2019 NHL Playoff First-Round Series Props: Odds Say Blue Jackets Take 1 Game

• A series of prop bets have been offered focused on exact outcomes of NHL first-round Stanley Cup series
• Since 2014, 43 percent of all first-round series (15 of 35) have required a Game 7
• Overall, 71 percent of all series (53 of 75) have extended to six or seven games since the division-focused format was introduced in 2014 

Last spring, the Columbus Blue Jackets put a scare into the heavily-favored Washington Capitals. Columbus, the no. 7 seed in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, grabbed a 2-0 series lead against no. 2 Washington before succumbing in six games.

Teams that take a 1-0 lead in a best-of-seven #StanleyCup Playoffs series own an all-time series record of 467-214 (68.5%). #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/Y1ZoUwwWSt

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 10, 2019

Can the Blue Jackets strike similar fear this year into the top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning?

Offering a series of prop bets on specific series outcomes, the sportsbook pegs the Lightning at odds of +500 to sweep the series.  But the lowest price on that set is +275 for Tampa Bay taking it in five games.

More than half of the @BlueJacketsNHL’s all-time playoff games have been decided by a one-goal margin (12 of 21).

Overall, 50% of all playoff games since 2014 have been decided by one goal (221 of 444), the highest percentage of any format. https://t.co/sBuZmDZKIl #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/Tq0bO6ymtA

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 9, 2019

Let’s look at a few of the best bets in these Stanley Cup playoff prop wager offerings.

New York Islanders vs Pittsburgh Penguins Exact Series Odds

*All odds taken 04/10/19

Logically, you’re probably leaning toward the Pittsburgh Penguins defeating the New York Islanders. After all, the Pens have won two of the last three Stanley Cups. They have Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The Islanders have one playoff series win since 1993.

Game 1: @penguins vs. @NYIslanders

Sidney Crosby has recorded 185 career points in the #StanleyCup Playoffs (66-119—185 in 160 GP), tied with Steve Yzerman (70-115—185 in 196 GP) for 10th place in NHL history.

More #NHLStats: https://t.co/S5dqQxL7Mu pic.twitter.com/PIFoeeQDb1

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 10, 2019

We’re here to offer a word of warning – don’t go there. When it comes to the playoffs, the Islanders are Pittsburgh’s kryptonite.

This will be the fourth time the Pens and Isles have thrown down in a Stanley Cup series. So far, it’s 3-0 Islanders. Each time that they’ve met, the series has gone the distance – two seven-game wins and one victory in a five-game set in 1982.

The Islanders rallied from a 3-0 series deficit to beat Pittsburgh in 1975. In 1993, the Isles dethroned the two-time defending champion Penguins on David Volek’s Game 7 OT goal. Last season, as coach of the Capitals, Islanders bench boss Barry Trotz devised the game plan that dethroned the two-time champion Penguins.

The Isles can do one thing very well that the Pens can’t – play defense. New York won the Jennings Trophy for the NHL’s lowest goals-against average. And defense wins in the playoffs.

Boston Bruins vs Toronto Maple Leafs Exact Series Odds

No team has endured a longer drought between Stanley Cup final appearances than the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto’s last appearance was a six-game win over the Montreal Canadiens in the 1966-67 final during the last season of the six-team NHL.

But that’s nothing compared to the playoff drought the Leafs have endured against the Boston Bruins. You have to go all the way back to the spring of 1959 to find Toronto advancing in a postseason series against Boston.

You have to go all the way back to the spring of 1959 to find Toronto advancing in a postseason series against Boston.

The Bruins have won five straight, taking the most recent meetings in 2013 and last spring in the maximum seven games.

The Leafs have plenty of firepower, but they’ve lived this season by seeking to outscore opponents, and that formula rarely works in the postseason. Boston will forecheck Toronto’s turnover-prone defense relentlessly and is a much harder team to play against than the Leafs.

San Jose Sharks vs Vegas Golden Knights Exact Series Odds

Last year, the Vegas Golden Knights were the Cinderella story of the Stanley Cup. The first-year expansion team rolled all the way to the Cup final series before falling to Washington.

Do you feel the Vegas will be that lucky again? Well, do you?

You shouldn’t.

Their first-round opponents, the San Jose Sharks, are built for the playoffs – well-stocked with stout defenders, rich in scoring depth.

Game 1: @GoldenKnights vs. @SanJoseSharks @Burnzie88 (15-28—43 in 63 GP) is five postseason points shy of tying Dan Boyle (11-37—48 in 62 GP) for the most by a defenseman in franchise history.

More #NHLStats: https://t.co/FrBXPOxbtY #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/AHaI4LHjfg

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 10, 2019

Their only flaw is G Martin Jones and his .896 save percentage, which will help to keep the Golden Knights alive in the series.