Carrie Underwood Singing the Anthem? Top 20 NHL Playoff Prop Bets
The NHL season is quickly coming to an end and whether your team makes the playoff or should not deter you from having fun with propositional bets.
The following is a list of 20 propositional bets to get your creative juices flowing heading into the playoffs, but feel free to post suggestions.
The more prop bets the better!
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Will One Player Carry His Team?
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Maybe the title of this slide should read "goalie" instead of "player." During last season's playoffs, Jaroslav Halak put the Montreal Canadiens on his shoulders and single-handedly took them to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Much of one team's success can be determined by the play of one individual, but who will shine this year?
What Team Will Be Upset in the First Round?
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Granted, this is not sure to happen. But no prop bet is ever a "sure thing." If a team is upset in the first round this year it won't be such a huge surprise. Look no further back then last season as the No. 8 seeded Flyers went to the Cup Finals.
This year the tables have turned. Will the Flyers be upset in the first round? I doubt it, but you never know.
Can the Blackhawks Survive After Being Gutted?
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Gutted may not be the correct word to describe the Blackhawks roster. But keep in mind that they did lose many key players since their Stanley Cup win, including Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd and Kris Versteeg.
The Blackhawks are going into the playoffs this season with a drastically different roster. They still have their core, but will they be able to find successes after losing so many important role players?
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.jpg?w=256 "Kucherov Landing Spots")
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Can the Penguins Do Damage Without Crosby and Malkin?
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If Blackhawks fans think that their team is entering the playoffs without important names, they need look no further than the Penguins. Pittsburgh is currently playing without their top two performers, Crosby and Malkin.
As of late the Penguins have been able to survive, but the playoffs are a different question. While it still remains to be seen whether or not Crosby will return, Malkin is out for sure. Can the Penguins rise to the occasion? Maybe, but it's doubtful.
Who Will Be the Rookie Standout?
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Or, will there be a rookie standout?
Jeff Skinner and Logan Couture have significantly contributed to their team's success thus far in the regular season. If either of these two players, just to name a few, were to continue his contributions in the playoffs, his team can consider itself lucky.
Like Gretzky says, the NHL has three seasons: regular, playoffs and the Staley Cup Finals. Each season comes with added pressure.
Can the young guns step up?
Which Backup Goalie Will Replace the Starter?
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Going into the playoffs teams hope to have cemented their goaltending position, but such isn't always the case. This season has seen the likes of Cory Schneider contribute very much so to the success of the Vancouver Canucks. In Vancouver there is no question, Luongo is the starter, but if he were to go down to injury Schneider could very easily step in.
Other cities have differing scenario. Take for example, the Boston Bruins. Thomas and Rask have proven that they can carry the team, but which will rise up come playoff time?
Will there be a surprise? Can the rookie goals continue strong play in the playoffs?
Goaltenders are always fun to watch!
How Will the Lose of Manny Malhotra Affect the Canucks?
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He's an assistant captain, but maybe more so important, he's the number one faceoff man in the NHL.
Prior to going down to injury, Malhotra was leading the NHL in faceoff percentage. Granted, the Canucks have a plethora of players who can step in and fill the void, but what about when the game is on the line?
When the Canucks have needed a faceoff win this year they put Manny on the ice, but now that he’s not available who will they turn to?
Only time will tell how important a faceoff man is to his team.
Will Vancouver Be Able to Get over the Chicago Hump?
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Vancouver may have bigger issues than faceoffs this playoff. While its still to be determined if the Canucks will meet the Blackhawks again the post season, fans in Vancouver are sure hoping that they're team can finally get over this hump.
Have the Canucks made enough changes to conquer the Blackhawks, or any other team for that matter. In short, yes, they clearly have the talent to win, but will it happen?
Will There Be Another Riot in Montreal?
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Fans in Montreal have always been extremely passionate, boarding slightly on insane, in a good way of course.
