The Chicago Blackhawks have emerged as the NHL’s form team going into the home straight of the season and now look set to seriously challenge for the Stanley Cup. The 2015 champions are on a seven-game winning streak, are 9-1 in their last 10 games and are piling pressure on the Minnesota Wild at the top of the Central Division. They now look a good futures bet for the division, the Western Conference and the Stanley Cup.
Central Division
The Wild have spent most of the season heralded as the top team in the Central Division and in the Western Conference, but they are in real danger of being usurped by Chicago. The Blackhawks have now won as many games as Minnesota, although they have played an extra two games, so the Wild have the chance to maintain a lead at the top. Minnesota Wild are in good form, at 7-3 in their last 10, but Chicago is in great form: that 9-1 puts them by far and away the best performing team in the NHL right now. They will be boosted by the return of Johnny Oduya, who rejoined just before last week’s trade deadline, while Patrick Kane is on fire. He easily won the Hart Trophy last season as nobody was close to his level of performance or his stats, but started slowly this time around. Now he is truly playing like the defending champion and 14 goals in 13 games from the start of February, including two hat-tricks, is phenomenal. With him in this sort of mood, Chicago is a danger to anyone. Minnesota deservedly heads the betting in this division at 4/9 with Bet365 and Paddy Power, but the 15/8 William Hill is offering on Chicago looks really interesting right now.
Stanley Cup Futures
Despite the sensational form of Chicago, it is hard to discount the Washington Capitals as Stanley Cup frontrunners. At 44-14 they have the best record in the league and are 6-3-1 in their last 10. What really sets them apart is their goal difference. The +73 is remarkable, particularly when you consider that the Montreal Canadiens – leading the Atlantic Division – are only on +18. The Wild are relatively close, at +63, while the Blackhawks are only on +34.
Quite simply, the Caps have scored more and conceded fewer than anyone else in the league. Having the best offence and the best defence is highly unusual, and it makes them definitely the leading contenders. The bookmakers agree: the Caps are 11/2 favourites with Ladbrokes and Boyle Sports, followed by Minnesota, which is 6/1 with Bet Victor and Paddy Power. But the Blackhawks have emerged as a real threat and have overtaken 2016 champions the Pittsburgh Penguins as third favourites. They are now down to 9/1 with Boyle Sports, but that still looks an attractive price on a team surging with confidence and led by a genuine superstar in Kane.
Upcoming Games
On Thursday the Penguins travel to Winnipeg to face the Jets, who are among the league’s worst teams defensively. Pittsburgh really should win this game. On the same day, the in-form Boston Bruins host the Detroit Red Wings, bottom of the Atlantic Division and really struggling of late, and Pittsburgh-Boston could make a nice double. Friday sees Chicago host the Anaheim Ducks, a strong team that is quietly plugging away in the Pacific Division. But it is practically impossible to oppose the Blackhawks right now and the odds on them winning this one outright are very enticing: bookmakers are set to go to around 4/6 on Chicago and that looks a great bet.
