2006-2007 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs - Bodog.com Hockey Odds - Playoff Teams Take the Ice

Spring time is here and the hockey season is nearing its end. The NHL 2006-2007 season is about to start its playoffs. Sixteen teams begin their pursuit of Lord Stanley's Cup.

They say this is the toughest of the four major sports in which to win a title. Winning sixteen games under playoff hockey conditions is grueling. By the end of the spring, these guys will be battered and bruised from two months of intense hockey. The Stanley Cup Playoffs is a test of endurance, and a test of wills.

It's still hard to figure out how the playoff brackets are going to shake out, especially out west. At the start of the weekend, the Detroit Red Wings were the 4th seed in the west. Three days later and they've vaulted into the #1 seed. So you have the money favorite hanging on to the top spot by a thread. Detroit and the Anaheim Ducks may battle to the final day of the regular season to see who gets the #1 spot.

Of course, seeding hardly seems to matter in the NHL. For several years in there, one of the two #1 seeds would get ousted in the first round. For instance, The Buffalo Sabres have led the East most of the way this year. It wouldn't surprise me one bit to see them knocked out in the first round.

Unlikely? Yes. The Montreal Canadiens hardly look like a powerhouse this year. But if they steal a game in Buffalo and play with passion before their rabid fans in Montreal, you just never know.

You see, the fate of NHL playoff teams often come down to a hot goalie, whether it's their own or their opponent's. If one goalie stands on his head for a month, that can propel an inferior team deep into the playoffs.

If you want to bet on a star becoming a superstar, you might take a shot on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Their star player, Sidney Crosby, is leading the lead in the points. Big #87 for the Penguins isn't even 20 years old yet.

That makes the Penguins a real x-factor. With such a young leader, they might fall flat on their face. But if you are looking for the breakout performance from a guy who might be the next great NHL hockey player, take the 4th rated Penguins (according to Bobog) with decent 6-to-1 odds.

No Parlays. The maximum bet is $600. There are no parlays on these games. All games do have action, though. So take a look at Bodog.com and make the NHL playoffs mean something to you.

Detroit Red Wings - 4/1
Buffalo Sabres - 9/2
Anaheim Ducks - 5/1
Pittsburgh Penguins - 6/1
New Jersey Devils - 7/1
Nashville Predators - 8/1
Vancouver Canucks - 8/1
Minnesota Wild - 10/1
Ottawa Senators - 10/1
San Jose Sharks - 10/1
Atlanta Thrashers - 18/1
Dallas Stars - 25/1
New York Rangers - 25/1
Tampa Bay Lightning - 28/1
Calgary Flames - 30/1
Montreal Canadiens - 35/1
Toronto Maple Leafs - 35/1
Carolina Hurricanes - 40/1
New York Islanders - 150/1

2006-2007 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs - Bodog.com Hockey Odds - Playoff Teams Take the Ice