Gaming: NHL back in business

Hockey Betting Lines

02/26/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With the Olympic break just about over, it's nearly time to return our thoughts to the 2009-10 NHL season, specifically which teams are the best bets to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.

With just six weeks remaining to sort out the playoff picture, every team has at least 20 games left except for Ottawa, Montreal, Phoenix and Columbus who all have 19.

Washington and San Jose are the current conference leaders but both clubs have issues, albeit different ones. Chicago, another top contender, also could be on the outside looking in come the Stanley Cup Finals due to questionable postseason goaltending.

Even though these three clubs look to be head-and-shoulders above the rest, don't be shocked if two other squads square off for the Stanley Cup.

BREAKING DOWN THE EAST

One thing is certain in the Eastern Conference - Washington will be the number one seed, as the Capitals own a 13-point advantage over second place New Jersey.

In their favor is a powerful 23-3-3 home record. However, the team that ended the season with the best home mark has won just one of the last three Stanley Cups. More importantly, the number one seed in the East has failed to reach the finals in all three of those campaigns. One has to go back to the pre-lockout era to find the last top-seed from the East to play for the Stanley Cup.

Despite being the league's overwhelming scoring leader holding a 43-goal edge on their nearest competitor, the Capitals are weak in the most important position on the ice: goaltending.

Jose Theodore, who has started the majority of the games this season due to Sergei Varlamov's groin injury, has never posted an above .500 record in five postseason trips. Additionally, his goals-against average over the last 21 "second-season" games is over 3.00.

Given Theodore's playoff history, look for Varlamov to get the bulk of the starts heading into the postseason. Nevertheless, he's even a bigger risk than his mate since the second-year pro might not even be 100% healthy come April and May.

Given the fact that the Caps are the heavy 9-5 favorites to come out of the East, it's best to put your money elsewhere. But on whom?

When trying to pinpoint a Stanley Cup contender, it pays to follow recent history. The Eastern representative has finished no worse than fourth in each of the last four seasons. That pretty much eliminates Philadelphia (12-1), Boston (20-1), Montreal (24-1) and the other clubs behind the Canadiens.

That leaves Pittsburgh (3-1), New Jersey (4-1), Buffalo (15-2) and Ottawa (10-1) as the only other alternatives.

Right off the bat, New Jersey and Ottawa can be dismissed, as the former has not been able to get past the first-round each of the last two years, while the latter has been playing way over its head this year and will most likely fall from the top four slots as the season progresses.

Buffalo is the long shot pick at odds of 15-2. Since the Sabres struggled leading up to the break with just one win in February, look for them to pick up their play down the stretch and come into the playoffs a team to be reckoned with. All it takes is a hot goalie and timely scoring, and Buffalo has both ends covered.

The Penguins, though, are the choice to reach their third straight Stanley Cup Finals. They always seem to supplement their roster at the trade deadline and this season will be no different. The time is now to wager on the Pens, especially at 3-1.

WHICH TEAM WILL BE BEST IN THE WEST?

I mentioned earlier that Washington and San Jose both have their Achilles' heel. For the Caps, it's goaltending. For the Sharks, it's the inability to get out of their own way come playoff time.

San Jose has finished first or second in the West three of the last five regular seasons, with only a single pre-lockout trip to the conference finals to show for its efforts.

Despite a poor showing in the Olympics, goalie Evgeni Nabokov is having the best season of his career, so there is a chance the Sharks can turn their fortunes around, but at 5-2 odds to reach the finals, it's best to look elsewhere.

The other alternative is to lean on Chicago as the top play. In fact, most folks have done just that as the Blackhawks are the betting choice in the West at 2-1. However, don't be surprised if they don't even reach the conference finals.

Like Washington, Chicago has major concerns in net. Cristobal Huet has been a stud in regular season play, posting a 113-67 record since the lockout. On the other hand, he's never won a playoff round, going a combined 6-10 in three separate stints, with a 2.99 goals-against-average in the last two.

The veteran netminder has also been relegated to the bench of late, as rookie Antti Niemi has gotten the bulk of the team's recent starts. If head coach Joel Quenneville decides to roll the dice and go with Niemi in the postseason, it's doubtful the Blackhawks will get past the second round.

The third choice in the wagering is the team to hit hardest at the windows. The Vancouver Canucks (11-2 odds), losers in last year's conference semi-finals to Chicago in six games, will ride goalie Roberto Luongo all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Luongo is only 11-11 lifetime in postseason play but his other numbers (2.09 GAA and .930 save percentage) are top-notch. In addition, the team should be stronger this year, especially mentally, after dealing with a 14-game road trip in between Olympic play.

The Canucks do not have many holes on their roster as they are currently third in the West in goals, and second behind Chicago in goals allowed. Secondary scoring has not been a problem this season and it could be even stronger if veteran Pavol Demitra can parlay his excellent Olympic play into the rest of the NHL regular season and beyond.

When it comes to wagering on the Stanley Cup Finals, the number one choice is the Penguins at the healthy odds of 6-1.