Last year fans in Montreal took celebrations to the next level. After unexpected series wins, fans began to riot in celebration at the sheer amusement of all who cared to watched.
If the Habs find playoff success, I would be willing to bet we will see more than a few riots once again!
Which Arena Will Be the Most Electric?
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If not a riot, at least fans will be able to experience the electric atmosphere of the playoffs. If you're lucky enough to witness a game in person, congratulations. But if you are, please make sure that you add to the electricity that is meant to be the playoffs.
Fans, make your cities proud!
Which Coach Will Flip His Lid?
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Whether it be a missed call, or dissatisfaction over his teams performance, coaches always seem to get riled up.
In the past coaches have put on performances that fall nothing short of spectacular. Throwing sticks, water bottles, or just plain yelling at the referees.
Who will go 'berserk' this year?
Will an Eighth Seed Rise to the Top?
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The Flyers made it into the playoffs last year with a shootout win in the final game of the season. They rode that high all the way to the Cup finals.
Currently, the Sabres and hold the final spots in their respective conferences. If they remain in the final spot they will have the chance to prove themselves.
Will it happen? Probably not.
Will Carrie Underwood Sing the Anthem?
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When Mike Fisher was traded to the Nashville prior to the deadline, local papers read, “Carry Underwood’s husband traded to the Predators.”
The hockey-wise reporters in Nashville were all over the big trade, but does her husband’s presence in the Music City warrant a special appearance come playoff time?
She's easy on the eyes and the ears so let’s hope so.
Who Will Grow the Best Playoff Beard?
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This is a question that is largely dependent on which teams go deep into the playoff. Obviously, the longer a team stays in the playoffs the more time each player will have to grow out a mean beard.
So chose a testosterone-high team who you think will go deep into the playoff, and have some fun with this one.
Which Team Is Most Likely to Be Swept?
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A series sweep can be equally fun and depressing, it just depends which team you cheer for. Playoff series that last four games usually happen within the first few rounds, so keep this in mind when placing your bets.
You can also bet on the number of series that will end in four games, say 4 over/under?
What Team Will Endure the Most Injuries?
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Picking players that might go down to injury in the playoffs is extremely tough, so why not teams?
It is slightly easier to pick teams based on style of play. Teams that play a physical brand of hockey, teams that block a ton of shots, or teams that a bit on the older side, are the teams most likely to have players injured.
For my money, I would choose Boston, Philadelphia or Detroit.
Will the Conference Winners Touch the Trophy?
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Although it varies from player to player, overall, the level of superstition is extremely high in the NHL.
In more recent years team captains have had to make a tough decision upon winning the conference title; to touch or not to touch. Lest the wrong decision lead to back luck in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Usually one conference will celebrate while the other reluctantly holds off. Will this year be the same?
What Two Teams Will Meet in the Finals?
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Before a winner must be chosen, two rivals will meet in the Stanley Cup Finals, but which two?
Parity is at its highest level in the NHL's recent history, so picking Eastern and Western conference winners is extremely tough.
While Vancouver looks poised to lock up the Western conference, the same cannot be said of one team in the Eastern conference. The Flyers are currently battling for the first spot in the East with the likes of Washington.
Will you pick the obvious number ones, or will go off the board to make surprising choices?
Who Will Win the Conn Smythe Trophy?
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Last year it was captain Blackhawk, Jonathan Toews won the award for MVP of the playoffs. Toews took home one of the NHL's most coveted pieces of hardware, Maple Leaf Gardens, the Conn Smythe.
Pick a star performer on a team that is likely to go deep into the playoffs and you can't go wrong. But choices with this one are a plenty, so choose wisely.
Who Will Win the Stanley Cup?
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Your guess is as good as mine, but I couldn't finish this list off without taking a stab at the cup winner.
I'm picking the Philadelphia Flyers!
Pick wisely, as I say onto you, "Happy Playoffs!"
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