Odds for Top Contenders to Win the 2014-15 NHL Scoring Title

To say the NHL's scoring race is tight is an understatement. Eighteen players are separated by 10 points, and there are just three points between the trio tied atop the category and Sidney Crosby in seventh place. It's virtually any player's to claim.

A hot streak down the stretch could see a new name like John Tavares claim the title or a familiar face like two-time winners Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby or 2008 victor Alex Ovechkin.

For the first time in a non-lockout season since 2004 and just the fourth time since 1968, the eventual winner will have a point total of less than 100—but we'll leave the reasons for the decrease for another slideshow. That stat and some adversity at the top end with injuries to Tyler Seguin, Patrick Kane, Ovechkin and Crosby this season have made the finish one of the most hotly contested in years.

Click through to see the projected point finishes and my own odds for the 2014-15 NHL scoring title. 

Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers

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By the numbers: 64 games played, 18 goals, 42 assists, 60 points, 0.94 points per game, 17 games remaining

Season synopsis: Giroux is behind his pace from last year, when he finished a third-straight point-per-game season with 28 goals and 86 points, matching his career high in goals and racking up the second highest point total of his career. He's also among the coolest of the top scorers at the moment with two goals and eight points in the past 15 games and would need a massive hot streak to pull ahead.

Projected total: 76 points

Odds: 35-1

Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks

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By the numbers: 63 games, 20 goals, 41 assists, 61 points, 0.97 points per game, 16 games remaining

Season synopsis: The Anaheim Ducks captain has had some ups and downs on the scoresheet this season and has at times been without the services of his top flanker Corey Perry due to a battle with the mumps and a knee injury. With just three goals and seven points in his last dozen games, Getzlaf has fallen behind in the race.

Projected total: 76 points

Odds: 30-1

Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars

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By the numbers: 65 games played, 23 goals, 38 assists, 61 points, 0.94 points per game, 17 games remaining

Season synopsis: Benn is flirting with another 30-plus-goal, near-80-point season, and even with the injury to stud center Tyler Seguin the past few weeks, he has been productive to the tune of seven goals and 14 points in his past 12 contests. His point-per-game pace will have to stay at that recent rate for him to climb into the top five from his top-10 status.

Projected total: 77 points

Odds: 25-1

Rick Nash, New York Rangers

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By the numbers: 62 games played, 38 goals, 22 assists, 60 points, 0.97 points per game, 19 games remaining

Season synopsis: Nash is second in goals and 13th in points but has games in hand on a few of the top scorers and is capable of big outbursts. It won't be easy to make up ground on those who are producing at a point-per-game pace, but Nash has a shot because of his big-play ability and the fact nine of his remaining opponents are outside the playoff picture.

Projected total: 78 points

Odds: 20-1

Tyler Johnson, Tampa Bay Lightning

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By the numbers: 64 games, 24 goals, 39 assists, 63 points, 0.98 points per game, 16 games remaining

Season synopsis: Tyler Johnson is the kind of player many expect to stumble but who continues to impress. He's small (5'9", 182 lbs), was never drafted and took the league by surprise last year with a heck of a rookie season. With a healthy Steven Stamkos, Johnson is even better this year and is quickly establishing himself as one of the league's best centers.

Projected total: 79 points

Odds: 15-1

Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues

Scott Rovak/Getty Images

By the numbers: 64 games played, 31 goals, 31 assists, 62 points, 0.97 points per game, 18 games remaining

Season synopsis: Sitting ninth in scoring and fifth in goals, the 23-year-old Tarasenko is establishing himself among the league's elite. He's not quite at the point-per-game pace, but his upside is tremendous, and his offensive abilities are not coming at the expense of his defensive game, either. His odds are long barring a dramatic finish, but he does have a game or two more to play than the four directly in front of him on this list.

Projected total: 79 points

Odds: 14-1

Jakub Voracek, Philadelphia Flyers

Len Redkoles/Getty Images

By the numbers: 65 games played, 19 goals, 46 assists, 65 points, 1.00 points per game, 17 games remaining

Season synopsis: Another member of the three same-team partnerships that make up nearly half of the top 15 scoring leaders list, Voracek has been a welcome surprise for the Flyers with his best NHL season yet. He didn't have a great month of February or start to March, however, with two goals and seven points in his last 14 games.

Projected total: 82 points

Odds: 12-1

Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals

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By the numbers: 66 games played, 18 goals, 49 assists, 67 points, 1.02 points per game, 16 games remaining

Season synopsis: Like Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh, the dynamic duo of Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin has been powering the Washington Capitals. Unlike the Pittsburgh pair, however, Malkin and Crosby typically only see time together on the power play. Backstrom was scoreless without his partner on Thursday and could be affected by any extended Ovechkin absence.

Projected total: 83 points

Odds: 10-1

John Tavares, New York Islanders

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

By the numbers: 66 games played, 31 goals, 36 assists, 67 points, 1.02 points per game, 16 games remaining

Season synopsis: The Islanders captain has been a model of consistency all season. Tavares hasn't been held scoreless in more than two consecutive games all year. He's on pace for his career best in points, but the 24-year-old still hasn't hit his prime. Currently tied for first in points, Tavares may find a way to pull away from the pack with a big finish.

Projected total: 83 points

Odds: 9-1

Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

By the numbers: 65 games played, 43 goals, 24 assists, 67 points, 1.03 points per game, 16 games remaining

Season synopsis: In a three-way tie for the top spot, the NHL's deadliest sniper is arguably the most questionable among the front-runners because of a lower-body injury that kept him out of Thursday night's game. He's had an especially hot stick since Christmas, with 27 goals and 39 points in the 31 games since—a 1.25 points-per-game pace—but missing games now hurts his odds.

Projected total: 83 points

Odds: 8-1

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

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By the numbers: 59 games, 20 goals, 44 assists, 64 points, 1.08 points per game, 19 games remaining

Season synopses: Crosby is on track to finish just behind teammate Evgeni Malkin at his current point-per-game total, assuming both finish the season healthy and maintain that same pace. Of course, either is capable of racking up big totals on any given night, so you can't discount Crosby from eking out a victory. He is the defending champ and a two-time Art Ross winner.

Projected total: 85 points

Odds: 5-1

Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

By the numbers: 58 games played, 27 goals, 38 assists, 65 points, 1.12 points per game, 19 games remaining

Season synopses: Malkin leads the league in points per game and has kept himself within striking distance of the scoring title despite a nagging lower-body injury. The two-time Art Ross Trophy winner appears healthy and on a hot streak as the season nears an end. Malkin has six goals and 12 points in his last six games and earned NHL third-star honors last week.

Projected total: 86 points

Odds: 4-1

All odds are original. Statistics via NHL.com.

Steve Macfarlane has been covering the NHL for more than a decade, including seven seasons as a beat writer for the Calgary Sun. You can follow him on Twitter: @MacfarlaneHKY