NHL playoff betting picks
The MLB season is now in full swing for those betting on the results around the diamond, while the NBA drives for the postseason.
But it`s the NHL offering up its first Stanley Cup playoff betting opportunities that has many bettors excited this week.
NHL betting enthusiasts will be licking their chops on Wednesday as the puck drops on the Stanley Cup playoffs with a battle royal between state rivals Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The Penguins are 4/1 Cup favorites today at Bovada.
Detroit and Nashville is an interesting NHL betting matchup to watch as well this week, with the Predators earning home-ice advantage against a Red Wings team that has been dismal on the road this year.
Los Angeles is on the road for Game 1 of their opening-round series on Wednesday against top-seeded Vancouver, which lost in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final last season.
Four NHL playoff series also get underway on Thursday, with two Eastern Conference and two Western Conference matchups on the NHL betting menu.
Odds to win the 2012 Stanley Cup at Bovada
Pittsburgh Penguins 4/1
New York Rangers 11/2
Vancouver Canucks 11/2
St. Louis Blues 15/2
Boston Bruins 8/1
Detroit Red Wings 12/1
Nashville Predators 14/1
Philadelphia Flyers 14/1
Chicago Blackhawks 16/1
San Jose Sharks 18/1
Los Angeles Kings 20/1
New Jersey Devils 25/1
Washington Capitals 30/1
Florida Panthers 35/1
Ottawa Senators 40/1
Phoenix Coyotes 40/1
NBA betting
The Philadelphia 76ers have a key game against the lowly New Jersey Nets in NBA betting action on Tuesday and need the win to help their playoff cause in the Eastern Conference.
The 76ers have dominated the Nets, winning eight of their last 10 meetings head-to-head, but it's New Jersey who won the only game between the two this season.
Philly should draw most of the attention on the betting lines at the sportsbooks with its previous record against the Nets.
The New York Knicks are also in a race for a playoff spot in the East, and they'll be looking for an upset on the NBA betting lines against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.
Milwaukee and the Knicks then meet on Wednesday in a key NBA betting matchup in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks will need this victory to stay close in the postseason chase.
Phoenix vs. Memphis and Minnesota vs. Denver will also see a ton of action on the NBA betting lines on Wednesday night with those games having playoff implications.
In MLB betting action early this week it’s the New York Yankees – who struggled in the first week of the season - facing the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.
Boston is also off to a slow start and they meet a promising Toronto Blue Jays team in baseball betting action on Tuesday.
Tampa Bay and Detroit start a three-game set on Tuesday as well, with those teams sweeping heavyweights New York and Boston in their season-opening series last week.
[ More Stanley Cup odds and hockey wagering opportunities ]