2019 NHL Western Conference Playoff Odds and Betting Trends
Here’s a look at the NHL odds and betting trends for the 2019 NHL Western Conference playoffs, including updated Stanley Cup odds for all eight teams in this half of the postseason bracket. All NHL betting lines are as listed at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Nashville Predators vs. Dallas Stars
Series Price: Predators -165 Favorites
Predators Stanley Cup Odds: +1200
Stars Stanley Cup Odds: +2200
The Predators clinched their second straight Central Division title on the final day of the regular season, closing out their campaign with three consecutive victories and winning eight of 11 games down the stretch. Offensively, Nashville came through in the clutch during its winning streak, outscoring opponents by an 11-6 margin. Meanwhile, Dallas goaltender Ben Bishop started just one of the team’s last six games due to a lower-body injury, but it was the regular-season finale and resulted in a 3-0 win over Minnesota. The Predators were listed as NHL betting favorites in all five meetings with the Stars during the regular season, but they lost two of them at home, with the UNDER going 3-1 in the last four games between them.
Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues
Series Price: Blues -135 Favorites
Jets Stanley Cup Odds: +1400
Blues Stanley Cup Odds: +1100
The Blues suffered a costly 4-3 shootout loss to the Blackhawks as -155 road favorites on April 3, as the one point they lost out on could have given them the Central title. They still won four of their last five games and eight of 10, which is far better than the finish of the Jets, who lost two of three and five of seven to nearly go from first to third in the division. Regardless, you can certainly argue that St. Louis preferred Nashville as a first-round opponent instead of Winnipeg based on recent head-to-head matchups. The Blues have lost four of the past five meetings with the Jets but won the most recent one 1-0 as +180 underdogs on December 7.
Calgary Flames vs. Colorado Avalanche
Series Price: Flames -230 Favorites
Flames Stanley Cup Odds: +700
Avalanche Stanley Cup Odds: +2500
The Flames cruised to the top seed in the Western Conference thanks to a powerful offense that averaged 3.52 goals during the regular season. Only the league-leading Lightning were better at 3.89, but Avalanche goalie Philipp Grubauer will be tough to beat in this spot if he can continue performing at a high level this postseason. Remember, it was Grubauer who started last year’s playoff run for the eventual Stanley Cup champion Capitals before his early struggles gave way to Braden Holtby. Grubauer could be the difference in this series after Colorado lost all three regular-season meetings versus Calgary with Semyon Varlamov in net.
San Jose Sharks vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Series Price: Pick’em -110
Sharks Stanley Cup Odds: +1100
Golden Knights Stanley Cup Odds: +1500
This is the fiercest rivalry of any first-round series in the West, mostly because it is the only matchup between two teams from last year’s postseason. The Golden Knights disposed of the Sharks in six games in the second round of the 2018 playoffs after both teams swept their respective first-round foes, and they proceeded to split four meetings this season, with each team winning once on the opposition’s home ice. Going back to last year’s playoff series, the OVER is 7-3 in the last 10 games between the teams, with the winner averaging 4.7 goals.
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