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Pucking the Trends: This week best NHL bets
Every week, we update you on who's hot, who's not and situational betting spots in the National Hockey League.
HOT TEAM: Minnesota Wild
They still play tight defense, they can still slow it down with the best of them, and they still have solid goaltending, all staples of the original Wild under coach Jacques Lemaire.
But this version has some serious star power, and can score a little bit too. Under new coach Mike Yeo, the Wild have won eight of their last 10 games, and will take a four-game winning streak into Wednesday’s tilt versus Nashville.
The numbers aren’t great from the high-priced players, but when you win, and fill seats, that’s really all that matters, and both have been the case in Minnesota. Dany Heatley has five goals and 12 points, Devin Setoguchi has six and 10, and Mikko Koivu finally broke out on Saturday with two goals vs. St. Louis, and now has 10 points on the season.
It all adds up to a deep set of forwards in the Western Conference, and when you have a decent tandem in net -- like the Wild do in Niklas Backstrom (7-4-2, 1.97 goals-against average) and Josh Harding (5-1-1, 1.79) -- you’re going to win your fair share of games.
And keep Minnesota on your radar this week, as they open a four-game homestand, after three days off. Starting Wednesday, they will play the Predators, Oilers, Flames and Lightning in a six-day span, but all of them will be in St. Paul.
COLD TEAM: New York Islanders
There was definitely some preseason buzz around the Islanders headed into what appeared to be a season of promise. Their young goal scorers up front -- John Tavares, Michael Grabner, and Matt Moulson -- were coming off breakout seasons, and workhorse defenseman Mark Streit was healthy again after missing last year.
Indeed, it looked like a postseason berth might be in the cards.
Well, the best laid plans? Not so much. Streit is a minus-13, Kyle Okposo, who has yet to score a goal, has been a healthy scratch of late, and the Islanders have lost five of the last six games headed into Monday’s contest versus Pittsburgh.
New York is just 2-6 in November, and on Saturday, the Islanders were blown out on home ice, dropping a 6-0 decision to surging Boston.
OVER PLAY: Chicago Blackhawks
A little weekend hiccup in Western Canada, versus Calgary and Edmonton on back to back nights, notwithstanding, Chicago has it rolling again this season, and appears very much like it intends to make some noise in the postseason yet again.
At the apex of the surge has been the names you’d expect on the scoring sheet. Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp have lived up to billing with 10, nine, seven and seven goals, respectively.
And as a result, the Blackhawks have become a fairly reasonable over buy. In fact, Chicago will take a four-game over streak into Wednesday’s tilt versus San Jose, and in the last nine Blackhawks games, seven have been pushed past the total.
Of course, inconsistent goaltending helps the cause when it comes to overs, and Chicago, too, has delivered there, as well. Saturday against Edmonton was a perfect example. The Blackhawks had no answers, and nowhere to turn in net, as Ray Emery and Corey Crawford combined to make just 25 saves, while allowing nine goals. Ouch.
UNDER PLAY: Dallas Stars
Goaltender Kari Lehtonen has calmed down a bit, but he still has some decent numbers. With an 11-4 mark, and a 2.44 goals-against average, he has still helped Dallas to the label of one of the better under plays out there.
His backup, Andrew Raycroft, hasn’t been great, though, posting an 0-4 mark with a 3.55 goals-against. But either way, Dallas has still managed consecutive unders and three in the last five games as the Stars prepare to take on Edmonton on Monday night.
Of course, it helps the cause when you can’t score, and that’s the funk Dallas is in right now. Consider the last five games. In four of them, the Stars scored two goals or less. And in two of them, they were shut out.
SURVEYING THE SCHEDULE
** The Columbus Blue Jackets won a game Saturday. That’s No. 4 on the year, and believe it or not, they’re actually on a 2-2 run. Keep them in your sights this week, though, as they play three games in five days through the holiday, starting with Monday against Calgary.
** The Penguins, still without injured center Sidney Crosby, will be a busy bunch, too. On Monday, a home game against the Islanders begins a stretch of four games in six days through the holiday weekend, three of which are at home.
