Stanley Cup Odds - Mid-Season Betting Lines

They may be heading into the All-Star break with the second best record in their conference and tied for fourth most points in the league, but the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins are the favorites to hoist the Cup again.

Boston exits the unofficial first half of the season as a +550 Cup favorite at 5Dimes. The Bruins may not have the most points in the NHL right now, but they do have the top offense, having scored a league-high 171 goals so far this season. With a balanced offensive attack, a top notch defense led by behemoth Zdeno Chara and Vezina winner Tim Thomas in nets no one will want to face the Bruins in a seven-game series.

Following the Bruins on the 5Dimes Cup futures are their opponents from last year's final, the Vancouver Canucks at +700. The Canucks are running away with the Northwest division again behind the offensive might of the Sedin twins. Roberto Luongo has rebounded from a slow start to the season and even if he does start showing decline down the stretch Cory Schneider remains as one of the top backups in the league.

After you get past the Bruins and the Canucks there is a huge mashup on the Cup futures with five teams being listed at +1000. Those five teams are Pittsburgh, San Jose, the Rangers, Chicago and Detroit.

Right now Detroit leads the league in points and if they can keep that up and clinch home-ice advantage through the postseason they could be unstoppable. On home ice this season Detroit has lost only twice in regulation.

The Penguins have survived a roller coaster season so far which has seen their lineup decimated by injuries, most notably to Sidney Crosby. The Pens have stayed afloat thanks to Evgeni Malkin, who leads the NHL in scoring, but will they be able to go all the way in the playoffs again with Sid the Kid sidelined?

One team that should be getting more press is the Rangers. New York heads into the All-Star break leading the Eastern Conference. Big free agent acquisition Brad Richards isn't scoring at the same pace, but he doesn't have to with the Rangers allowing the fewest goals in the league. The Rangers have allowed 96 goals in 47 games, the only team to allow less then 100 so far this season.

5Dimes Stanley Cup futures:

• Boston +550
• Vancouver +700
• Pittsburgh +1000
• San Jose +1000
• NY Rangers +1000
• Chicago +1000
• Detroit +1000
• Philadelphia +1200
• Washington +1700
• St. Louis +1800
• Los Angeles +2500
• Nashville +3300
• New Jersey +4000
• Minnesota +5000
• Ottawa +5000
• Florida +5000
• Toronto +5000
• Dallas +5000
• Winnipeg +7000
• Phoenix +8000
• Montreal +8000
• Colorado +8000
• Buffalo +10000
• Calgary +10000
• Tampa Bay +10000
• Edmonton +20000
• Anaheim +25000
• NY Islanders +30000
• Carolina +50000
• Columbus +75000