Leafs Have Little Chance To Beat Capitals, Oddsmakers Say

According to oddsmakers, the Toronto Maple Leafs might as well not even show up Thursday for Game 1 of their Stanley Cup playoff series against the Washington Capitals.

The Leafs are by far the biggest underdog on the Round 1 NHL playoff betting odds at Pinnacle.com, which was listing the Leafs at +322 odds to win the series as of Tuesday afternoon. Washington was a -370 favourite, meaning you’d have to risk $370 for every $100 you wanted to win on the Capitals to advance – implying nearly an 80% probability that Washington wins the series.

Pinnacle was actually one of the more complimentary sportsbooks when it comes to the Leafs’ chances. Canadian sportsbook Sports Interaction listed the Capitals at -455 on the series moneyline.

Here’s a look at what the top sportsbooks we recommend for Canadians were offering for the Leafs/Capitals series.

Maple Leafs Betting Odds Versus Washington

leafs betting odds versus washington

Toronto is making its first appearance in the Stanley Cup playoffs in 4 years, and just its second since 2003. The Capitals, meanwhile, are coming off their second straight President’s Trophy-winning campaign as the best regular-season team in the NHL.

If you think the Leafs can at least make things difficult for Washington, you can still get plus-money on Toronto +1.5 games in the series. That means you’ll win if the Leafs win the series or lose it 4-3, and you can get +136 odds for that at Pinnacle.

Odds For Canada’s Other Stanley Cup Playoff Teams

Canada’s other teams are given much better prospects in their opening round series, with 2 of them being favoured to advance. Pinnacle lists the Oilers as -134 favourites to beat the Sharks, and the Canadiens are given a -135 chance to advance past the Rangers.

In the other series involving Canadian teams, Ottawa is a +160 series underdog despite having home ice advantage against the Bruins, and the Flames pay +145 to upset the Ducks.

Here’s a look at all NHL Stanley Cup first round series prices as of Tuesday afternoon (all odds subject to change):