Stanley Cup Betting Tips - Stanley Cup Odds Update – Go With The Favorite For A Reason
The 2012 NHL Playoffs are down to their final four teams. How do the odds stack up at this point, and which team offers the best value going forward?
Los Angeles Kings: +150
Sports betting gurus don't need to make things any more complicated than they are. The Los Angeles Kings are plainly delivering a good old-fashioned thumping to the Phoenix Coyotes in the Western Conference Finals. Goalie Jonathan Quick is making big saves in key moments, and his teammates are steamrolling the Coyotes, owning every inch of the ice rink. The Kings are peppering Phoenix goalie Mike Smith with tons of high-quality shots, wearing down the netminder who carried the Coyotes through the first two rounds of the playoffs. Phoenix is committing multiple five-minute majors in this series and is spending an inordinate amount of time in the penalty box.
The Kings are winning almost every battle for a loose puck along the boards, especially in the Phoenix zone. Los Angeles coach Darryl Sutter has found the combinations he wants and has his team playing at an extremely high level. The Kings have already defeated the top two seeds in the Western Conference playoffs. They're now halfway home in their quest to beat the No. 3 seed. Moreover, Los Angeles has lost just one game in two and a half playoff series. This is technically a No. 8 seed, but it is playing like a top-seeded juggernaut at the moment. The Kings' runaway momentum and their ability to win on the road make them the clear Stanley Cup favorite at this point in time.
New York Rangers: +170
When you place a bet on an NHL playoff proposition after looking at any of several sports betting sites, there are a few lines of thought you can turn to. One clear rationale for an NHL championship pick is to take the team with the elite goaltender. That's the New York Rangers, without question. New York didn't flex its muscles in the first two rounds of the playoffs against the Ottawa Senators and then the Washington Capitals. The Rangers were extended to seven games in each series, and were slightly outplayed by the Capitals in round two.
However, goalie Henrik Lundqvist was so superb between the pipes that his team was somehow able to survive. Lundqvist is in such a zone, and in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday night in New York, he maxed out in the first two periods. New Jersey outplayed New York for 40 minutes, but Lundqvist's work in goal kept the game scoreless. The Rangers then roared for three goals in the third period, and now New Jersey must be wondering what it will take to get even one puck past Lundqvist. The Rangers should definitely make the Cup finals. If they get there, Lundqvist will make them tough to beat.
New Jersey Devils: +515
The people who are studying this NHL postseason will calmly point out that as you assess your latest attempt to make a play at a sportsbook, the New Jersey Devils just don't fare well against New York Ranger goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. The notion that New Jersey can beat "King Henrik" four times is hard to buy. Sell your stock in the Devils.
Phoenix Coyotes: +670
It doesn't need to be explained in great depth or detail: The Coyotes are getting drilled – comprehensively outplayed – by the Los Angeles Kings. They must now win four of five games to win the Western Conference Finals, and they have to win at least twice in Los Angeles. Good luck with that.
NHL Betting Pick: Los Angeles Kings To Win The Stanley Cup Championship
