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NHL Betting Cheat Sheet and Odds: Looming deadline sets up interesting weekend on the ice
Monty Andrews
Two teams planning for next year will face off in yet another Original Six tussle as the Detroit Red Wings head to Madison Square Garden for a date with the New York Rangers.
What Do We Pack?
You'll forgive Winnipeg Jets players for not being able to find their passports; after all, they haven't played a road game in more than four weeks. But that long stretch of home cooking officially comes to an end Friday night, as the Jets travel to St. Louis for an encounter with the Blues. Winnipeg posted a terrific 6-3-1 record on its season-high 10-game homestand, solidifying a top-three position in the Western Conference while remaining in the hunt for top spot in the Central Division. The Jets enter Friday at +500 to represent the West in this year's Stanley Cup final, and +200 to claim the division.
Plenty at Stake
Only four points separate the top three teams in the Atlantic Division as of Thursday night - and the teams in second and third place will duel Saturday night as the Boston Bruins visit the Toronto Maple Leafs in an Original Six showdown. Toronto went into Thursday with just two losses in its previous 10 games - but one of those defeats came courtesy of the Bruins, who skated to a 4-1 triumph back on Feb. 3. The Bruins sit just one point behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for top spot in the division as of Thursday, and have won two games in a row. This is a critical mini-stretch for the Maple Leafs, who visit Tampa on Monday.
Battle of the Rebuilds
Two teams planning for next year will face off in yet another Original Six tussle as the Detroit Red Wings head to Madison Square Garden for a date with the New York Rangers. Detroit has already started to sell off pieces - including goaltender Petr Mrazek, who was moved to the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this week. The Rangers have already announced their intentions, telling fans to prepare for a roster dismantling ahead of next week's trade deadline. The teams have split two meetings this season, with the Rangers earning a 2-1 overtime win Oct. 24 and the Red Wings pulling out a 3-2 shootout victory Dec. 29.
Player News
* Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman has said he won't deal any of the young players on his roster to gear up for a Stanley Cup run. Tampa Bay is already in good shape, entering Thursday as a +575 favorite on Bet365 to win the championship.
* The New York Islanders are close to signing forward Josh Bailey to a multi-year contract extension worth an average of $5 million per season. The 28-year-old is enjoying a career year with the Islanders, racking up 62 points through his first 57 games.
* The Nashville Predators are planning to add teen sensation Eeli Tolvanen for the stretch run. The 19-year-old Finn, taken 30th overall in last June's draft, leads all Olympic scorers with nine points but was eliminated by Canada in the quarterfinals.
Injury Updates
* Things have gone from bad to worse for the Montreal Canadiens, who will be without netminder Carey Price indefinitely with a concussion. Price has struggled for much of the season for the Canadiens, going 15-22-6 with a 2.98 goals-against average.
* That isn't the only injury news to come out of Montreal, as defenseman Shea Weber will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a tendon in his left foot. Weber appeared in just 26 games this season, registering 16 points.
* The Los Angeles Kings have received a major boost - and they didn't have to trade for it. Forward Jeff Carter is back at practice after missing four months with tendon damage in his ankle. The former 40-goal scorer has played just six games this season.
Stanley Cup Futures
* How are those Vegas Golden Knights futures odds doing? Still quite well, thank you very much; the expansion Knights remain the top pick to come out of the Western Conference, carrying +750 odds to win the Stanley Cup on Bet365.
* The Philadelphia Flyers remain a live underdog despite losing their top two netminders. The Flyers enter Thursday at +1,700 to end a Stanley Cup drought that has lasted more than four decades - good for sixth among Eastern Conference teams.
* The Islanders are still very much in the playoff mix in the East - and with an offense as prolific as theirs, they might just be worth a shot as a live longshot. The Isles have fallen all the way to +4,500 on Bet365 to win their first Cup championship in 35 years.
Over/Under Trends
* The under has been the preferred play over the last seven days, with 26 of 48 games going below the total. This has been especially true of games that go extra time, with seven of eight overtime contests playing to the under.
* Fans of the Columbus Blue Jackets have been cheated out of goals this season. The Blue Jackets are one of the top under plays in their own arena so far this season, going below the total 19 times in 30 games at Nationwide Arena.
