Always know your odds.San Jose has steadily improved throughout the playoffs, and the Sharks are suddenly tied with Vancouver with the best odds to win the Stanley Cup (5/2). It hasn’t come easy against Detroit, as all three victories were decided by a single goal, including a 4-3 comeback win in overtime on Wednesday.

After years of playoff failures, the Sharks look like a legitimate threat to go the distance. Joe Thornton has long been a symbol of San Jose’s past choke jobs, but he’s been great this season and is tied for the team-lead with nine playoff points. And while Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau continue to disappoint, role players like Ryane Clowe (nine points) and Logan Couture (seven points) have stepped up their game.

Boston, meanwhile, is anxious to finish off the Flyers. The Bruins led Philly 3-0 in last year’s postseason, but managed to blow the series despite being up 3-0 in Game 7. The Bruins are third on Stanley Cup odds at 11/4, but they might be the hottest team in the NHL right now.

The Bruins have steamrolled their way to seven wins in their past eight games, including four straight. There’s no doubt that, at the moment, Tim Thomas is the best goalie on the planet. The veteran owns a 2.13 goals-against average and .940 save percentage in 10 playoff games, and he’s already led the Bruins to four overtime wins. In his last two games, Thomas has stopped 89 of the 92 shots Philly has fired at him.

The chances of Detroit or Philadelphia coming back are slim, and that’s reflected on their Stanley Cup odds. Detroit checks in at 40/1, while the Flyers—once favored in the Eastern Conference—have 75/1 odds.

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