2011 NHL Playoffs: Updated Odds to Win the Stanley Cup

With the conclusion of the first round the NHL playoffs, we now are one step closer to seeing who will ultimately raise the holy grail of hockey.

The folks in Vegas are hard at work trying to let us know who has the best chance at doing this.

What I would like to do with this article is present everybody with the odds that Las Vegas is giving us, and then compare it with what I think could happen.

Of course, it wouldn't be Bleacher Report if the readers didn't get a chance to weigh in as well.  So please feel free to do so.

Vancouver Canucks

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - APRIL 26: Goalie Roberto Luongo #1 of the Vancouver Canucks catches the puck after amking a save against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period in Game Seven of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley C

Vegas Line:  11/4

Vancouver remains the odds-on favorite to win the Stanley Cup, even with their skin-of-the-teeth Round 1 victory over the defending champ Blackhawks.

For those of you not having the best understanding of odds, 11/4 is a way of saying 2.75/1.  In Vegas, the closer things come to an even money bet means that it is more likely to happen. 

So, if Vegas has a line that, when divided, comes out close to one, that means Vegas thinks it is the most likely thing to happen and will pay out the least money on your wager.

My Take:  2.5/1

It's hard to argue.  Even though they did just barely manage to get by Chicago, they are still the best team in the NHL.

The Sedins will get going, and the Burrows-Kessler combination will keep rolling. 

The only real question is whether or not the inconsistency Luongo showed in Round 1 will keep showing up throughout the playoffs.

To me, the Canucks are easy favorites. 

Washington Capitals

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WASHINGTON , DC - APRIL 23: Michal Neuvirth #30 of the Washington Capitals celebrates being named the first star of the game against the New York Rangers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the

Vegas Line:  4/1

The Capitals really flexed their muscles against the Rangers.  The Rangers did their best to make things difficult for the Capitals, but the Capitals managed to find ways to win.

This has to be a great sign for Caps fans, as the playoff history of this team has been one of finding ways to lose when heavily favored. 

My take:  6/1

Michael Neuvirth seems to have given the Capitals a winning solution in net, and has Caps fans dreaming of a Conference Championship.

Alex Ovechkin has also managed to show up in this series, but let's not get too ahead of ourselves.

I was impressed with them in the first round, but they still have a lot to prove.  They have gone deep before and come up short.  If they manage to win the East this year, I might reevaluate.

San Jose Sharks

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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 25: The San Jose Sharks celebrate after the game winning goal by Joe Thornton #19 against the Los Angeles Kings in game six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals to advance to the next round of the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

Vegas Line:  5/1

The Sharks are another team with a playoff history of nothing but disappointment.

They've always had high hopes, but this year had them getting into the playoffs in a much different way.  Rather than dominating all year and running away with their division, they were almost counted out at one point.

The managed to claw their way back to the top and win their division, but there is so much about this team that is still too similar to their past disappointments.

My Take:  10/1

My take is primarily one on a historical perspective.

This team has not shown that they can do anything but choke in the playoffs, and until they prove that they can do otherwise, I will remain unconvinced.

Niemii does provide a goalie that knows what it takes to win a cup, but we still have yet to see Heatley, Marleau and Thornton all deliver consistently throughout the playoffs.

If all those guys start pitching in, then it's time to watch out.

Detroit Red Wings

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GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 20: The Detroit Red Wings celebrate after defeating the Phoenix Coyotes in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Jobing.com Arena on April 20, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Red

Vegas Line:  11/2

Detroit easily had the most convincing first-round victory, sweeping their way past the Phoenix Coyotes, but that didn't seem to impress the odds-makers in Vegas.

I am kind of surprised that the Wings aren't a bit higher, but there are some questions about the team.

My Take:  6/1

Detroit doesn't have an easy path to the finals.  They play the Sharks next, and would have to get through either Nashville, who gave them fits this year, or Vancouver.

Plus, Jimmy Howard is far from a proven playoff goalie and will definitely not have things as easy against the Sharks.

