by Vegas Writer
Tuesday, May 21, 2024With the NHL Conference Finals set to begin Wednesday night, here are five things you should know about the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs that might help you with your handicapping of this next round:
1. Three of the 34 comeback wins during the playoffs were during series-clinching victories in the conference semifinals, with the Rangers, Panthers and Stars combining the seventh instance in Stanley Cup Playoffs history of three teams rallying for a series-clinching comeback win in the second round. And even more impressively, each of those victories took place on the road. Be wary of your in-game wagering, as 49% of games this postseason have been comeback wins.
2. After half the games in the first round were won by the visiting club (22 of 44 games played), road teams carried the momentum into the second round and registered a 16-9 mark to set a playoffs record for most such victories in the conference semifinals. The four conference finalists all clinched a spot in this round with a road victory, including Florida and Dallas, which both went undefeated as visitors in the conference semis (3-0).
3. The 15 games decided by a one-goal margin tied 2015 for the second-most during a second round in Stanley Cup Playoffs, so beware of laying the puck line with these remaining games. The 36 one-goal contests during the 2024 playoffs rank 10th in NHL history through 69 games played and are the highest such total at this stage since 2017.
4. Looking for a reason to bet the Under in Games 1 and 2? Make note the conference semis delivered the sixth in NHL history in which all four series required at least six games. Overall, there have been three Game 7s this postseason, marking the 17th consecutive playoffs with at least three.
5. Which team has motivation? Well, for the first time in NHL history, each conference finalist is looking to claim its first championship in 20-plus years. The Stars (1999), Rangers (1994) and Oilers (1990) all won their last Cup in the 1990s, while the Panthers (30th season) are still in search of their first Cup.
1. Three of the 34 comeback wins during the playoffs were during series-clinching victories in the conference semifinals, with the Rangers, Panthers and Stars combining the seventh instance in Stanley Cup Playoffs history of three teams rallying for a series-clinching comeback win in the second round. And even more impressively, each of those victories took place on the road. Be wary of your in-game wagering, as 49% of games this postseason have been comeback wins.
2. After half the games in the first round were won by the visiting club (22 of 44 games played), road teams carried the momentum into the second round and registered a 16-9 mark to set a playoffs record for most such victories in the conference semifinals. The four conference finalists all clinched a spot in this round with a road victory, including Florida and Dallas, which both went undefeated as visitors in the conference semis (3-0).
3. The 15 games decided by a one-goal margin tied 2015 for the second-most during a second round in Stanley Cup Playoffs, so beware of laying the puck line with these remaining games. The 36 one-goal contests during the 2024 playoffs rank 10th in NHL history through 69 games played and are the highest such total at this stage since 2017.
4. Looking for a reason to bet the Under in Games 1 and 2? Make note the conference semis delivered the sixth in NHL history in which all four series required at least six games. Overall, there have been three Game 7s this postseason, marking the 17th consecutive playoffs with at least three.
5. Which team has motivation? Well, for the first time in NHL history, each conference finalist is looking to claim its first championship in 20-plus years. The Stars (1999), Rangers (1994) and Oilers (1990) all won their last Cup in the 1990s, while the Panthers (30th season) are still in search of their first Cup.
