The Stanley Cup champions of two seasons ago, the Chicago Black Hawks, begin this year's playoffs against a first-time division champion, the Phoenix Coyotes.
As of Tuesday evening WilliamHill.com is listing Phoenix as -125 chalk for Thursday's series opener (10 pm Eastern, NBCS, TSN), with Chicago getting +105. And the 'over/under' sits at five (O -135/U +115).
As for the series, though, is listing the Blackhawks as -130 favorites, with the Coyotes getting +110.
is also offering Chicago at 8/1 to win the Western Conference and 18/1 to win the Stanley Cup, with Phoenix getting 12/1 to win the West and 25/1 to win the Cup.
Phoenix may have the higher seed in this series, and home-ice advantage, but Chicago was actually four points better than the Coyotes during the regular season.
The Blackhawks are also only two years removed from a Stanley Cup championship, and a good core of players from that team are still around.
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Chicago only finished in fourth place in the Central Division but did hit the 100-point mark. So the Blackhawks are the six seed in the West. The 'Hawks ranked sixth in the league in scoring but 21st in goals allowed.
With all that scoring Chicago went 42-39 on the 'over/unders' this season.
Phoenix won its first division title this year since its relocation from Winnipeg 16 years ago, taking the mediocre Pacific Division with a record of 42-27-13. So despite having just the sixth-best record in the West, they're the three seed.
But the Coyotes also finished well, going 20-6-5 over the last two-plus months of the season.
The Coyotes will be looking for their first playoff series victory since their move.
Phoenix took three of four games from Chicago during the regular season, and won both games played at the United Center.
The Coyotes went 22-13-6 at home this season and 20-14-7 on the road. The 'Hawks, meanwhile, went a stout 27-8-6 at home but only 18-18-5 on the road.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Phoenix Coyotes odds and props at
Chicago Blackhawks (Series Prices) 10/13
Phoenix Coyotes (Series Prices) 11/10
Series Correct Score
Chicago Blackhawks 4-0 9/1
Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 23/4
Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 13/4
Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 5/1
Phoenix Coyotes 4-0 18/1
Phoenix Coyotes 4-1 27/4
Phoenix Coyotes 4-2 13/2
Phoenix Coyotes 4-3 17/4
Total Games
4 13/2
5 13/5
6 33/20
7 17/10
Total Games
Over 5.5 10/19
Under 5.5 31/20
Total Goals
Over/ Under 31.5
Series Game Spread
Chicago Blackhawks -1.5 13/10
Phoenix Coyotes +1.5 5/8
Jonathan Toews 1st Round Points vs. Phoenix Coyotes
Over/ Under 5.5 (-130)
Marian Hossa 1st Round Points vs. Phoenix Coyotes
Over/ Under 5.5 (-120)
Patrick Sharp 1st Round Points vs. Phoenix Coyotes
Over/ Under 5.5 (-110)
Patrick Kane 1st Round Points vs. Phoenix Coyotes
Over/ Under 4.5 (-130)
Ray Whitney 1st Round Points vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Over/ Under 5.5 (-115)
Radim Vrbata 1st Round Points vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Over/ Under 4.5 (-130)
Shane Doan 1st Round Points vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Over/ Under 3.5 (-130)
