With less than a week to go in the NHL regular season, Washington has clinched the Eastern Conference and leads the NHL with 118 points. In the West, San Jose is tied with Chicago with 109 points.
One thing we know for sure is that the Capitals will be the number one seed in the East for the playoffs. Buffalo has 98 points and has clinched the Northeast division. Ottawa has 93 points and has clinched a playoff berth. In the Atlantic division, New Jersey has 99 points and a two point lead over Pittsburgh. Both teams have also clinched a spot in the postseason. Montreal, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York (Rangers) are within three points of each, vying for the final three playoff spots.
The Sharks have clinched the Pacific division, the Blackhawks have clinched the Central division, and Vancouver has clinched the Northwest division. Phoenix has clinched the fourth seed and Detroit, Nashville, Los Angeles, and Colorado have all clinched a spot, but their actual seed for the postseason has yet to be determined.
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 4/1
The Capitals are in prime playoff form, winning their last four games including a 3-2 OT win over Boston and an impressive 6-3 win over Pittsburgh on Tuesday night. They finish the regular season with games against the Atlanta Thrashers on Friday and the Bruins on Sunday. Through 80 games, Alex Ovechkin is the leading goal scorer with 48 and Nicklas Backstrom leads in assists with 67. G JoseTheodore has a 2.83 GAA (goals against average) and Semyon Varlamov’s is 2.54.
San Jose Sharks Odds to win the Stanley Cup: Open 10/1 Current 9/2
The Sharks are also peaking at the right time winning six out of their last eight games. They bounced back from a 5-4 OT loss to the Avalanche on Sunday with a 2-1 win over Calgary on Tuesday night. They finish their regular season up against the Canucks tonight and the Coyotes on Sunday. Through 80 games, Patrick Marleau is the leading goal scorer with 43 and Joe Thornton leads in assists with 68. G Evgeni Nabokov has a 2.45 GAA.
Chicago Blackhawks Odds to win the Stanley Cup: Open 12/1 Current 5/1
In an effort to keep pace with the Sharks, the Blackhawks have won five straight games to keep their hopes of earning the top spot in the conference alive. Last night they outscored St. Louis 6-5 to remain tied for first. They finish their regular season with two stern tests on the road. On Friday night they play the Avalanche and Sunday they face off against the Red Wings. Through 79 games, Patrick Kane leads the team in goals with 30 and in assists with 55 and Duncan Keith has 53 assists. Goalies Aniti Niemi’s GAA is 2.14 and Cristobal Huet’s is 2.50.
Phoenix Coyotes Odds to win the Stanley Cup: Open 75/1 Current 15/1
Firmly in place as the fourth seed, the Coyotes continue to play well, winning their last two. They survived a 3-2 OT shootout against Edmonton on Saturday night and beat the Predators 5-2 last night. They will play the Kings tonight and the Sharks on Saturday to finish up their regular season. Through 79 games, Lee Stempniak leads in goals with 27 and Wojtek Wolski leads in assists with 39. G Ilya Bryzgalov has a GAA of 2.30 and Jason Labarbera’s is 2.16.
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