There remain eight teams on which sportsbook users can still do some NHL hockey betting following the end of the first round. The second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs will begin on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th with the following matchups:
Ottawa Senators vs. New York Rangers
The Rangers defeated the Montreal Canadiens in six games in the first round, as did the Senators against the Boston Bruins. This will be the second time these teams meet in the playoffs. They had previously faced one another in the 2012 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, which the Rangers won in seven games. Additionally, this will mark the second consecutive year that a wild card team – in this case the Rangers – accrued more points than the seeded opponent in the regular season but does not enjoy home ice advantage. The Sens won two of the three games in the regular season series against NYR.
Game 1 hockey playoff odds:
Rangers +1½ (-325) 5 (+105) -110
Senators -1½ (+265) 5 (-125) -110
Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
The Caps eliminated the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games while the Pens knocked off the Columbus Blue Jackets in five. Washington and Pittsburgh have met on nine occasions in the postseason, of which the Pens have won nine – including their second round encounter last year, which Pittsburgh of course came out on top of on their way to the Stanley Cup championship. The Caps won back-to-back Presidents’ Trophies in 2015-16 and 2016-17. The Penguins have been pegged as the favorites to win the Eastern Conference as well as the Stanley Cup for the second year in a row.
Game 1 hockey playoff odds:
Penguins +1½ (-255) 5½ (-110) +115
Capitals -1½ (+215) 5½ (-110) -135
St. Louis Blues vs. Nashville Predators
The Predators swept the former NHL hockey betting favorites the Chicago Blackhawks – the first time in league playoff history that an eighth-seeded team eliminated the top seeded in their conference in four games, as well as the first time that Nashville sweeps a postseason opponent in the history of the franchise. The Blues meanwhile beat the Minnesota Wild in five games. This will be the first playoff encounter between Blues and Preds. Nashville prevailed in three of the five games versus Saint Louis in this year’s regular season series.
Game 1 hockey playoff odds:
Predators -105
Blues -115
Anaheim Ducks vs. Edmonton Oilers
Anaheim defeated the Calgary Flames in four games while the Oilers bested the San Jose Sharks 4-2. This will be the second playoff series pitting the Ducks against the Oilers; their first encounter occurred in the 2006 Western Conference Finals, upon which occasion the Oilers won the series in five games. Edmonton won three of the five games against Anaheim in this year’s regular season series. The Ducks are projected to become the Western Conference champions and would hypothetically speaking go on to meet the Penguins in the 2017 Stanley Cup Championship series.
Game 1 NHL hockey betting odds:
Oilers +115
Ducks -135
