How are those brackets looking? Fairly busted, we imagine.
The 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs have been somewhere between unpredictable and outright stunning, with both regular-season conference champions -- Tampa Bay and Calgary -- ousted in the first round. What could the second round hold for bettors? Here's a glimpse.
Note: All odds are via Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of April 24.
Eastern Conference semifinals
(Atlantic 2) Boston Bruins (-160) vs. (wild card 2) Columbus Blue Jackets (+140)
This is a case study in momentum. The Blue Jackets had it when they shocked the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round, winning seven of eight games to qualify for the playoffs before sweeping the Bolts. But they haven't played since April 16, and no scrimmage can replicate playoff hockey. Boston, meanwhile, last played on Tuesday, closing out Toronto in seven games. Columbus has the edge in forward depth, Boston in defensive depth. One expects the Columbus power play won't click at 50 percent as it did in Round 1, but its penalty kill was tied for tops in the regular season and limited Tampa to 1-for-6. One key to the series: if goalie Sergei Bobrovsky of the Blue Jackets has, in fact, figured out this playoff thing after posting a .932 save percentage and a 2.01 goals-against average in Round 1.
The play: Blue Jackets plus-140.
Trend to watch: The total has gone over in nine of Boston's past 10 games against Columbus.
(Metro 2) New York Islanders (-130) vs. (wild card 1) Carolina Hurricanes (+110)
A fascinating series, with the "Bunch of Jerks" from Carolina taking on an Islanders team that rewrote the obituaries that were penned when John Tavares left for Toronto last summer. (You know, that guy who thought he had a better chance to win a Stanley Cup with the Leafs and who will now watch the Islanders play in Round 2 from his couch.)
The essential question in this series is can the Hurricanes, the best puck possession team in the playoffs, scare up enough goals to overcome the best defensive team in the regular season and, through the first round, the postseason (1.50 goals against per game)? They couldn't in losing three of four to the Islanders in the regular season, generating only one goal in each loss. But those games were played before December, and they beat the Isles 4-3 the last time they met in January. One huge factor here is home ice: The Hurricanes were dominant on it against Washington; the Islanders, meanwhile, will play their home game in Brooklyn this round rather than Nassau Coliseum, despite the petitions from local politicians to the NHL to change the venue. And couldn't you just see a "blame it on Barclays Center" scenario after an Islanders loss?
The play: Islanders -130, as their defense doesn't falter.
Trend to watch: The total has gone under in six of the Islanders' past seven games overall, but it has gone over in five of the past six games in which the Islanders have hosted Carolina.
Western Conference semifinals
(Central 3) St. Louis Blues (-155) vs. (wild card 1) Dallas Stars (+135)
The Stars outkicked their coverage offensively in the first round, averaging 3.00 goals per game against the Nashville Predators after averaging just 2.55 in the regular season. But the best news was that 10 different players scored goals for what was a top-heavy team, with Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Alex Radulov carrying the load. They'll need that offensive balance against a deep Blues team, led by rookie goalie Jordan Binnington, who allowed two goals or less in four of six games against Winnipeg. But the best goalie in the series is Dallas netminder (and former Blues prospect) Ben Bishop, who leads the playoffs with a .945 save percentage, including 47 saves in their clinching win over Nashville.
The play: Blues minus-155 to win the series.
Trend to watch: Dallas was 26-52 against the over this season and 10-29 after a victory. That trend held twice in the first round.
(Pacific 2) San Jose Sharks (-140) vs. (wild card 2) Colorado Avalanche (+120)
It's what left of the Sharks after a grueling seven-game series against Vegas vs. the Avalanche, who are rested and ready after extinguishing the Flames on April 19. The Avalanche have the advantage in speed and goaltending, as the emergence of Philipp Grubauer (.939 save percentage) propelled them to a five-game first-round win over Calgary. Their top line is a menace, with Mikko Rantanen (5 goals), Nathan MacKinnon (8 points) and Gabriel Landeskog (4 points). The Avs were better at even strength and are second in the playoffs in expected goals percentage at 60.07.
The play: Pass. Every metric points to a Colorado victory in this series, but who among us is brave enough to wager against a team that advanced via two straight overtime wins (and the hockey gods bestowing a major penalty gift in Game 7 that allowed San Jose to rally vs. Vegas)?
Trend to watch: Home ice could loom large, as the Avalanche have one victory at the Shark Tank since February 2008!
Futures
If you've going with the "hottest goalies carry their teams" theory, then the Stars (9-1), Avalanche (8-1) and Islanders (7-1) are all intriguing picks if you want to stay away from the Bruins (3-1) and Sharks (5-1) to win the Stanley Cup. But the best value play might be the Blues at 9-2. The Blues have played great hockey for the better part of three months, are getting strong performances throughout their lineup and didn't need Jordan Binnington to steal games in order to defeat a talented Jets team in Round 1.