The matchups are set, and the NHL playoffs will begin in just a couple of days. Which favorite is most deserving of the hype? Which longshots carry real value? We’ll dive into just that with three best bets for the postseason.

Colorado Avalanche (+325)

The Colorado Avalanche are healthy favorites to win the Stanley Cup, and yet I still think this line is short. Colorado dealt with an insane amount of injuries this season, seemingly never having a healthy lineup, and even so, the team remained in contention to win the Presidents' Trophy until the end of Game 81. Think about that. The Avalanche scored in bunches and dominated all year long, even though Nathan MacKinnon, Nazem Kadri, Gabriel Landeskog, Devon Toews, Sam Girard, and Bowen Byram, among others, missed double-digit games. I think the Avs lap the field when they're at full health, and their divisional playoff bracket isn't exactly scary. This team is going deep.

Edmonton Oilers (+1700)

The Edmonton Oilers have been a completely different team under Jay Woodcroft. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Co. have been their usual dominant selves, while, importantly, Woodcroft has found a way to get much more from the roster when those guys aren't on the ice. The Oilers no longer get crushed in depth minutes, which makes them a scary side to deal with. There is a reason only the Florida Panthers won more over the final 25 games of the season.

Edmonton's underlying metrics are very good, the squad's power play is terrifying, and Mike Smith has been excellent over the last month or two. It'll be tough to get past the Calgary Flames in the second round, but if they do, maybe the Oilers will have a banged-up Avalanche team waiting for them.

Boston Bruins (+2000)

The Boston Bruins are my favorite dark horse team. Boston finished the season in sparkling form, winning 17 of the final 25 games while controlling a league-best 60.5% of the expected goals at five-on-five - nearly 2% more than the next closest club.

The Bruins are stout defensively, and with David Pastrnak and Taylor Hall crushing on the second line, their top six is a problem for anybody. If Boston can find a way to get the power play going, the team will essentially be flawless.

Although the Carolina Hurricanes are a tough draw, I think going through the Metropolitan bracket will help Boston's cause in the long run. If the Bruins can get by Carolina, they'll meet the New York Rangers or Pittsburgh Penguins on the other side. And with all due respect, I'd much rather see either of those teams than the No. 1 seeded Panthers.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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