The Biggest NHL Betting Upsets of the Year

The NHL Playoffs are now in full-swing, and are certainly living up to the hype after wrapping up a regular season that was easily one of the most electric we’ve seen in recent years. 13 teams reached the 100-point milestone, the most in league history. Teams averaged 3.14 goals-per-game, a 26-year high, and eight different players hit the 100-point-plateau for the first time in over two decades. To celebrate the noteworthy year it was in both realms, we’re going to take a look at the 10 biggest NHL betting upsets this season, according to Caesars Sportsbook.

2022 has also been a significant year in the world of sports wagering, as over 20 states, including New York sports betting, have now legalized a variety of different forms of gambling on games.

10. Canadiens defeat Stars 5-3 (+300)

9. Sabres defeat Predators 4-1 (+300)

8. Red Wings defeat Hurricanes 3-0 (+300)

There was a slew of underdogs who pulled off wins as +300 underdogs this year, but none were as impressive or convincing as when the Detroit Red Wings blanked the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 back on April 14th. Carolina entered the game red-hot, winning 3 of their last 4 and sitting 3rd in the league in points, while the lowly Red Wings had dropped 4 of their last 5 games, including being outscored 10-1 in their last two games.

Not only did Detroit take care of business on the road, but they didn’t even allow a single goal. Anyone who had a Detroit ticket that night can thank Alex Nedeljkovic, as the Red Wings goalie stopped 46 shots against his former team en-route to the shutout and a big upset-victory.

🚨 RED WINGS WIN! NEDELJKOVIC SHUTOUT! 🐙

WHAT A PERFORMANCE BY @alexned_ AGAINST HIS FORMER TEAM! 🧱 #LGRW pic.twitter.com/XLLgrX0tpg

— Winged Wheel Podcast (@WingedWheelPod) April 15, 2022

7. Sabres defeat Maple Leafs 5-2 (+325)

6. Canadiens defeat Maple Leafs 5-2 (+350)

5. Blue Jackets defeat Panthers 6-3 (+350)

4. Sabres defeat Maple Leafs 5-1 (+350)

Rounding out the group of +350 underdog wins, we see a familiar trend of the Maple Leafs losing as heavy favourites, making three appearances on the losing side of this list, all in blowout fashion.  Buffalo took advantage as big underdogs twice, dominating Toronto 5-2 and 5-1, along with a 5-1 Montreal win. To make matters even worse for Leafs bettors, all three of these upsets occurred within the span of 3 weeks.

2021-22 Toronto Maple Leafs:

Against the 15 other teams currently in the playoff picture: 14-8-3

Against Sabres, Canadiens, and Coyotes: 2-4-1

— Alex Drain (@AlexDrain_NHL) March 13, 2022

3. Red Wings defeat Lightning 4-3 (+400)

The Red Wings’ second appearance on this list was the second largest upset we saw this year, as they took down Tampa Bay 4-3 as +600 underdogs near the end of the season. It was the 4th matchup between the teams this season, and despite Tampa winning the first three, Detroit kept it close each game, losing all three by a margin of 4 goals.

It’s understandable to see why oddsmakers may have still ignored this, as the Lightning were entering the home-stretch before playoffs while Detroit was wrapping up another miserable season and had nothing to play for. Additionally, Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy was 13-0 against the Red Wings entering the game, all the more reason to believe Detroit didn’t have a chance.

2. Coyotes defeat Wild 5-3 (+425)

The Coyotes claim the final two spots, beginning with the Wild upset, after already clinching a spot in the playoffs, Minnesota entered the game searching for a win to solidify postseason home-ice advantage. Arizona on the other hand was on a dreadful 10-game losing streak, still sitting dead last in the league with absolutely nothing to play for.

Against all odds, the +425 Coyotes traveled to Minnesota and potted 4 goals in the 3rd period en-route to the win in regulation, earning Arizona bettors an 8-to-1 return on their investment.

1. Coyotes defeat Avalanche 3-2 (+425)

After their win over Minnesota, the Coyotes have now pulled off the biggest upset of the season TWICE..💰

+425 @ Colorado W
+425 @ Minnesota W

The Avalanche and Wild had the best records in the West entering Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/JwTZPnlSnH

— TSN EDGE (@TSN_Edge) April 27, 2022

Rounding out the list, we have the Coyotes win against the Colorado Avalanche back in early March that made waves in the world of hockey betting. Arizona entered the game just a point ahead of last place in the league with a record of 10-29-4 for 24 points, while Colorado was just two points behind first place in the league with a 32-8-3 record good for 67 points. The Coyotes started slow, but rallied late in the third to tie it 2-2, and proceeded to hold the Avs off throughout OT and a shootout to earn a 3-2 win. The Coyotes became the biggest underdogs to earn an outright win since 2006, and proceeded to do it twice within 3 months courtesy of both +425 wins.

Being the worst team in the league for almost the entire season, it comes as no surprise that the Coyotes were the ones who pulled off these wins. They were very heavy underdogs and saw some outrageous odds stacked against them all year, it was just a matter of time for them to squeak out a few wins.

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