LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Filip Gustavsson #32 of the Minnesota Wild makes a save against William Karlsson … [+]
Updated Stanley Cup Odds And Schedules Halfway Through 2024-25 Season
A Sunday in Las Vegas has the top sportsbooks filled with fans watching and wagering on the NFL Playoffs. But Sunday, Jan. 12 NHL action has two of the Western Conference leaders looking to skate, shoot and score in their push to the top of the conference. The Vegas Golden Knights (28 wins, 59 points) have lost two straight home games the past three nights, but still lead the Pacific Division. The Minnesota Wild (27 wins, 58 points) are in second place in the Central Division behind Western Conference leader Winnipeg Jets (29 wins, 61 points).
- Minnesota (+180) at Vegas (-215), total goals O/U 5.5 (over -132)
- Puck Line: VGK -1.5 (+118), MIN +1.5 (-144)
Both the Jets and Wild won Saturday night while the Golden Knights dropped a 2-1 decision at The Fortress to the New York Rangers. Vegas had won 9 of their last 10 games until recent losses to the Islanders and Rangers.
“I thought we generated enough looks to get more goals,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said in his post game presser. “Puck luck, and not getting easier goals. We were better tonight (vs. NYR) dictating flow of the game.”
Now just over halfway through the 82-game regular season, Cassidy noted that teams and players go through lulls. “We have to battle through it. Our defense has been very good, and we just need to keep grinding away and find our offensive game.”
Vegas center Tomas Hertl added,”We have to be stronger around the net, especially against good goalies.” Hertl has 11 goals for the Golden Knights, including a team-high 7 power play goals.
Like many teams and organizations, it takes capable and competent leaders to get everyone up to speed, rekindle collaboration and cohesion, and to stimulate the hunger to win again rather than remain in a state of inertia. Cassidy has done a terrific job making changes and keeping the Golden Knights focused and up to speed during tougher stretches.
Vegas won the Stanley Cup in Cassidy’s first season coaching the team in 2022-23, and had them on top of the Western Conference until last night’s loss. That despite playing longer stretches without some key injured players including captain Mark Stone (14 games), William Karlsson (9), Victor Olofsson (21) and Ivan Barbashev (10), who returned to the lineup against the Rangers on the Knights top line with leading scorers Jack Eichel and Mark Stone, who has 12 goals in 28 games. Barbashev has a team-high 15 goals despite missing the recent 10 games. Olofsson has 9 goals despite missing 21 games with injuries. Eichel has played in all 42 games with a team-high 54 points. His 43 assists are third-most in the National Hockey League this season.
The Minnesota Wild fired their head coach near Thanksgiving, 2023 and replaced him with John Hynes, who has the Wild performing at a more consistentyly high level.
Professional hockey is the most luck-driven sport. The fast pace, puck movement and bounces can create some unusual plays and results. Goaltending is of most significance, and last night Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin stood tall again in victory with 30 saves. Vegas scored for the second time in four games a split second after the horn sounded to end a period, and the Rangers-Knights game remained tied 1-1 into the 3rd period.
Golden Knights reporter and goalie guru for The Athletic Jesse Granger noted Vegas has faced two elite goalies in recent games – Shesterkin and Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin, who shut out Vegas 4-0 Thursday night with 30 saves.
Stanley Cup Odds
NHL odds from FanDuel and leading online sportsbooks refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. Adjusted odds current as of January 11.
- +700: Edmonton Oilers
- +750: Carolina Hurricanes
- +850: Florida Panthers
- +1000: New Jersey Devils, Dallas Stars
- +1200: Colorado Avalanche
- +1300: Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto Maple Leafs,
- +1600: Winnipeg Jets
- +1800: Tampa Bay Lightning
- +2000: Los Angeles Kings
- +2100: Washington Capitals, Minnesota Wild
- +2800: Vancouver Canucks
- +3100: Boston Bruins
- +3500: Ottawa Senators
- +4100: New York Rangers
- +5500: Utah Hockey Club
- +7500: Nashville Predators
- +8500: New York Islanders
- +15000: Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary Flames
- +20000: Seattle Kraken, Detroit Red Wings
- +20000: St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadians
- +30000: Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets
- +50000: Chicago Black Hawks, Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks
The Washington Capitals have been the biggest futures market mover from +4100 to +2100 (21/1) since Dec. 3. The Capitals (61 points) are the top team in the Eastern Conference followed by the Toronto Maple Leafs (56), New Jersey Devils (56), Carolina Hurricanes (54), last year’s Stanley Cup champions Florida Panthers (53), Tampa Bay Lightning (47), Boston Bruins (47) with surprising and improving Columbus Blue Jackets (46) and Montreal Canadiens (44) in position for a spot in the playoffs halfway through the season.
