Tag: NHL odds

Washington Capitals the Team to Beat?

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Washington Capitals have embarked on a five-game winning streak at just the right time and now look the team to beat going into the playoffs. With just seven games left, the Caps have the highest points tally in the NHL, the most wins, the most goals for and the fewest goals against. That is an emphatic set of statistics and they deserve to be the favourites for the Stanley Cup.

Divisional Futures

The quirk of the NHL this season is that the team with the second highest points tally, second highest number of games won, second highest goals for and second fewest goals against plays in the same division as Washington. The Columbus Blue Jackets are on a roll, having gone 7-2-1 in their last 10, and are just three points behind the Caps in the Metropolitan Division. Still, the Caps have won five in a row and there are just seven games left, so they should hold off the challenge and win the division (1/4 with William Hill). The Blackhawks have all but sewn up the Central Division, while there is no value in backing the Canadiens over the Senators in a poor Atlantic Division. There is plenty of intrigue in the Pacific, though, where the Anaheim Ducks are two points clear of the San Jose Sharks with two games to go. Bet365 has 1/2 on the Ducks and 11/4 on the Sharks. The Sharks lost six straight and are 3-7 in the last 10, while Anaheim is 8-1-1, so the momentum is with the Ducks and Anaheim-Washington could be a good double.

Stanley Cup

Right now it is hard to look past the Caps for the Stanley Cup as they have the stats and the form to back their claim. The 6/1 at Ladbrokes and Coral looks good. Joint-favourites the Minnesota Wild have really fallen apart in the closing weeks of the season, while a 7-0 loss to Florida for the Chicago Blackhawks sets alarm bells ringing. The injury-ravaged Pittsburgh Penguins are on a three-game losing streak and have fallen behind Columbus. The Blue Jackets look a decent outside bet at 10/1 with Bet Victor and Stan James, particularly attractive when many bookmakers will only go to 7/1. Columbus goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is in outrageously good form and the Blue Jackets are 9-0-2 in his last 11 games. A longer shot could be the Ducks at 20/1 with Stan James. They have momentum at a crucial time and Ryan Getzlaf is playing sensational hockey.

Upcoming Games

The Ducks are in Winnipeg to play the Jets on Thursday night and should win that one at odds of around 14/19. You should find similar odds on the Blue Jackets to beat the Carolina Hurricanes at the same time, and that could make a nice double. Saturday sees the Blue Jackets take on the Blackhawks in Chicago, where they will be underdogs, but given the way both teams have played recently Columbus could win it.

Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks soaring towards Stanley Cup playoffs

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

A month ago the Minnesota Wild and Washington Capitals looked destined to face off in the Stanley Cup Final, such was their dominance in each conference. What a difference a month makes as both teams are now struggling badly and a raft of new contenders has emerged. The Chicago Blackhawks are flying, while the form of the Pittsburgh Penguins has been superb, and dark horses are arising, from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Calgary Flames. It is all shaping up to be extremely exciting, with just 10 points left in the regular season.

Futures

The Caps’ lead in the Metropolitan Division has been cut to just one point as Washington is 5-4-1 in its last 10 games. The Penguins have now accrued 101 points, the second highest in the NHL, bettered only by the Caps’ 102. But The Penguins are in much better form – 8-1-1 in the last 10 – and they have the momentum to overtake Washington. Pittsburgh, the 2016 champion, is now a real threat and looks an interesting bet at 2/1 to win this division with Bet365.

The Montreal Canadiens are 1/2 with Paddy Power to win what looks a pretty weak Atlantic Division. They have a three-point lead and should maintain it.

In the Pacific Division, the San Jose Sharks are on a four-game losing streak but are still four points ahead of the Oilers and Ducks with 10 games to go. They should hold them off, but the threat may come from the Calgary Flames, who are 8-2 in their last 10, compared to 4-6 for San Jose, and are just five points behind. Still, the Sharks should cling on and the 5/13 at Bet365 on them winning it looks reasonable.

It is remarkable to see the odds in the Central Division, where Chicago is now 1/4 favourite with William Hill and Bet365 to win it. The Wild were odds-on just a few weeks ago, but have now gone out to 10/3 with Ladbrokes on the back of a miserable run that has seen them lose seven of their last 10 games. It is now hard to fancy them for the Stanley Cup, where they are 7/1 with 888 Sport. The Caps are still favourites at 6/1 with Ladbrokes, but the interesting choices are surely the Blackhawks (7/1 with William Hill) or the Penguins (8/1 with 888 Sport). The Blue Jackets also look a good longer shot at 10/1 with Bet Victor.

Upcoming Games

The in-form Flames travel to Nashville to face the Predators on Friday and it should be a close-fought game, with Nashville favoured by bookmakers. But the Flames are the most consistent team in the NHL right now and the 19/16 available on them winning this looks great. The Blackhawks play the Dallas Stars on the same day and should beat a team that is second bottom of the Central Division. Chicago is 5/12 so Calgary and Chicago could make an interesting double bet.