The opening round of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs is now just a day away. There are, as always, 8 different series on tap for the first round, and while some of those match-ups look like a foregone conclusion, there are a few where we might just see the underdog spring the upset.
I think we can immediately forget the idea of either of the #1 seeds going out in the opening round, as both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Calgary Flames look to have a match-up that they should be able to handle without too much fuss. With that in mind, let’s take a look at a few series where the upset might be an NHL betting option.
2019 NHL Postseason: Underdogs Worth to Wage On
GOOSEBUMPS #StanleyCup Playoffs begin Wednesday, April 10th! pic.twitter.com/nPqMtrjUV7
— NHL (@NHL) 8 de abril de 2019
New York Islanders vs Pittsburgh Penguins
The Islanders finished the season with 3 more points than the Penguins, which was enough to give them home-ice advantage in this series, yet they are in as a slight underdog for this one. There really was very little to separate these two teams in the regular season, as they split their 4 games, with each team winning at home and on the road.
The Penguins score a lot more than the Islanders do, but they are going to be running into the best defensive units in the league. New York were the only team in the NHL regular season to surrender fewer than 200 goals. If this defense stays hot, they could well be moving on.
2019 NHL Postseason Betting Trends
- Pittsburgh is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
- Pittsburgh is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Pittsburgh’s last 8 games on the road
- NY is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
- NY is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of NY Islanders’s last 6 games at home
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Boston Bruins
The Bruins took 3 of 4 from the Maple Leafs in their regular season series, so it is perhaps no real surprise that Boston are in as the favorite. Toronto still have a very young squad, but that is something that might well play into their favor. They will probably all still have some gas left in the tank, plus they will be tired of hearing that they are simply not quite experienced enough to make a deep run in the postseason.
This is a huge rivalry series where emotions are sure to come into play. The team that handles that the best will move on. I have Boston representing the East in the Stanley Cup Final, so while I like them to win this series, a split in the opening two games for Toronto could cast the seeds of doubt.
2019 NHL Postseason Betting Trends
- Toronto is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
- Toronto is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto’s last 6 games on the road
- Boston is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games
- Boston is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games
- The total has gone OVER in 7 of Boston’s last 9 games
Dallas Stars vs Nashville Predators
The Predators made a late run in the season to pip the Winnipeg Jets for the Central Division crown. This is a confident bunch-backed by one of the best defenses in the league. If the old chestnut about defense winning championships holds true, then you have to consider the Predators to be a very good Stanley Cup pick.
That said, they are going against a division rival, Dallas Stars, that they didn’t exactly dominate in the regular season. The Predators won the season series, but only by 3-2, with 2 of the 5 games requiring OT to decide. When you have a match-up that has proven to be tight, a little run of luck can make all the difference. The Predators should move on here, but will it be as straightforward for them as so many believe it will be?
2019 NHL Postseason Betting Trends
- Dallas is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Nashville
- Dallas is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games on the road
- The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Dallas’s last 19 games on the road
- Nashville is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
- Nashville is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Nashville’s last 12 games
