Hockey Betting
NHL Hockey Betting - Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup Facts
Was first presented in 1893
It takes 13 years to fill the ring of the Stanley Cup with names of winners
Has been won a record 24 times by the Montreal Canadiens
Current Stanley Cup Champion - Carolina Hurricanes
The defending Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks were bounced from the playoffs. Now the title for the 2008-09 season is officially up for grabs. Eight teams remain in what promises to be a thrilling second-round. The question is who you should be putting your betting dollars on. Here’s a breakdown of the second round to make sure you are caught up on all our NHL hockey betting.
The favorites to win the Cup in our futures are still the Detroit Red Wings at +225. They dealt with a surly Nashville team, and are now staring the rival Colorado Avalanche in what looks to be a grueling series. Game 1 ended in a thrilling 4-3 overtime win for Detroit, but the question mark for the Wings remains between the pipes. Can Chris Osgood keep up his solid play, or will Hasek regain the top spot? The power play between the two may disrupt the team chemistry.
Colorado at +2000 looks like a great value bet because of their veteran leadership and youthful punch. Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg have united to reform the legendary Avalanche team of yester-year. With Jose Theodore playing with Conn Smythe caliber savvy, the Avs will be a dangerous team in the playoffs.
San Jose is favored at +450, while Dallas gets +800. Both will engage in a heated seven gamer starting Friday night, and that will prove hazardous to their health. Their last game in the regular season ended with a bench clearing brawl. San Jose has the edge on size, but Dallas has shown a fire in the playoffs that we haven’t seen before. And credit that to Brad Richards, who is as clutch in the playoffs as you can get.
The picture in the Eastern Conference is just as hazy. The Penguins lead the charge in our sportsbook with +400, and it’s difficult to argue against them. With Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin barreling forward, scoring won’t be a problem. It’s the goal tending that’s the real question mark. And they’re impossible to grade in the post season because the Ottawa Senators didn’t give them a fair challenge.
Montreal is probably the most feared team. The top-seeded team had the most potent offense in the league with 3.20 goals per game, have discovered an absolute stud in net. Carey Price, the twenty year-old phenom, has been a force of nature between the steel pipes. But Montreal will only go as far as Price, and that’s the price you pay when you lean on a young net minder.
The Rangers have the size, and are fairly pegged at +700. They have veterans out the nose, and a solid goal tender. They certainly have the ability to reward their betting faithful, but will have to get past the surging Penguins. New York has the best balance of size, scoring, speed and defense in the NHL right now. Literally, they don’t have many weak links and will reward their betting investors.
BetUS.com will have full Stanley Cup Championship coverage in the Locker Room. As always, our lines are the best in the business. To get in touch with the BetUS.com hockey analyst, and to ensure you get the best bonuses in the industry, call 1-888-99-BETUS ext. 2305. Good luck and enjoy the second round!