The second-round series between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins could prove to be the real Stanley Cup final if the oddsmakers at online sportsbook Bodog have it right.
The Capitals and Penguins sit first and second on the updated Stanley Cup odds at Bodog, with Washington at +350 and Pittsburgh at +375.
After taking a 3-0 series lead over the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round the Capitals ended up needing six games to advance. The Penguins dispatched the New York Rangers in five games. Before knocking out New York the Penguins were a +950 underdog on the Stanley Cup odds at Bodog.
Pittsburgh took three of five contests against the Capitals this season. The last time they met in the playoffs in 2009 the series went seven games and Pittsburgh came out on top.
Four other teams have already punched their ticket to the second round of the playoffs, and from them the best odds are going to the Dallas Stars at +500. The Stars sent the Minnesota Wild packing in six games, but they still don’t know who their second-round opponent will be.
It will either be the Chicago Blackhawks or the St. Louis Blues, who face off in Game 7 of their opening-round series on Monday night. The Blackhawks are getting the better odds to win the Cup at Bodog right now at +800, while the Blues are at +1000.
Also advanced to the second round are the San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, and New York Islanders. The Sharks have moved up to +625 on the Stanley Cup futures after upsetting the Los Angeles Kings. The Lightning and Islanders will match up in the second round, but the oddsmakers don’t expect either to go all the way; the Lightning are a +1200 underdog and the Islanders are lower at +1400.
That leaves the Anaheim Ducks and Nashville Predators. The Predators once had a comfortable 2-0 lead in that series, but have dropped three in a row to sit one loss away from elimination. That could come as early as Monday night in Game 6. With Anaheim favored to win the series they are listed at +750 on the Stanley Cup futures. Nashville sits at the bottom of the list at +5000. If the Ducks can end it they’ll face San Jose next round.
Odds to win Stanley Cup at Bodog:
Washington Capitals +350
Pittsburgh Penguins +375
Dallas Stars +500
San Jose Sharks +625
Anaheim Ducks +750
Chicago Blackhawks +800
St. Louis Blues +1000
Tampa Bay Lightning +1200
New York Islanders +1400
Nashville Predators +5000