This year’s Washington Capitals seem to leave hockey fans, sportsbooks, and sports bettors uncertain about their potential, apart from star player Alex Ovechkin.
The NHL Opening Night for the 2021-2022 season commences on Tuesday with two games. However, the Capitals will start their campaign a day later on Wednesday.
The game between the Caps and the New York Rangers is scheduled to take place at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC at 7:30 p.m., broadcasted on TNT.
Washington, the reigning Stanley Cup champions of the 2017-2018 season, are about to embark on their first of 82 regular-season games. While they are slightly favored in this season opener, how will they fare in the remaining matches throughout the year?
Can Alex Ovechkin lead Caps to Stanley Cup?
According to the latest NHL Futures odds, the Washington Capitals are placed in the middle tier of teams, offering a reasonable chance of qualifying for the playoffs.
The odds for the Washington Capitals to win the 2021-2022 Stanley Cup are +3000 at two Virginia sportsbooks, namely DraftKings and BetRivers.
To put it differently, if the Capitals raise another Stanley Cup banner, you would make a profit of $300 for every $10 you wager.
In previous years, the Capitals were consistently considered as early favorites for the Stanley Cup, with much shorter preseason odds compared to the current 30-1 odds. Here is a breakdown of their Stanley Cup odds in the past five years:
- 2020-2021: +2200
- 2019-2020: +1400
- 2018-2019: +1400
- 2017-2018: +1125
- 2016-2017: +915
However, unlike previous seasons, the Caps are entering this season with numerous unanswered questions.
Specifically, is it possible for a lineup comprised primarily of individuals aged 30 or above to remain injury-free throughout an entire season?
However, can the goaltending duo of Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek elevate their performance from last season’s underwhelming year?
Additionally, is it possible for Evgeny Kuznetsov to regain his previous level of effectiveness?
It is undeniable that Washington will undoubtedly score this season, as their offense possesses an exceptionally deep roster.
In the end, one cannot overlook team captain Alex Ovechkin. Referred to as “Ovi,” he has won the Rocket Richard Trophy, awarded to the league’s top scorer, a remarkable nine times. Consequently, discussions about the Capitals’ prospects this year will inevitably revolve around him.
Other NHL futures bets for Washington
Regarding the Capitals’ NHL future, there are various possibilities available.
This season, oddsmakers and bettors are uncertain about the team’s performance, which is reflected in the mid-tier prices for betting on them to win either the competitive Metropolitan Division (+600 at DraftKings) or the Eastern Conference (+1500 at DraftKings). Just like the Stanley Cup odds, these odds indicate that there is uncertainty surrounding the team’s potential success.
Nevertheless, despite everything, Washington is still highly anticipated to reach the postseason, as indicated by the other Capitals futures markets.
The reason behind such optimism can be attributed to the impressive offensive lineup of the Caps, which features notable players like T.J. Oshie, Nicklas Backstrom, and Tom Wilson, among others.
These futures betting options include the Capitals’ chances of making the playoffs this season, with an implied probability of 57% (-134).
- Will the Capitals make the playoffs according to BetRivers: Yes (-134) or No (+108)
- The regular-season total points for Washington according to BetRivers is set at 94.5, with the option to bet on over 94.5 (-112) or under 94.5 (-112).
- BetRivers has odds of +4000 for the Capitals to win the President’s Trophy, which is awarded to the team with the most points.
Will Alex Ovechkin eclipse Wayne Gretzky?
The Capitals’ 2021-2022 fortunes aside, Alex Ovechkin guarantees the team will receive season-long attention.
Entering the 2021-2022 season, the beloved Russian veteran, aged 36, boasts an impressive tally of 730 NHL career goals. Let’s now explore his position among the greatest scorers in NHL history, including the legendary Wayne Gretzky.
- Wayne Gretzky: 894
- Gordie Howe: 801
- Jaromír Jágr: 766
- Brett Hull: 741
- Marcel Dionne: 731
- Alex Ovechkin: 730
Ovechkin’s average of around 46 goals per season puts him about three or four seasons away from potentially catching Gretzky. However, even if he has a below-average season this year, he could easily surpass the third-place position on the NHL career goals list.
Moreover, Ovechkin possesses immense stardom across the entire league. He has topped the charts as the leading goal scorer in nine separate seasons, holding the top position among all current players. Despite Gretzky’s significant lead of 164 goals, every goal scored by Ovechkin this year will undoubtedly be a cause for celebration.
Furthermore, should you decide to place a bet on another exclusive NHL futures market, there will be even more causes for celebration.
You are provided with this choice at DraftKings:
- Alex Ovechkin is favored to be the top regular season goal scorer with odds of +1200.
At BetRivers, you are provided with the opportunity to choose this option.
- Will Alex Ovechkin score more than 41.5 goals, excluding playoffs, with odds of -112 for over or under 41.5 goals, also with odds of -112?
- The player points of Alex Ovechkin (goals + assists), excluding playoffs, can be wagered as either over 72.5 with odds of +100, or under 72.5 with odds of -125.
In addition, BetRivers offers a betting option for head-to-head matchups.
- Who will score the most goals in the 2021-2022 regular season: Alex Ovechkin or David Pastrnak, both at odds of -112?
Caps favored in 2021-2022 season opener
According to BetRivers, the Capitals were the favored team (-129) over the Rangers (+110) for Wednesday’s season opener as of Tuesday afternoon.
Additionally, the puckline featured:
- Rangers +1.5: -275
- Capitals -1.5: +200
The game’s total score was 6, with the under having odds of +100 and the over having odds of -120.
You also have the option to place a bet on the outcome resulting in a tie at the end of regulation at BetRivers, with a payout of +315.
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