We are down to eight. The first round of the National Hockey league extended season is in the books and there were some shockers and exciting hockey the past two weeks.
The playoffs pickup on Thursday with some intriguing matchups in the second round. We'll start with the 4th seed Chicago Blackhawks who head to Vancouver to take on the 3rd seed Canucks. Chicago is coming off their 4-2 series win over Calgary while Vancouver is well rested, sweeping St. Louis in four games. Vancouver is a serious threat to win the Western Conference Championship. The online gambling web site Bodog has Vancouver at 9/4 to win the West and 5/1 to win the 2009 Stanley Cup. Also at Bodog Sportsbook, Chicago is 4/1 to win the West and 7/1 to take home the Cup. In game one, The Greek Sportsbook has early odds with the Canucks -150 favorites or you can bet the puck line at -1.5 +195. The total is set at 5.
The other Western Conference matchup is one that not many people expected. The Anaheim Ducks came in to the playoffs as the 8th seed but dominated the series over San Jose and defeated the Sharks in six games. They'll face the defending Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings who hardly broke a sweat in their 4-0 sweep of Columbus. Detroit is the odds on favorite to repeat as champs. They are 5/4 to win the West and 5/2 to win it all. Anaheim, one of the biggest underdog on the board is 9/2 at Bodog to win the West and 9/1 to win the Cup. In game one, Detroit is -240, -1.5 +120 with a 5.5 total at the Greek.
In the East we have a couple of intriguing matchups as well. Carolina, the #6 seed came back in dramatic fashion to defeat the New Jersey Devils in seven games. They'll now face the number one team in the East, Boston Bruins who took care of Montreal in only four games. Carolina comes in as 4/1 to win the Eastern Conference and they are the largest longshot on the board at 15/1 to win the Cup. Bodog has Boston at 6/5 to win the East and 4/1 to take home the trophy. In game one Boston is a 2/1 favorite.
Finally we have what could be a very good series between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins. Pittsburgh took care of Philadelphia in six games while Washington needed all seven and got all they can handle with their series with the New York Rangers. Washington is 5/2 to win the East and 6/1 to win it all while Pittsburgh is 7/4 to win the East and 4/1 to win the Cup. In game one at Washington on Saturday, the Caps are -155 and -1.5 +180.
