Biggest playoff series upsets (betting odds)

[unknown33]

Place	Year	Favorite	Underdog	Odds
1	1991	Blackhawks	North Stars	900
	1994	Red Wings	Sharks	900
3	2003	Red Wings	Mighty Ducks	850
4	1990	Flames	Kings	800
	2001	Red Wings	Kings	800
6	2010	Capitals	Canadiens	645
7	2003	Avalanche	Wild	625
8	1989	Red Wings	Blackhawks	600
9	1993	Bruins	Sabres	500
	1993	Blackhawks	Blues	500
	1998	Devils	Senators	500
	2000	Blues	Sharks	500
13	1995	Flames	Sharks	450
	2003	Stars	Mighty Ducks	450
	2004	Red Wings	Flames	450
14	2006	Red Wings	Oilers	440
15	2010	Penguins	Canadiens	430
16	1991	Flames	Oilers	400
17	2002	Bruins	Canadiens	380
18	2001	Senators	Maple Leafs	340
19	1994	Penguins	Capitals	330
	1996	Flyers	Panthers	330
	1996	Red Wings	Avalanche	330
	2003	Canucks	Wild	330
25	2002	Devils	Hurricanes	320
26	1995	Blues	Canucks	300
	1996	Penguins	Panthers	300
	1998	Avalanche	Oilers	300
	1999	Devils	Penguins	300
30	1990	Rangers	Capitals	240
31	1990	Devils	Capitals	220
32	1989	Blues	Blackhawks	200

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Inspired by recent threads about certain playoff games, I thought it might be something interesting to look into.
Odds are all prior to the 1st game of the series and for winner of the series only (whether it's a sweep or goes to 7 games obv isn't considered)

The data available is from the following timeframe:

From 1978/79 - 1986/87: Just the Finals (so the Miracle on Manchester is missing)
1987/88: Finals and Conference Finals
1988/89: All rounds with a few matchups missing (the only relevant one missing is Penguins - Islanders '93)

I included all playoff series above +200 where the underdog won.

source: SportsOddsHistory.com | Live odds and archived futures lines of the Super Bowl, World Series & more

Click to read more...

 

[Doctor No]

Place	Year	Favorite	Underdog	Odds
7	2003	Avalanche	Wild	625
	1998	Avalanche	Oilers	300

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Yay, I was there for both of these endings.

2003 was overshadowed (justifiably) by Ducks/Wings, but that one was a shocked stunner. Andrew Brunette's rush in overtime of Game Seven was so slow that I bet he's still advancing on Roy with the puck to this day.

 

[GMR]

There's a nasty side to being a Red Wings fan during the years of glory.

 

[a79krgm]

The North Stars beating the Black Hawks in '91 was sweet. Chicago couldn't stay out of the penalty box and Minnesota's PP was red hot.

 

[GMR]

Why were the 2001 Red Wings such big favorites against the Kings? They weren't even the top seed in the West that year. I believe they swept the Kings the season before, but this was a Wings team that wasn't nearly as strong as the Cup teams from 1997 and 1998. The Kings had some good players on that team. It was certainly an upset, but you wouldn't think it'd be in the top 5.

 

[The Panther]

The North Stars beating the Black Hawks in '91 was sweet. Chicago couldn't stay out of the penalty box and Minnesota's PP was red hot.

That was all part of Mike Keenan's strategy in those days: Take as many penalties as possible for the win! (No, it didn't make sense then either.)


I question the Calgary-L.A. series in 1990 being as high as it is. The Flames had just declined 20 points in the standings, while losing a bunch of veterans, and while the Kings had suffered a tough season they were one year removed from a 2nd place finish (and the following year would be in 1st), and had a late-prime Gretzky at the helm. It just doesn't seem comparable to Detroit-San Jose in 1994 or whatever.

The Edmonton-L.A. 1982 one would certainly be high on this list. Even then, though, it's not like the Oilers were Cup champs or anything -- they'd just had their franchise's first good season.

Another one that would have to be high on this one is The Rangers knocking off the Flyers in '86.