They are still, however, the Detroit Red Wings.  They have one of the most savvy, veteran teams in the league coupled with great young talent.

They won't be an easy out for anybody.

Boston Bruins

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BOSTON, MA - APRIL 27: Tomas Kaberle #12 of the Boston Bruins celebrates with goalie Tim Thomas #30 after defeating the Montreal Canadien in overtime of Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Gar

Vegas Line: 8/1

Even with Tim Thomas having an amazing season, the additions that the Bruins made for their playoff run this year and with a seven-game first-round victory against a very tough Montreal team, Vegas has the Bruins at 8/1.

The Bruins survived a very contentious series with Montreal, and have another one to look forward to with Philadelphia.

The Bruins are more likely, in my mind, to win this series because of the goalie carousel in Philadelphia. But that doesn't necessarily translate to a Stanley Cup.

Plus, unless the Caps are eliminated, the Bruins won't have home ice advantage in either series.

My Take:  8/1

Boston's road is definitely tough. They'll need to be road warriors to get the job done.

That hasn't proven to be too much of an issue for any team in the playoffs thus far, and it may come down to how well they perform at home.

The Bruins are loaded. If they start firing on all cylinders, they stand a great chance of winning it all. 

The downside is that they still have a lot of pieces not fully clicking yet.  Most notably, Tomas Kaberle.

I give the Bruins pretty good odds to make it to the conference final, but the Cup is another thing still.

Philadelphia Flyers

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 26: Daniel Carcillo #13 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates scoring a third period goal against Jhonas Enroth #1 of the Buffalo Sabres with teammates in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Sta

Vegas Line:  8/1

An interesting choice here, given the Philadelphia goalie situation.

It's pretty obvious that Brian Boucher will start the next series in goal for the Flyers, but who knows who is going to end it.  You really do need a constant presence back there to win things.

They Flyers have Chris Pronger returning to form from his hand injury, which is nothing but a good thing for them.  Pronger is one of those every situation guys.

My Take:  11/1

The Flyers are still a very talented team that can do a lot of things. 

They're skilled and very strong, and really did manage to wear out the Sabres by the time Game 7 rolled around.

Don't count on them being able to physically dominate the Bruins, though. 

Plus, Tim Thomas versus any of those three guys still has to go to Thomas.  You can't try to play Yahtzee with your goalies and expect to really be favored in a series.

Tampa Bay Lightning

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PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 27: Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning (center) celebrates the win with teammates over the Pittsburgh Penguins after Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Consol E

Vegas Line:  12/1

Vegas doesn't like the Lightning's chances against the Capitals, and who can blame them?

Tampa is very talented, and has some great possibilities for the future, but they are just over-matched in this series.

My Take:  15/1

Washington really does have the advantage everywhere here, except for maybe goalie. 

Roloson has been to a Stanley Cup Finals before when he led the eighth-seeded Edmonton Oilers to an unbelievable playoff run.

That was several years ago, of course, and he might not be the same type of goalie he was there, but he is still capable of very good things.

It may come down to who capitalizes best on their opportunities and if Roloson is capable of stealing a few games.

Still, to get by the Caps and then either the Bruins or Flyers is very daunting.

Nashville Predators

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NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 24: David Legwand #11 of the Nashville Predators is congratulated by teammates after scoring an open net goal against the Anaheim Ducks in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at

Vegas Line:  14/1

Nashville is a great sleeper team, and could really pay off for people who choose them. 

Though they are playing the best team in hockey next series, don't think that they'll be a walk in the park.  Nashville has great goaltending, very solid defense and great team scoring.  They really don't rely on just one person.

My Take:  10/1

For all the things that they have going for them, they are still playing the team that dominated the NHL all year long.

I think they deserve to be ranked higher than the Lightning, but the Vegas odds are probably a by-product of the fact that they are playing Vancouver.

Honestly though, if you could find a line on who will make the Western Conference Final, Nashville is a great sleeper bet that could seriously pay off for you.