Sports Betting Tips

Stanley Cup Finals - Thoughts, Picks and Betting Tips

The NHL conference champions have been crowned and it is time for the Stanley Cup Finals. Regardless of how you feel about hockey being played in June, you have to admit that this year's finals match-up is a strong one. The Western conference is represented by the Chicago Blackhawks, while the Eastern conference sends the Philadelphia Flyers to battle for the Cup. Sportsbooks have installed the Blackhawks as the favorites, coming in at around -270, while the Flyers are getting something in the +220 range as underdogs.

Talented Rosters

Both of these teams have deep, talented, young players. Most people will be quick to give the talent edge to Chicago with the likes of Kane, Toews, Sharp, Hossa and Byfuglien up front, and Campbell, Keith, Seabrook and Bolland on defence. Looking at those names, it's hard to argue against the Blackhawks being favorites, but Philadelphia isn't exactly filled with minor league talent. They have gritty and skilled forwards to go along with a punishing defence that are exceptional at blocking shots and clearing rebounds. This will be a closely contested series, with Chicago looking to utilize their speed and Philadelphia looking to neutralize said speed with their physical prowess.

Goaltenders

Both teams feature unlikely heroes between the pipes. Antti Niemi and Michael Leighton are pretty much the furthest thing from household names, yet it wouldn't be wise to dismiss either of their skills. However, for the purpose of handicapping this series, I would consider the goaltending matchup to be a push, with neither team having a real advantage.

Public Opinion

Before the Eastern Conference finals were even finished, I was seeing television "experts" already stepping out and saying that the Blackhawks will win the Stanley Cup. This seems to be the popular opinion among casual and hardcore fans, as well--which raises a red flag for me. Every time it seems like everyone is on one side, the other side wins, and I would not be surprised if that were to happen once again here in the Stanley Cup Finals. Momentum is huge in the NHL playoffs, and the Flyers enter the finals riding about as high as humanly possible. Remember: this is a team is that made NHL history when they came back from a 3-0 series deficit to Boston in the second round, winning 8 of their last 9 games. They are feeling unbeatable at the moment, and I can't help but be reminded of the Boston Red Sox back in 2003 when they came back from a 3-0 deficit. Once the ball starts rolling, it's hard to stop.

My Picks and Tips

So, what's the best way to approach betting on the Stanley Cup finals? From a pure value perspective, Philadelphia is the obvious choice. They have a much better shot than the +220 odds that they are getting, and combined with their magical playoff run to this point, a strong case could be made for betting on the Flyers.

Personally, I see this series going a minimum of six games, no matter who wins. This makes proposition betting a very attractive option. My advice: bet on whichever team you think is going to win the Cup to win in six games and also in seven games. The odds are: Chicago in 6 (+375), Chicago in 7 (+350), Philly in 6 (+650), Philly in 7 (+700). As you can see, a nice payday is waiting for you if you lay it down on a six or seven game series--particularly with the Flyers.

Check out more of our sports betting tips articles to become a smarter sports better. Knowledge is power, folks.  Best of luck, and please gamble responsibly!

-ajec