Stanley Cup odds update: Canes shorten to 16-1
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Oddsmakers have already been forced to reevaluate their stance on a number of teams less than a week into the NHL season.
It seems ridiculous to let three games sway opinions on a team, especially after how poorly the St. Louis Blues started last season. But oddsmakers can't afford to be caught with their tail between their legs.
Let's look at some of the biggest risers and fallers following the first week of the campaign:
Carolina Hurricanes (16-1)Previous odds: 30-1
These are not your father's Hurricanes. Carolina rallied from 3-1 down to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, limiting the Stanley Cup favorites to just two shots over the final 40 minutes and overtime. That's simply unprecedented, especially against a team as offensively gifted as the Lightning.
The win pushed Carolina to 3-0 on the season, and although the Hurricanes have required overtime or a shootout in each of those games, there's a ton of reason for optimism in Raleigh. The Canes have been dominating possession stats, controlling the puck better than just about any team. They're deep at both ends of the ice while boasting high-end skill, and the club doesn't lack grit.
The Hurricanes are capable of another deep playoff run, and it's time to start taking them seriously as legitimate Cup contenders. A lot of value has been sapped from this line already, but there's still time to jump on before it's gone completely.
If you believe in the Canes - and you should - don't wait any longer.
Winnipeg Jets (60-1)Previous odds: 25-1
Did you know Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff was a defenseman back in the day, and the New York Islanders' 16th overall pick in 1988? He never did appear in an NHL game, but his chance is imminent. One more injury or suspension among the team's blue-liners, and Cheveldayoff will need to lace them up himself, making his NHL debut 31 years after being drafted.
Rightfully, much was made of Winnipeg's offseason losses on the back end. But few expected the unit to be this bad immediately.
The Jets have conceded 14 goals through three contests while allowing nearly 35 shots per game. Dustin Byfuglien's absence has been crippling, and Winnipeg can pretty much rule out a return to the playoffs if he decides to move on from hockey.
San Jose Sharks (35-1)Previous odds: 25-1
There's a lot more reason to remain hopeful in San Jose than in Winnipeg. Early returns have been poor for the Sharks, but they possess way too much talent and experience to put a lot of stock in a three-game losing skid to begin the season.
The two losses to Vegas were predictable given how San Jose ended the Golden Knights' season last year. Then, as he does so often, Ducks netminder John Gibson stonewalled the Sharks in Anaheim.
San Jose isn't playing well defensively, but head coach Peter DeBoer will iron out those issues, and this supremely talented roster will get things turned around sooner rather than later.
New Jersey Devils (40-1)Previous odds: 25-1
Everyone and their mother selected the Devils as their sleeper team coming into the season, overlooking the squad's obvious flaws. A team won't win many games when it can't keep the puck out of its net. At least the Jets can lean on an excuse for allowing so many goals. The Devils, meanwhile, willingly went into the season with Cory Schneider and MacKenzie Blackwood as their only goalies.
The Devils were beating the Jets 4-0 in their season opener before eventually losing 5-4 in a shootout, with Schneider letting in a pair. Then Blackwood replaced the veteran, and he completed the collapse before allowing seven goals the next night in Buffalo.
No matter how you try to spin it, New Jersey isn't winning with either of those guys in net.
Buffalo Sabres (40-1)Previous odds: 80-1
The Sabres are showing the importance of the mental side of hockey.
Buffalo had become something of a laughingstock over the past decade. The club developed a losing mindset that took a significant toll on the dressing room, resulting in players like Stanley Cup champion Ryan O'Reilly forcing his way out of town.
New head coach Ralph Krueger puts a lot of resources into building morale and instilling a winning mentality in his teams. He's put an emphasis on cultivating a strong culture in Buffalo, and it appears to be working if early returns are to be trusted.
The Sabres won in Pittsburgh to open the season before smacking the Devils in Buffalo's home opener and battling back to secure a point against the Blue Jackets on Monday. They have yet to lose a game in regulation, and Buffalo sits atop a tough Atlantic Division.
Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.
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