Odds to Win the 2010 Stanley Cup (Updated)
Odds to win the 2010 Stanley Cup have been updated by Sportsbook.com.
The Washington Capitals were the favorites to win the 2010 Stanley Cup as of April 5 but the value was still good. They would pay out $400 for every $100 bet.
A number of teams would pay out $500 for every $100 bet including Chicago, San Jose and Pittsburgh. Detroit would pay out $600.
The hockey season is down to a precious few days and several teams have been fighting for survival to make the playoffs in each conference.
Eastern Conference
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens currently sit sixth and coach Jacques Martin has all but confirmed that Jaroslav Halak will be the starting goaltender for the remainder of the regular season. Montreal is 19-20 SU on the road and has winnable games at the New York Islanders and at Carolina before returning home to close the season against Toronto. Montreal should emerge as sixth seed.
Boston Bruins
Tops in the East last year and currently in seventh thanks to a role reversal in goal scoring. After finishing second in goals scored a year ago in the NHL, the Bruins can't find the net this year and are currently last in scoring. Their saving grace has been defense as only New Jersey allows fewer goals. Boston has home games against Buffalo and Carolina; however that isn't necessarily a good thing for team that is 3-14 SU on home ice since Winter Classic at Fenway Park. Boston's last game at Washington may be critical; however the Capitals might not bring best effort having wrapped up everything for the playoffs.
Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia has lost nine of its last 12 and is barely hanging onto the last playoff spot. The Flyers can determine their own fate playing home and home with the New York Rangers whom they lead by a point in the standings. Right now Philadelphia also has an edge in a tie-breaker, with the first aspect looked at being number of wins.
New York Rangers
The Rangers have won five of six including last three in a row and could use wins over Buffalo and Toronto to set up "all in" matchups with the Flyers. "We do not want to be the New York Rangers team that didn't make the playoffs," Brandon Dubinsky told the New York Post. "That's really important to us."
Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta had a brutal close to the season schedule-wise, facing Washington and Pittsburgh twice plus New Jersey. The Thrashers already lost to the Caps and Penguins last week and have to come up with six points in final three games to realistically even have a chance. Against this type of competition, that could be too tall an order.
Western Conference
Detroit Red Wings
After a slow start, the Wings caught fire in the postseason and have moved all the way to sixth position with fifth place a possibility. Detroit has won 10 of 13 and are as healthy as they have been all season. Rookie Jimmy Howard's fine play between the pipes is the biggest reason why the Red Wings have gone from being a shaky participant to virtually in and has two matchups with Columbus that should give them the stamp of approval.
L.A. Kings
Of all the teams fighting to make the postseason, the Los Angeles Kings are the most impressive on their body of work for the year. The Kings are +22 in goal differential, basically the same as New Jersey and Phoenix, two teams that are both comfortably in the playoff picture. L.A. can end Anaheim's faint hopes with a victory and should earn two easy points hosting Edmonton before closing out the regular season at Colorado.
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche are gasping for air having tumbled to eighth in the West standings, by virtue of losing seven of nine. This young squad appears worn out after playing beyond expectations most of the year. This is evident on the defensive end, conceding three or more goals in all but one of their defeats. Playing at Edmonton should be a win; however with games at Vancouver, plus home games against Chicago and L.A., nothing is secured yet. The Avs are 24-15 SU on home ice which could help.
Calgary Flames
Calgary is attempting to make late charge, winning six of its last 10, but its anemic offense will have to come up big vs. San Jose, Minnesota and at Vancouver to sneak into the playoffs.
Anaheim and St. Louis are mathematically still alive; however each has to win all remaining contests to even get a sniff.
Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