Monty Andrews
Two teams planning for next year will face off in yet another Original Six tussle as the Detroit Red Wings head to Madison Square Garden for a date with the New York Rangers.
What Do We Pack?
You'll forgive Winnipeg Jets players for not being able to find their passports; after all, they haven't played a road game in more than four weeks. But that long stretch of home cooking officially comes to an end Friday night, as the Jets travel to St. Louis for an encounter with the Blues. Winnipeg posted a terrific 6-3-1 record on its season-high 10-game homestand, solidifying a top-three position in the Western Conference while remaining in the hunt for top spot in the Central Division. The Jets enter Friday at +500 to represent the West in this year's Stanley Cup final, and +200 to claim the division.
Plenty at Stake
Only four points separate the top three teams in the Atlantic Division as of Thursday night - and the teams in second and third place will duel Saturday night as the Boston Bruins visit the Toronto Maple Leafs in an Original Six showdown. Toronto went into Thursday with just two losses in its previous 10 games - but one of those defeats came courtesy of the Bruins, who skated to a 4-1 triumph back on Feb. 3. The Bruins sit just one point behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for top spot in the division as of Thursday, and have won two games in a row. This is a critical mini-stretch for the Maple Leafs, who visit Tampa on Monday.
Battle of the Rebuilds
Two teams planning for next year will face off in yet another Original Six tussle as the Detroit Red Wings head to Madison Square Garden for a date with the New York Rangers. Detroit has already started to sell off pieces - including goaltender Petr Mrazek, who was moved to the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this week. The Rangers have already announced their intentions, telling fans to prepare for a roster dismantling ahead of next week's trade deadline. The teams have split two meetings this season, with the Rangers earning a 2-1 overtime win Oct. 24 and the Red Wings pulling out a 3-2 shootout victory Dec. 29.
Player News
* Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman has said he won't deal any of the young players on his roster to gear up for a Stanley Cup run. Tampa Bay is already in good shape, entering Thursday as a +575 favorite on Bet365 to win the championship.
* The New York Islanders are close to signing forward Josh Bailey to a multi-year contract extension worth an average of $5 million per season. The 28-year-old is enjoying a career year with the Islanders, racking up 62 points through his first 57 games.
* The Nashville Predators are planning to add teen sensation Eeli Tolvanen for the stretch run. The 19-year-old Finn, taken 30th overall in last June's draft, leads all Olympic scorers with nine points but was eliminated by Canada in the quarterfinals.
Injury Updates
* Things have gone from bad to worse for the Montreal Canadiens, who will be without netminder Carey Price indefinitely with a concussion. Price has struggled for much of the season for the Canadiens, going 15-22-6 with a 2.98 goals-against average.
* That isn't the only injury news to come out of Montreal, as defenseman Shea Weber will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a tendon in his left foot. Weber appeared in just 26 games this season, registering 16 points.
* The Los Angeles Kings have received a major boost - and they didn't have to trade for it. Forward Jeff Carter is back at practice after missing four months with tendon damage in his ankle. The former 40-goal scorer has played just six games this season.
Stanley Cup Futures
* How are those Vegas Golden Knights futures odds doing? Still quite well, thank you very much; the expansion Knights remain the top pick to come out of the Western Conference, carrying +750 odds to win the Stanley Cup on Bet365.
* The Philadelphia Flyers remain a live underdog despite losing their top two netminders. The Flyers enter Thursday at +1,700 to end a Stanley Cup drought that has lasted more than four decades - good for sixth among Eastern Conference teams.
* The Islanders are still very much in the playoff mix in the East - and with an offense as prolific as theirs, they might just be worth a shot as a live longshot. The Isles have fallen all the way to +4,500 on Bet365 to win their first Cup championship in 35 years.
Over/Under Trends
* The under has been the preferred play over the last seven days, with 26 of 48 games going below the total. This has been especially true of games that go extra time, with seven of eight overtime contests playing to the under.
* Fans of the Columbus Blue Jackets have been cheated out of goals this season. The Blue Jackets are one of the top under plays in their own arena so far this season, going below the total 19 times in 30 games at Nationwide Arena.
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