Betting on the Futures of Ice Hockey
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Rangers Justifying Steep Odds in Eastern Conference
One week in to your NHL hockey betting season, it became apparent that the New York Rangers were on a mission. Unlike years past, the Rangers have stormed out of the gates to a 8-2-1 SU record after replacing Jaromir Jagr with Markus Naslund, previously of Vancouver, and Nikolai Zherdev.
What’s perhaps more surprising than anything for the Rangers is that Zherdev has the best +/- of anyone on the team. Who would’ve guessed that? On the road, they have one overtime loss making them a strong play whenever they’re away from the comfort of the big apple. Right now, they are the most complete team in the Eastern Conference and are lobbying for support in our NHL futures at +500.
Young Guns in Washington, Pittsburgh Firing Off
Hot on their tails in the Atlantic Division is, and will be, the Pittsburgh Penguins. They’re easily the sexiest pick in the Eastern Conference betting pool with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin leading the charge. The two uberstars can co-exist; nobody has doubts about that. With Gonchar and Whitney returning to the blue line, the special teams will improve tremendously, but the team desperately needs for the rest of the team to pick up the slack.
Evgeni has 13 points, while Crosby is right behind him with 12 points. The highest point getter after that is Mirsolav Satan with six points. If they expect to be serious contenders this year, they’re going to have to get more out of Jordan Staal, Petr Sykora, Fedotenko and center Tyler Kennedy as well. Finding a suitable replacement for Ryan Malone will be key in supporting the fact they are favorites in our NHL futures at +400.
And what of Alexander Ovechkin, last year’s MVP and top goal scorer? Well it looks like he’s finally found a suitable mentor in Sergei Federov and a partner in crime in Alexander Semin. Though Ovechkin has only 5 points this season, he’s getting a stunning amount of support from Alexander Semin (14 points) and Michael Nylander (8 points).
Coaching will have to prevail in Washington, where the power play has been absent in the last week and the penalty kill has struggled. If there’s any reason this team fades in to the sunset, that will be the reason. Just don’t bank on it yet.
Sabres Proving Worth At +1400
No team has stunned the community as much as the Buffalo Sabres. Thomas Vanek is becoming the most dangerous goal scorer in the league with 8 goals, 3 assists and a plus-5. He’s nearly doubles his teammates’ shots on net by rifling off a startling 43 shots thus far. Everyone thought this team would fade after Drury and Briere bolted town for bigger contracts, but the coaching staff and depth on this team has them thriving instead of surviving.
Ryan Miller is fourth in the league with a goals against average of 1.45 and the special teams is bailing this team out of penalties lie mad. The Sabres are 6-0-2 and have yet to lose in regular time. At +1400 to win the East, who else could I possibly like more than the Sabres as the upset specialists for the Eastern Conference?
Celebrating the Century in Style
The Habs haven’t lost any steam from last season. They’ve dropped one single match in regulation this season and are proving they have a nose for goal tending. With Carey Price starting most games, they’ve found a suitable backup in Jarsolav Halek who has a 1.00 goals against average and a .967 save percentage. Montreal coach, Bob Gainey, is a freaking genius though and coaching is what runs the distance in the long and grueling NHL season. Everyone knew Robert Lang would be a solid addition and that Alex Kovalev was still the best stick handler in the league. But what about Saku Koivu? If Captain Koivu can keep up this point-pace, the rest of the league is in deep trouble.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Same Old Story in California
The San Jose Sharks are 7-2 SU and have perhaps the most balanced system in th league. they are scoring goals at will and have held teams to just 24.2 shots per game. They have unbelievable depth at every position and are always one of the best plays in the regular season when you’re betting on NHL hockey this season. They won’t disappoint, especially at home.
But it’s the same old story in San Jose – will Joe Thornton push them over the hump? At +350 to win the West in the BetUS Sportsbook, it’s a little misleading. They’re a great team, but they don’t have the x-factor that makes them true Stanley Cup Champions.
And it’s becoming a tired stored in Anaheim where the Ducks are +800 to contend for the Western Conference title. They’re off to another bad start, and this year they have no real excuses.
The team started the season with stud defenseman Niedermeyer and speedster Teemu Selanne, who both held out last year until about mid-season. Brian Burke better start patching up the holes in Anaheim before he starts shooting off his mouth again this season. At 2-5 SU, there’s a lost of work to be done.
Are You Kidding Me?
The St. Louis Blues are 4-2 SU? They are second overall in scoring with 3.83 goals per game and Keith Tkachuk is showing that he still has plenty of tricks in the bag left. They’re something special about the St. Louis. Veterans in their final year always get traded for youth, but usually resign in the summer. Why is that?
Maybe the brass had a plan. Whatever it is, it’s working. Is it enough for me to consider them at +4000 in sports betting to win the West? With that kind of hockey betting value, I wouldn’t pass it up. That’s the kind of bet you brag to your friends about when it comes true (just don’t tell anyone you have that bet until it grades as a win!).
The Northwest Siege
The Minnesota Wild are the only unbeaten team in regulation in the firestorm known as the Northwest Division. No other bracket in hockey is more challenging. None. Colorado is on their trail with 10 points of their own, with the Canucks dragging the rear with 8 points.
There’s not enough room in this column so I’ll just brief it:
- Vancouver Canucks (+1800) – Nobody’s surprised that Luongo is finally struggling. What’s stunning is the offensive production out of this team. The only consistent element of this team has been their inconsistency.
- Minnesota Wild (+900) – Brutal in the playoffs, stellar in the regular season.
- Colorado Avalanche (+2000) – Peter Budaj in net is the problem. Scoring 4.00 goals per game might be the answer.
- Calgary Flames (+1400) – *just shaking my head*
- Edmonton Oilers (+1000) – Is there a better road team out there? They’ve won 10-of-11 on the road this year.
Detroit Rock City
I’m not so concerned with the choppy start and the various injuries plaguing this team. At +200, and with the talent they boast, Detroit is a mortal lock to win the Western Conference. They don’t even make it fun. The first half of the season simply weeds out the weaklings. A team like Detroit will pace itself. It already has all the answers, they just have to wait for them to grade out. There’s no reason to rush things as far as I’m concerned.
If anything, the struggles have proven that this team can bear down and grind out wins. That’s not the kind of thing you want the league’s best team learning early on. It’ll be virtually impossible to break with the will of the Red Wings down the stretch. That is, however, if they’re goal tending doesn’t become a glaring weakness amongst their ranks.
