Chicago Blackhawks betting favorite to win Stanley Cup

It’s a long way from mid-October to late June. But someone is going to be hoisting the Stanley Cup, and the money seems to be on the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Westgate sports book opened Chicago as a 6-1 favorite to win the NHL championship, and the Blackhawks remain the choice at the same price entering the start of the regular season Wednesday.

“The Stanley Cup is so much about perception and who the public likes, so they tend to bet teams that win,” said Ed Salmons, the race and sports manager at the Westgate.

For bettors and nonbettors, the NHL is two different seasons. The regular season is a six-month marathon about jockeying for position for the postseason, and the playoffs are two months of frenzied competition in the chase for the Cup. With that in mind, many hockey bettors look at wagering on the season total of points for long-term action rather than a Stanley Cup future bet.

The Westgate posted numbers for all 30 NHL teams, with the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning having the highest numbers. The Caps’ total points are 106½ and the Lightning’s 105½. The Blackhawks and Dallas Stars are next at 102½, and the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins’ point total is 100½, same as the St. Louis Blues.

At the low end of the spectrum, the Vancouver Canucks are projected to have 77 points, followed by the Toronto Maple Leafs at 79. Wagers on the over and under the totals are accepted at minus-110 either way.

Handicapper Alex B. Smith of Alex B. Smith Sports thinks the Philadelphia Flyers are a team to watch during the regular season. The Westgate has the Flyers’ point total at 90½.

“They’re a young team on the rise with a lot of talent,” Smith said. “They’re in a division where they can move up.”

Smith said the window on the New York Rangers (94½) is closing.

“They need to get younger, and I’m worried about Henrik Lundqvist in goal,” Smith said.

In the West, Smith said the Los Angeles Kings (98½) can bounce back, and his sleeper pick is the Minnesota Wild (93), whose roster includes Las Vegan Jason Zucker.

“The Kings have everything in place to contend, and they have won before,” Smith said. “With Minnesota, I love the move bringing Bruce Boudreau in as the coach, and I think you’re going to see a big move forward by this team.”

Salmons said with Las Vegas joining the NHL next year, he expects an increase in the betting handle.

“We’ve started to see it increase the last couple of years,” Salmons said. “There’s definitely a big market for it, and I think you’ll see more people betting hockey.”

Contact Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow on Twitter: @stevecarprj