The Stanley Cup Playoffs are just a few days in and already there have been some massive shockers.  Day one was one for the underdog as nearly every lower seeded team took a win in their respective series.  Though, the favorites are fighting back as the games roll on.  Here’s a look at the Eastern Conference.

Washington Capitals v Montreal Canadiens - Series Tied 1-1
The Canadiens shocked quite a few people, including all those experts that declared this year the year of the Caps.  I know, I know, there are still plenty of games to be played before a winner is declared, but Washington’s hopes of sweeping this series were dashed right from the start when Montreal picked up a 3-2 OT win.

Though, not to be outdone, the Caps answered back with a win to tie up the series on Saturday night.  But the game was a little too close for comfort for the Caps as it went right down to the wire.  In a high scoring affair that also went into OT, Nicklas Backstom managed to put one in the net just 31 seconds into the sudden death period to give them a 6-5 victory.  Watch for the Capitals to turn up the heat in order to prevent this series from dragging out.  They don’t want to get worn down in round one.  Backstom and Alex Ovechkin are looking strong on the offense while rookie John Carlson has emerged as a surprise defensive force.

Though, these Canadiens aren’t going down without a fight.  The first line of Michael Cammalleri, Andrei Kostitsyn, and Thomas Plekanec are firing on all cylinders, giving the Washington defense all they can handle.   Game three is slated for Monday, April 19 and BetUS is offering the following odds:

Puck Line
Capitals: -1 ½ +165
Canadiens: +1 ½ -200
Moneyline
Captials: -175
Canadiens: +155

New Jersey Devils v Philadelphia Flyers - Flyers Lead 2-1
The Flyers came into the playoffs flying high and it showed in game one.  They battled out a 2-1 win and made the touted New Jersey offense look pretty pitiful in the process.  Goalie Brian Boucher did a fantastic job of minding the net.  He stopped an impressive 23 shots to help Philly to their first win of the 2010 playoffs.

Obviously frustrated by game one, the Devils spent their off day working out a more potent offense.  They came back in game two with a vengeance and grabbed a 5-3 win to tie up the series.  Forward Zach Parise really came through for the Devils as he picked up six shots on goal, one goal, and one assist.  Iyla Kovalchuk was also a major offensive force, putting away a goal on the empty net and picking up two assists.

Game three was a 3-2 win for Philly on the home ice, though it looked like both teams were a little more confident as they hit the ice.  Each dished out as good as they got as the game went back and forth before finally going into OT.  Daniel Carcillo slapped in the final goal to seal the win for Philadelphia.

The two teams will stay in Philadelphia for game four.  Watch for the Flyers to take full advantage of the home ice in this game, as Carcillo and Chris Pronger should continue to put the pressure on the Devils’ defense.  In the meantime, the Devils will be looking to put a stop to Philly’s confidence and a win in Wachovia Centre would be just the ticket.  Watch for Praise and Kovalchuk to continue to come through on the offense while goalie Martin Broudeur goes for his 100th playoff win.

Keep checking BetUS for the most up-to-date odds.

Boston Bruins v Buffalo Sabres - Series Tied 1-1
Buffalo hit the ice running in this series, starting things off with a 2-1 win.  The matchup was touted as a defensive blowout, and it certainly lived up to that name as both backlines battled it out.  Boston outshot Buffalo 39-32, but thanks to Ryan Miller’s impressive 38 saves, they were able to ward off the offensive onslaught to get the win.  Game two was another defensive battle, but it was the exact opposite of game one.  Buffalo outshot the Bruins 35 to 32, but this time Tuuka Rask came out on top as Boston claimed a massive 5-3 victory to even out the series.

The two take to the ice again on Monday, April 19 in Boston.  Expect the Bruins to put on a great show for the home crowd.  Add to that the fact that Buffalo’s Thomas Vanek is out with a foot injury.  I’m guessing Boston will make the most of the opportunity to pull ahead in this series.  BetUS is offering the following odds:

Puck Line
Bruins: +1 ½ -260
Sabres: -1 ½ +220
Moneyline
Bruins: +120
Sabres: -140

Pittsburgh Penguins v Ottawa Senators - Pittsburgh Leads 2-1
Ottawa started the series by stunning the defending Stanley Cup champions in a 5-4 win — in Mellon Arena no less.  Though, it was a familiar position for the Penguins as their Cup bid started exactly the same way just a year ago.  They came back in game two ready to prove they are worthy of their title, handing the Senators a 2-1 loss.  And they followed it up with another big win in game three.  In a stunning performance in which the Pens led for the entire game, Pittsburgh claimed a 4-2 victory to pull ahead in the series.  Sidney Crosby has been on fire throughout, getting two goals and five assists.  Evgeni Malkin has also been a major force for the Pens, picking up three goals and one assist.

These two teams take to the ice again on Tuesday, April 20.  The Senators will have the home ice advantage.  Perhaps it will be enough to sway the momentum in their favor, but my guess is that Pittsburgh is determined to make it to another Stanley Cup Finals.  With their offense playing together effectively, it looks like nothing is going to stop them.

Keep checking BetUS for all of the most up-to-date odds on this series.

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