penguins_evgeni_malkin.jpg

Stanley Cup Betting: Penguins Still Set as Favorites

With three games in the books in the Stanley Cup final the Pittsburgh Penguins hold a 2-1 series lead over the San Jose Sharks. Heading into Game 4 in San Jose on Monday night the Penguins are a -230 favorite to claim the Cup at online sportsbook Bodog.

The Sharks faced a critical contest over the weekend in Game 3 and delivered when it counted with a 3-2 overtime victory. That win not only kept them in the series but moved them to a +190 underdog to win the best-of-seven set on the Stanley Cup futures at Bodog.

Joonas Donskoi netted the overtime winner for the Sharks in Game 3 to go along with an assist on the game-tying goal by Joel Ward. Joe Thornton collected two assists and now sits fourth in playoff scoring. The Sharks boast the top four scorers in the postseason with Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns ahead of Thornton, so it could be interesting to see where the Conn Smythe goes should the Sharks take home the Cup.

With the Game 3 win in San Jose the Sharks improved to 8-2 at home during the playoffs. San Jose was obviously the favorite in all 10 games, but to win their first championship in franchise history they’re going to have to find a way to win on the road. The Sharks began the postseason with three straight road wins, but since then they have amassed a 2-6 record away from home in eight games.

Phil Kessel continues to lead Pittsburgh in playoff scoring despite notching only one point so far in the final. He remains the Penguins’ Conn Smythe favorite, but goaltender Matt Murray could easily steal it away with some strong play in the rest of the series.

No matter that happens in Game 4 on Monday night the series heads back to Pittsburgh on Thursday for Game 5. The Penguins have won their last three games in Pittsburgh and own a 9-3 home record throughout the postseason.