Hockey Betting: NHL Playoffs set to get Underway

With the 2009-10 NHL regular season now concluded after Sunday's games, the post season will soon commence. 16 teams will vie for the famed Stanley Cup when the postseason gets underway next week. The playoff spots have been filled heading into the start of the playoffs, and here is a look at what to expect. Eastern Conference The final three unclaimed playoff spots were sealed this past weekend in the East. The New York Rangers fell to the Flyers in a shoot out tally. At the top of the conference, the Washington Capitals are a +155 choice to reach the Stanley Cup finals after clinching the President's Trophy for the league's best regular season record. With a dominant offense that is 66 goals ahead of the next best scoring team in the East, the Capitals are hoping that its less impressive defense can come through in the postseason. Six other teams in the Eastern Conference have allowed fewer goals than Washington. The Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils and Montreal Canadiens are the next group of contenders to win the conference at +335. The defending champion Penguins are the next best offensive team in the conference while the Devils have allowed the fewest goals in the league. As the fifth-worst scoring team in the East, New Jersey may not have enough firepower to hang with Washington in a best-of-seven series. Western Conference In the West, all eight playoff spots have been secured. The San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks are still fighting for the top seed in the conference while the Vancouver Canucks and Phoenix Coyotes are likely to have home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs as well. The Blackhawks (+210) are a narrow choice to win the conference title over the Sharks (+270). Chicago is second in the conference in goals scored on offense while also ranking second on defense in fewest goals allowed. San Jose is just behind Chicago in offense. The Canucks (+450) are the top offensive club in the West while the Coyotes (+475) allow the fewest goals in the conference. Stanley Cup odds The Capitals are a +260 choice to win the Stanley Cup over the Blackhawks (+350). San Jose is next at +375 followed by Pittsburgh and New Jersey at +650. At +700, Buffalo is the only other squad that has odds below 10/1.