Sportsbooks face seven-figure loss if Blues win Stanley Cup

Las Vegas Review-Journal

6 years ago

Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask, left, of Finland, is congratulated by teammates following Gam ... — Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask, left, of Finland, is congratulated by teammates following Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, May 16, 2019. Boston won 4-0 to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Boston Bruins’ Brad Marchand (63) takes a shot on goal while Carolina Hurricanes’ Jaccob Slavin (74) defends during the first period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference final series in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, May 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40), of Finland, defends the goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, May 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Boston Bruins’ Matt Grzelcyk (48) controls the puck against a chasing Carolina Hurricanes’ Sebastian Aho (20), of Finland, as Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) guards the net during the second period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, May 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Boston Bruins’ David Backes, left, hugs Jake DeBrusk (74) following Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference final series against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, May 16, 2019. Boston won 4-0 to advance to the Stanley Cup finals. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) and Robert Bortuzzo (41) celebrate after defeating the San Jose Sharks in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference final series Tuesday, May 21, 2019, in St. Louis. The Blues won 5-1 to take the series 4-2. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

St. Louis Blues left wing Sammy Blais celebrates after the Blues scored against the San Jose Sharks during the first period in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference final series Tuesday, May 21, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (18) falls as he chases the puck with San Jose Sharks left wing Evander Kane (9) during the first period in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference final series Tuesday, May 21, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

San Jose Sharks right wing Joonas Donskoi (27), of Finland, passes the puck away from St. Louis Blues center Ryan O’Reilly (90) during the first period in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference final series Tuesday, May 21, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn (10) scores against the San Jose Sharks during the second period in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference final series Tuesday, May 21, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

St. Louis Blues center Oskar Sundqvist (70), of Sweden; defenseman Colton Parayko (55); and Vladimir Tarasenko (91), of Russia, celebrate after the Blues scored a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the third period in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference final series Tuesday, May 21, 2019, in St. Louis. The Blues won 5-1 to win the series 4-2. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Most of the country probably has grown tired of watching Boston teams win championships.

But Las Vegas sportsbooks would love to see the Bruins defeat the St. Louis Blues in the Stanley Cup Final, which starts Monday in Boston. It would spare them a collective loss of more than $1 million.

William Hill, South Point, MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment sportsbooks each face mid-six figure liabilities on the Blues, who were 300-1 long shots in January to win the Cup.

“The liability is close to the Golden Knights last year,” The Mirage sportsbook director Jeff Stoneback said. “There’s no big bets, but lots at very big odds.”

South Point sportsbook director Chris Andrews said he took about $1,000 in wagers on St. Louis at 300-1 odds, and a Caesars bettor placed a $400 wager Jan. 15 to win $100,000 on the Blues at 250-1 odds.

“We definitely are Bruins fans,” Caesars risk manager Jeff Davis said.

St. Louis was the worst team in the NHL on Jan. 3 before turning its season around during an 11-game win streak from Jan. 23 to Feb. 19.

“They were dead last and made that magical run,” William Hill sportsbook director Nick Bogdanovich said. “People were on them early in the run and stayed on them and kept betting them. Hats off to the bettors. They smelled that one pretty good.”

William Hill bettors placed the following futures wagers on the Blues: $50 at 300-1 to win $15,000 on Jan. 15; $100 at 200-1 to win $20,000 on Jan. 23; $2,000 at 40-1 to win $80,000, $2,000 at 35-1 to win $70,000 on Feb. 15; $2,000 at 25-1 to win $50,000 on Feb. 16; and $2,000 at 18-1 to win $36,000 on Feb. 17.

Boston’s longest futures odds at William Hill were 15-1 in September.

The Bruins are minus 150 series favorites over the Blues, who are plus 130.

“It should be a really low-scoring series and a long series,” Davis said. “I would assume it will go six or seven games, and many of the games will be 2-1. There’s not going to be a lot of space out there. It’s going to be really physical.

“I think the difference will be if the Blues can stay out of the penalty box. The Bruins’ power play this postseason has been out of this world. If they can stay out of the box, the price on the series seems like a good bet on the Blues.”

St. Louis has won its past three playoff games and six of eight. Boston has won seven straight playoff games and 10 of 12.

“It’s going to be a competitive series. Both teams are playing their best hockey,” Bogdanovich said. “I can’t wait to watch it. We’ve all turned into hockey fans because of the Golden Knights.”

The Westgate sportsbook also is rooting for the Bruins.

“The Bruins look awesome now, but who knows. They’re going to have an 11-day layoff, and you never know how that affects teams,” Westgate sportsbook manager Ed Salmons said. “It’s hockey. Anything can happen. The referee could make a stupid call. That’s the way game goes.”

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 on Twitter.