The second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs started Sunday when the Carolina Hurricanes fell to the New York Rangers in front of a loud Madison Square Garden. Tonight, the Boston Bruins look for a measure of revenge against the Florida Panthers, the team that knocked them out of last season's playoffs.
How did we get here? The Rangers dispatched the Washington Capitals in a first-round sweep, while the Hurricanes knocked off the New York Islanders in five games. The Bruins won a thrilling series over the Toronto Maple Leafs while the Panthers eliminated their in-state rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Out West, the Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers will challenge Elias Pettersson and the Vancouver Canucks in the battle of Western Canada. The Dallas Stars survived a hard-fought Game 7 to knock off the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights. The will challenge Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche.
All odds accurate as of publish time. For more, go to ESPN BET. 
Edmonton Oilers at Vancouver Canucks
Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia; Wednesday, 10:00 p.m. ET
Game 1 Puck line: Oilers -1.5 (+185), Canucks +1.5 (-250)
Series line: Oilers (-130), Canucks (+110)
Series length: Four games (+475), Five Games (+255), Six Games (+200), Seven Games (+240)
Best Bet: Leon Draisaitl To Score Over 3.5 Goals & To Record Over 3.5 Assists in Round 2 (+225). Unless this best-of-seven series lasts the minimum, the Oilers' other star perceivably sits in a comfortable enough position to knock out four goals and four assists. He potted five and five through only five contests against the Kings in the last round. The only other pressing concern lies between the pipes for the Canucks. But as long as Arturs Silovs - who spent most of the past two seasons in the minors for a reason - doesn't continue to play well above his pay grade for Vancouver, Draisaitl should continue to make a fair bit of productive noise. Again, a lengthier series would help.
If the Oilers win the Stanley Cup, who wins the Conn Smythe Trophy? Connor McDavid (+475). After opening at +900, the Oilers superstar remains the standout option, even at a lesser number. He already leads the league in playoff points (10), despite having played only five games. Those shopping for a bigger figure might consider Leon Draisaitl (+2500), who could conceivably score his way into securing the individual prize.
If the Canucks win the Stanley Cup, who wins the Conn Smythe Trophy? J.T. Miller (+5000). The Canucks aren't clawing their way past the Oilers - never mind Colorado or Dallas and so forth - without the team's heartbeat having a large say in matters. After leading his club with 103 points through the regular season, Miller registered the most (tied Brock Boeser) through their first series with Nashville, while firing more shots on net - 14% of Vancouver's total - than any other skater. Only star defender Quinn Hughes played more minutes than the Canucks' top two-way forward. -Victoria Matiash
Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars
American Airlines Arena, Dallas, Tex.; Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. ET
Game 1 Puck line: Avalanche +1.5 (-225), Stars -1.5 (+175)
Series line: Avalanche (+105), Stars (-125)
Series length: Four games (+600), five games (+270), six games (+200), seven games (+200)
Best Bet: Mikko Rantanen and Valeri Nichushkin each to score over 2.5 goals in Round 2 (+350). This was not achieved in Round 1, with Nichushkin going way over with seven goals in five games, but Rantanen only earning two tallies. That said, asking for three goals from each player throughout this series shouldn't be asking too much. Rantanen got there in three games in the regular season against the Stars, but Nichushkin only managed one goal against Dallas this season. The Avalanche offense already showed it can't be slowed down by the best defensive team in the regular season in the first round.
Don't get too tempted by the Cale Makar special that is hedging against his shot totals. Cale Makar to record over 1.5 shots on goal in each game in Round 2 (+110) may seem like a no-brainer since he only fell below two shots on goal 16 times in 77 regular season games. But note that two of those 16 outings were against the Stars.
If the Stars win the Stanley Cup, who wins the Conn Smythe Trophy? Wyatt Johnston (+1500). He was my Conn Smythe pick from the outset of the playoffs because a) I think the Stars win it all and b) He's been their best player since February (and it's not that close). He's not just a rookie trying to find his footing here; since the all-star break he leads the Stars in goals, shots and points. Heck, he was 31st in the NHL in that span for points. The cat is out of the bag on this one after his sterling performance against the Golden Knights, but if the Stars go all the way it's going to be between him and Jake Oettinger for the MVP trophy.
