2019 Stanley Cup Final Odds: Lightning Open as Heavy Favorites over Sharks

Nobody came close to matching the 128 points the Tampa Bay Lightning notched during the 2018-19 season, and the powerhouse is the clear-cut favorite to win the Stanley Cup as a result.

B/R Betting shared the latest odds from Caesars Palace heading into the playoffs, and the Lightning check in at +250 (bet $100 to win $250). The San Jose Sharks, who actually finished six points behind the Calgary Flames in the Pacific Division with 101 points, are second at +800, while the Flames, St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Las Vegas Knights and Winnipeg Jets are all +1000.

Dan Rosen of NHL.com pointed to a number of records the Lightning either set or challenged this season, noting their 62 wins tied the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings for the most in league history. They also finished fourth in league history for points, and forward Nikita Kucherov won the Art Ross Trophy behind 128 points.

The 128 points were the most in NHL history for a Russian and the most in the league since Mario Lemieux (161) and Jaromir Jagr (149) dazzled in 1995-96.

It is no wonder the powerhouse is seen as the Stanley Cup favorite, especially with Andrei Vasilevskiy and his 2.40 goals-against average and 92.5 save percentage in net.

The first round will not be straightforward, though, as Tampa Bay will have to face a red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets team that enters the playoffs with a 7-1 mark in its last eight games and formidable goaltender of its own in Sergei Bobrovsky.

Bobrovsky led the league with nine shutouts and was 6-1-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average in his last seven games. The Blue Jackets also have firepower up front after electing to keep Artemi Panarin at the trade deadline and instead adding Matt Duchenealongside the Russian star and Cam Atkinson.

Still, the Lightning have historic firepower, and Las Vegas believes they will be the ones holding the Cup at the end of the postseason.