Before ending the season on a four-game losing streak after already having locked up the top seed in the Western Conference, the Chicago Blackhawks were 20-4-2 over their previous 26 games. The Blackhawks kick off their postseason with a matchup against the Nashville Predators Thursday night.
NHL playoff odds 2017: Blackhawks the Western betting favorites over Wild and Ducks
The Chicago Blackhawks start their playoff run with a first-round matchup against the Nashville Predators and as the sportsbooks’ pick on the odds to win their conference.
Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images
Chicago is a +180 favorite on the odds to win the Western Conference at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Patrick Kane is one of six Blackhawks with at least 21 goals this season, leading the team with 34 goals and 55 assists. The Blackhawks’ balanced offense will get a boost from the return of Artem Anisimov, who is set to come back from a leg injury in time for Game 1. Nashville (+1200 to win the West) is 1-9 SU in its last 10 road games against Chicago.
The St. Louis Blues (+1400) enter the postseason red hot on the heels of a 15-2-2 run to end the regular season. The Blues will go on the road to take on the Minnesota Wild in the series opener Wednesday night.
Minnesota (+400) dropped out of the top seed in the West with a 1-9 SU slump in the month of March, but has rebounded with a 5-1 record over its last six games. The Wild are just 2-8 SU in their last 10 playoff games, but sit at a 67.4 percent chance to win the series according to the projections at PredictionMachine.com.
Over in the Pacific Division, the Anaheim Ducks (+700) earned the division’s top seed with an exceptional 12-0-2 run over their last 14 games. The Ducks not only locked up home ice in the first two rounds, but also an extremely favorable matchup against the Calgary Flames (+1000).
Anaheim is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games against Calgary and a remarkable 27-0 SU in its last 27 home game against the Flames, per the OddsShark NHL Database.
Like Minnesota, San Jose (+700) coughed up its division lead with an ugly 1-8 slump in the month of March. The Sharks will now be on the road against the Edmonton Oilers (+800), who behind Connor McDavid’s scoring title have jumped from 70 points last season to 103 points this season. Edmonton is 14-2 SU in its last 16 games against division rivals.
NHL Western Conference Betting Odds
(per OddsShark.com)
Chicago Blackhawks +180
Minnesota Wild +400
San Jose Sharks +700
Anaheim Ducks +700
Edmonton Oilers +800
Calgary Flames +1000
Nashville Predators +1200
St. Louis Blues +1400
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