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
