Stanley Cup Odds 2012: Washington Capitals and Teams with No Chance of Winning

Just two or three games into the conference semifinals, it's already obvious which teams are in the midst of their final playoff series of the season.

Some of them looked like sure-fire contenders a week or two ago, but now—perhaps against stiffer competition—they just look overmatched.

Regardless of what the official odds say, it's clear that some teams aren't going anywhere. Here's a look at those who will be headed home sooner rather than later.

Washington Capitals (15-1)

The Caps may have looked like a future Stanley Cup champion against the Bruins, but three games into their series against the top-seeded Rangers, it's a different story—mostly because New York has found a way to get to goaltender Braden Holtby.

The 22-year-old rookie, after carrying Washington to two overtime wins in the quarterfinals against Boston, lost a heartbreaking 2-1 battle in Game 3 in three overtimes, the third-longest playoff game in franchise history.

After losing Game 1, the Caps managed to salvage Game 2 on the road, but this home loss—in three overtimes!—really puts the nail in the coffin. Losing Wednesday's war of attrition not only took a toll on the Caps physically, but mentally as well.

Holtby may have stopped 47 of 49 shots against the Rangers, but Henrik Lundqvist was just a tiny bit better—and being a tiny bit better is all you need to advance, as Holtby proved in the first round.

St. Louis Blues (5-1)

They slaughtered the Sharks in the first round 4-1, but since winning that series, the Blues have yet to win again and they face a 2-0 hole against the eighth-seeded Kings.

Though it is somewhat of a surprise that Los Angeles has been able to outscore the West's No. 2 seed 8-3, it's not incredibly surprising that the Kings are dominating, given the fact that they took three of four from the Blues in the regular-season series.

Perhaps St. Louis' playoff inexperience is finally showing through, or perhaps Jonathan Quick is showing the world why he's one of the best goalies in the NHL. Either way, Thursday's Game 3 is crucial. If LA wins, it essentially guarantees itself a trip to the Western Conference finals.

Nashville Predators (10-1)

Though their chances aren't quite as bad as the Blues' or the Capitals', the Predators aren't doing themselves any favors with a goaltender who can't hold strong when his offense gives him three goals per game.

After a sterling overall performance in the quarterfinals against Detroit—when he never allowed more than two goals in Nashville's 4-1 series win—Pekka Rinne has been decidedly worse against the Coyotes, allowing nine goals in Games 1 and 2 alone. He only allowed 12 in a six-game first-round series.

His shutout in Game 3 might have put the Preds back on the right track, but Phoenix's offense will be tough to put to bed.