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Bruins’ Stanley Cup Odds Listed at +105 After Taking 2-0 Series Lead in Eastern Conference Final

David Golokhov

by David Golokhov in NHL Hockey

Updated Mar 26, 2020 · 11:59 AM PDT

Boston center David Pastrnak skating.
David Pastrnak and the Boston Bruins are the outright favorites to win the 2019 Stanley Cup. Photo by Lisa Gansky (flickr) [CC License].
  • The Boston Bruins have won five straight games, scoring at least three goals each time
  • Boston could have a long rest before the Stanley Cup finals if they continue to dominate Carolina
  • Tuukka Rask leads the playoffs with a .937 save percentage

The Boston Bruins have made quick work of the Carolina Hurricanes in the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals. As a result, their odds to win the Stanley Cup have shortened quite a bit. The Bruins are basically even money at this point.

Are they a good bet at short odds or is it best to wait to see what happens in the Western Conference finals and possibly get a better price for their Stanley Cup odds?

2019 Stanley Cup Odds

Team Odds
Boston Bruins +105
San Jose Sharks +170
St. Louis Blues +500
Carolina Hurricanes +1400

*Odds taken May 13

Hurricanes Have No Answers For The Bruins

Game 3 will decide whether this is going to be a series or a mere formality for Boston. If it plays out anything like Games 1 and 2, Boston can start looking into plane tickets out west for the Stanley Cup finals.

The Bruins are having no problems blowing by Petr Mrazek, who – for his entire career – has struggled against the Bruins.

In this particular series, he’s given up 10 goals through two games while posting an .808 save percentage. About the only good news is that he’s been much better at home in the playoffs than on the road.

At the other end of the ice, the Hurricanes are having trouble scoring on Tuukka Rask. He has a .926 save percentage as the Canes have just four goals against him so far. Given how much stronger Boston looked in Game 1, it’s likely that the Bruins get at least one of the next two games and put themselves in good position to advance.

Bruins Should Be Rested

There’s no question that the Bruins have had to play a couple of grueling series. They went seven games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 1 and then six games with the Columbus Blue Jackets in Round 2. However, if this series continues to go as planned, they might be done in five games.

If that’s the case, the Bruins will have ample rest before the Stanley Cup Finals, which is significant. We’ll have to see how the Western Conference Finals goes but the San Jose Sharks played the maximum 14 games through the first two rounds and St. Louis played just one game less. If the Bruins can stay on this path, they can get a much-needed break – and leg up on their opponent – before the Cup Finals.

Bruins The Best Bet Overall

Regardless of rest or who the opponent will be, the Bruins will be the best bet. Defense and goaltending tend to win Stanley Cups and nobody does that better than Boston. Rask leads the playoffs with a .937 save percentage and neither starting goaltender in the West has a save percentage above .909 as of right now.

When you add in that the Bruins offense is on a roll right now, this team looks like the team to beat. They’ve won five straight, scoring at least three goals each time while averaging 4.4 per game. A meeting with the shaky Martin Jones of the Sharks or an inexperienced St. Louis Blues squad won’t slow them down. Bet the Bruins.

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