NHL Power Rankings: Here come the Penguins
Just when the NHL betting playoff picture looks like it’s taking shape, crazy things start happening. The Flames win the trade deadline and are suddenly rubbing shoulders with the elite. The Habs and Rangers show a bit of fight. Most of all, the Penguins – written off by many online betting fans as recently as two weeks ago – are the hottest team in the league.In the world of sports betting, the NHL is an ever-changing beast.
(Last week’s ranking in brackets)
- (6) Vancouver Canucks (34-22-8): Calm down. I’m not saying they’re the best team in hockey. I’m just saying they’re the best sportsbook pick right now. 12-2 in their last 14 and dethroned the Sharks on Saturday. No team has more momentum right now.
- (12) Pittsburgh Penguins (35-26-6): Another crazy pick, right? Well, the Pens have won six straight, eight of nine, and retooled their offense by acquiring Guerin and Kunitz before the trade deadline. Are they not a better pick right now than the Sharks, who went winless last week?
- (2) Detroit Red Wings (43-15-8): Ken Holland stands pat at the deadline, insists his two goalies are fine, then watches Columbus pump them for eight goals at Joe Louis Arena. How well is he sleeping these days?
- (1) New Jersey Devils (42-20-3): Every time I anoint them top Stanley Cup betting contenders, they do something silly like lose to the New York Islanders. You gotta love the NHL’s parity.
- (4) Calgary Flames (39-21-6): They won’t be great NHL betting picks during their seven-game road trip but they’ll bounce back strong before the end of the month. Getting Olli Jokinen was the right move.
- (7) Boston Bruins (43-15-9): Give ’em points for knocking off Chicago, even if it was at home. You know they’re praying they don’t face Pittsburgh in the first round of the playoffs, though.
- (3) San Jose Sharks (42-12-10): Hard to ignore four straight losses, but they worry me less than the other slumping juggernauts. When you’re as far ahead in the standings as they were, as early as they were, you’re bound to lose focus.
- (9) Florida Panthers (34-24-8): Proving they’re legit NHL betting picks week in, week out. Retaining Jay Bouwmeester was a massive moral victory.
- (5) Washington Capitals (42-21-6): If I’m a Caps fan, I’m pissed. Great offense but a gaping hole in net, yet Washington freezes at the trade deadline. Is it any wonder they’re winless in March?
- (11) Philadelphia Flyers (35-19-10): They’ve established themselves as one of the most consistent teams in online betting. Locked into the upper-middle tier.
- (8) Chicago Blackhawks (36-19-9): Stumbling a bit, but it makes sense, as most of their stars haven’t played meaningful games this late in an NHL season before. They were bound to tire.
- (18) Carolina Hurricanes (35-27-5): Whoa. Suddenly, they’re steamrolling Washington and Calgary. Including their route over Tampa, they scored 20 goals last week. Think Erik Cole is the catalyst? Uh, yeah.
- (13) Nashville Predators (33-29-4): Hanging in; wins over Edmonton and Columbus were huge last week.
- (15) Columbus Blue Jackets (33-27-6): With a goalie capable of stealing games like Steve Mason and after they dismantled Detroit on the road, does anyone want to face them in the first round?
- (10) Montreal Canadiens (35-24-7): Was Jaroslav’s Halak’s flu a blessing in disguise? Carey Price was thrust back into the spotlight and looked ugly before stoning Dallas on Sunday. Is he back?
- (23) New York Rangers (34-24-8): Like the Penguins, they picked the perfect time to hire a new coach and, like the Penguins, they’re seeing immediate rewards from their deadline moves. Nik Antropov looks surprisingly comfortable.
- (20) Minnesota Wild (32-28-5)
- (16) Edmonton Oilers (32-27-6)
- (21) Dallas Stars (31-27-8)
- (14) St. Louis Blues (29-28-8)
- (22) Buffalo Sabres (33-26-7)
- (24) Los Angeles Kings (28-28-9)
- (25) New York Islanders (22-37-7)
- (28) Atlanta Thrashers (25-35-6)
- (19) Toronto Maple Leafs (26-27-13)
- (27) Ottawa Senators (25-29-10)
- (17) Anaheim Ducks (31-30-6)
- (29) Colorado Avalanche (29-36-1)
- (26) Tampa Bay Lightning (21-32-13)
- (30) Phoenix Coyotes (28-33-5)
Another strange week in the power rankings, as the strong got weaker and the weak got stronger. When will the NHL betting ladder start correcting itself?
