NHL Eastern Conference Odds
The field of four is finally set in the NHL Eastern Conference. Here is an updated look at the odds to win the conference title as we enter the second round.
According to oddsmakers at YouWager, the Tampa Bay Lightning is now a +200 favorite to win the Eastern Conference. Other odds are the Boston Bruins (+230), the Pittsburgh Penguins (+300) and the Washington Capitals (+350).
The Lightning have the top seed in the East and they advanced to the conference semifinals by beating the New Jersey Devils in six games. The Lightning will face the Boston Bruins in the second round. Tampa is seeking its third conference title, with the last coming in 2015.
Boston is the only team in the entire playoffs to go seven games in the first round. It just disposed of the Toronto Maple Leafs last night and will now draw the Lightning. These two met four times during the season and the Bruins won three of the four matchups. Boston is seeking its fifth conference title. Their last came in 2013.
The Penguins opened their playoffs with a six-game series win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Pittsburgh will now take on the Capitals in the second round, but Washington will have the home-ice advantage. The Pens are the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions and they are seeking their seventh conference title.
The Capitals overcame an early deficit in the series to get past the Columbus Blue Jackets in six games. They are set to face their rival, the Penguins, once again. These two split their four meetings this year, but the Penguins beat Washington in last year’s conference semifinals in seven games. Washington has only won the East once, which was back in 1998.