Steve Starr
- BetOnline has posted updated 2021 NHL Division Futures after a few teams punched their tickets to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs
- Colorado is a -180 favorite in the West division after sweeping the Blues in Round 1
- The Bruins are -190 chalk in the East following their impressive victory over former captain Zdeno Chara and the Capitals
The Stanley Cup Playoffs always deliver their fair share of surprises and this year is no exception. While favorites like the Avalanche, Bruins and Lightning survived and advanced, teams like the Jets and Predators have come out of nowhere over the past week.
Let’s look at the latest odds on what clubs will come out of each NHL division with the postseason in full swing, and be sure to check out our NHL betting tips page for advice on how to wager on hockey.
NHL East Division Odds
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| Boston Bruins | -190 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | +285 |
| New York Islanders | +425 |
Bruins dominate Capitals
With a dominant 4-1 series victory over the Capitals and former captain Zdeno Chara, the Bruins’ championship core proved they may have one more Cup run in them. Now awaiting the winner of the Penguins (+285) and Islanders (+425) series, Boston is a -190 favorite to win the East Division and advance to the NHL Conference Finals.
Owner of a career .927 playoff save percentage, Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask looks to be in peak form and sharpshooter David Pastrnak is finally heating up after a below-average 2021 season, scoring two goals and two assists in Game 4 and Game 5 wins over Washington.
What a goal from David Pastrnak. Wow.
1-0 Boston. pic.twitter.com/CWNoIOEYbH
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) May 24, 2021
NHL Central Division Odds
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| Tampa Bay Lightning | +125 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +175 |
| Nashville Predators | +600 |
| Florida Panthers | +1400 |
Lightning and Canes to clash?
After circumventing the NHL’s salary cap and activating former Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov for the postseason, the reigning Cup champs in Tampa Bay (+125) are an automatic bet to come out of the Central division. The Lightning will either face Carolina (+175) or Nashville (+600), who notched two double-overtime victories in a row to get back in their series against the heavily-favored Hurricanes.
Given the play of Finnish netminder Jusse Saros, who made 110 saves in Games 3 and 4 alone, we recommend betting the Predators to win the series at +210 at BetOnline.
NHL West Division Odds
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| Colorado Avalanche | -180 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +130 |
| Minnesota Wild | +3300 |
Avalanche and Golden Knights
While everyone would like to make a legendary playoff victory guarantee like Mark Messier, they rarely work out. The latest failed rallying cry came from St. Louis captain Ryan O’Reilly who predicted they would beat the Avalanche in their first-round series before his Blues were swept in four straight.
Colorado is -180 chalk to win the West – but the Golden Knights (+130) certainly will be no pushovers in their titanic round two clash. The Avs will be without center Nazem Kadri after he got himself suspended in the playoffs yet again, and history is working against them in the sense that Presidents’ Trophy winners have won the Stanley Cup only eight times since the 1985-86 season.
Will history repeat itself for the @Avalanche? 😉#GoAvsGo | #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/R8XCI0uC3G
— AltitudeTV (@AltitudeTV) May 24, 2021
NHL North Division Odds
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| Toronto Maple Leafs | -160 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +250 |
| Montreal Canadiens | +500 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +1600 |
Winnipeg upends Edmonton
Toronto (-160) is still favored to emerge from the North despite a Game 1 loss to the Canadiens (+500) that also cost them captain John Tavares for an undefined period – but is Winnipeg (+250) getting enough credit?
After having no trouble with Edmonton’s Hart Trophy combo of Leon Draisaitl (2020) and Connor McDavid (2021), the Jets are plenty capable of slowing down the Leafs’ dynamic duo of Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews. Winnipeg is deep down the middle with Mark Scheifele and Pierre-Luc Dubois, and will enjoy a huge edge in net with 2020 Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck between the pipes.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
