The Chicago Blackhawks and the San Jose Sharks have the best odds to win the Stanley Cup this season, but there are other teams that have a legit chance to lift Lord Stanley’s Cup, especially the hot Canadian teams of the Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators.

The Chicago Blackhawks (+380) have the best odds at TopSportsbooks.ca ranked firm Sportsbook.com to win the Stanley Cup this season and with good reason since they are running away with the Central Division, have the league’s fourth ranked offense (3.20 goals per game), and second ranked defense only allowing an average of 2.24 goals per game.

G Antti Niemi is having a stellar season and currently ranks first in GAA and 12th in save percentage. If they get home ice in the playoffs they will be tough to beat since they have the second best home record in the league.

The San Jose Sharks (+465) have the most points in the NHL and have the second highest scoring offense in the league. Their defense is solid and they are getting great play from G Evgeni Nabokov, who ranks in the top five in the league in both save percentage and GAA.

Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley, who both rank in the top five in goals scored, lead their high-flying offense. The big question for San Jose is not making the playoffs, but can they win when it counts in the post-season?

IF A HOCKEY BET IN ONE STORE COST YOU $110 AND IN ANOTHER STORE, THE SAME BET COST YOU $104, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE? VISIT PINNACLESPORTS.COM TO LEARN MORE.

The Washington Capitals (+485) are running away with the Southeast Division and they have the highest scoring team in the league this season. Alex Ovechkin currently ranks in the top five in both goals and points and the Caps will need his offense in the playoffs since their defense is mediocre at best.

The reason the New Jersey Devils (+685) are winning is their defense, as they have given up the fewest goals per game this season (2.17 goals per game). New Jersey has to win with their D, as their offense only ranks 21st in the league.

The defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins (+780) are moving up in the standings after a tough start and superstar Sidney Crosby ranks in the top five in the league in both goals and points. Their offense ranks fifth in the league in scoring, but their defense, which is giving up around 2.80 goals per game, is a concern.

The Vancouver Canucks (+1015) have the best odds of any Canadian team and they are solid on both sides of the ice, especially on offense where they rank third in the league in goals per game. The Canucks have been one of the hottest teams since the new year and they have the best home record in the NHL.

The Buffalo Sabres (+1415) currently lead the Northeast Division and even though they have a good offense it is their defense and the play of G Ryan Miller why Buffalo has high hopes this season. Miller currently ranks second in the league in GAA and first in save percentage.

The Ottawa Senators are moving up in the odds, as they have been playing great hockey recently. At the end of January they have won eight straight and they are right on the heels of the Buffalo Sabres in the Northeast Division. Ottawa is hot, but they have given up more goals per game than they have scored and their defense needs to step up once the playoffs begin.

The Detroit Red Wings (+1615) are the defending Western Conference champions, but they have not played great this season. Their once high-scoring offense is a thing of the past, as they only rank 27th in the league in scoring. Luckily their defense has played well, but if their offense does not pick it up in the second half of the season a return to the finals is a long shot.

One good value team may be the Philadelphia Flyers (+2050). The Flyers have a great offense and if their defense improves they have a legit shot to win it all.

Here are the odds at TheGreek.com to win the Stanley Cup this season as of January 29, 2010.

Chicago Blackhawks +380
San Jose Sharks +465
Washington Capitals +485
New Jersey Devils +685
Pittsburgh Penguins +780
Vancouver Canucks +1015
Buffalo Sabres +1415
Ottawa Senators +1615
Detroit Red Wings +1615
Colorado Avalanche +2050
Philadelphia Flyers +2050
Calgary Flames +3050
Boston Bruins +3050
New York Rangers +3550
Nashville Predators +4050
Montreal Canadiens +5250
Los Angeles Kings +4050
Phoenix Coyotes +4050
Atlanta Thrashers +6050