Steve Starr
- BetOnline has updated 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff odds on the matchups in the West and Central divisions
- The Vegas Golden Knights dropped Game 1 of their series against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday
- Colorado and Carolina opened as huge favorites in their first-round clashes with St. Louis and Nashville
This year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs is off and running, but the start dates for the postseason matchups are staggered across the league’s four divisions. After checking in for updated NHL Series Prices in the East and North yesterday, today we’ll look at the latest odds for the four divisional playoff battles in the Central and West.
Find series odds for the Lightning/Panthers, Predators/Hurricanes, Wild/Golden Knights and Blues/Avalanche below and be sure to check out our NHL betting tips page for advice on how to wager on hockey.
2021 NHL Series Prices – Central and West
 |
|
| Predators To Win Series | +200 |
| Hurricanes To Win Series | -240 |
| Lightning To Win Series | -330 |
| Panthers To Win Series | +275 |
| Wild To Win Series | -105 |
| Golden Knights To Win Series | -115 |
| Blues To Win Series | +420 |
| Avalanche To Win Series | -525 |
Golden Knights in an early hole
While the Golden Knights had the third-best odds to win the Stanley Cup before the postseason began, they now trail their best-of-seven series with the Wild after a 1-0 overtime loss in Game 1. Vegas is still a -115 favorite to advance to the second round – and we’d avoid making that bet as Minnesota has now won six of seven contests against them this year. Given they’re up a game in the series, getting the Wild at almost EVEN odds (-105) is a strong value.
In the postseason for the first time in five years, the Panthers are also in a 1-0 series hole to the defending Stanley Cup champs in Tampa Bay, who oddsmakers believe have a -330 of advancing after their 5-4 victory over Florida in Game 1. After sitting out the year as part of a cap circumvention ploy, 2019 NHL MVP Nikita Kucherov returned from injury in a big way, recording two goals and an assist in the win.
The Lightning aren’t the Lightning without Nikita Kucherov. https://t.co/LixIRZiCk9
— Defector (@DefectorMedia) May 17, 2021
With both the Russian sniper and Steven Stamkos back in the fold, the Lightning shouldn’t find it to hard to advance past their cross-state rivals, but given how entertaining and high-flying Game 1 was, let’s hope the Panthers can string a few wins together and extend the series.
Avalanche and Hurricanes open as big favorites
After securing the best record in the NHL over the regular season, the Avalanche are huge -525 favorites to get past the Blues. However, since the 1985-86 season, Presidents’ Trophy winners have won the Stanley Cup only eight times. St. Louis is only one season removed from winning the Cup in 2019 but despite having many of the same players, haven’t been able to regain that magical form.
Nathan MacKinnon is averaging 1.35 points per game throughout his playoff career(fourth-highest total in NHL history) and Cale Makar anchors one of the best blue lines in the league. It’s difficult to envision a Blues upset, even with juicy +420 odds.
Nathan MacKinnon chose fast ball on this one. ⚾ pic.twitter.com/vArm8TMLP9
— NHL (@NHL) April 13, 2021
Carolina is also heavy chalk (-240) to get by the Predators, a team that was looking like trade-deadline sellers before rallying in the second half. The Hurricanes won six of seven meetings with Nashville this season and Rod Brind’Amour’s club has the playoff experience to match its talent, after making a surprising run to the 2019 Eastern Conference Final.
We don’t see an upset here either and think the Canes will advance to play Tampa Bay in the Central Division Final.
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