Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The Caps have been among the favorites to win the Stanley Cup over the last few years, but the Bovada Sports Book in Las Vegas, Nevada, recently downgraded the team’s chances to win it all this year, moving the Caps’ odds from 12-1 to 14-1. 

They currently are tied for the fifth best odds out of all 31 teams. Six of the eight teams ahead of or tied with the Caps made the playoffs last year; the Tampa Bay Lightning are Dallas Stars are the lone non-playoff teams to make the top-tier.

The defending back-to-back Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins are currently No. 1, despite losing defensemen Ron Hainsey, Trevor Daley, and Mark Streit and forwards Nick Bonino, Chris Kunitz, Matt Cullen and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

The Stanley Cup Odds have changed significantly over the past few months. In June, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook had the Caps tied for the third best odds to win the Stanley Cup behind the Penguins and Oilers.

The gambling community seems to believe the sweep was a fluke, not the 50-win season. Stanley Cup odds, via @BovadaLV: pic.twitter.com/xJjjRi2NSx

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) September 11, 2017

According to OddShark Sportsbook in Vegas, the Capitals have the fourth best odds behind the Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, and Chicago Blackhawks.

The surprising team of top contenders would be the Dallas Stars, who missed the playoffs last year but are now given 12-1 odds by Bovada.

The Capitals have been one of the top favorites to win the Stanley Cup this year since the Las Vegas sportsbooks opened the voting for Stanley Cup favorites in June.

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By Harrison Brown