 

[Vanzig]

Place	Year	Favorite	Underdog	Odds
1	1991	Blackhawks	North Stars	900
	1994	Red Wings	Sharks	900
3	2003	Red Wings	Mighty Ducks	850
4	1990	Flames	Kings	800
	2001	Red Wings	Kings	800
6	2010	Capitals	Canadiens	645
7	2003	Avalanche	Wild	625
8	1989	Red Wings	Blackhawks	600
9	1993	Bruins	Sabres	500
	1993	Blackhawks	Blues	500
	1998	Devils	Senators	500
	2000	Blues	Sharks	500
13	1995	Flames	Sharks	450
	2003	Stars	Mighty Ducks	450
	2004	Red Wings	Flames	450
14	2006	Red Wings	Oilers	440
15	2010	Penguins	Canadiens	430
16	1991	Flames	Oilers	400
17	2002	Bruins	Canadiens	380
18	2001	Senators	Maple Leafs	340
19	1994	Penguins	Capitals	330
	1996	Flyers	Panthers	330
	1996	Red Wings	Avalanche	330
	2003	Canucks	Wild	330
25	2002	Devils	Hurricanes	320
26	1995	Blues	Canucks	300
	1996	Penguins	Panthers	300
	1998	Avalanche	Oilers	300
	1999	Devils	Penguins	300
30	1990	Rangers	Capitals	240
31	1990	Devils	Capitals	220
32	1989	Blues	Blackhawks	200

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Inspired by recent threads about certain playoff games, I thought it might be something interesting to look into.
Odds are all prior to the 1st game of the series and for winner of the series only (whether it's a sweep or goes to 7 games obv isn't considered)

The data available is from the following timeframe:

From 1978/79 - 1986/87: Just the Finals (so the Miracle on Manchester is missing)
1987/88: Finals and Conference Finals
1988/89: All rounds with a few matchups missing (the only relevant one missing is Penguins - Islanders '93)

I included all playoff series above +200 where the underdog won.

source: SportsOddsHistory.com | Live odds and archived futures lines of the Super Bowl, World Series & more

Ya the Cinderella NORTH STARS 1991Run was magical, You had a bunch of rookies and old timers with a BACK UP GOALIE as a Starter and yet they knocked off the defending Cup Champions (OILERS) and the (BLACKHAWKS) and faced the Dynasty PENGUINS who had a crap load of All Stars and HALL OF FAMERS.

The North Stars overcame huge odds and guys like GAGNER, MODANO Played unbelievably But BELLOWS (29 Points) and BRIAN PROPP (23 Points) Played even better.

PROPP actually Scored on DOMINIK HASEK to Pass BOBBY HULL for #1 All Time in NHL PLAYOFF HISTORY Scoring among LW and STILL Holds that incredible NHL RECORD today for 28 Years with 64-84-148.

It’s too bad North Stars didn’t win the cup but it took MARIO,JAGR And the boys 6 Games to win the cup.

Definitely one of the biggest upsets for a team to make the cup finals in Hockey History

 

[unknown33]

The Edmonton-L.A. 1982 one would certainly be high on this list. Even then, though, it's not like the Oilers were Cup champs or anything -- they'd just had their franchise's first good season.

Another one that would have to be high on this one is The Rangers knocking off the Flyers in '86.

If anyone has an idea where we could find those it would be great.

 

[unknown33]

Why were the 2001 Red Wings such big favorites against the Kings? They weren't even the top seed in the West that year. I believe they swept the Kings the season before, but this was a Wings team that wasn't nearly as strong as the Cup teams from 1997 and 1998. The Kings had some good players on that team. It was certainly an upset, but you wouldn't think it'd be in the top 5.

I question the Calgary-L.A. series in 1990 being as high as it is. The Flames had just declined 20 points in the standings, while losing a bunch of veterans, and while the Kings had suffered a tough season they were one year removed from a 2nd place finish (and the following year would be in 1st), and had a late-prime Gretzky at the helm. It just doesn't seem comparable to Detroit-San Jose in 1994 or whatever.

It doesn't really say on the site on which day exactly the odds were taken.
Might not been on the day of the first game - it's possible that the line shifted a bit. Also not sure how big differences between various bookmakers were in the pre-internet era.

 

[justafan22]

really surprised habs/caps in 2010 wasn't higher

 

[Kyle McMahon]

Interesting that the Avalanche losing to the Wild in 2003 was considered a much bigger upset than them losing to the Oilers in 1998. My memory of 2003 was that the Tony Granato Avs were ripe for an uspet and a reasonable number of fans and pundits felt the same way. 1998 seemed a lot more surprising; I don't remember anyone besides my biased 11-year old self giving the Oilers a chance.