Second Round Cheat Sheet

Second Round Series Odds

Key:
A – Atlantic
M – Metropolitan
C – Central
P – Pacific
W – Wild Card


Eastern Conference

2A Boston vs. 2W Columbus

Bruins: 49-24-9, 107 points
Blue Jackets: 47-31-4, 98 points


Season series: These two teams didn't meet this season until March as they hooked up three times in the final three weeks. Columbus outlasted Boston in the first matchup at Nationwide Arena, 7-4 on March 12 as the Blue Jackets notched five unanswered goals after falling behind, 1-0. The Bruins captured the final two meetings as Boston edged Columbus, 2-1 in overtime at TD Garden on March 16, followed by a 6-2 blowout in central Ohio on April 2. Dating back to February 2016, these squads have split 10 meetings, while the OVER has cashed nine times.

Previous playoff outcome: The Bruins staved off the Maple Leafs in seven games of the first round for the third time in seven seasons to advance to the semifinals for the second straight season. Last season, Boston won the opener of the conference semifinals against Tampa Bay, but eventually dropped the final four games to the Lightning. The Blue Jackets pulled off the biggest shocker in the opening round by sweeping the top-seeded Lightning in four games to advance to the semifinals for the first time in franchise history. Boston and Columbus are meeting in the playoffs for the first time ever as the Blue Jackets have been eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup champion each of the last two seasons.

2M N.Y. Islanders vs. 1W Carolina

Islanders: 48-27-9, 103 points
Hurricanes: 46-29-7, 99 points


Season series: The Islanders contained the Hurricanes this season by taking three of four meetings, while limiting Carolina to one goal in each of the three victories. Each of the two wins in Raleigh by the Islanders came back in October and each by 2-1 scores, including an overtime triumph by New York as a +150 underdog in the season opener. Carolina's lone win over New York came at Barclays Center in early January, 4-3 as the road team has won five of the last six matchups since February 2018.

Previous playoff outcome: Carolina shocked defending champion Washington in double-overtime of Game 7 to advance to the second round for the first time since 2009. Interestingly enough, each of the last five playoff series victories by the Hurricanes have come in seven games dating back to 2006. The Islanders cruised past the Penguins in a four-game sweep in the first round, marking their first playoff series win in four games since the 1983 Stanley Cup Final sweep of Edmonton. New York and Carolina are meeting in the playoffs for the first time ever, as the Islanders were last in the Eastern Conference Finals in 1993.

Western Conference

3C St. Louis vs. 1W Dallas

Blues: 45-28-9, 99 points
Stars: 43-32-7, 93 points


Season series: Although Dallas finished below St. Louis in the Central division standings, the Stars took three of four meetings from the Blues this season. Dallas grabbed a pair of victories at St. Louis, while limiting the Blues to one goal in each of those wins at Enterprise Center. The Stars ripped the Blues, 5-2 at American Airlines Center on February 21, while the lone win in the series by St. Louis came at Dallas on January 12 in a 3-1 triumph. The UNDER cashed in three of four meetings, while the Stars are 5-1 in the past six matchups with the Blues since December 2017.

Previous playoff outcome: The Stars and Blues each knocked off division counterparts in the opening round. Dallas eliminated division champion Nashville in six games, while St. Louis put away Winnipeg in six games as the Blues won three road contests in the series. Dallas is playing in the second round of the playoffs for only the second time since 2009 as its last appearance in this round came against St. Louis in 2016. The Blues downed the Stars in seven games of that conference semifinal series, capped off by a 6-1 blowout at Dallas in Game 7. St. Louis is seeking its first appearance in the conference finals since 2016, when the Blues lost to the Sharks in six games.

2P San Jose vs. 2W Colorado

Sharks: 46-27-9, 101 points
Avalanche: 38-30-14, 90 points


Season series: The Sharks took care of the Avalanche this season by capturing all three matchups. San Jose edged Colorado at Pepsi Center in early January, 5-4, followed by a 4-3 win on March 1 at SAP Center and a 5-2 home triumph on April 6. All three meetings easily went OVER the total, while the Sharks have won nine of the past 10 home matchups with the Avalanche since February 2013.

Previous playoff outcome: San Jose shocked defending Western Conference champion Vegas in seven games as the Sharks erased a 3-1 series deficit and climbed out of a 3-0 third period hole to beat the Golden Knights, 4-3 in overtime. The Sharks have advanced to the conference semifinals for the third time in four seasons as they seek their first Stanley Cup final appearance since 2016. The Avalanche are playing in the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2008 when Colorado was swept by Detroit. Colorado and San Jose last met in the playoffs in the 2010 first round as the Sharks won in six games.