The National Hockey League played the first week of its 2021 season. A couple of teams have already hit road blocks. For all other teams, though, things are going according to plan. We discuss the two teams that have struggled due to COVID before talking about a couple of teams that dominated in the first week. With that in mind, let’s get right to it so you can keep betting against their NHL odds.

NHL COVID-19 Update – January 21st Edition

2020-2021 NHL Season

• When: January 13, 2021 – TBD 2021

NHL 2021 Stanley Cup Odds

• Colorado Avalanche +600
• Tampa Bay Lightning +750
• Vegas Golden Knights +750
• Boston Bruins +1200
• Toronto Maple Leafs +1000
• Philadelphia Flyers +1400
• Washington Capitals +1800
• Pittsburgh Penguins +1600
• Dallas Stars +1700
• St. Louis Blues 1800
• Vancouver Canucks +2400
• Edmonton Oilers +2000
• New York Rangers +1800
• Carolina Hurricanes +1800
• New York Islanders +2200
• Calgary Flames +3000
• Nashville Predators +3500
• Winnipeg Jets +3300
• Arizona Coyotes +5000
• Columbus Blue Jackets +3500
• Florida Panthers +4000
• Minnesota Wild +5000
• New Jersey Devils +6000
• Montreal Canadiens +2000
• San Jose Sharks +5000
• Anaheim Ducks +7000
• Buffalo Sabres +4000
• Chicago Blackhawks +6600
• Los Angeles Kings +7500
• Ottawa Senators +8000
• Detroit Red Wings +12500

Hurricanes must postpone games due to COVID

The Carolina Hurricanes won’t play until at least Saturday after five players tested positive for COVID-19. The NHL hockey league released a statement regarding Carolina’s coronavirus situation.

Per the league, “As an appropriate precaution, the team’s training facilities have been closed, effective immediately, and will remain closed for players until further notice. The league is in the process of reviewing and revising the Hurricanes’ regular season schedule.”

Although Carolina having to postpone games seems like a major blow, the NHL knew that they’d have to deal with postponed, and even, possibly, canceled games during the 56-match shortened regular season.

The Hurricanes are a middle of the pack choice to win the Stanley Cup. If they must cancel games outright, it could dent their chances of making it to the postseason. Hopefully, Carolina can get back onto the ice soon. 

Stars start their season on Friday, January 22

The Dallas Stars won’t step onto the ice until Friday when they take on the Preds. During training camp, seventeen Dallas players tested positive for the virus. That prevented the Stars from playing during the first week of the season.

The National Hockey League said that all of the players are recovering without complications and that most of the Stars players who tested positive were asymptomatic. Dallas played in the 2020 Stanley Cup. 

Although the Stars are an underdog to return to the championship series, they should make the postseason. On Friday, Dallas gets back to the ice, proving that the league does have solid pandemic protocols in place.  

Lightning and Golden Knights start off hot

Two contenders, Tampa Bay and Vegas, have started the season on fire. Tampa is 2-0 while Sin City went 3-0 in the first week of play.

Most felt the Lightning had no shot after Nikita Kucherov went down with an injury. Kucherov will miss this season. But right before the season started, the Lightning offered +750 odds, which tells us that most Stanley Cup future bettors continued to have faith in Tampa after the Kucherov news.

So far, the faith appears justified. Sure, in those 2 matches the Lightning played the horrible Chicago Blackhawks. Tampa beat Chicago 5-1 in the first match and 5-2 in the second match, though. 

Tampa’s next game is on January 21 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Expect the Lightning to continue to show an ability to knock the puck into the net. 

The Vegas Golden Knights went 3-0 in the first week. The Knights beat Anaheim 5-2 and 2-1. They also beat Arizona 4-2. It’s early but Vegas looks about as solid as any team in NHL.

The Golden Knights signed Alex Pietrangelo, the top free agent available, in the offseason. Pietrangelo, a defenseman, has an assist. He’s also one of the reasons Vegas has allowed no more than 2 goals in each of their first 3 games. 

Again, it’s early. But if the first week is any indication, Vegas has as much of a shot of winning the Stanley Cup as the chalky Colorado Avalanche.

NHL Betting News

Odds and Lines: NHL Lines | Stanley Cup Odds | Conferences Odds | Conferences Odds

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) NHL Update – Jan. 21st Edition
• NHL 2021 North Division Expert Analysis & Predictions
• NHL 2021 West Division Expert Analysis & Predictions
• NHL 2021 East Division Expert Analysis & Predictions
• NHL 2021 Central Division Expert Analysis & Predictions