As the NHL enters the stretch run of the regular season, Washington is in firm control of the Eastern Conference with 99 points and a 15 point lead over Pittsburgh. In the West, it is a two way race between San Jose and Chicago for the top spot. They are currently tied with 93 points.
The Capitals lead the Southeast division by 33 points over Tampa Bay. In the Northeast, Buffalo has a two point lead over Ottawa with 81 points and is nine points ahead of Montreal. Pittsburgh has 84 points and has opened up a three point lead over New Jersey in the Atlantic division.
The Sharks have an eight point lead over Phoenix in the Pacific division. Chicago has opened up a 16 point lead over Nashville in the Central division. In the Northwest division, Vancouver has 85 points and a five point lead over Colorado and leads Calgary by 10 points.
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 4-1 since the Olympic break. Last Thursday they pounded out a 5-4 win over the Lightning with Scott Walker scoring two goals. G Jose Theodore stopped all 30 shots in a 2-0 shutout of the Rangers. After dropping a 4-3 overtime shootout to the Stars, they got a game winning goal from Tomas Fleischmann to beat the Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime. Alex Ovechkin is the leading goal scorer with 44 and Nicklas Backstrom leads in assists with 53. Theodore has a 2.79 GAA (goals against average).
San Jose Sharks Odds to win the Stanley Cup: Open 10/1 Current 4/1
In their first game back after the break, the Sharks fell behind 4-0 to the Devils, eventually losing the game 4-3. In a 3-2 win over the Canadians, Manny Malhotra scored the game winner three minutes into the third period. In a 2-1 win over the Blue Jackets, they scored both of their goals in the third to pull out the win. Patrick Marleau is the leading goal scorer with 39 and Joe Thornton leads the way with 61 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 have gone 3-2 since the break. They lost to the Islanders 5-3 in their first game back, but rebounded with a 5-2 win over the Oilers in their next game. In a 6-3 win over the Canucks, they exploded with five goals in the first period and hung onto win. After losing to the Red Wings 5-4, they grinded out a 3-2 win in overtime against the Kings. Patrick Kane leads the team in goals with 26 and in assists with 48. Duncan Keith has 46 assists and G Chistobal Huet’s GAA is 2.38.
Pittsburgh Penguins Odds to win the Stanley Cup: Open 7/1 Current 5/1
The Penguins are 4-0 since the break and appear to be gearing up for another title run. Their current streak started with a 3-2 win over the Sabres. In a 5-4 win over the Rangers, Evgeni Malkin scored the game winner in overtime. In a 6-3 pounding of the Stars, Olympics hero Sidney Crosby had two goals and an assist. They made it four straight with a hard fought 2-1 win over the Bruins. Crosby leads the team in goals with 44. Malkin leads in assists with 45 and G Mark-Andre Fluery has a 2.67 GAA.
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