As the second round of the hockey playoffs commences, NHL betting is intensifying at West Virginia sportsbooks. With only eight teams remaining in contention, the excitement surrounding these games is reaching new heights.
As usual, the NHL playoffs are incredibly challenging to foresee. With a multitude of teams boasting comparable talent, the majority of these series promise intense competition.
The strange modified schedule for this season persisted into the second round, with certain teams commencing their new series while others were still wrapping up their opening-round matchup.
Now that the second round has been finalized, it’s time to examine the odds available on WV online sports betting apps. These odds encompass championship futures, as well as the odds for each game and series in the second round.
NHL playoffs odds at WV sportsbooks
East Division Final
The New York Islanders and the Boston Bruins are currently locked at one game each in the Eastern Conference final.
After losing the opening game in Boston with a score of 5-2, the Islanders managed to bounce back in Game 2. They emerged victorious in overtime with a 4-3 score, effectively equalizing the series before returning to their home arena.
Even though the next game in this series will be played on their home turf, DraftKings WV Sportsbook still considers the Bruins as the favorites. The online sportsbook gives them odds of -139 to win, while the Islanders have odds of +120.
DraftKings has indicated their belief in Boston’s potential to advance in the series, evident from their odds. Boston is favored at -200 to progress, while New York stands with odds of +160.
It is interesting to note that neither team had a dominant performance during the regular season. Surprisingly, both teams managed to secure playoff spots as the lowest-ranked seeds in their division.
Throughout the year, the Islanders emerged victorious in five out of eight face-offs against Boston. However, the Bruins managed to secure victory in their last three games of the season.
Despite being considered an underdog, New York’s chances during this time of year are not necessarily diminished. If the important players continue to perform at their best, this series could result in yet another triumph.
Despite leading the team in points during the regular season, Mathew Barzal has been unable to score in the first eight postseason games. The Islanders are eagerly anticipating his return to form, as they believe his performance could greatly benefit the team.
Central Division Final
The stage is set for the Central Division final in the NHL, featuring the Carolina Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning. In this series, the reigning Stanley Cup champions have emerged victorious in the first two encounters, triumphing with a 2-1 scoreline on both occasions.
With a strong grip on the series, they are now heading back home, determined to wrap things up swiftly.
The Hurricanes have a lot at stake in Game 3 on Thursday night, as it is highly unlikely to recover from a 3-0 series deficit.
According to William Hill Sportsbook WV, Tampa is listed as the favored team with odds of -160 for the upcoming contest. On the other hand, Carolina is available at odds of +140 to win the third game.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have a significant advantage in the series odds. According to William Hill, the Lightning are listed at -700, while the Carolina Hurricanes are posted at +500.
Given the favorable odds, it wouldn’t be unreasonable for Hurricane supporters to further support their team. Despite being in a challenging situation, the previous two matchups were closely contested and mirrored the season series, which ended in a tie of 4 wins each.
Taking the first couple of games has undeniably given the Lightning an advantage, but they are undeniably one of the top contenders for the title. With odds of +300, they are second only to Colorado (+125) in the race to win it all once again.
North Division Final
Due to the prolonged opening-round series between Montreal and Toronto, the North Division had a delayed start in the second round.
Building on their momentum from the previous series, the Canadiens carried their energy into this round and emerged victorious in the first game against the Winnipeg Jets. Montreal secured a well-deserved 5-3 win, although the post-game conversation mainly revolved around the impactful hit that occurred in the closing seconds.
Mark Scheifele of the Jets delivered a crushing blow to Jake Evans of Montreal, causing him to be carried off the ice on a stretcher. This incident is likely to escalate the intensity of the upcoming game, with a higher frequency of hard hits expected throughout the match.
According to FanDuel WV, the betting odds for Friday’s game are extremely close.
At home, Winnipeg holds a slight advantage with odds of -118, while the Canadiens have a chance to secure a 2-0 lead in the series, listed at +100.
However, the series price is heavily favoring Montreal with odds of -210, whereas the Jets have odds of +174.
Like Carolina’s predicament, individuals who placed bets on the Jets prior to the series can now benefit from these revised odds. The Jets have emerged victorious in six out of their nine encounters this season and still have ample time to reverse their fortunes.
West Division Final
Colorado maintained its leading position in odds at several WV sportsbooks prior to the postseason, and its performance since then has not provided any reason to alter that perception.
With an impeccable 6-0 record in the playoffs, the Avalanche appear unstoppable. After effortlessly sweeping the St. Louis Blues in the first round, they have continued their dominance by winning the first two games against Las Vegas.
The Knights come back to their home turf, knowing that Game 3 is crucial and they absolutely need to win it. Throughout the regular season, both teams accumulated a total of 82 points, winning four games each against the other side.
Despite the change in venue, BetMGM Sportsbook WV designates Colorado as the favored team for the upcoming contest. They offer odds of -120, whereas Vegas is listed at +100.
The series odds offered by the online sportsbook are heavily skewed. Bettors have the option to choose the Avs with odds of -900 or the Knights with odds of +600.
In order for Vegas to have a chance at a competitive series, the team will heavily rely on its goalies to conjure some magic. Marc-Andre Fleury, an experienced veteran, exhibited moments of brilliance during the previous series against Minnesota.
Vegas has sufficient offensive skill to make a comeback in this series if he can regain his previous form.
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