The NHL is on a two week hiatus (Feb 16th-Feb 28th) for the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver so the regular season is currently on hold. At the break, Washington has the highest number of points in the Eastern Conference at 90, which is 13 points more than New Jersey, the current #2 seed. In the Western Conference, San Jose is on top by two points with 89.
The Capitals lead the Southeast division by 27 points over Tampa Bay. In the Northeast, Ottawa has a one point lead over Buffalo with 77 points and is 11 points ahead of Boston. New Jersey has 77 points and is clinging to a one point lead over Pittsburgh in the Atlantic division.
The Sharks have a 10 point lead over Phoenix in the Pacific division. Chicago has opened up a 16 point lead over Nashville in the Central division. Things are heating up in the Northwest division as Colorado and Vancouver are tied with 76 points with Calgary trailing by seven.
The following are my top four teams in the league along with their opening and current odds to win it all.
Washington Capitals Odds to win the Stanley Cup: Open 10/1 Current 9/2
The Capitals are currently 41-13-8 with a total of 90 points. They are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games. After winning 14 straight games, the Caps lost their second straight, falling to Ottawa 5-6. The Senators opened up a 3-1 lead in the first period on their way to the one goal victory. In their final game before the break, they were on the wrong side a 4-3 overtime shootout with St.Louis, losing their third game in a row. Alex Ovechkin is the leading goal scorer with 42 and Nicklas Backstrom leads in assists with 50. G Jose Theodore has a 2.94 GAA (goals against average).
San Jose Sharks Odds to win the Stanley Cup: Open 10/1 Current 4/1
The Sharks are currently 40-13-9 with a total of 89 points. They are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. In an overtime shootout with Detroit, they came away with a 3-2 win. Patrick Marleau scored the lone goal in the extra period for the win. In their last game before the break, they gave up three goals in the second period and went on to lose to Buffalo 3-1. Marleau is the leading goal scorer with 38 and Joe Thornton leads the way with 59 assists. G Evgeni Nabokov has a 2.26 GAA.
Chicago Blackhawks Odds to win the Stanley Cup: Open 12/1 Current 5/1
The Blackhawks are currently 41-15-5 with a total of 87 points. They are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. They have won four in a row with the last three ending in overtime shootouts. In Saturday’s 5-4 win over Atlanta, Jonathan Toews scored the only goal in the shootout and in Sunday’s 5-4 win over Columbus, Troy Brouwer’s goal in the fourth tie breaker round was the difference. Patrick Kane leads the team in goals with 25 and in is tied with Duncan Keith with 42 assists. G Chistobal Huet’s GAA is 2.29.
Ottawa Senators Odds to win the Stanley Cup: Open 35/1 Current 25/1
The Senators are currently 36-23-4 with a total of 76 points. They are 8-2 in their last 10 games. Last Thursday night in a wild one, the Senators made a statement in a 6-5 win over the top team in the conference, Washington. Six different players each scored a goal. Against Detroit, their offense ground to a surprising halt in a 4-1 loss. They bounced back with a 4-3 win over the N.Y. Islanders to maintain their one point lead in the Northeast. Mike Fisher leads the team in goals with 20 and Daniel Alfredsson leads in assists with 32. G Brian Elliott’s GAA is 2.59
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