Washington Capitals: A Smart Bet This Season

Suffice to say, there is indeed a lot of promising look as to how the Washington Capitals have suddenly jumped out to a contender status now more than ever, and it is also worth noting that the team has really managed to come up with a lot of wins to open up their campaign, but is that enough for players to trust in their chances of winning and make a case for the Stanley Cup Final?

Contender in Picture

After finishing with the eighth seed last season and falling short in the playoffs, the Washington Capitals are now surging with a lot of blazing energy that no critics have expected right off the bat. Time after time, it has been a lot of losses in the postseason for the Capitals, with 33 playoff appearances, only two of those have translated into a trip to the Stanley Cup Final, with the latest trip in the 2017-18 season being the only winning run for the team, where they defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.

Since moving to the Metropolitan Division after the NHL realignment in 2013, the Caps have managed to pull off two Presidents’ Trophies in 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, before eventually winning their first Stanley Cup a year later. That was the first and only franchise title that the Capitals have won in 42 seasons, excluding the cancelled 2004-05 campaign.

The Lions are showing that they deserve better recognition image

So far, this season has been a spectacular view for the team. Being the eighth seed last season meant that there weren’t much to expect from the team with Alex Ovechkin being the man at the helm for the team. However, through its first 18 games, the Capitals have managed to amass a 13-4-1 record so far, and if you are not impressed, that is on-par with the likes of Carolina Hurricanes and the New Jersey Devils – two of the top three teams in the Eastern Conference alongside the Caps.

And just to give you a perspective – the top contenders from last year – the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Boston Bruins are all falling behind the Capitals. That just says a lot about the massive power shift that is taking over the NHL right now, and the Capitals are reaping the benefit of it.

Odds to Win: Are the Capitals a Worthy Bet?

Well, the odds do give us a perspective of what the general public thinks about the winning chances of a certain team in the NHL as with other sports. However, it is worth noting that the odds do not tell all of the story in a single picture. If you are not convinced, the top five of the odds for the Stanley Cup Final winner this season looks a lot different – with non winning teams actually sitting at the top as of the time of writing.

Top 5 Favorites to Win the Stanley Cup Final (Odds updated as of December 1, 2024)

Rank	Team	Best Odds to Win
1	Edmonton Oilers	+750
2	Carolina Hurricanes	+850
3	Toronto Maple Leafs	+900
4	Winnipeg Jets	+900
5	Florida Panthers	+900

As you can see, the Washington Capitals are nowhere near on the favorites list, nor are they even in the considered contenders list, which is comprised of the Dallas Stars (+900), New York Rangers (+1000), New Jersey Devils (+1000), Colorado Avalanche (+1200), and the Vegas Golden Knights (+1400).

The Caps actually do fall into the deeper parts of the odds list, with the team placed 15th overall, having the open odds at a whopping +17000 before cutting it to the best odds of +2200 as of the time of writing. Needless to say, the team has seen a massive improvement on the odds, which is a good sign for bettors who are keen to try their luck and faith on the team at this point.

Should you ever consider placing some parlay bets for the team to finish at the top of the Metropolitan Division, the Eastern Conference, and to reach or win the Stanley Cup Final, make sure to check out GambleSpot’s Parlay and Odds Calculator to get a grasp of your potential winnings in the long run.

Can the Washington Capitals Win it All This Season?

Considering how the early parts of the season has turned out well for the Capitals, fans can expect more from the team at this point and eventually find their way to the deeper stages of the playoffs now more than ever. It is worth noting that the team has always been falling out of the postseason campaign in the first round, with the latest one being last season’s sweep at the hands of the New York Rangers.

But here are some key reasons why there’s a big chance that the Capitals can go all-in for this year:

Alex Ovechkin’s Record-Breaking Season

Alex Ovechkin is on a tear this season image

Believe it or not, Alex Ovechkin’s chase for the NHL’s All-Time Goals record is one of the biggest reasons why there is a lot of fan and media following for the Washington Capitals this season. Take it like how LeBron James went on to set his name atop the NBA’s All-Time Scoring Record and replaced Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the top scorer of the league. This goes the same for Ovechkin’s case, and he started off with a bang as the oldest player to ever reach 15 goals to start off the season – and he was even leading the league in goals scored at the age of 39 this season before he went down with an injury. Needless to say, Ovechkin’s chase for goals in the coming months just means more productivity on the offensive end for the Capitals as well.

More Reinforcements to Come

Injured stars are expected to return within the season image

As one of the wide receivers to earn a contract extension with the Lions this offseason, Amon-Ra St. Brown has been a beast himself on the big stage. Being one of the cores for the team’s rebuild in 2021, St. Brown has been phenomenal in creating massive opportunities for the Lions and has been the anchor on their offensive end. Considering how he has been really emerging as a star right now after finishing the 2023 season third in the NFL with 1,515 receiving yards (behind Tyreek Hill and CeeDee Lamb), it is safe to say that St. Brown is destined for bigger heights with the Lions now more than ever.

Dan Campbell’s Brilliance is Off the Charts

Spencer Carbery's coaching has been phenomenal so far image

Ever heard of the Dan Campbell effect? Where opposing teams who have played against the Lions would go on to drop their next game and lose by a massive differential? Yes, it has been the story so far. Every team that has had to play through the Lions would go on to be blown out subsequently in their next outing. The Lions have become a fearsome team to play against, and their high energy rubs on opponents, inducing wear and tear over time. That is how Dan Campbell, the head coach of the Lions – has engineered a promising identity for Detroit and is certainly making a big statement as to how his dedication to the team has led to their greatness so far.

Can the Lions Make the Most of their 2024 Season?

Well, Jared Goff has been an impressive candidate for MVP, and the Lions are thriving at a bigger level now more than ever. At this point, it is safe to say that the Lions are making the best case for a Super Bowl run, and this season might well be the storied finish that fans have been looking for from the team now more than ever. But if you are confident enough to bet on their chances, you can always check out GambleSpot’s Parlay and Odds Calculator to get a grasp of your potential winning in the long run.

Make sure to consult our Gamble AI if you have some concerns in your betting plans or in need of a new betting strategy. The more well-thought your wagers are, the bigger your chances of winning in each of your wagers!

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