The NHL Playoffs are about to get under way, Wednesday April 14, as fans gear up for some hard hitting NHL Playoff hockey. Of the 16 teams in the race, six are contenders, or is there a Cinderella team? NHL oddsmakers at BETUS.com have the Washington Capitals as +325 moneyline favorites to win the 2010 Stanley Cup . Let’s take a look at the top three and a possible underdog contender. Be sure to get your 2010 Stanley Cup Predictions in early at BETUS.com
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ashington Capitals have the League's most exhilarating player in Alex Ovechkin, one of the best playmakers in Nicklas Backstrom, a net-front presence like Mike Knuble, a dangerous blue-line threat in Mike Green and overall the most lethal offense in the game. They are the highest-scoring team in the League and they also boast the highest goal differential at plus-79, which is 23 better than second-place Chicago. Defensively the Capitals are not as proficient. Washington has yielded 2.78 goals per game, which is the third-worst among the 16 teams that would be in the postseason if it started today. Alexander Ovechkin leads his squad with 109 points and puts the most pucks on net than any other teammate. They have the best power play in the league, but defensively they are ranked 25th on the penalty kill, a stat that must change. Goalie Jose Theodore is playing great with a 30-7-7 record and a 2.81 GAA. Backup Simeon Varlamov is struggling, but is 15-4-6 this season with a 2.55 GAA. The Caps finished their season with a 30-5-3-3 home record and a 24-10-4-3 road record. They bolstered their squad with veterans who have playoff resumes, like Mike Knuble, Brendan Morrison, Eric Belanger, Scott Walker and Joe Corvo were not around D.C. last season.
Chicago Blackhawks have the high powered offense to make a deep run in the playoffs, but do they have the goaltending. Since the Olympic break it’s been all Antti Niemi and no Cristobal Huet. Niemi has four shutouts in games he's played after losses, and he finished the season with seven shutouts in all, tied for third in the NHL. Niemi's overall record was 26-7-4 with a 2.25 GAA and .912 save percentage. But he has no playoff experience and that’s where Huet comes in handy if things go sour. Huet has fared only so-so in his 16 playoff appearances (6-10, 2.73 GAA, .917 save percentage), but he was strong in his final effort of last season's playoffs. The goalie doesn't have to string together amazing, stand-on-his-head performances to win in the playoffs. He just has to make seven or eight difficult saves per game because the team's puck-possession style limits the shots against. The Hawks have tremendous skills to go with their masterful puck-possession style . They have a dominating penalty kill along with quality coaching and veteran experience. And, let's not forget Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Kane became a 30-goal scorer this season and Toews seems like one of those captains that won't let his team lose.
San Jose Sharks definitely have what it takes, but every playoff season they tent to flame out early after finishing a top the West. The Sharks' lack of postseason success in recent years has been pinned on Joe Thornton. The 30-year-old playmaker has amassed 931 points in 915 regular-season games, but just 53 points in 75 postseason contests. If the Sharks want to exorcise their playoff demons this spring, Thornton will need to raise his game. San Jose hasn't moved past the second round since Thornton's arrival in 2005-06. In the previous three seasons, the Sharks have finished first in the Western Conference twice and second the other time. During those previous early exits, Thornton has 4 goals and 22 assists in 30 games. Not terrible by any stretch of the imagination, but the Sharks will need more from their star if they want to win a Stanley Cup. "Heading into the playoffs you have to have contributions from everybody," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "Teams will reel in on the top scorers, the top players on each team as they try to stay even, and try to stay ahead if they can. The third- and fourth-line players have to contribute." They are getting great goaltending from Evgeni Nabokov who is 44-16-4-6 with a 2.43 GAA.
Cinderella Pick: Phoenix Coyotes are making their first playoff appearance since missing six straight. They certainly have a few key components to make a championship run, starting with a goaltender who might be more valuable to his team than any other player is to his squad . Ilya Bryzgalov has 42 of the Coyotes' 50 wins this season. His eight shutouts are the second most in the League, his 2.29 GAA and .920 save percentage rank in the top eight, and he has the ability to steal not just a game, but an entire series. Bryzgalov also has a Cup ring, won with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 as the backup to Jean-Sebastien Giguere, so he does know what it takes to win. The Coyotes have a strong, dependable leader in captain Shane Doan, who must be licking his chops to get back to the postseason. They have a group of steady defensemen that as a unit are more than the sum of their individual parts; a few quality snipers (Radim Vrbata, Lee Stempniak); and coach Dave Tippett has his players believing anything he says and doing exactly what he wants.
2010 Stanley Cup Odds:
Boston Bruins +3000
Buffalo Sabres +2000
Chicago Blackhawks +400
Colorado Avalanche +5000
Detroit Red Wings +800
Los Angeles Kings +2500
Montreal Canadiens +4000
Nashville Predators +4000
New Jersey Devils +1200
Ottawa Senators +3000
Philadelphia Flyers +4000
Phoenix Coyotes +2000
Pittsburgh Penguins +600
San Jose Sharks +550
Vancouver Canucks +750
Washington Capitals +325
Point-Spreads.com 2010 Stanley Cup Odds & Predictions
The Bottom Line: Detroit always seems to find their way to the finals. Be sure to get your 2010 Stanley Cup Odds & Predictions in early at BETUS.com and receive up to 145% in Cash Bonuses and start winning today!
