BY JACK RANDALL – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
Diehard Los Angeles Kings fans – or sports bettors with reliable crystal balls – look to be in line for a big payout on the NHL futures at the sportsbooks this week as Jonathan Quick and company sit on the verge of claiming the franchise’s first-ever Stanley Cup.
And anyone who predicted (or just hoped for) that outcome a few months ago stands to fatten their wallets in the days ahead, as the Kings were as big as 35/1 longshots on the NHL odds at the sportsbooks to win the title as recently as March as they floundered in the Western standings.
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However, after catching fire in the playoffs behind the hot goaltending of Quick the Kings shot up the Stanley Cup odds list, and on Wednesday night they’ll be able to complete their improbable championship run in just 18 games with a win over the Devils at the Staples Center in Game 4 of the series.
But just how many big bets will the sportsbooks pay out to early Kings backers? Not many, according to one oddsmaker, who said very few fans have believed in Los Angeles.
“Even when they were 20/1 last month, nobody was betting on them,” said Adam Burns of Bodog, who said bettors must have viewed the early upset of the Canucks as a fluke.
“Even at the start of the Final, the Devils were getting 55 to 60 per cent of the action at +150.” The fantasy of a New Jersey upset at that price has been handed a Quick dose of reality.
The Kings’ four goals in their 4-0 win in Game 3 was a veritable offensive explosion in the Cup final, as the first two games were both 2-1 OT results. Taking the UNDER in this series has been the way to go so far; with just 10 goals scored over the first three games OVER bettors have taken the loss all three times.
Wednesday’s OVER/UNDER is again sitting at a low 4.5 goals at online shops, with Quick looking to stifle the Devils one more time to complete his Conn Smythe campaign; Quick has a ridiculous save percentage of .950 in 17 playoff games.
Los Angeles is obviously a home favourite on the NHL lines for Game 4 as they try to clinch the title in their own building and parade it around past Alan Thicke et al.
If the Devils spoil the fun the series will go back to New Jersey for Game 5 on Saturday night.
Blog post provided by OddsShark.com
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