NHL playoff series odds set at books

St. Louis lost their final six games of the season and hit the Stanley Cup playoffs in a major slump but odds makers clearly believe in the Blues.

Despite the late swoon, NHL playoff series odds favor the Blues to take out the defending Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. That, according to online sportsbooks such as BetOnline which opened the Blues as -115 series favorites and Sports Interaction which had them at -140.

Both the Hawks and Blues have been playing minus star talent but everyone should be back in time for the playoffs. It means bettors have to think of this line with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane in Chicago's lineup and injured speedsters T.J. Oshie and Vlad Tarasenko in the St. Louis roster.

Pittsburgh is a big first-round favorite, but the Penguins could be in tough against Columbus. They range from -280 to -385. Anaheim is favored to dispatch the Dallas Stars, who played well down the stretch.

And Boston is also a big series favorite of the first round at BetOnline at -305. The No. 1 seed in the East gets the Detroit Red Wings, who made the playoffs again with a late-season surge.

The Blues are also favored to emerge as the Western Conference champion and the exact Stanley Cup matchup odds of Boston vs St. Louis was the top betting choice at Bovada this morning.

Check out the various NHL playoff series odds at two of the sponsor books here at OddsShark.com.

NHL playoff series odds from BetOnline                                                                                                               

Canadiens Series Prices -102
Lightning Series Prices -118

Blue Jackets Series Prices 235
Penguins Series Prices -280   
                                                                                                                                   
Stars Series Prices 175 
Ducks Series Prices -205                                                                      

Flyers Series Prices 125 
Rangers Series Prices  -145                                                                      

Blackhawks Series Prices -105
Blues Series Prices -115                                                      

Wild Series Prices 115
Avalanche Series Prices -135                                                                      

Kings Series Prices 125
Sharks Series Prices -145                                                                      

Red Wings Series Prices 255
Bruins Series Prices -305                                                                      

NHL playoff series odds from Sports Interaction

Anaheim Ducks v Dallas Stars    

Anaheim Ducks -333

Dallas Stars +220

Boston Bruins v Detroit Red Wings         

Boston Bruins -333

Detroit Red Wings +220

Colorado Avalanche v Minnesota Wild

Colorado Avalanche -175

Minnesota Wild +125

Montreal Canadiens v Tampa Bay Lightning       

Montreal Canadiens -118

Tampa Bay Lightning -118

New York Rangers v Philadelphia Flyers              

New York Rangers -141

Philadelphia Flyers +100

Pittsburgh Penguins v Columbus Blue Jackets   

Pittsburgh Penguins -385

Columbus Blue Jackets +250

San Jose Sharks v Los Angeles Kings       

San Jose Sharks -167

Los Angeles Kings +120

St Louis Blues v Chicago Blackhawks      

St Louis Blues -141

Chicago Blackhawks +100