The Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins are Stanley Cup favorites according to the betting odds.
After a crazy first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs, the dust has settled. The Chicago Blackhawks, who entered the postseason as the favorites to lift Lord Stanley, got swept by the Nashville Predators. Both the Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota Wild, who each had great odds of winning, got upset by the New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues respectively.
Entering the second round of the NHL playoffs, it should come as no surprise the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins are the favorites to win the championship.
The previous two times the Eastern Conference rivals have met in the postseason, the winner has won the Cup. Both times, the Penguins came out on top. Washington and Pittsburgh had the top two records in the NHL during the regular season, so naturally whoever wins the series should at least make the finals. Here are the odds for each team, courtesy of Bodog.
Capitals – 7/2 (+350)
Penguins – 17/4 (+425)
Ducks – 11/2 (+550)
Oilers – 11/2 (+550)
Blues – 13/2 (+650)
Predators – 7/1 (+700)
Rangers – 8/1 (+800)
Senators – 10/1 (+1000)
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It’s a bit surprising to see the Rangers so low. They’re the favorites to win their second round series against the Senators. Also, the Rangers, should they advance, would be facing a team who just had to beat one of the two teams in the NHL. It’s safe to say the team they face will be a bit tired.
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The Oilers and Ducks are both listed at 11/2, which shows how close their second round series should be. Whoever emerges will be the favorites to come out of the Western Conference. Of course, the Blues and Predators are no strangers to busting brackets, so don’t count them out.