Columbus Not Listed as Stanley Cup Favorites After Sweeping Tampa Bay

• The Tampa Bay Lightning were the first Presidents’ Trophy winners in history to not win a playoff game
• The Blue Jackets added Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel at the trade deadline
• Columbus will face the winner of the Toronto Maple Leafs vs Boston Bruins series in Round 2

Value Alert!

Despite finishing off the Tampa Bay Lightning in four games in what is surely one of the most shocking playoff performances of all-time, the Columbus Blue Jackets do not have the shortest Stanley Cup odds.

2019 Stanley Cup Odds

*Odds taken 04/17/19

The win was one of the most unlikely you’ll see not only in hockey but in any sport. A franchise that had never advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs, knocking off an all-time great team. The Lightning tied the NHL record with 62 regular season wins but couldn’t muster even one more against this Blue Jackets juggernaut.

HISTORIC HUGS!#CBJ pic.twitter.com/f91T2c7lXQ

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 17, 2019

There is major value in betting Columbus to continue this run, especially based on the current odds being offered.

History on Blue Jackets’ Side

Columbus is only the fourth team in NHL history to sweep the team with the best regular season record in the playoffs. The previous three were the 1970 Boston Bruins, the 1988 Edmonton Oilers, and the 1995 New Jersey Devils. What do those teams have in common?  They all won the Stanley Cup.

"We're going to enjoy this, but the job's not done yet." – @NickFoligno#CBJ pic.twitter.com/Z1UyrTgEm5

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 17, 2019

Most experts believed the Lightning would win the Stanley Cup, or at the very least believed they were one of the top threats to do so. The fact Columbus disposed of them with such ease shows they won’t be intimidated by any of what’s left in front of them.

The Blue Jackets showed they won’t be intimidated by any of the teams left in front of them.

To reach the Stanley Cup Finals they’ll face the winner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins series followed by one of the New York Islanders, Washington Capitals, or Carolina Hurricanes. None of those teams are nearly as imposing as the one they just swept out of the playoffs.

GM Jarmo Kekalainen Built a Winner

Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen went “all in” at the deadline in two different ways. He has superstar goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and all-star forward Artemi Panarin on expiring deals and decided to keep them for the team’s playoff run. In addition to not selling, he actually sold the farm to land both Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel from the Ottawa Senators.

just a little spring cleaning pic.twitter.com/I5nrQLyDxT

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 17, 2019

Duchene led the team with three goals and four assists in the first round and should continue to prove he was worth every penny they paid for him. Kekalainen not only provided the team with an influx of talent with the additions, he also gave his team a confidence boost displaying belief this was the time to really push for it all.

Bet the Blue Jackets Before the Value Disappears

Columbus currently sits below a team that hasn’t advanced on that odds list and is tied with the Capitals who also haven’t clinched a spot in the second round yet. This price is going to disappear quickly when they continue their run against whichever opponent advances to play them. Take the value at +600 and enjoy cheering for an underdog that really shouldn’t be one.

Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets (+600)