The Stanley Cup playoffs start Monday as 16 NHL teams remain in contention for North America’s oldest trophy in pro sports.
the Colorado Avalanche (+350 at FOX Bet) and Florida Panthers (+500 at FOX Bet) are the favorites to hoist the Stanley Cup. Let’s dive in.
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“Right now the Avalanche +350 – along with the maple leaves at +900 – are among our largest liabilities, and for good reason,” FOX Bet sports trader AJ Devine said. “Throughout the season, the Avs have come to be probably the most balanced team in the league. Hard to pick against a team that has been as consistently good as we’ve seen them be not just this season, but for a few years now.
“However, they will have a tough matchup no matter who they particularly face in the second round between the Blues and Wild. If they get through that, I like their chances of making the NHL Finals.”
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Devine said the rangers–penguins matchup will be one of the better battles in the first round.
“In the East, I’m keeping a close eye on the first-round matchup between the Rangers (+1600) and the Penguins (+2000),” Devine stated. “We opened with the Rangers as slight favorites (-120) to win that series, but after seeing some early bets on the Penguins we’ve recently moved to even pricing (-110/-110).”
Devine said if the Blueshirts can oust sidney crosby and the Penguins, don’t be surprised if the Rangers hoist the Cup for the fifth time but the first time since 1994.
why? A hot goalie can carry you to a Cup.
“I like the Rangers here, particularly because of their superior goaltending with likely Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin,” Devine said. “If they’re able to continue to get consistent scoring from second and third liners like alexis lafreniere and Ryan StromI think that can be enough to pull them through not only the first round, but to the Finals in an Eastern Conference with a lot of very good, but flawed teams.”
PICK: Rangers (+1600 at FOX Bet) to win the Stanley Cup
PICK: Igor Shesterkin (+3000 at FOX Bet) to win Conn Smythe Trophy
Here are the odds and lines for the opening games of the first round of the playoffs (via FOX Bet)*:
Colorado Avalanche +350 (bet $10 to win $45)
Florida Panthers +500 (bet $10 to win $60)
Calgary Flames +750 (bet $10 to win $85)
Toronto Maple Leafs +900 (bet $10 to win $100)
Tampa Bay Lightning +1100 (bet $10 to win $120)
Carolina Hurricanes +1200 (bet $10 to win $130)
New York Rangers +1600 (bet $10 to win $170)
Boston Bruins +1600 (bet $10 to win $170)
Minnesota Wild +1600 (bet $10 to win $170)
Edmonton Oilers +1700 (bet $10 to win $180)
Pittsburgh Penguins +2000 (bet $10 to win $210)
St. Louis Blues +2200 (bet $10 to win $230)
Washington Capitals +4000 (bet $10 to win $410)
Dallas Stars +5000 (bet $10 to win $510)
Los Angeles Kings +5500 (bet $10 to win $560)
Nashville Predators +5500 (bet $10 to win $560)
*Odds as of 5/1/2022
The Panthers, led by interim coach Andrew Brunette, won the Presidents’ Trophy for the best regular-season record (58-18-6, 122 points).
The Flames made a late charge on the odds chart. Darryl Sutter’s squad is at +750, down from +1300 in early April.
Calgary is the top betting choice to end one of pro sports’ most mystifying droughts. A team from Canada hasn’t won the Stanley Cup in 29 years (Montreal Canadians in 1992-93 season).
The Maple Leafs are the fourth betting favorite at +900. The Leafs are the strongest betting favorite among the NHL’s “Original Six” franchises and last won the Stanley Cup in 1967.
How long ago was that? Current Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe was born in 1980, 13 years after the Leafs last hosted the Cup.
Bruins @ Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET Monday, ESPN)
Point spread: Hurricanes -1.5 (Hurricanes favored to win by more than 1.5 goals, otherwise Bruins cover)
Moneyline: Hurricane-125 favorites to win (bet $10 to win $18 total); Bruins +100 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $20 total)
Total scoring over/under: 5.5 goals scored by both teams combined
WINNER ODDS SERIES
Hurricane-125 (bet $10 to win $18); Bruins +100 (bet $10 to win $20)
Lightning @ Maple Leafs (7:30 p.m. ET Monday, ESPN2)
Point spread: Maple Leafs-1.5 (Maple Leafs favored to win by more than 1.5 goals, otherwise Lightning cover)
Moneyline: Maple Leafs-125 favorites to win (bet $10 to win $18 total); Lightning +100 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $20 total)
Total scoring over/under: 6.5 goals scored by both teams combined
WINNER ODDS SERIES
Maple Leafs-118 (bet $10 to win $18.47); Lightning-105 (bet $10 to win $19.52)
Blues @ Wild (9:30 p.m. ET Monday, ESPN)
Point spread: Wild -1.5 (Hurricanes favored to win by more than 1.5 goals, otherwise Blues cover)
Moneyline: Wild -149 favorites to win (bet $10 to win $16.71 total); Blues +115 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $21.50 total)
Total scoring over/under: 6.5 goals scored by both teams combined
WINNER ODDS SERIES
Wild-143 (bet $10 to win $16.99); Blue’s +115 (bet $10 to win $21.50)
Kings @ Oilers (10 p.m. ET Monday, ESPN2)
Point spread: Oilers-1.5 (Oilers favored to win by more than 1.5 goals, otherwise Kings cover)
Moneyline: Oilers-189 favorites to win (bet $10 to win $15.29 total); Kings +145 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $24.50 total)
Total scoring over/under: 6.5 goals scored by both teams combined
WINNER ODDS SERIES
Oilers-250 (bet $10 to win $14); Kings +190 (bet $10 to win $29)
Penguins @ Rangers (7 p.m. ET Tuesday, ESPN)
Point spread: Rangers-1.5 (Rangers favored to win by more than 1.5 goals, otherwise Penguins cover)
Moneyline: Rangers-125 favorites to win (bet $10 to win $18 total); Penguins +100 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $20 total)
Total scoring over/under: 5.5 goals scored by both teams combined
WINNER ODDS SERIES
penguin-110 (bet $10 to win $19.09); Rangers-110 (bet $10 to win $19.09)
Capitals @ Panthers (7:30 p.m. ET Tuesday, ESPN2)
Point spread: Panthers -1.5 (Hurricanes favored to win by more than 1.5 goals, otherwise Capitals cover)
Moneyline: Panthers-227 favorites to win (bet $10 to win $14.41 total); Capitals +170 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $27 total)
Total scoring over/under: 6.5 goals scored by both teams combined
WINNER ODDS SERIES
Panthers-345 (bet $10 to win $12.90); Capitals +260 (bet $10 to win $36)
Predators @ Avalanche (9:30 p.m. ET Tuesday, ESPN)
Point spread: Avalanches -1.5 (Avalanche favored to win by more than 1.5 goals, otherwise Predators cover)
Moneyline: Avalanche-303 favorites to win (bet $10 to win $13.30 total); Predators +225 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $32.50 total)
Total scoring over/under: 6.5 goals scored by both teams combined
WINNER ODDS SERIES
Avalanche-667 (bet $10 to win $11.50); Predators +450 (bet $10 to win $55)
Stars @ Flames (10 p.m. ET Tuesday, ESPN2)
Point spread: Flame -1.5 (Flames favored to win by more than 1.5 goals, otherwise Stars cover)
Moneyline: Flames -227 favorites to win (bet $10 to win $14.41 total); Stars +170 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $27 total)
Total scoring over/under: 6 goals scored by both teams combined
If you are throwing a few bucks down on who will put the biscuit in the basket or who will hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup in late June, be sure to head over to FOX Beth to place your wagers.
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