Many experts and fans have seen their NHL Stanley Cup playoff predictions go up in smoke after the first round. All four division winners were ousted after the opening round and we have chaos. The Tampa Bay Lightning won the President’s Trophy, but that did not get them a single win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The final eight is a group that may be lower seeds, but they each have the tools to make a deep run. There may be four wild cards left, but they can all do damage.
Making Sense of NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions
Many had the Lightning, Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals in the mix to win the Stanley Cup. All of these contenders had the credentials to hoist the silver chalice. However, they were all tripped in the first round.
Tampa Bay was stopped by the relentless forecheck of Columbus. Winnipeg was stopped by the timely scoring of the St. Louis Blues. The Colorado Avalanche stopped the Flames and Nashville couldn’t get started against the Dallas Stars. Washington couldn’t hold back the relentless Carolina Hurricanes in its quest to retain the Stanley Cup.
This year’s playoffs were so wacky that NHL.com offered a Second Chance Bracket challenge for the first time in its history. Brackets were busted like another popular and upset-laden tournament that takes place in March.
No pick is a sure thing this season and upsets can still happen. Carolina still has a two games to none lead over the New York Islanders in the conference semifinals. Anything can still happen in this year’s race for the Stanley Cup. Parity is king in the NHL this year.
The Last Word
This year’s NHL playoffs have resembled NCAA college basketball’s March Madness with all of the upsets. It’s hard to keep track of the changing odds. However, you can keep up with the best NHL playoff odds and betting lines today. Compare and find the best odds for every single NHL game on the betting board for the 2019 Playoffs with Canada Sports Betting.
There’s still time for people to get something out of this year’s playoffs if you wish. Odds are you will find what you are looking for with Canada Sports Betting and all of their wide variety of options.
COLUMBUS, OH – APRIL 16: Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) celebrates with Columbus Blue Jackets center Matt Duchene (95) and Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Artemi Panarin (9) after winning the Stanley Cup first round playoff game four between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 16, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
