NHL Series Betting – Conference Finals Previews
The online sports betting community has been watching attentively throughout the NHL playoffs and now we’re down to the final four. There have been upsets, incidents and plenty of Game 7’s, and now with four teams remaining, it’s time to make some serious Stanley Cup picks.
Eastern Conference Finals Stanley Cup picks:
Penguins vs Hurricanes odds
Sportsbook odds: Penguins -200
Stanley Cup picks: Penguins in Six
The Carolina Hurricanes have had a tough path to this point. They haven’t had home-ice advantage in any series to this point, and they won’t again in the East Finals. Furthermore, they’ve had to go on the road twice in Game 7’s just to survive up until this point.
While the Hurricanes penetrated New Jersey’s defensive system and outsmarted Boston’s muscle, they won’t have the speed or the scoring to keep up with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Goaltender Cam Ward is still undefeated in the NHL playoffs (6-0), but the Penguins have the solution to end that streak. With a triple threat of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal up the middle, the Penguins have enough speed, balance and scoring to advance to a second consecutive Stanley Cup Finals.
Western Conference Finals Stanley Cup picks:
Red Wings vs Blackhawks odds
Sportsbook odds: Red Wings -225
Stanley Cup picks: Red Wings in 6
The Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks are very familiar with each other. Those making their Stanley Cup picks know that the two division mates have squared off six times in the regular season and will play at least four more times in this series.
The Red Wings won the regular season series 4-2, but if they can’t fix their special teams, they might not win this series. The Red Wings have given up at least one power play goal in nine straight playoff games, which is a new franchise record. The pressure will be on the Red Wings in this series, as those making their Stanley Cup picks didn’t expect the young Blackhawks to make it this far. But there is a lot of good chemistry and consistency on this team as head coach Joel Quenneville has used the same lineup in 10 of the last 11 playoff games.
This series figures to be a high-scoring one as both teams lack a stud goaltender. Blackhawks netminder Nikolai Khabibulin has been allowing 4.71 goals per game in the playoffs, which isn’t going to cut it. With experience and home-ice advantage on the Red Wings side, expect them to outlast the Blackhawks in this shootout.
For more analysis on sports betting and daily Stanley Cup picks, check out the BetOnline.com Betting Edge throughout the entire Stanley Cup playoffs.
Who better to offer great sports betting and hockey tips than a native Canadian? Like any good Canuck, Don Melrose eats, sleeps, breathes and bets hockey, making him the perfect NHL handicapper. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