Every week, we update you on who's hot, who's not and situational betting spots in the National Hockey League.
HOT TEAM: Minnesota Wild
They still play tight defense, they can still slow it down with the best of them, and they still have solid goaltending, all staples of the original Wild under coach Jacques Lemaire.
But this version has some serious star power, and can score a little bit too. Under new coach Mike Yeo, the Wild have won eight of their last 10 games, and will take a four-game winning streak into Wednesday’s tilt versus Nashville.
The numbers aren’t great from the high-priced players, but when you win, and fill seats, that’s really all that matters, and both have been the case in Minnesota. Dany Heatley has five goals and 12 points, Devin Setoguchi has six and 10, and Mikko Koivu finally broke out on Saturday with two goals vs. St. Louis, and now has 10 points on the season.
It all adds up to a deep set of forwards in the Western Conference, and when you have a decent tandem in net -- like the Wild do in Niklas Backstrom (7-4-2, 1.97 goals-against average) and Josh Harding (5-1-1, 1.79) -- you’re going to win your fair share of games.
And keep Minnesota on your radar this week, as they open a four-game homestand, after three days off. Starting Wednesday, they will play the Predators, Oilers, Flames and Lightning in a six-day span, but all of them will be in St. Paul.
COLD TEAM: New York Islanders
There was definitely some preseason buzz around the Islanders headed into what appeared to be a season of promise. Their young goal scorers up front -- John Tavares, Michael Grabner, and Matt Moulson -- were coming off breakout seasons, and workhorse defenseman Mark Streit was healthy again after missing last year.
Indeed, it looked like a postseason berth might be in the cards.
Well, the best laid plans? Not so much. Streit is a minus-13, Kyle Okposo, who has yet to score a goal, has been a healthy scratch of late, and the Islanders have lost five of the last six games headed into Monday’s contest versus Pittsburgh.
New York is just 2-6 in November, and on Saturday, the Islanders were blown out on home ice, dropping a 6-0 decision to surging Boston.
OVER PLAY: Chicago Blackhawks
A little weekend hiccup in Western Canada, versus Calgary and Edmonton on back to back nights, notwithstanding, Chicago has it rolling again this season, and appears very much like it intends to make some noise in the postseason yet again.
At the apex of the surge has been the names you’d expect on the scoring sheet. Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp have lived up to billing with 10, nine, seven and seven goals, respectively.
And as a result, the Blackhawks have become a fairly reasonable over buy. In fact, Chicago will take a four-game over streak into Wednesday’s tilt versus San Jose, and in the last nine Blackhawks games, seven have been pushed past the total.
Of course, inconsistent goaltending helps the cause when it comes to overs, and Chicago, too, has delivered there, as well. Saturday against Edmonton was a perfect example. The Blackhawks had no answers, and nowhere to turn in net, as Ray Emery and Corey Crawford combined to make just 25 saves, while allowing nine goals. Ouch.
UNDER PLAY: Dallas Stars
Goaltender Kari Lehtonen has calmed down a bit, but he still has some decent numbers. With an 11-4 mark, and a 2.44 goals-against average, he has still helped Dallas to the label of one of the better under plays out there.
His backup, Andrew Raycroft, hasn’t been great, though, posting an 0-4 mark with a 3.55 goals-against. But either way, Dallas has still managed consecutive unders and three in the last five games as the Stars prepare to take on Edmonton on Monday night.
Of course, it helps the cause when you can’t score, and that’s the funk Dallas is in right now. Consider the last five games. In four of them, the Stars scored two goals or less. And in two of them, they were shut out.
SURVEYING THE SCHEDULE
** The Columbus Blue Jackets won a game Saturday. That’s No. 4 on the year, and believe it or not, they’re actually on a 2-2 run. Keep them in your sights this week, though, as they play three games in five days through the holiday, starting with Monday against Calgary.
** The Penguins, still without injured center Sidney Crosby, will be a busy bunch, too. On Monday, a home game against the Islanders begins a stretch of four games in six days through the holiday weekend, three of which are at home.
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