Last weekend marked the beginning of the NHL playoffs, bringing immense joy to hockey enthusiasts. In West Virginia, NHL betting remains highly sought-after, and there’s no greater thrill than the postseason.
WV online sportsbooks offer a wide range of options, allowing bettors from Mountain State to find virtually any NHL market they desire.
Due to COVID-19 protocols, the division format for this season has been changed, resulting in some adjustments to the playoffs. Similar to the regular season, teams are restricted to competing against divisional opponents in the initial two rounds.
The playoffs feature the top four teams from each division, with their current standings determining their seeding.
Although most series have already started, there is still ample time to place your bets. Each series will be determined in a thrilling seven-game showdown, and it seems like we can expect some epic matchups.
In this analysis, we shall closely assess the NHL playoff bracket and explore the latest odds offered at WV sportsbooks.
NHL playoff betting at WV sportsbooks
East Division
These playoffs have seen the East kick off with an astonishing start.
In a challenging overtime match, the Pittsburgh Penguins, who held the top seed, suffered a 4-3 defeat in their opening game. Kyle Palmieri, a forward for the New York Islanders, played a pivotal role by netting two goals, including the decisive game-winner during the additional period.
The Bruins evened the series at one game each after their win on Monday night, following Washington’s initial victory with a score of 3-2.
Even though Boston is near a potential 0-2 deficit, DraftKings Sportsbook WV remains optimistic about their prospects of progressing. The online sportsbook indicates favorable odds of -180 for their advancement to the next round.
Naturally, the Penguins find themselves in a similar situation as they approach their second game. A defeat would place the team in a challenging position, particularly considering the first two games are on their home turf.
If you have faith in the Pens’ ability to bounce back, DraftKings offers a reasonably advantageous betting price. Currently, you can place a wager on Pittsburgh to win the series at +140.
Among these four teams, Boston has the highest chances of winning the Stanley Cup. Their odds are listed at +850, ranking them fifth among all the teams in the league.
Central Division
The initial playoff games of The Central team have been equally impressive.
In the opening match, the Carolina Hurricanes, currently holding the top spot, showcased an outstanding performance in the third period. They managed to secure victory against the Nashville Predators by scoring three crucial goals, solidifying their lead in the early stages of the series.
Carolina was already considered a strong favorite before the first game, and now its betting odds are heavily skewed. FanDuel WV has set the odds at -600 for Carolina to win the series, while the Preds have odds of +420.
The battle is underway for the title of the top team in Florida.
After falling behind in the first period, Tampa Bay managed to secure a victory in Game 1. Their 5-4 win has placed them in a favorable position, with odds of -310 to win the series.
The Panthers are listed at +240 on FanDuel.
Despite numerous reasons to favor the Lightning, the Panthers undeniably possess a fighting spirit. They achieved a 5-3 record against Tampa this season, securing three consecutive victories to conclude the year.
According to FanDuel, the Hurricanes are favored with the best odds to win the title within this group, holding a third-best chance at +750.
West Division
This season, the West possesses immense strength, spearheaded by two of the most dominant teams in hockey.
In the first round, Colorado clinched the top spot and earned a matchup against the St. Louis Blues. Although goalie Jordan Binnington put on an impressive performance, the Blues were outmatched in the initial game.
After a disappointing 4-1 defeat, they will aim to bounce back in the game scheduled for Wednesday night.
After the victory, DraftKings revised the odds for Colorado to win the series to -1000, offering bettors the opportunity to place bets on the Blues with odds of +600.
In another hard-fought NHL postseason game, Minnesota managed to pull off the upset by defeating the Golden Knights 1-0 in Game 1 of the series.
To everyone’s surprise, the initial game concluded without any goals being scored during regular play. However, center Joel Eriksson Ek managed to score the lone goal, granting the Wild a head start in the series.
The victory effectively leveled the playing field in terms of the odds at WV sportsbooks, making the series almost even. According to DraftKings, Minnesota holds a slight advantage over Vegas, with odds listed at -114.
The Knights are favored with odds of -108 to win.
Despite the deficit, the online sportsbook still considers them as one of the top contenders for the cup. Vegas holds the sixth-best odds at +1000, while Colorado is the favored team with overall odds of +300.
North Division
The playoffs have already begun in every division except the North. Commencing on Wednesday, the first series in the North division features Winnipeg versus Edmonton. On Thursday, Montreal and Toronto will compete against each other in the other matchup.
With a total of 77 points, the Maple Leafs have secured the top position and are considered strong favorites as they head into the opener. According to FanDuel, their odds of winning the series are -310, whereas Montreal’s odds are +240.
The difference in the odds can be attributed partially to the outcome of the regular season, where Toronto emerged victorious in seven out of the ten matches against their Canadian rival.
The division’s remaining series ought to be much closer in proximity.
After defeating the Jets by a significant margin in the regular season, the Oilers will be hosting them in the first two games. According to FanDuel, the Oilers are considered the favorites with odds of -184.
The Jets have odds of +150.
Whether Winnipeg can overcome its struggles against Edmonton remains to be seen, as it only managed to win two out of nine meetings this year.
At +650, the Maple Leafs are currently ranked second in the league according to FanDuel, making them the top contenders to win the cup from their division.
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