Team Most Likely to Win: Tampa Bay Lightning, +225
After going to the Stanley Cup last year Tampa Bay brings back most of their roster including premier scorer Steve Stamkos and breakout star Tyler Johnson. The reasoning behind the Lightning being favoured to the Atlantic division in 2015 can be found in the team’s superb balance. The Lightning may not have the greatest scoring, defense or goaltending in the league, they do have enough skill and depth at each position to be competitive every night. At +225, the Lightning are a smart pick to win the Atlantic, even if they will face some stiff competition from a couple different teams in 2015.
Team Most Likely to Challenge for the Division Title: Montreal Canadiens, +250
With the reigning league MVP Carey Price and a strong defense, the Canadiens are able to keep every game close and if someone on the roster can step up and become an elite goal scorer, the Canadiens can win the Atlantic in 2015. The Canadien’s have better goaltending and defense than division rival Tampa Bay, but their forwards are notably weaker. Last season the Lightning had 5 forwards – either right wings, left wings or centers – scored 50 points or more, compared to the Canadiens who had only two players achieve those figures. If someone other of Max Pacioretty or Tomas Plekanec can reach and exceed the 50 point plateau, the Canadiens are a strong +250 bet to win the Atlantic. Best players on the Canadiens to expect a breakout season from – Brandon Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk.
Biggest Sleeper Team to Win the Division: Ottawa Senators, +750
After a rocky start last season the Senators made a coaching change mid-season and really turned it around. After starting the season a mediocre 11-11-5, the Senators fired Coach Paul MacLean – best known for his legendary moustache – and replaced him with Dave Cameron. Under Cameron, the Sentators cruised to a 32-15-8 record, which if extrapolated to a full seaon worth of games, the Senators would have finished with about 108 points, which would have put them within 2 points of the Atlantic crown. For the Senators to win the division, they will need a healthy second and third line of forwards and for Cody Ceci to take a big step forward in his third season and make him and Erik Karlsson on of the best defensive tandems in the league. Out of all the teams in Atlantic, the Senators are the best bet at +750, to upset Tampa Bay and Montreal for the division title.
Category : Betting Picks
Tag : Atlantic Division , montreal canadiens , nhl betting , nhl division previews , nhl odds , ottawa senators , tampa bay lightning
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