It’s time to take stock of the NHL playoff picture as the field has been narrowed…
and also to laugh at a former NFL quarterback.
Vegas Craps Out
What Happened: The first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs wrapped up over the weekend, and with that, any chance of a repeat champion was lost.
It took seven games, but the top-seeded Dallas Stars got past last season’s Cup winner, the Vegas Golden Knights. The Boston Bruins also avoided a third straight one-and-done postseason appearance, downing the rival Toronto Maple Leafs in a Game 7 OT thriller.
Why It Matters: Round 2 got into gear yesterday, and with it, we’ve got new odds for which team will lift the Cup when it’s all said and done.
The Carolina Hurricanes entered the postseason as favorites (+650, per BetMGM) but falling to the New York Rangers in Game 1 has dampened their outlook a bit; the Florida Panthers are now the betting favorite (+450) to win it all from the Eastern Conference, while the Hurricanes sit at +550 odds.
Out west, the Edmonton Oilers trailed the Dallas Stars (+750) and tied with the Colorado Avalanche (+800) to win it all. Dispatching the Kings in five games while the Stars were pushed to seven games boosted Connor McDavid and Co.’s reputation evidently. The Oilers now have the best odds of any Western team to raise the Cup at +450.
The New York Rangers have yet to lose a playoff game, yet still are third-best in the East at +550. Obviously oddsmakers feel like winning the Presidents’ Trophy and Stanley Cup in the same season is too big an ask.
How We’re Feeling Today
Relieved that Nikki Glaser and Jeff Ross weren’t too star struck to properly roast Tom Brady last night.
Comedians, celebrities, former teammates, a former rival, and The Hoodie himself, Bill Belichick, all gathered to take shots (figuratively and literally) at TB12.
Nothing was off limits, as the dais of joke makers brought up Brady’s ex-wife Gisele, his failed return from retirement, and even Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s penchant for trips to the massage parlor.
The comedians let Brady have it and didn’t hold back. In turn, Brady got some jokes off at their expense, including a knock on Belichick for his lack of rings without his former QB. Brady comes off self-serious a lot, so it was good to celebs really let him have it for once.
The Look Ahead
Jamal Murray POINTS + ASSISTS – While technically not a do-or-die game, the Nuggets really don’t want to go down two games to the Timberwolves before the series even gets to Minnesota. Murray is dealing with a calf injury, but there will certainly be a level of desperation tonight for the defending champs to even the series. Murray failed to score 20 points in Game 1 for the first time since early April, but bested his line for tonight (28.5) in three of five games against the Lakers. The pressure is on, and we expect Murray to deliver.
Brad Marchand POINTS – The Bruins captain started these playoffs hot, but has cooled down since. Marchand racked up eight points through four games, but put up a doughnut hole in Games 5, 6, and 7. The veteran knows the importance of getting off to a good start in the playoffs, however, and he recorded one goal and two assists in four regular season games against the Panthers, so we won’t be surprised when he tallies a point tonight.
