Playing The Longshots In The NHL Playoffs

Given that sports betting is a losers game in the first place, why not try to win big? Sure, 20 bucks on the Canucks to win the Stanley Cup at 9-5 odds seems like a reasonable wager, but why not swing for the fences?

Online sportsbooks offer futures on each playoff team’s chances to take home the trophy, so let’s quickly rank the most intriguing options on the board.

Montreal Canadiens (20-1)

A hot goalie can carry a team a long ways, and Carey Price just finished a Vezina-worthy campaign for the Canadiens. They’re a fairly deep team, and the energy of their home crowds could be a big help in making a cup run.

The Habs are locked in a tight series with their longtime division rivals from Boston, but if they can take a commanding 3-1 lead with a win Thursday night at a raucous Bell Centre, they might be able to walk out of this series with a lot of confidence.

Anaheim Ducks (25-1)

Despite a goaltending situation that remains in flux, with Dan Ellis, Jonah Hiller and a reborn Ray Emery all putting in time, the Ducks entered the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in hockey, winning 15 of their last 20 to climb the NHL standings in the Western Conference from 11^th to fourth and making plenty of NHL news in the process. They have a Hart Trophy candidate in Corey Perry, the league’s only 50-goal scorer this season, anchoring their dangerous top line and the ageless Teemu Selanne coming off a remarkable 80-point season behind him.

It’s not the same veteran, defensive squad that won the 2007 Cup, but their best players are almost all holdovers from that team and know what it takes to make a deep playoff run. At 25-1, they’re definitely an interesting bet.

Chicago Blackhawks (80-1)

Yes, they backed their way into the playoffs. Yes, you can make the case they don’t even deserve to be in the discussion. And yes, they immediately sunk into a 3-0 hole against a phenomenal Canucks team.

But these are the defending Stanley Cup champions, and they’ve had Vancouver’s number over the last few years. There’s still a lot of they can stage a miracle comeback – like the Flyers did in last year’s playoffs – they’d roll into the second round with a ton of momentum and the rest of the NHL would have to start getting nervous.

And, really, at 80-1, you’re not asking for much.