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.
