The National Hockey League playoff race is as close as it?s ever been, and that will likely translate into some heated playoff series over the next couple of months.
And that, in turn, should translate into some cold hard cash for bettors, as they parlay what are traditionally low-scoring, more predictable games into paydays on both Moneyline and Game Total wagers.
BetED has this annual rite of spring, also known as the Stanley Cup playoffs, completely covered, with Daily Lines and lots of Future bets to choose from.
The Futures offer some very enticing bets, like serious Stanley Cup contender San Jose Sharks at +800 to win it all, or the Anaheim Ducks, a pre-season favorite and still a very strong candidate to win the Cup, at +600.
While the Western Conference playoff teams were pretty much solidified this week, there?s still lots of jockeying for position in the Eastern Conference, with four teams in a heated battle for the eighth and final playoff spot.
The New York Rangers, who sit in seventh, are one point away from clinching a playoff position. They play Thursday at home against the Montreal Canadiens and Saturday at the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are sixth with 92 points and are at home to cross-state rival the Florida Panthers Friday and then play Saturday at the Atlanta Thrashers. While they're only two points ahead of eighth-place Montreal, they?re also just one point behind the Thrashers for the Southeast Division lead and the automatic No. 3 seed in the conference, making Saturday?s game huge.
The Canadiens, clinging to the final spot, have 90 points and after the Rangers Thursday they play what should be the game of the weekend: a Saturday night clash with longtime, Original Six rival Toronto Maple Leafs, who are in ninth ? one point behind Montreal. It is quite likely the winner of that battle will slip into the playoffs, while the loser will hit the links early.
But first, Toronto plays the New York Islanders, who are three points behind in 10th place.
Some close battles, and lots of great betting opportunities lay ahead.
And that, in turn, should translate into some cold hard cash for bettors, as they parlay what are traditionally low-scoring, more predictable games into paydays on both Moneyline and Game Total wagers.
BetED has this annual rite of spring, also known as the Stanley Cup playoffs, completely covered, with Daily Lines and lots of Future bets to choose from.
The Futures offer some very enticing bets, like serious Stanley Cup contender San Jose Sharks at +800 to win it all, or the Anaheim Ducks, a pre-season favorite and still a very strong candidate to win the Cup, at +600.
While the Western Conference playoff teams were pretty much solidified this week, there?s still lots of jockeying for position in the Eastern Conference, with four teams in a heated battle for the eighth and final playoff spot.
The New York Rangers, who sit in seventh, are one point away from clinching a playoff position. They play Thursday at home against the Montreal Canadiens and Saturday at the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are sixth with 92 points and are at home to cross-state rival the Florida Panthers Friday and then play Saturday at the Atlanta Thrashers. While they're only two points ahead of eighth-place Montreal, they?re also just one point behind the Thrashers for the Southeast Division lead and the automatic No. 3 seed in the conference, making Saturday?s game huge.
The Canadiens, clinging to the final spot, have 90 points and after the Rangers Thursday they play what should be the game of the weekend: a Saturday night clash with longtime, Original Six rival Toronto Maple Leafs, who are in ninth ? one point behind Montreal. It is quite likely the winner of that battle will slip into the playoffs, while the loser will hit the links early.
But first, Toronto plays the New York Islanders, who are three points behind in 10th place.
Some close battles, and lots of great betting opportunities lay ahead.
