NHL Playoffs 2018 Washington Capitals are the new favorites to win the Stanley Cu

There was a time when the couldn't be trusted to advance past the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. It's a drought that spanned two full decades.Now, however, with in this year's NHL playoff picture, oddsmakers are saying that the Capitals can be trusted to win it all.That's right. According to the latest odds for the 2017-18 Stanley Cup Final, the Capitals are the best bet of those left. If their first in the Eastern Conference Finals are any indication of what's to come, that shouldn't be much of a surprise -- even considering Washington's two-decade drought of conference finals appearances. But still, it isn't every day -- or year -- that you see the Capitals favored to win anything other than the Presidents' Trophy.The expansion Vegas Golden Knights, meanwhile, are slight favorites over their Western Conference opponents, the Winnipeg Jets, even though David Fletcher Jersey the latter and the series is even at 1-1. That's probably because, to put it simply, the Golden Knights have looked the most like this year's team of destiny, rallying behind and incredible offensive balance to defy the forecasts that had them as a competent, not contending, team in their first year of existence. Vegas might still be the smartest bet if you're a believer in their storybook season, especially now that the Golden Knights have dropped to No. 2 behind the Caps and Fleury has plenty of experience against Washington from his days with the . But if you're looking for the long-shot payoff, it's also not nece sarily a bad time to throw one in on the Lightning, as Tampa Bay still thoroughly outmatches the Caps in talent and has, you know, awful D.C. hockey history on its side.Here are the latest odds, in full: Washington Capitals: 8/5 : 12/5 : 13/5Tampa Bay Lightning: 13/2 Hurston Waldrep Jersey