With Las Vegas in Finals, Hilton posts ECHL odds
Even bettors who barely recognize the existence of the NHL probably know Sidney Crosby is a star for the Pittsburgh Penguins. But who could identify Cedrick Desjardins and Kevin Lalande?
Las Vegas Hilton sports book director Jay Kornegay has the answer to that because he is posting odds on minor league hockey.
Desjardins of the Cincinnati Cyclones and Lalande of the Las Vegas Wranglers are the opposing goalies in the ECHL Kelly Cup Finals.
Interest in hockey betting is minimal, but Kornegay said he decided to make lines out of respect for the local franchise.
"With the Wranglers' success, they deserve to be on the board," Kornegay said.
The best-of-7 series is tied 1-1, and Game 3 is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Thursday at the Orleans Arena. The Hilton opened the line as a pick 'em, with both teams at minus-105. The total is 5.
It's the second time in the Wranglers' five-year existence their games are available for legal wagering. Orleans sports book director Bob Scucci posted lines on some of Las Vegas' playoff games last year, but the Orleans is not offering Wranglers wagering this year.
The Hilton opened Cincinnati as a minus-110 favorite in Game 1 on Saturday and a minus-120 favorite in Game 2 on Sunday. The Cyclones won the opener 4-2, and the Wranglers tied the series with a 1-0 win.
"Response has been very little," said Kornegay, who reported the Hilton wrote about eight betting tickets on Game 1 and about 20 tickets on Game 2. "But people are warming up to it."
The Hilton's betting limits are $3,000 on the side and $1,000 on the total.
When the Thunder of the International Hockey League played at the Thomas & Mack Center from 1993 to 1999, the team occasionally appeared on the betting board at the Imperial Palace. Kornegay ran the Imperial Palace book at the time.
