The Columbus Blue Jackets are going to need a lot of breaks to defeat a historically good team in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Though Columbus finished with the second-most regular season wins in franchise history (47), it's still looking up a mountain at the Lightning, which won 62 games and ran away with the Presidents' Trophy.
But this is why they play the games, right?
It's no secret that the Blue Jackets are a long-shot bet in this series, and a lot of things have to go right for them to pull off a historic upset. When it comes to placing wagers on the Stanley Cup playoffs, though, it's wise to tread lightly – because strange things happen in a league thick with parity.
That said, the Jackets still have to go through the Tamp Bay juggernaut first, and according to BetOnline, the Blue Jackets are 33/1 odds to win the Stanley Cup this postseason.
#StanleyCup Odds courtesy BetOnline. pic.twitter.com/7jVSvZvSrQ
— SiriusXM NHL Network Radio (@SiriusXMNHL) April 8, 2019
That's an implied 2.94% chance of seeing Nick Foligno skating with sports' greatest prize. Feeling brave? If you laid down $100 on the Blue Jackets to win it all, you'd win $3,300 if they somehow did it.
Tampa Bay leads all teams with 2/1 odds, with the Calgary Flames (8/1) and Boston Bruins (9/1) favored after the Lightning.
You can also get odds on how the series will end, and if you think the Blue Jackets can pull off a sweep in the first round, another $100 would get you $3,200 more.
| Lightning | $100 Wins | Blue Jackets | $100 Wins | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIN SERIES | -400 | $25 | +300 | $300 |
| SWEEP | +575 | $575 | +3200 | $3,200 |
| WIN 4–1 | +285 | $285 | +1500 | $1,500 |
| WIN 4–2 | +340 | $340 | +700 | $700 |
| WIN 4–3 | +420 | $420 | +850 | $850 |
The Blue Jackets and Lightning meet in Game 1 of their series at Tampa's Amalie Arena Wednesday night. The Puck drops shortly after 7 p.m.
Follow 1st Ohio Battery's complete coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
