In World Cup betting, captains usually have the ability to influence a match, and they get to lift the trophy at the end of it all. NHL captains get to hoist the Stanley Cup as well, and the captains in this year's matchup are very familiar with each other.

Chicago's Jonathan Toews and Philadelphia's Mike Richards were paired together with Columbus' Rick Nash on the checking line for Team Canada at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and the trio was probably Canada's best line. Toews was named the tournament's top forward, coming in fourth in points with nine with first with a plus/minus rating of +9, while Richards had five points, and added a physical presence as he hit everything in sight. Toews and Richards can play at both ends of the rice, and they're the players that their teams look to when they need a spark.

Toews is leading the NHL playoffs with 26 points, while Richards is next with 21 points, while Richards is a +6, two better than his Chicago counterpart. These two will probably end up seeing a lot of each other during the Stanley Cup finals, and the winner of their head-to-head battle will probably influence their team to a win. Both also have great linemates around them, which they'll happily tell you about instead of talking about themselves, which is why they make great team captains, and will probably be on the next Canadian team in 2014 (if NHL players are allowed to go). Those who bet on sports will have their eye on this massive showdown.