Riding the coattails of a dominant Game 7
performance, the St. Louis Blues improved their chances of winning the
2016 Stanley Cup Finals and remain the top threat to the favored
Pittsburgh Penguins.
Head coach Ken Hitchcock’s squad unleashed a
three-goal flurry in the first period on the Dallas Stars, and never
looked back for a 6-1 victory Wednesday night in Dallas. Goalie Brian
Elliott was sensational once again, tallying his playoff-best eighth
victory, and right wing Vladimir Tarasenko racked up his seventh goal of
the playoffs.
The pulverizing kept the Blues’ status as the
biggest favorite to come out of the Western Conference, and their
chances of winning the Cup increased from +325 to +200, according to the
latest odds from Sportsbook.ag.
But the high-scoring Penguins still stand as
the most dominant and favored team left in the postseason. Pittsburgh
silenced previous Eastern Conference favorite Washington with a 4-3
overtime victory Tuesday in Game 6 of their series, and upping their
shot at a Stanley Cup for the first time since 2009 from +220 to +200.
The Penguins, unlike the Blues, already know
who they’ll face in the next round, the +575 and defending East champion
Tampa Bay Lightning. Game 1 of the conference finals starts Friday in
Pittsburgh, but despite the Penguins home-ice advantage the Lightning
have been one of the most dominant teams of the playoffs.
Tampa Bay made quick work of both Detroit and
the New York Islanders, wrapping up each series in five games. Right
wing Nikita Kucherov is the top scorer in these playoffs with nine
goals, and he and center Tyler Johnson are tied with a +11 plus-minus.
Meanwhile, the Blues won’t have to wait long
to find their next opponent. The San Jose Sharks (+500) and Nashville
Predators (+1200) will settle their series with Game 7 Thursday night in
San Jose.
Odds to Win 2016 Stanley Cup Finals
Pittsburgh Penguins +150
St. Louis Blues +200
Tampa Bay Lightning +475
San Jose Sharks +500
Nashville Predators +1200
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