2021-2022 NHL Eastern Conference Odds:
2021-2022 NHL Western Conference Odds:
The first round of the NHL playoffs has concluded, and we have four teams left in each conference. There seems to be a heavy favorite in the Western Conference, but the Eastern Conference is anyone’s guess at this point. As we continue into the second round, let’s look at the updated odds on the Conference Championship.
Western Conference
Colorado Avalanche
The Avs are heavy favorites to advance to the Stanley Cup as we enter the second round, and they will look to keep up all the momentum they have going for them. Colorado was the only team to sweep their first-round opponent, the Nashville Predators, and finished with six points more than any other team in the West. Jared Bednar has his team playing well and poised to win their first Stanley Cup in over 20 years.
The Pack
The Calgary Flames are the second favorite to advance, while the Edmonton Oilers and St. Louis Blues are big longshots to be playing for the Cup. Calgary finished with 111 regular season points, third in the conference, and went through a tough seven game battle with the Dallas Stars in the first round.
Edmonton struggled, surprisingly, with the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, but they advanced in seven games and set up a Battle of Alberta in the second round with Calgary. The Oilers finished with 104 regular season points.
St. Louis beat the Minnesota Wild in six games but are big longshots because they must go through Colorado in the second round. The Blues had 109 regular season points.
Four of the top five teams remain in the West and it should be a battle over the next few weeks.
Eastern Conference
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes are the slight favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference after getting through a tough first round series with the Boston Bruins. It took seven games, but the Canes advanced and set up a second round series against the New York Rangers. Carolina had 116 points in the regular season, second most in the Eastern Conference.
Have a Shot
The Battle for Florida is second round matchup, and those two teams are right behind Carolina in the book’s eyes. Tampa Bay, the two-time defending champs, got past the Toronto Maple Leafs in a tough seven game first round series. Florida needed six games to get past the Washington Capitals but did not look impressive the entire series.
Florida was the best team in the East, and the league, with 122 points in the regular season. Tampa Bay finished fifth in the East with 110 points.
Long Shot
The New York Rangers are a young team and are not expected to get out of the second round. They barely escaped a tough first round series where they needed seven games to get past the Pittsburgh Penguins. New York was the fourth best team with 110 points in the regular season.
Like the Western Conference, four of the best five teams remain, but unlike the West it would not be a surprise to see any of these four teams battling for the Stanley Cup.
