The Stanley Cup semifinals have been confirmed, narrowing down the NHL playoffs to the final four teams.
The series in West Virginia sportsbooks are now offering a plethora of betting odds, including updated futures.
On Thursday night, the Las Vegas Golden Knights triumphed over the cup favorite Colorado in six games, securing their spot among the final four teams.
In the semifinals, Vegas will face off against the unexpectedly strong Montreal Canadiens, while the other matchup will feature the New York Islanders taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Montreal made an outstanding comeback after being behind 3-1 against Toronto in the opening-round series. They went on to secure seven consecutive victories, a feat that would typically lead them to the Conference Finals. However, due to the changes in divisions this year, teams were not strictly categorized by conference for both the regular season and postseason brackets.
Tampa made it to the other semifinal with relative ease, effortlessly defeating in-state rival Florida in the opening round. They then continued their dominance by eliminating Carolina in just five games.
The Lightning will face off against the Isles, a team that has emerged victorious in seven out of their last nine games. Despite falling behind in the first round against Pittsburgh, they managed to bounce back and progress beyond the Penguins, followed by the Bruins.
In this analysis, we will review the Stanley Cup semifinals and explore the odds presented at online sportsbooks in West Virginia.
NHL playoffs betting at WV sportsbooks
Knights vs. Canadiens betting preview
Given that Montreal usually competes in the Eastern Conference, it is unlikely that we will witness this Stanley Cup semifinal matchup again.
This year, the Canadiens had a decent performance, although not many anticipated them to make significant progress in the playoffs. Wrapping up the regular season, they secured the fourth position in the North Division, amassing only 59 points.
However, it should be noted that the significance of your performance in the regular season is limited. Despite starting off poorly against the Maple Leafs, Montreal has displayed an exceptional performance.
One of the primary factors contributing to its recent triumph is the exceptional performance of veteran goalie Carey Price. Throughout this postseason, he has elevated his skills to unprecedented levels, instilling unwavering confidence in his team.
Price has a record of 8 wins and 3 losses in total, maintaining a commendable 1.97 goals-against average. Additionally, he impressively saves nearly 94% of the shots faced.
Tyler Toffoli, the right wing, is the frontrunner in goals and assists on the offensive front, accumulating a total of 10 points. Trailing closely behind is Nick Suzuki, the center, who holds the second position in the playoffs with eight points.
Despite a remarkable regular season, Vegas has faced numerous challenges throughout the playoffs. After a grueling seven-game series against Minnesota in the initial round, the Knights managed to conquer the Avs in six games.
In their previous four games, they managed to score a minimum of three goals each time, showcasing one of the most potent offenses in the NHL.
So far, William Karlsson has scored 11 points, surpassing all his teammates. However, there are eight skaters who have accumulated a minimum of seven points each.
Marc-Andre Fleury, the goalie for Vegas, has been exhibiting exceptional performance in hockey. With a record of 8 wins and 4 losses this postseason, he boasts an impressive 1.91 goals against average (GAA) and a save rate of approximately 92%.
As per DraftKings Sportsbook WV, the series is expected to commence with Vegas as the clear frontrunner. The online sportsbook displays odds of -400 for the Knights, while the Canadiens are listed at +315.
Naturally, Vegas holds the advantage as the home team in the opener as well. According to DraftKings, they are listed with odds of -265 to secure a victory in the first game of the series on Monday night. On the other hand, bettors have the option to place their bets on Montreal with odds of +222.
The Stanley Cup odds have shifted, favoring the Knights as the top contenders to win it all with a +115. Despite being considered underdogs this round, the Canadiens hold promising odds of +900, especially considering that only four teams remain in the competition.
Lightning vs. Islanders betting preview
On paper, the other semifinal appears to be gearing up for a slightly more competitive match.
Since entering the playoffs, Tampa Bay has seemed to have turned on a switch. The defending champion has been impressive in both of its matchups so far and has yet to fall behind in any series.
In the span of 11 games, Nikita Kucherov has been performing exceptionally well. With a total of 18 points, which includes an impressive 13 assists, he has been an absolute force. Additionally, there are four other players who have achieved double-digit points in the postseason, among them being defenseman Victor Hedman.
The Lightning pose a formidable challenge to opponents, both in terms of stopping their offense and preventing them from scoring.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, the goalie, appears to be a strong force with his impressive record of 8 wins and 3 losses, along with a remarkable 2.24 goals against average (GAA). Additionally, he is saving over 93% of the shots faced.
Despite falling behind in both of their series, the Islanders managed to come out victorious and secure a spot in the semifinals.
In their previous three games, they have successfully netted a total of 15 goals, showcasing their ability to score in rapid succession.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau is currently leading this group with a total of 13 points. Additionally, three other players have accumulated a minimum of 10 points, with center Brock Nelson notably contributing with two goals in the series-clinching win against Boston.
The goaltending duties on the Isles have been divided, with Semyon Varlamov starting in goal for seven games, while Ilya Sorokin has taken charge for the remaining five.
Since Varlamov has started the last five games, bettors should anticipate seeing him in Game 1. Currently, he boasts a goals against average (GAA) of 2.62 and a save percentage of approximately 93%.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook WV, Tampa is favored to advance at -250, while New York has odds of +200 to reach the finals.
The Lightning are the expected winners of the first game, as indicated by FanDuel’s odds of -186 in their favor. In contrast, the Isles have odds of +156.
Tampa is currently ranked second with odds of +145 to win the Stanley Cup, closely trailing behind Las Vegas. On the other hand, the Islanders are presented with odds of +600 for their chances of winning the championship.
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