The Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks meet in Stanley Cup Finals hockey betting action beginning on Saturday with Game 1 in Chicago. There are some excellent options on the board for those making a hockey bet on the series including the series price.
Hockey betting odds favor Chicago to win the Stanley Cup. Chicago is more than a 2-1 favorite to beat the Flyers in the series. Chicago is also a solid favorite in Game 1 on Saturday. The Stanley Cup Finals is really a matchup of experience vs. youth. The Flyers are the veteran team with some experienced players like Chris Pronger and Mike Richards while the Blackhawks are the young and talented team led by players like Jonathan Toews and Dustin Bfuglien.
Even though the Flyers have older players who are experienced, they don’t have much Stanley Cup Final experience. Only Pronger and Ville Leino have ever been in a finals game. None of the other Philadelphia players have ever made the Stanley Cup Final. Ian Laperriere is in his 15th year and this is his first final. Simon Gagne made the conference finals three times but this is his first trip to the Cup final.
Chicago is a very talented team with a lot of young talent. Patrick Kane led the team with 88 points this season. Marian Hossa was the plus/minus leader. Those two are not even considered the best two players on the team. Toews and Bfuglien are considered young stars. The Blackhawks also have a good young goaltender in Antti Niemi.
Those making a hockey bet will notice that Chicago has the statistical advantage in this series. The Blackhawks were third in the league in goals scored this season. They were first in the league in shots per game. They were 6th in the league in fewest goals allowed. Their penalty killing was excellent, ranking 4th in the league. The Flyers were 8th in the league in goals per game while they finished 15th in the league in goals allowed. Their penalty killing was 12th in the league.
Philadelphia is trying to become the first team to defeat three straight Original Six franchises in the playoffs since 1992. In 1992, the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks.