For the past two years, the Avalanche were the favorite to win the Western Conference. But Colorado let down gamblers, their fans, and themselves with embarrassing choke jobs. Last year was an utter debacle when Colorado went up 2-0 against Vegas but lost the next four games. Now the Avalanche are a bigger NHL betting odds favorite than ever before. Bargain hunters are looking for a viable alternative in the Western Conference. Consider that anything is possible in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. St. Louis proved that when they won the 2019 Stanley Cup.
2022 Stanley Playoffs Western Conference Championship
| Date: | May 2 through June 30, 2022 |
|---|---|
| NHL Playoffs TV Coverage: | TNT, ESPN, ABC |
NHL Western Conference Championship Odds at SBG
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Colorado Avalanche | +135 |
| Calgary Flames | +375 |
| Minnesota Wild | +800 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +800 |
| St. Louis Blues | +1000 |
| Nashville Predators | +1600 |
| Dallas Stars | +1800 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +2200 |
SBG Odds Overview – Western Conference NHL Betting Analysis
Colorado blew away the rest of the Western Conference field. At the same time, the Avalanche led the regular season race from the start. Thus, their offshore betting status is understandable, though expensive.
Colorado Avalanche – Is the Third Time the Charm?
Colorado has one of the most prolific offenses seen in years. Specifically, the Avalanche has a deep lineup and plenty of secondary scoring. Defenseman Cale Makar is expected to win the Norris Trophy for best defenseman. Of major concern is that Colorado lacks defensive depth and proven playoff goaltenders.
Calgary Flames – Will the C Burn Out in the Playoffs?
The Calgary Flames use tight defense and strong goaltending for their success. And then they generate offense from creating mistakes by their opponents. Head coach Darryl Sutter is a taskmaster that runs a disciplined team. But will the Flames be worn down from the full effort in the marathon regular season?
Minnesota Wild – Out of the Dark Woods into Prominence
On the whole, Minnesota has been in a season-long fight for the second seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. Minnesota has impressive stats in most categories. However, their lack of historic success in the Playoffs bothers gamblers. Of great concern is that Minnesota hasn’t settled on a number one goaltender.
St. Louis Blues – Hitting Sweet Notes at Right Time
Of course, St. Louis won the 2019 Stanley Cup the old-fashioned way. To illuminate, the Blues used a heavy style of hockey based on the past formula of champions. The new-look Blues won with skill and offense this year. One worry is that 2019 Stanley Cup hero Jordan Binnington may lose his job as the number one goalie. Ville Husso was the far more consistent netminder in 2021-22.
Nashville Predators – Beware of the Hidden Threat
Fans and NHL betting handicappers consistently ignore Nashville. In turn, the Predators have been in wild card position for most of the season. But Nashville has mediocre stat rankings in all key categories. Nashville was slow and steady while other higher-ranked teams faltered.
Dallas Stars – Shooting Out?
Two years ago, the Stars were the Cinderella team of the 2020 NHL Playoffs. Dallas made the Stanley Cup Final that year. Finally, they ran out of gas against the Tampa Bay Lighting. The Stars are in playoff position because of a good work ethic and rising to the occasion at the right time. Dallas remains a team that is not reliable offensively. In like manner, their defense and goaltending are average.
2022 Western Conference Championship SBG Best Bet: St. Louis Blues.