Online Stanley Cup Betting – Watch Out for the NHL Playoff Underdogs

Betting Online Overview

Everyone loves to root for an underdog, whether you are betting on MLB baseball or looking at Kentucky Derby odds. The same goes for fans of the NHL. As the NHL playoffs get started, fans of the teams that did not finish at the top of their conference are still brimming with confidence that their team will have a shot at winning it all. Let’s take a look at some of the more promising underdogs in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, and see which ones have a legitimate shot at making finals and winning it all.

Buffalo Sabres

Odds to Win Stanley Cup: 30/1

Why Bet on the Sabres

The Sabres seemed to be sleepwalking through the 2010-2011 season right up until new owner Terry Pegula took over a week before the trade deadline. Since Pegula took over, the Sabres have jumped from 10th in the Eastern Conference to seventh. They could finish the season in sixth place. The Buffalo offense has come to life and all of the Sabres big guns are scoring on a regular basis. The Sabres terrible defense is backed up by some of the best goaltending in the league right now. Whether it is Jhnoas Enroth or Ryan Miller between the pipes, the Sabres are getting great play. This could be the team that no one wants to play in the playoffs.

Los Angeles Kings

Odds to Win Stanley Cup: 25/1

Why Bet on the Kings

The Kings have played the role of “NHL yo-yo” perfectly this season. Los Angeles has spent as much time in the deepest parts of the Western Conference basement as it has in the top four of the conference. The yo-yo seems to be up as the playoffs approach. Goaltender Jonathan Quick is playing well with a 3-2-0 record in his last five starts. The one challenge for the Kings is that their top scorer, Anze Kopitar, will be out for the playoffs with a broken ankle.

Montreal Canadiens

Odds to Win Stanley Cup: 30/1
Why Bet on the Canadiens
As goaltender Carey Price goes, so go the Montreal Canadiens. When Price is playing poorly, the Canadiens play poorly. But Price has been red hot leading into the playoffs and has even been mentioned as a potential Vezina Trophy candidate. The Canadiens may drop to seventh place in the conference, depending on what the Buffalo Sabres do. That would mean a highly anticipated series between the Canadiens and the Boston Bruins would have to wait. But it also means that the Canadiens would get the faltering Philadelphia Flyers in the first round and that could be the perfect jumping off point for a Canadiens Stanley Cup run.

Anaheim Ducks

Odds to Win Stanley Cup: 30/1

Why Bet on the Ducks

When starting goaltender Jonas Hiller was lost for the season in late March, the fans in Anaheim started to accept that their team was not destined to win the Cup this season. However, veteran goaltender and NHL bad boy Ray Emery has stepped in and back-stopped the Ducks back into playoff contention. It will be interesting to see if Emery can behave himself long enough to give the Ducks a shot at winning it all. But if Emery can stay focused, then this would be a very dangerous Ducks hockey team.