It’s Game on as the NHL releases its broadcast schedule for the resurrected 2020 NHL season, which is set to get underway in less than a fortnight, amid on-going Covid-19 concerns.
The National Hockey League schedule for the Stanley Cup qualifiers was announced today – a comprehensive, jam-packed line-up of games set to be broadcast across NBC, NBCSN, NHL Network, NHL.TV and NHL Center Ice in the U.S., and Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports in Canada.
Does It Feel Good To Be Back? Yes, can confirm.
The #StanleyCup Qualifiers begin Aug. 1. pic.twitter.com/bXmMV55dGo
— NHL (@NHL) July 17, 2020
Two hub cities – Toronto and Edmonton – will play host to the NHL playoffs in its entirety. Eastern Conference action will be played at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, while Western Conference action will be played at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
The Stanley Cup qualifiers involving the 16 teams contesting best-of-five series to determine the eight teams advancing to the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs begin on Saturday, August 1 and by Sunday August 2 all 16 teams will have completed the first game of their respective series.
The Stanley Cup qualifiers featuring the top four teams from each conference to determine seeding for the playoffs get underway on Sunday, August 2 with two games, one from each conference being played per day. All eight teams will have one game under its belt by Monday, August 3.
Naturally, these eight teams that will be battling for top seeding make up the top bets across sports betting platforms.
In the Eastern Conference, the teams are: Boston Bruins (44-14-12, .714 points percentage), Tampa Bay Lightning (43-21-6, .657), Washington Capitals (41-20-8, .652) and Philadelphia Flyers (41-21-7, .645).
In the Western Conference, the teams are: St. Louis Blues (42-19-10, .662), Colorado Avalanche (42-20-8, .657), Vegas Golden Knights (39-24-8, .606) and Dallas Stars (37-24-8, .594)
Interestingly, from a betting perspective, bookmakers are demonstrating a strong lean towards the Eastern Conference to deliver this year’s champion – both Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning emerge as the top favourites at Pinnacle Sportsbook, priced at +500 jointly to win the Stanley Cup.
After this top tandem, Las Vegas Golden Knights are tipped as the second-best bet at +650; while the Colorado Avalanche emerge as the third-best bet, priced at +700 with pinnacle sports. And the St. Louis Blues, who are the defending Stanley Cup champions, enter the field as the fourth-best bet overall, albeit priced in quadruple digits at +1000.
Fans of these early Stanley Cup favourites however will have to wait before each gets its respective campaign underway. The first puck drops of the 2020 NHL season belong to several betting underdogs.
The Eastern Conference series featuring the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes appears to have received the official nod to kickstart the whole process at 12 PM EST on Saturday. The Rangers snuck into the playoffs only just, clinching a spot behind a 37-33-5 record and .564 points percentage. On the other hand, the Hurricanes made the cut with a 38-25-5 and .596 points percentage.
On balance, very little in the way of points separates these two outfits, prompting bookmakers to measure their value somewhat equally in sports betting markets ahead of postseason play. Most top-rated sportsbooks rate both the Rangers and Hurricanes at around +4000 to win the Stanley Cup.
Western Conference hopefuls Chicago Blackhawks and hosts Edmonton Oilers take the ice at 3 PM Est on Saturday. The Blackhawks made the postseason cut by the skin of their teeth, finishing behind a 32-30-8 mark and .514. The Oilers, by comparison, finished inside the top five with a 37-25-9 mark and .585 points percentage. Indeed, the Oilers are among some of the top dangerous floaters in the field and a team to spot, priced at around +2500 to win the Stanley Cup across NHL odds boards.
The rest of Saturday’s NHL card includes New York Islanders versus Florida Panthers (4 PM EST), Montreal Canadiens versus Pittsburgh Penguins (8 PM EST) and Winnipeg Jets versus Calgary Flames (10:30 PM EST).
Of these six teams featuring on primetime, Pittsburgh Penguins(40-23-6, .623) have the best odds ahead of the first round of Stanley Cup qualifiers, priced anywhere from +1200 to +1600 depending the choice top-rated sportsbook. Montreal Canadiens (31-31-9, .500)have the worst odds, priced as the quintessential longshots at +8000 to clinch the Stanley Cup.
Sunday’s slate of games brings the first couple of top-billing matchups. First to take the ice will be Philadelphia Flyers versus Boston Bruins at 3 PM EST. Then followed closely by St. Louis Blues versus Colorado Avalanche at 6:30 PM EST.
The remaining three games on the day’s card include the early start between Arizona Coyotes and Nashville Predators at 2 PM EST, Columbus Blue Jackets versus Toronto Maple Leafs at 8 PM EST, and Minnesota Wild versus Vancouver Canucks at 10:30 PM EST.
Of these six teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs have the best odds at +2200 to win the Stanley Cup; while both Arizona Coyotes and Minnesota Wild are deemed massive underdogs with NHL odds priced at +4000 or higher.
Monday’s round of action sees the first batch of second games get underway between the Rangers and Canes, Jets and Flames, Habs and Penguins and Hawks and Oilers. As well, the much-anticipated first round clash between Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars and Las Vegas Golden Knights.
By Wednesday, August 5, most series will have played through the first three games, save for two series: Maple Leafs vs Columbus Blue Jackets and Canucks versus Wild are scheduled to complete game 3 the next day.
By Thursday, August 6, all 16 qualifiers will have completedthe first three games of the series and all eight top teams battling for seeding will have played through two rounds. Series that will require more games in order to determine a winner will be scheduled accordingly thereafter.
