NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview
The 2014-15 Stanley Cup Playoffs have arrived and this year there are some unfamiliar faces in the mix. The Bruins, Kings, and Sharks all failed to make the postseason with disappointing years, but this allowed for unexpected teams such as the Flames, Jets, and Senators to earn their way into playoff bids. In total five teams made it in that were listed at plus money before the year to make the playoffs– Flames +300, Jets +250, Predators +250, Senators +190, and Canucks +120.
The Flames made it with the longest odds but were steady all season long. Below shows how each team’s Stanley Cup odds have fluctuated throughout the year at 5Dimes:
| Team | Apr 30, 2015 | Apr 12, 2015 | Mar 3, 2015 | Nov 21, 2014 | July 19, 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Rangers | +330 | +650 | +1400 | +2300 | +1600 |
| Anaheim Ducks | +435 | +800 | +800 | +775 | +1200 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | +500 | +875 | +700 | +700 | +550 |
| Minnesota Wild | +530 | +1150 | +2300 | +1500 | +2200 |
| Montreal Canadiens | +575 | +900 | +1300 | +1500 | +1600 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +750 | +1050 | +1100 | +1200 | +1800 |
| Washington Capitals | +1100 | +1500 | +2000 | +5000 | +4500 |
| Calgary Flames | +1200 | +3000 | +3300 | +15000 | +12500 |
Clearly some teams were counted out even as recently as a month ago, most notably Ottawa who was listed at 500:1 on March 3rd. Now that they’re in the postseason, they’re all the way down to 33:1 and have been playing better than any other team in the league. With the play of goalie Andrew Hammond who came out of nowhere, he has helped Ottawa make an epic push.
Today’s #Senators win pushed Andrew Hammond’s record to 20-3 (+18.8u). In only 23 starts, Hammond was this season’s most profitable goalie.
— Sports Insights (@SportsInsights) April 11, 2015
However, to even get to the finals they’d likely need to get past the Rangers, who have developed themselves into the Cup favorites at +650. They’re also favorites at +300 to win the East behind some key late season acquisitions. Below shows the odds to win each conference from 5Dimes.
| Team | Apr 30, 2015 | Apr 12, 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Rangers | +130 | +300 |
| Canadiens | +275 | +440 |
| Lightning | +335 | +500 |
| Capitals | +550 | +725 |
| Team | Apr 30, 2015 | Apr 12, 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Ducks | +190 | +400 |
| Blackhawks | +215 | +435 |
| Wild | +270 | +600 |
| Flames | +550 | +1300 |
Conference Quarterfinals Series Odds (openers via 5Dimes):
New York Rangers -210 | Pittsburgh Penguins +175
Montreal Canadiens -160 | Ottawa Senators +140
Tampa Bay Lightning -175 | Detroit Red Wings +155
Washington Capitals -155 | New York Islanders +135
Anaheim Ducks -175 | Winnipeg Jets +155
St Louis Blues -145 | Minnesota Wild +125
Chicago Blackhawks -120 | Nashville Predators +100
Vancouver Canucks -155 | Calgary Flames +135
Major Injury Concerns:
Chicago’s Patrick Kane is likely to return for Game 1 which is earlier than expected and obviously huge for them. His absence was the main reason why the Blackhawks slipped in the Western Conference and his return makes them favorites against the Preds even without home-ice advantage.
Montreal’s Max Pacioretty missed the last few games of the season and is questionable for the first game of the conference quarterfinals. He’s a key cog for Montreal and they need all the scoring help they can get.
Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang has been ruled out for the season with a concussion. This is another huge blow to the Penguins D-core who are already without Olli Maatta and Christian Ehrhoff for their opening round series against the Cup favorites.
You can keep up with all the latest odds, betting trends, injury updates and more at our Free Live Odds page.
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