NHL Playoff Prop Bets
(The Spread) – Hockey’s second season has finally arrived and Bodog’s online sportsbook is plenty fired up.
Right now we’ve got a multitude of prop bets available for public consumption, with one of the coolest being the Stanley Cup finals matchup. With 16 teams qualifying for the NHL postseason, there is no shortage of betting options on this one, so let’s take a look at some of the most intriguing:
Washington Capitals vs. Vancouver Canucks 13/2
This is your classic No. 1 seed-meets-No. 1 seed as the Capitals and Canucks finished atop the Eastern and Western conferences, respectively. This series would feature the two reigning league MVPs (Washington’s Alex Ovechkin in 2008-09, Vancouver’s Henrik Sedin in 2009-10) and two teams that have traditionally underwhelmed when it comes to postseason hockey. Last year, Washington was bounced in stunning fashion by eighth-seeded Montreal in the opening round. Vancouver, meanwhile, suffered a second-straight defeat at the hands of Chicago. Is this the year both clubs turn it around and make a Stanley Cup run?
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Chicago Blackhawks 60/1
This would be a rematch of last year’s finals, which the Blackhawks won in six games on an overtime goal from Patrick Kane. While the Flyers are considered likely to get back to the dance – they finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference and eclipsed 100 points – the same can’t be said for Chicago. Salary cap issues forced the ‘Hawks to dismantle most of their Cup-winning team. The result? Chicago barely got into the playoffs as the eighth seed in the West and now faces Vancouver, the winners of the Presidents’ Trophy.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings 25/1
Speaking of rematches, this one would rekindle memories of the 2008 Cup final (won by Detroit) and 2009 (won by Pittsburgh). The chances of a third installment took a hit when Penguins stars Sidney Crosby (concussion) and Evgeni Malkin (torn ACL) were lost, but the Penguins did rally to finish fourth in the East. Detroit, meanwhile, had another outstanding regular season and finished third in the West, suggesting they’re ready to make another run at the Stanley Cup.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Vancouver Canucks 35/1
There are just two Canadian clubs in this year’s postseason, so it’s something of a longshot that they’ll meet in an all-Canadian final. Still, 35/1 isn’t that long a shot for an event that would keep the country gripped for weeks.
New York Rangers vs. Los Angeles Kings 275/1
The biggest longshot on the board. New York barely snuck into the playoffs as the eighth seed in the East and needed an inexplicable collapse by Carolina just to get there. Los Angeles lost its best player and leading scorer, Anze Kopitar, to a broken ankle late in the season and hasn’t been the same yet. Both are big underdogs in their opening series (New York gets Washington, L.A. has San Jose) and have long roads to the Cup final. But with that said, last year’s Eastern Conference final was played between No. 7 Philly and No. 8 Montreal – so crazier things have happened.
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