The Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to get underway on Saturday, April 19, with a showdown between the Jets and Blues at the Canada Life Centre.
Before we drop the puck on the best tournament in all of sports, let’s run through a handful of bets that hold value going into Round 1, starting with a Stanley Cup sleeper.
Best value to win the Stanley Cup: Kings (20/1, BetMGM)
If defense wins championships, then you should consider a bet on the Kings.
The Kings allowed the second-fewest goals in the NHL this season, and led the league in expected goals against at five-on-five.
No team in the playoffs did a better job at limiting high-danger scoring chances than Los Angeles, either.
A first-round date with Edmonton looms, but the Kings have the right mix of defense, goaltending, and scoring depth to contend with the high-octane Oilers.
If the Kings can navigate that series, they’ll be brimming with confidence going into the deeper rounds.
Best player prop: Connor McMichael, Capitals, most goals in series (18/1, DraftKings)
The Canadiens are quite the story.
One of the biggest long shots to make the playoffs from the season-opening odds, the Habs went on a Cinderella run after the 4 Nations Face-Off break to capture a wild-card spot.
The Habs are big underdogs against the Capitals, who finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference.
The Caps should be able to expose Montreal’s defensive flaws, and if they do that, I’d look to Connor McMichael to have a big series.
The 26-goal man finished third on Washington in shots on goal and should get plenty of space to work with, as the Habs will focus on shutting down Alex Ovechkin as their top priority.
Best long shot: Eric Robinson, Hurricanes, Most Goals in series (300/1, DraftKings)
Let’s get crazy.
Betting on the NHL?
Eric Robinson is a depth player on the Carolina Hurricanes, but he had an effective season with 14 goals and 18 assists in 82 games played.
The Hurricanes are notorious for spreading out their offense, and that could mean that it would just take four goals to lead their series with the Devils in scoring, especially if it’s a short one.
Robinson’s a versatile player who could end up on any line, so there’s no reason to believe his role will be limited to the point where even these odds don’t make sense.
If you’re looking for one dart to throw for Round 1 of the playoffs, this would be my pick.
