Last year the Predators were the surprise champion of the Western Conference. Nashville is now the favorite to repeat and make a second straight Stanley Cup Final appearance. Now the surprise team with the Stanley Cup Playoff Odds is Vegas. Starting as an expansion team the Golden Knights won the Pacific Division. But playoff hockey is a very different beast. And the Western Conference has a lineup of potential champions. Winnipeg is an emerging power. Los Angeles is a proven past champ. Anaheim and San Jose are more than capable.
2018 Stanley Cup Playoff Odds
Date and Time: Stanley Cup Playoffs begin April 11, 2018
Location: Check Schedules
NHL Betting Online Odds at SBG: Click here!
2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs TV Coverage: Check Listings
Who to Bet On?
Nashville opened as a 2/1 choice to win the Western Conference. Plenty of gamblers tab the Predators as chalks for the Stanley Cup Playoff Odds. Vegas is an 11/4 choice for the Western Conference championship. Winnipeg has a price of 3/1. At 17/2 is San Jose. Anaheim will garner 10/1 betting action as a potential bargain. Two-time champion Los Angeles has a cost of 12/1. Minnesota carries that same price as LA. Longshot 15/1 odds go to Colorado. There are four opening best of seven series in the Western Conference.
Nashville Predators (53-18-11) vs. Colorado Avalanche (43-30-9)
Nashville won the President’s Trophy as best team in the regular season. Improved from last year they are a worthy favorite. Predators defenseman PK Subban is one of the most dynamic players in the game. Colorado was one of the worst teams in the NHL last year. Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon is a MVP candidate with 39 goals and 58 assists. Dominant Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne is the difference here.
Winnipeg Jets (52-20-10) vs. Minnesota Wild (45-26-11)
Winnipeg has the metrics of a champion. Though not a popular sportsbook pick on the ice the Jets are a superb team. Offensively the Jets were the second highest scoring team the league. Right wing Patrik Lane led with 44 goals. Minnesota coach Bruce Boudreau is renowned for playoff failures. Comparatively the Wild cannot match the depth of the Jets.
Vegas Golden Knights (51-24-7) vs. Los Angeles Kings (45-29-8)
Los Angeles retains much of the core of its 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup titles. Anze Kopitar had a career year for the Kings. As team captain he delivered with 35 goals and 57 assists. Goaltender Jonathan Quick is in top form. Vegas is a phenomenal story. But the Golden Knights can’t match LA defensively. And playoff hockey is all about defense.
Anaheim Ducks (44-25-13) vs. San Jose Sharks (45-27-10)
Few series are as even with the Stanley Cup Playoff Odds. Anaheim goaltender John Gibson broke out with a fine season and .926 save percentage. Ducks center Rickard Rakell led with 34 goals. San Jose was surprisingly resurgent this year. But the Sharks are not quite up to par defensively.
2018 Stanley Cup Playoff Odds Picks
Los Angeles may have gotten the best draw in the opening round. Vegas won over a lot of gamblers as Pacific champions. Yet nobody clamps down like the Kings. LA allowed the fewest goals in the NHL this season. Kings star defenseman Drew Doughty is top shelf.
NHL Betting Online Picks: Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets
Watch PK Subban highlights from the 2017 playoffs!