The 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs are around the corner with the candidates to hoist the cup taking the ice in two weeks on April 16, and with the Boston Bruins about to play the first of three home games in early April, it looks to be an exciting finish for playoff seeding. Will the cup be going to LA, Chicago, Boston? Many experts are predicting a stay in the Western Conference for the fourth straight season.
The New York Rangers are potential moneymakers with most legal online sportsbooks listing them at 13 to 2 odds (+650). With the favored team having a payout in the +600 range, it is always a good idea to consider putting your money down here…although New York has lost a few games coming down the stretch. Despite the downswing, the Rangers will look to be fresh and renewed coming into the postseason and that’s always dangerous…I would definitely keep an eye on New York. Continue reading
We talked about the concerns for New Jersey making just its second trip to the Pacific coast this week in the Stanley Cup finals, and each of those concerns came to fruition on Monday night. After losing two heartbreakers in overtime at home, the Devils were bulldozed by the Los Angeles Kings on the road in Game 3, and now stare down the possibility of being swept tonight.
The New Jersey Devils benefitted from an appealing road schedule this season, but that might be their undoing in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Devils, who travel to Los Angeles for Game 3, have only gone past the Rocky Mountains once this season – an October meeting against the same Kings they will play tonight. They won that meeting, which should be comforting to their backers, but a lack of travel miles could play a factor.
The New Jersey Devils looked impressive in toppling Vezina Trophy finalist Henrik Lundqvist in the eastern conference final, but not enough to make them the favorite against the Los Angeles Kings.
The New York Rangers haven’t exactly been consistent this postseason, so trading blows with the New Jersey Devils wouldn’t necessarily be alarming. But after losing two games in a row, the Rangers have their backs against the wall, facing a real chance of elimination Friday night. They have given the Devils their best punches but trail 3-2 after a gut-punching loss in Game 5. New Jersey jumped ahead early in that game, knocking in three goals on Vezina Trophy finalist Henrik Lundvqist, and New York never seemed to fully recover. 
Lucky? Maybe.
The New York Rangers bounced back with a huge Game 3 win on Saturday, but head coach John Tortorella wasn’t in a celebrating mood afterwards. Complaining about the New Jersey Devils’ acting jobs on several penalty calls, Tortorella was calling foul after the game.
Pack your bags, Los Angeles.