when you look at Ottawa’s statistics. The Sens rank in the bottom ten of the league in almost every major statistical category. Ottawa is 29th in average goals scored per game and dead last in average goals against per game. Tim Stutzle, a rookie who has never played North American hockey before, is leading the Senators with four goals. Ottawa’s leading points producer, Brady Tkachuk, is averaging just slightly over half a point per game, and not a single player on this team has hit double digit points. With three games in Toronto this week, the Sens are not only on track to miss the playoffs by a wide margin, they’re on track to finish the season with the worst points percentage in NHL history.