Stanely Cup Playoff Betting

Apr 25, 2008 | By Stan Leung | Picks Articles Archive

NHL Playoff Betting

2008 Stanley Cup Western Conference Semifinals
Dallas Stars +130 vs San Jose Sharks -150
Over/Under: 5
NHL playoff betting pick: Sharks -150

NHL Playoff Betting at Bet Jamaica

The San Jose Sharks have overcome their inability to play big and now after disposing of the Calgary Flames they are a team that knows how to win. Online sportsbook oddmakers currently have the Sharks listed as the 150 home moneyline favorites with the games total sitting at 5. The second-seeded Sharks will begin the second round tonight, as they host their rival Dallas Stars at HP Pavilion in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals tonight.

This will be high scoring affair and the Sharks just have many more weapons that the Stars do. After their hard fought win over the Flames the Sharks are in the zone while the Stars have been off which is not necessary a good thing in the NHL playoffs. San Jose has been pegged as playoff underachievers in recent years, but not after the way they play in round one. The biggest reason for San Jose's status as a Cup contender is the presence of the NHL's premier playmaker in center man Joe Thornton. The 2005-06 Hart Trophy winner had another excellent season with the Sharks this year, posting 96 points (29 goals, 67 assists) while playing in all 82 games.

The Stars will be hurt on the defensive end as Stars defenseman Sergei Zubov has been out since late January with a sports hernia. The Sharks will use all their talent to pressure the Star defense with the likes of Milan Michalek, Patrick Marleau, Jonathan Cheechoo, Devin Setoguchi, Jeremy Roenick, and Ryane Clowe.

The Stars can also score but may be rusty after a longer layoff. The team is older and long periods of rest may not be as beneficial as many people think. Though stack with a lot of forwards that can score their blue line will be their heel in tonight game as Stephane Robidas will be over work with tons of minutes.

Bottom Line: Betting wise you have to like the rabid crowd at the HP Pavilion in San Jose tonight. At -150 the odds are decent and you can do a NHL parlay bet to increase your betting odds. Take the Sharks and the Over in tonight first Western conference semi final game. The Sharks are Sharks are 9-0 in their last 9 Friday games and are 4-0 in their last 4 games as a home favorite of -110 to -150, and are 6-1 in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. Also head to head the Over is 4-0-2 in their last 6 meetings.

Sharks take game one, Take NHL parlay as well

A few thing to consider:

Stars are 2-8 in their last 10 Conference Semifinals games.
Stars are 0-5 in their last 5 games as an underdog of +110 to +150.
Stars are 0-5 in their last 5 games as a road underdog of +110 to +150.
Over is 7-1-1 in Stars last 9 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Over is 5-1-1 in Stars last 7 games following a win.
Over is 5-1-2 in Stars last 8 road games

NHL Playoff Betting at Bet Jamaica

Stanely Cup Playoff Betting

NHL Playoff Betting

Sharks take game one, Take NHL parlay as well

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