2011 NHL Payoffs Betting Preview- 1st Round
The playoffs mark the start of the NHL’s second season and the chase for this year’s Stanley Cup Championship. Action gets underway this upcoming Wednesday with start of the first round. The eight initial series pit the top four seeds in each conference against the bottom four seeds in a best-of-seven series that uses a 2-2-1-1 format. The following is brief preview of each matchup along with the current odds to win each series as provided by betEd.com
Eastern Conference
No.1 Washington Capitals (-230) vs. No.8 New York Rangers (+190)
The Rangers won the season series three games to one including a 6-0 shutout as a 146 road underdog on Feb. 26. Washington finished the regular season on a roll with seven wins in its last 10 games and was 25-8-8 at home and while New York definitely has the ability to keep things interesting, the Capitals win the series win in six games.
No.2 Philadelphia Flyers (-155) vs. No.7 Buffalo Sabres (+135)
Philadelphia enters the postseason with a 3-4-3 record in their last 10 games, while Buffalo comes in with eight wins of their last 10. The two teams split their four games this season with each winning once at home and once on the road. While this series has upset written all over it, the Flyers are still the better overall team and find a way to win it in seven games.
No.3 Boston Bruins (-210) vs. No.6 Montreal Canadiens (+175)
The Canadiens won four out of six games against the Bruins this season and nine out of the last 12 in this series. Montreal was a perfect 3-0 at home this season against Boston and should be able to keep the trend going in this series. Look for the Habs to manufacture at least one win on the road to win this series in seven games.
No.4 Pittsburgh Penguins (-145) vs. No.5 Tampa Bay Lightning (+125)
Pittsburgh has not ruled out Sidney Crosby for this series, but his return remains questionable at best. These two teams split their four games this season, but the Penguins lost the last meeting 2-1 as a 117 road underdog. Pittsburgh uses the momentum from a four-game winning streak to close out the regular season to close out the Lightning in six games.
Western Conference
No.1 Vancouver Canucks (-230) vs. No.8 Chicago Blackhawks (+190)
Vancouver should have the clear edge not just in this series but in every series its plays in the Stanley Cup playoffs with the highest scoring offense and a stingiest defense in the league. The Canucks split four games with Chicago this season, but should have little problem in getting past the Blackhawks in a series that lasts just five games.
No.2 San Jose Sharks (-270) vs. No.7 Los Angeles Kings (+220)
The Kings won two of three meetings with the Sharks this season but were soundly beaten 6-1 as a 165 home favorite on April 4. San Jose’s track record in the early rounds of the playoffs has not been good, but LA’s offense will struggle without its top scorer Anze Kopitar and possibly Justin Williams, who is still listed as questionable. The Sharks use this to their full advantage to win this series in five games.
No.3 Detroit Red Wings (-190) vs. No.6 Phoenix Coyotes (+160)
Detroit has struggled as of late with just four victories in the final 10 games of the season. These two teams split the season series 2-2 with three out of four games ending in overtime. Playoff experience proves to be the difference in this one as the Red Wings win in a hard-fought seven games.
No.4 Anaheim Ducks (-130) vs. No.5 Nashville Predators (+110)
Anaheim lost to Nashville 4-5 as a 140 road underdog on March 24, which was its third loss to the Predators in the four games they played this season. Goalie Pekka Rinne comes up huge for Nashville by carrying his team to a series win in six games.
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