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Life as a Toronto Maple Leafs fan could have taken the darkest of turns if the franchise hadn’t been gifted the first-overall pick in this year’s draft.
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However, the real kick in the crotch for Buds backers has to be the play of Mitch Marner in the playoffs.
Luckily, there’s a way to remedy this when it comes to the latest NHL odds…
Son of a Mitch
After advancing to the Western Conference Final on Thursday, Mitch Marner leads all NHL playoff skaters in points with seven goals in 12 games.
By comparison, Leafs Nation watched the winger go 31-39 SU in the postseason during his tenure with Toronto, winning just two of 11 playoff series and averaging 0.81 points per game.
For Leafs fans like myself, there is a way to fix this, and it’s not just a hedge on happiness. Marner is currently listed at +1000 in the latest Conn Smythe odds, while the Vegas Golden Knights sit around +575 in Stanley Cup odds.
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If Vegas knocks off the Colorado Avalanche and Marner keeps contributing, that Conn Smythe line could shrink to +300 by the Final, especially if Vegas enters it as an underdog.
There are only two true potential Conn Smythe winners in the West: Nathan MacKinnon or Marner, and the latter has a five-point cushion over the Avalanche forward.
Born Sinners
Everyone thinks the Avalanche are going to roll over the team from Sin City, but this series could be tighter than expected.
When healthy, the Minnesota Wild are arguably a better team than Colorado.
Against the Avs, Joel Eriksson Ek being injured was a massive gut-punch for a team already thin at center, and defenseman Jonas Brodin missing time hurt as well. The top-heavy Wild piled huge minutes onto their stars and faded late.
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Vegas’ goaltending may be better, considering Colorado has already made two changes in net this postseason, and the potential shoulder issue for Cale Makar is significant.
The Mitch is Back
Marner is looking electric alongside a red-hot Brett Howden (eight goals in his last nine games) and William Karlsson, who knows his way around playoff hockey.
The Avs are favorites for a reason, but if Mark Stone returns to the lineup, this could become a six- or seven-game war.
Since John Tortorella took over as head coach, Vegas is 14-4-1 including the playoffs, boasting a +31 goal differential. If Marner’s success is tough to watch, go grab him at 12/1 for Conn Smythe.
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It’s the balance of the hockey world: Leafs fans get the first-overall pick, but Marner wins the Cup and playoff MVP.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
