More than any other sport, the NHL has shown us that just getting into the playoffs is an extremely useful thing. While most sports typically see high-seeded teams advance to the league championship, the NHL is proving that any of the eight teams in each conference has the ability to advance.

Take the Edmonton Oilers, for example, who were within one win of reached the Stanley Cup as an eight seed. Two years ago the Philadelphia Flyers advanced to the Stanley Cup as a seven-seed, topping an even lower seeded Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Finals.

But for an underdog to become a huge cash cow for bettors, they still have to wade through a minefield in the Eastern Conference Finals as the Pittsburgh Penguins maintain their lead in NHL futures betting odds. They weren’t the best team in the conference, but got Sidney Crosby back just in time and were the highest-scoring team all year.
As a fourth-seed, the Penguins have 2/1 odds to win the conference for the fourth time in franchise history, according to Bovada. Their opponent, the Flyers, are actually seeded higher but are set somewhere in the middle with 15/2 odds.

The Boston Bruins, winners of last year’s Stanley Cup, are sandwiched between the New York Rangers (9/4) and the Flyers at 9/2. What makes the Bruins odds even more of a value, is they will actually roster sophomore Tyler Seguin for the whole playoffs. The team leader in points and assists sat out the majority of the conference tournament before replacing Patrice Bergeron after a concussion.

“It’s a lot different this year and I definitely like it better when I can contribute on the ice for sure. It’s night and day,” Seguin told ESPN. “I didn’t know what to expect or how I’d be. I didn’t know how the guys would be around the rink or on the ice. It was good to get around the rink and see the focus.”

Top 10 NHL Eastern Conference Championship Favorites