In the biggest U.S. sports betting market of New York, the Rangers (42 points) and Islanders (42) are last in the Metropolitan Division trying to move up in the NHL standings with neither team playing above .500 hockey on their home ice.
The biggest mover in the Western Conference is the LA Kings (+3000 to +2000). Despite leading the West, Winnipeg and Vegas both remain outside the top-6 teams in odds to win the Stanley Cup. The Edmonton Oilers (26 wins, 54 points) remain the favorite to win the 2025 Stanley Cup, just as they were at the start of the season.
Western Conference Top Teams Schedules Through January
The Oilers have won 5-of-6 games since Dec. 31 and have 26 wins and 55 points through Jan. 11. But Edmonton has one of their toughest stretches of the season ahead Jan. 13-23 vs. the LA Kings, on the road at Minnesota, Colorado and Vancouver before returning home against the Capitals and Canucks. The Oilers kick off February with a big Hockey Night in Canada game Feb. 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Golden Knights (28 wins, 59 points)
Jan. 12 MIN, 14 at NAS, 17 at CAR, 18 at CHI, 20 STL, 23 at STL, 24 at DAL, 26 FLA, 28 DAL, 30 CLB
Wild (27 wins and 58 points)
Jan. 12 at VGK, 15 EDM, 18 at NAS, 20 at COL, 23 UTAH, 25 CAL, 26 at CHI, 29 at TOR, 30 at MON
Jets (29 wins and 61 points)
Jan. 14 VAN, 16 SEA, 18 CAL, 20 at UTAH, 22 at COL, 24 UTA, 26 CAL, 28 at MON, 30 at BOS
LA Kings (24 wins, 53 points)
Jan. 13 at EDM, 16 at VAN, 18 at SEA, 20 PIT, 22 FLA, 25 at CLB, 27 at DET, 29 at FLA, 30 at TB
The Kings have won 5-of-6 following a 2-1 loss at Calgary Jan. 11. Los Angeles is a league-best 14-2-1 at home and playing with pride and heavy hearts for the destructive wildfires in Los Angeles and surrounding communities. A Kings reporter and broadcast Patrick O’Neal lost his family home in Malibu this past week along with thousands of other people during the wildfires.
Stars (27 wins, 55 points)
Jan. 12 at OTT, 14 at TOR, 16 at MON, 18 COL, 19 DET, 21 COL, 24 VGK, 25 at STL, 28 at VGK, 31 VAN
Avalanche (26 wins, 53 points)
Jan. 14 NYR, 16 EDM, 18 DAL, 20 MIN, 22 WIN, 25 at BOS, 26 at NYR, 28 at NYI, 31 STL
A very tough stretch for the Colorado Avalanche to close the month as they try to move up with consecutive home games against the Rangers, Oilers, Stars, Wild and Jets before three road games against the Bruins, Rangers and Islanders.
The Wild remain without their offensive star and heartbeat, Kirill Kaprizov, who leads the team with 27 goals and 50 points despite missing the teams last eight games with a lower-body injury. Jonas Brodin or Brock Faber were hurt in the Wild’s win over the Blues last Tuesday, and neither player made the road trip West. Neither did defenseman and captain Jared Spurgeon, who was injured Dec. 31 and remains week-to-week. Last night, the 2-game road trip started with a 3-1 Wild win at San Jose with former Golden Knight’s legend Marc-Andre Fleury stopping 36 shots in victory.
Tonight, Vegas will face Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson, who has struggled hist last two games with a 77% save percentage allowing 4 goals to St. Louis and 6 to Colorado.
Look for a faster pace with more skating, shooting and scoring as the teams light the lamps in Las Vegas.
Check out additional daily NHL betting news including prop bets. Also, my Canadian colleague Sherwood provides insightful, value-added analysis and complimentary picks at Sportswagers with advanced stats and often humorous, real-life information you can bet on.
4 Nations Face-Off
The first tournament of its kind is less than a month away, Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston. The 4 Nations Face-Off is a best-on-best tournament that features the top NHL players from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States.
“The player pool in the United States now is incredible,” USA general manager Bill Guerin said during a video press conference in early December. Guerin is also the GM of the Minnesoa Wild. Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan is head coach of the U.S. team with assistants John Hynes of the Wild and John Tortorella of the Philadelphia Flyers.
The U.S. team includes Wild forward Matt Boldy, defenseman Brock Faber and Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel and defenseman Noah Hanifin. Another Minnesota native and Western Conference leader is on the team, goalie Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars.
The USA vs. Canada contest on Sat., Feb. 15 will be a most watched and wagered game televised nationally on ABC.
You can bet on it.
