With the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs officially wrapping up last night, May 5, oddsmakers are updating their numbers for the second round.
Of the eight teams left, the B.C. Lottery Corporation (BCLC) is giving the Vancouver Canucks the longest odds when it comes to winning the Stanley Cup, at 13 to 1.
"With just eight clubs left in the playoffs, the Oilers (5.25) and Florida Panthers (5.25) are the betting favourites on PlayNow to win the Stanley Cup," states BCLC in a press release. Those picks are followed by the Dallas Stars (5.75), New York Rangers (6.50) and Carolina Hurricanes, BCLC continues.
In fact, the BCLC's oddsmakers favour the Oilers in round two by a fair amount.
"The betting favourite is for the Oilers to defeat the Canucks in six games (4.00), followed behind Edmonton in 5 games (4.50), Edmonton in 7 games (5.75) and Edmonton in 4 games (6.50)," states BCLC. "The outcome with the shortest odds in Vancouver’s favour is the Canucks to win in 7 (7.00)."
Oddsmakers elsewhere are also putting Edmonton in the driver's seat, despite the season series going to the Canucks (though most games happened at the start of the season when the Oilers had a terrible record), and the Canucks finishing the season above the Oilers.
Staff at the NHL's official site heavily favour the Oilers, with only one of their 15 pundits picking the Canucks. ESPN asked 24 experts and ex-NHLers and 23 picked the Oilers, including Mark Messier. Financial magazine Forbes also gives the Oilers the advantage.
One person who is betting on the Canucks is Premier David Eby, who responded to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith when she challenged him. The loser has to wear the other's jersey while giving a statement in their respective legislature.
