As the Ottawa Senators aim to finish their 21st season in the NHL with a second consecutive playoff berth and thus break the trend of qualification every other season. Predictions are rife on the internet as to where the franchise will end-up and only time will tell if the online bookmakers got it right when they handed the Senators a championship shot odds of 40/1 – quite a statement in terms of ice hockey betting lines & Ottawa Senators betting in general.

The pre-season Montreal Canadiens betting odds of 50/1 seem quite unrealistic considering the said franchise are the most decorated in the history of the NHL, having won no fewer than 24 Stanley Cup crowns. That the last triumph came in season 1992-93 goes some way to explaining why online bookmakers and NHL betting experts alike have been quick with their predictions - dismissing the Habs' chances with the wind.

Edmonton Oilers betting is picking up speed ahead of the 2012-2013 season but to say that it's a pastime which can leave even the most informed predictor is an understatement of vast proportions. True, the Oilers have failed to reach the playoffs for 'too long' in the eyes of most fans (especially those who remember the glorious 80's during which time the franchise scooped 5 Stanley Cups), but confidence is once again high and the future, it would seem, is bright.

It's a sure bet that whoever wins the next Stanley Cup will be a worthy champion, but will it be the Calgary Flames? The 66/1 odds offered by online bookmakers throughout the internet would seem to suggest otherwise but, before any fixtures have been played and before the results of said fixtures have been decided and their effect on the standings is known, it would be unwise to bet against them or anybody else at such an early stage.