If the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup, who wins the Conn Smythe Trophy? Valeri Nichushkin (+3000). Makar already has one of these on his shelf, but you could have argued Nathan MacKinnon or Mikko Rantanen two years ago. So why Nichuskin? Goals can be flashy in the decision for the playoffs MVP and Nichushkin is piling them up with seven in Round 1. Look no further than last season when Jack Eichel had more points, but Jonathan Marchessault took the Conn Smythe thanks to more goals at key moments. -Sean Allen
Boston Bruins at Florida Panthers
Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Fla.; Monday, 8:00 p.m. ET
Game 1 Puck line: Panthers -1.5 (+160), Bruins +1.5 (-190)
Series line: Panthers (-200), Bruins (+170)
Series length: Four games (+600), five games (+250), six games (+200), seven games (+200)
Best Bet: Carter Verhaeghe to score the first goal in any game in Round 2 (+115). It really feels like the odds being offered here aren't good enough. Verhaeghe scored the first goal of the game six times in the regular season (7.3% of games), so asking to bet on it for +115 return in what could be as few as four games (probably not, but technically possible) doesn't seem like enough. Still, of the specials for the Cats, it's among the tempting offers, especially with the top-line winger peeling off five goals in five games during the first round. The Bruins special in the same vein is Jake DeBrusk (+375), who only scored the first goal in a game twice during the regular season.
Matthew Tkachuk to record over 7.5 shots on goal in any game in Round 2 (+400) is another tempting option. He did that five times during the regular season, and the Bruins allowed a player to do it six times during the regular season and once in the series with the Leafs.
If the Panthers win the Stanley Cup, who wins the Conn Smythe Trophy? Aleksander Barkov (+2500). There are a ton of offensive powerhouses still left in the NHL playoffs, with most of the threats to grind out a series given the boot in Round 1. If the Panthers are going to push through to victory this time around, they are going to need some serious two-way, Selke-style heroics -- and those come from a chief source on this squad. It helps that Tkachuk looks more like a superstar as opposed to a superhuman during this year's postseason.
If the Bruins win the Stanley Cup, who wins the Conn Smythe Trophy? Brad Marchand (+3000). These odds took a swing with a quiet opening round from offensive leader David Pastrnak and a very loud one from captain Marchand. Since the Conn Smythe can't be shared between Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman, which would be the actual best bet if it could, the veteran, gritty leader that also has the team's point lead after Round 1 is a solid choice. (On the topic of the goalies, note that Ullmark was the one who dominated the Panthers in the regular season with four goals allowed across three wins; Swayman allowed three goals in one win). -Sean Allen
Carolina Hurricanes at New York Rangers
Madison Square Garden, New York; Sunday, 4 p.m. ET
Game 1 Puck line: Hurricanes -1.5 (+210), Rangers +1.5 (-300)
Series line: Hurricanes (-165), Rangers (+140)
Series length: Four games (+600), five games (+270), six games (+200), seven games (+190)
Best bet: Vincent Trocheck Or Mika Zibanejad to score over 3.5 goals in Round 2 (+200). To start, the either/or aspect of this wager is appealing. As is the expectation that this series could go the distance. Apologies for stating the mathematical obvious, but one of these two productive Rangers sports a better chance of potting four goals in seven games than, say, in four or five. While Trocheck scored three in only a quartet of contests versus the Capitals in Round 1, Zibanejad has 15 goals in 36 career games against the Hurricanes. Plus, Carolina's Frederik Andersen has been good but not spectacular this postseason to date.
While the number doesn't boast the same charm, Andrei Svechnikov to record over 5.5 shots on goal in any game In Round 2 (+125) is also attractive. The Canes winger fired six in two of five games against the Isles last round.
If the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup, who wins the Conn Smythe Trophy? Sebastian Aho (+1800). At +2000 to open the postseason, Carolina's top center remains an attractive option for a team that's currently favored to win the whole thing. Skating more minutes (21:50) than any other forward, Aho collected two goals and an assist in his team's five-game set with the Islanders. Never mind Seth Jarvis's flashy seven points; the Hurricanes' best player is just getting started.
If the Rangers win the Stanley Cup, who wins the Conn Smythe Trophy? Igor Shesterkin (+1500). If the Rangers' No. 1 plays even nearly as well against the Hurricanes and other upcoming competition as he did against the Capitals -- 4-0, .931 SV%, 1.75 GAA -- he'll offer his club a legit shot at competing for the ultimate prize. For which he would likely be rewarded as an individual. -Victoria Matiash