NHL Stanley Cup Betting

Coming off a first-round elimination versus the eighth-seeded Edmonton Oilers in 2006 and a six-game loss to eventual Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks in the 2007 Western Conference finals, nothing short of raising hockey’s most cherished prize would be accepted by the Detroit Red Wings, who ousted the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games in the 2008 NHL betting Finals to hoist the Stanley Cup for the 11th time in franchise history.

After winning by a combined 7-0 in the first two games in Detroit, Chris Osgood posted a 19-save effort in a 4-0 series-opening blanking and stopped 22 shots in a 3-0 Game 2 win for back-to-back shutouts as his third of the 2008 playoffs and 13th of his postseason career. Osgood became the first goalie to earn shutouts in the first two games of the finals since New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur did it in 2003 against Anaheim.

When play shifted to the Steel City for Game 3, Sidney Crosby scored Pittsburgh’s first two goals of the Stanley Cup finals and carried the Penguins to a 3-2 victory to put the series at 2-1. With the win, the Penguins improved to 9-0 at home in the playoffs and won 17 straight at Mellon Arena, dating to a loss to San Jose on Feb. 24.

With Game 4 also played at Mellon Arena, things were looking brighter for the online NHL wagering community in the Steel City where the dash-and-cash kids had played so well, having a great shot to tie the series at two apiece. Instead, the Wings ending a nine-game home playoff winning streak and a 17-game victory streak at the Igloo, dating to the regular season. Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury’s 19-game winning streak at home also ended with the 2-1 defeat.

Now, the Pens were down 3-1 and facing elimination with Game 5 back in Detroit and history wasn't on their side, because only the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs have battled back from a 3-1 deficit to win the Stanley Cup. But in what was the greatest game of the NHL online betting finals, Pittsburgh didn't lay down and earned a 4-3 triple-OT win, depriving the octopus loving folks in Motown of witnessing its club winning the Cup on home ice.

Pittsburgh's historic win put them back into the series with only a 3-2 deficit to erase with Cup play shifting back to the Steel City for Game 6. But not even Mellon Arena, which opened in 1961 and has been the Pens’ home since 1967, could lift Pittsburgh to a victory in the last game ever played there which resulted in a six-game series ending 3-2 loss. Detroit won the best-of-seven series as the favorites priced in the BetUS NHL odds at -170.

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!