Betting on Hockey?
With the teams away for the Olympic break it’s a good time to re-evaluate where each club stands in their respective race. While the Eastern Conference has become a two-horse race, there are five teams within striking distance of the top spot in the West. Let’s take a look at those five teams and their chances ( [dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]) for claiming the conference crown.
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Anaheim Ducks +350 (87 PTS, 60 GP)
The Ducks have the highest point total of any NHL team with 87 entering the break. Their ability to defend their home ice has been a big reason why, as the team is 22-5-2 on their home ice despite dropping four of their final five home games heading into the break. That could mean some value on this team as they’ll likely have things turned around by the time they come back, and 12 of their final 22 games will be played at the Honda Center. The Ducks have been a different team since head coach Bruce Boudreau took over for Randy Carlyle in November of 2011, and would have had this race all sewn up if not for the fact that they stumbled going into the break with losses in four of their final six games. The team has been very streaky and if they can go on a run once they get back, they’ll be tough to catch.
St. Louis Blues +300 (84 PTS, 57 GP)
The Blues may be ranked second in the conference at the moment, but they have three more games at hand than either of the teams ranked in the top three. St. Louis finished second in the Western Conference in 2011-12 and finished with the third best point total in the Western Conference in 2012-13. This year, the club has been demolishing opponents, outscoring them by an average of better than a goal a game.
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They’ve been great in all facets, ranking second in the league in scoring, third in goals against, and have the fourth ranked power play and penalty kill. The team went into the break on a 6-1-1 run and will surely look to take advantage of those three games at hand upon returning.
Chicago Blackhawks +325 (84 PTS, 60 GP)
The Blackhawks won the Western Conference in a walk last season thanks to a terrific run to open the year. While they may be the most talented club on the ice night in and night out, goaltending woes have been trouble for the team. The Blackhawks lost six of their final nine games and 10 of their last 16 heading into the break, and that actually has more to do with the return of goaltender Corey Crawford than you’d think, as he is 5-5-7 in his last 17 appearances.
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The Blackhawks send many key faces to the Olympics and that’s going to mean trouble down the stretch as they’ll have to outscore opponents to get the win most nights, and they may be too fatigued to do so on a regular basis.
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San Jose Sharks +450 (80 PTS, 59 GP)
The Sharks have played like many expect them to given their performances in recent years. The team has the best record at home in the Western Conference, but have won only half of their road games. While the team looks like it’s going to be dangerous come playoff time with multiple secondary scoring options emerging and Antti Niemi providing great goaltending when called upon, catching the teams in front of them before the regular season is out seems like too tall an order.
Colorado Avalanche +1000 (79 PTS, 58 GP)
The Avalanche remain in the conversation thanks largely to a hot start to the year. The team won its first six games and 11 of their first 12 to jump ahead to an early lead in the conference race, but they’ve been little more than above average since. A stretch in which they won nine of 11 games just prior to entering the break is cause for optimism, but there are just too many teams in front of the Avs to expect them to climb to the top of the mountain this early in Patrick Roy’s tenure with the organization.
The play: St. Louis +300
