The Stanley Cup Playoffs will present additional pleasure this yr due to the adjustments the league adopted this season because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The league’s seven Canadian-based golf equipment are all in the identical division and so they have performed all their video games to date this season towards one another.
As well as, the revised playoff format signifies that the highest 4 groups within the North Division will face off within the playoffs with one Canadian-based membership assured to be attain the convention last.
Hockey followers throughout Canada are hungry for a Stanley Cup winner. No staff that represents a Canadian metropolis has gained the Stanley Cup for the reason that Montreal Canadiens did it in 1993. That 27-year drought is the longest in NHL historical past.
You may take a look at the most recent odds on these groups successful the Stanley Cup and plenty of different sports-related issues to wager on at PowerPlay Sports activities Betting.
Listed below are the highest 4 Canadian-based groups with the perfect possibilities of successful the Stanley Cup this season:
4. Montreal Canadiens
For years, the Habs have gotten nice goaltending from Carey Value however struggled to place the puck within the internet constantly sufficient to win. That has modified this yr with Value struggling by means of an surprising mid-season hunch however the staff’s offense has picked up plenty of the slack.
Tyler Toffoli has been an excellent addition to the Canadiens lineup whereas defenseman Jeff Petry has supplied plenty of offense, particularly on the facility play.
Montreal additionally has objective scorers in Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson whereas Thomas Tatar, Nick Suzuki and Jonathan Drouin are gifted passers.
The Habs will want Value to get scorching once more within the playoffs however they’ve the steadiness and expertise to make an extended playoff run.
3. Winnipeg Jets
The Jets have plenty of steadiness on offense which ought to assist come playoff time as a result of opposing groups will be unable to concentrate on simply shutting down one participant or one line.
Six totally different Winnipeg gamers have already got 10 or extra targets scored this season led by wingers Kyle Connor and Nikolaj Ehlers. Mark Scheifele stays a harmful weapon and he and Blake Wheeler assist make the Jets energy play extraordinarily efficient.
The massive query come the postseason is whether or not goalie Connor Hellebuyck is nice sufficient to steer this staff to the promised land. If Hellebuyck will get scorching on the proper time, the Jets have an opportunity this yr.
2. Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers have a number of the most dynamic offensive skills within the sport in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Defensemen Tyler Barrie and Darnell Nurse have additionally contributed quite a bit to the staff’s offensive firepower.
The massive query in Edmonton stays whether or not this staff can play protection nicely sufficient to win within the playoffs. Particular groups are additionally a problem for the Oilers. Their energy play is extremely efficient however Edmonton struggles to kill penalties and that may be an enormous problem come playoff time.
If the Oilers can alter to taking part in playoff-style hockey, they could be a harmful opponent on this yr’s playoffs and may be capable of carry residence the staff’s first Stanley Cup title in additional than 30 years.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t gained a Stanley Cup for the reason that NHL had solely six groups. Now there are 31. Toronto is hungry for a championship because it’s been 54 years since this Unique Six franchise has hoisted the Stanley Cup.
There’s plenty of firepower and expertise on this staff and so they have spent many of the season in first place for a purpose. Auston Matthews is among the most enjoyable gamers in hockey at the moment and once you add gifted gamers like Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Morgan Rielly you may see why Toronto is a staff few groups wish to face within the postseason.
The important thing for the Leafs can be goaltending. Does Frederik Andersen have what it takes to carry the Stanley Cup again to Toronto and may the Leafs play robust sufficient protection to win 4 playoff sequence?
In the event that they do, historical past can be made this spring because the Leafs attempt to finish the longest Stanley Cup drought of any energetic NHL staff.