Posted on 5/8/2007 2:44:01 PM

NHL Betting - Conference Finals Odds

By Robby Maddux

The Ottawa Senators (EV) will face the Buffalo Sabres (-130) in the Eastern Conference finals with the winner earning a shot at the Stanley Cup. Ottawa has been to the playoffs the last ten years, but they have never made it to the finals in that span.

This matchup has been one of the most anticipated by hockey fans on both sides of the border since the Sabres dismissed Ottawa in five games of a second-round series last year.

Throughout the playoffs the fourth-seeded Senators have gotten rock-solid goaltending from Ray Emery; stellar play from their top line of Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson and Dany Heatley; solid defense (11 goals in five games) and timely plays from their role players.

 

Ottawa outscored Buffalo 33-25 in winning five of eight regular-season meetings, but the Sabres won two of the last three. That includes a 6-5 shootout win at Buffalo on Feb. 22, when the Sabres rallied from a two-goal deficit and overcame the loss of Chris Drury, who was knocked out and bloodied by Chris Neil's hit early in the second period which spawned a brawl.

The Senators are a little more rested, off since Saturday when they beat New Jersey 3-2 to clinch their series in five games. Ottawa is 5-1 in their last six road games. Buffalo also needed only five games to win its first-round series against Pittsburgh.

The Sabres, as the NHL's top-seeded team, will host Games 1 and 2 on Thursday and Saturday. The Sabres are 6-0 in their last six Thursday games. There's bad blood between the two, making this series even more exciting. The home team is 4-0 in the last four meetings.

In the Western Conference finals, the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings (-125) will battle the Anaheim Ducks (-105). It's the Red Wings first time back to the conference finals since winning the Stanley Cup in 2002.

Detroit parlayed strong goaltending and veteran experience into playoff success as they knocked out San Jose 4-2 to get here, while the Ducks needed just five games to dispose of Vancouver on Monday. The second-seeded Ducks will be playing in the conference finals for the second year in a row.

Play begins Friday in Detroit who'll host Games 1 and 2. The Red Wings are 4-1 in their last five vs. Western Conference appearances. Anaheim comes into the series much more rested than the Red Wings having not played since last Thursday. The Ducks are 4-1 in their last five road games.

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