At the sportsbooks the online NHL betting playoffs are starting to take shape. We’ve already placed several wild opening series in the books, which means that it’s now time for players who bet on NHL to pick their favorites for the second round of playoff series. With the Maple Leafs, Blackhawks, and Canadiens all being eliminated in the first round, there are less and less favorites left in this year’s postseason. What that could spell is still uncertain but for Pittsburgh fans, it certainly means that their beloved franchise is one step closer to winning back-to-back titles.

Latest Online NHL Betting News & Playoff Picks

As we dive deeper and deeper into the playoffs, there will be fewer and fewer matchups for online NHL betting fans to choose from. This week is no exception as there won’t be any hockey to wager on until Wednesday’s contests. That’s certainly a bummer, but at the same time it means that players will have that much more time to feel out their wager.

Game 1 – Nashville Predators vs. St. Louis Blues – April 24^th

When: 8:00 pm ET

Where: Scottrade Center, St Louis, Missouri

TV: NBC

Series: First of Best of 7

Hockey Playoff Odds

Nashville Predators +1½ (-270) 5 (+105) +110

St. Louis Blues -1½ (+230) 5 (-125) -130

Nashville Predators

The Predators turned in a highly successful season that saw the team go 41-29-12 for the year. That record allowed Nashville to finish 4^th in the Central Division as well as 8^th in the Western Conference. This year’s playoff berth marks the third consecutive year that Nashville has made it to the postseason. Last year, the Preds were eliminated in the second round, so hockey betting players can be assured that Nashville will enter this series with the utmost seriousness.

Nashville faced the Chicago Blackhawks in their opening round of the playoffs and deftly swept the B-Hawks. Seeing the Predators manhandle Chicago was unprecedented and left many wondering whether the Blackhawks were worse than we all thought, or if the Predators were better than imagined. Nashville will get an opportunity to answer that question as they fight to stay alive against St. Louis.

St. Louis Blues

The Blues enjoyed a good deal of success this season, as they were able to turn in a 46-29-7 record that allowed the franchise to finish 3^rd in the Central Division and 5^th in the Western Conference. 2017 marks the 6^th straight year that St. Louis has qualified for the playoffs, but given their lack of postseason success, the Blues will do all they can to usurp the Preds in round 2.

St. Louis faced the Minnesota Wild in their opening series and like the Predators, the Blues were able to hand that online NHL betting favorite a quick 4-1 exit. Additionally, the Blues enter this contest as the sportsbook favorite.