NHL Playoffs: Western Conference Championship Betting Lines

With the 2012-13 NHL regular season now complete, it’s time to look forward to the most exciting playoff run in sports. No one cranks it up higher during their postseason than the National Hockey League.

Western Conference first round playoff action gets us going as three games are slated for Tuesday, April 30, 2013, including the Chicago Blackhawks, favorites in the West, hosting the Minnesota Wild at 8:00 PM ET.

Chicago: President’s Trophy Winning Hawks Top Chalk

As mentioned, the Boys from the Windy City are top favorites in the Western Conference as they are posted with a +145 price at the BetOnline sportsbook. The Canucks are second chalk in the West as Vancouver has a +560 line, while the Anaheim Ducks round out the top three with +650 championship odds. Just three regular season Champs have won the Cup in the past 12 years.

Los Angeles Kings: Stanley Cup Champs getting very little repeat respect

Los Angeles opens their Stanley Cup defense with a +685 wagering line and we’re fairly certain that the Kings are OK with the underdog role. The drop off from there is fairly steep as the St. Louis Blues (+800), San Jose Sharks (+900), Detroit Red Wings (+1200) and Minnesota Wild (+1800) round out the eight teams in the West. We’ll drop a Franklin on Kings to win the West!