Updated Odds to Win Eastern Conference after Lightning Eliminated; Islanders Favored

• The Columbus Blue Jackets have now won 11 of their last 12 games
• The New York Islanders 4-0 exact series result paid out at +800
• The Bruins/Maple Leafs series-winner should become the favorite to win the East

The Tampa Bay Lightning tied for the most wins ever in a regular season (62) but they shockingly failed to win a single playoff game. After the Columbus Blue Jackets swept them out of the playoffs – a prop bet that paid out at 45/1 – the question now becomes: who is the best bet to win the Eastern Conference?

Let’s take a closer look at who is left.

Odds to Win NHL Eastern Conference

*Odds taken April 17

Time to Bet the Blue Jackets?

Was it just a good matchup for Columbus or is this team on the rise? Remember, they won seven of their final eight games to end the season. Remember, this is a team that loaded up at the trade deadline, acquiring Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel and Adam McQuaid. Duchene already has seven points in four playoff games.

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

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

The general feeling is that this was just a really good matchup for them. They were able to be really physical and Tampa Bay wasn’t able to handle that. Teams like the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders won’t have a problem grinding games out with them. This is the first time the franchise ever won a series, so I won’t bet them to win two more.

Islanders Worth a Bet?

It’s time to take the Islanders seriously. Deemed an afterthought by many and viewed as a team that should get “upset” in the first round, even though they had the higher seed, this team is for real.

For the first time since 1983, the @NYIslanders have swept a #StanleyCup Playoff series.

Presented by @NewAmsterdam pic.twitter.com/IcF2XdXkeX

— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) April 17, 2019

Time and time again, we hear the mantra that defense wins championships. Well, the Islanders led the NHL in goals allowed per game this season. They slammed the door shut on the Pittsburgh Penguins, who finished the regular season with the sixth-most goals scored. Pittsburgh scored just six times in four games while Sidney Crosby was held to one point.

You also have to like how the bracket shapes up. They went 3-1 versus Columbus this season, 2-1 versus Toronto, 3-1 against Carolina and 2-2 against Washington. The only team they don’t want to see is Boston, who swept them 4-0.

Bet the Winner of Boston/Toronto Series

You have to keep in mind one important fact when examining these odds: the teams like the Islanders and Blue Jackets have somewhat inflated odds at +300 because they have already advanced. The Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs – two of the top teams in the conference – are still entwined in their first-round series.

How you feelin’ after tonight, @MapleLeafs fans? #LeafsForever #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/Csn5T6HCKz

— Tim and Sid (@timandsid) April 16, 2019

That means that they are dragging each other’s odds down. The winner of the series should become one of the favorites as they’ll get No. 8 Columbus in the next round instead of a record-setting Tampa Bay team.

With that in mind, I would bet on one of these teams to represent the East. Boston especially should have some great matchups coming up as they beat Columbus 2-1 in their regular season series and the Islanders 4-0. As for Toronto, winning this series will give them the confidence they need for a run.

Toronto Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner scores historic short-handed goal on the penalty shot against Boston Bruins ? #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/bHzLyDbTSC

— CBC (@CBC) April 12, 2019

The Maple Leafs biggest weakness is at the back end but of the remaining teams in the East, only the Washington Capitals finished in the Top 10 in scoring, and Toronto won that season series 2-1. I’d sprinkle a little on the Islanders and some on the winner of this series.