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NHL
Tuesday, February 1
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Pucking the trends: Weekly NHL betting trends
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Every week, we update you on who's hot, who's not and situational betting spots in the National Hockey League.
HOT TEAM: Dallas Stars
OK, so Jamie Langenbrunner hasn’t exactly ripped through the Western Conference since being traded back to Dallas by New Jersey, but the veteran forward, who has been a captain at both the NHL and Olympic levels, might be exactly what this Stars team needed.
He’s a calming influence on a bunch of young upstarts, a group that may win the Pacific Division title when it’s all said and done. He will lead one of the hottest teams in the league out from the All-Star break when the Stars meet the Bruins on Thursday.
In January, the Stars went 8-3, and grabbed at least one point in all but two games. Keep in mind, in December, without Langenbrunner, they went just 8-8.
They even shook off a two-game skid, defeated Edmonton, 3-1, last Wednesday, and headed to the break having won six of eight games.
Moving forward, for those who key on rest when it comes to playing sides, they’ll be one of the most rested out there, post-break. In fact, between the win over the Oilers, and the game vs. Boston, the Stars will have had seven full days off. You don’t get a chance to cash in on that often in the NHL.
COLD TEAM: Ottawa Senators
Goodness, it went so bad, so fast for the Senators, didn’t it? They can still play defense, make no mistake, but there just doesn’t appear to be enough finishers up front to save this season.
The Senators slumped into the break to the tune of six straight losses. They did not score more than two goals in any of those games, and – if you want to look big picture – Ottawa has now lost 12 of 13 games.
Goaltender Brian Elliott is keeping the team in games at times, but he sees a lot of pucks, and eventually he may wear down, too.
There is good news on the horizon, though. When they return from the break, Ottawa meets the Devils, Red Wings and Islanders in a five-day span. Two of those games are winnable.
OVER PLAY: Montreal Canadiens
Goaltender Carey Price made it to the All-Star Game, and is having a terrific season, but he wasn’t exactly razor sharp heading into the break.
When the Canadiens take on the Capitals Tuesday, they’ll be riding a three-game over streak in which 22 goals – for and against – have been potted. What’s more, the over is 5-1-1 in Montreal's past seven games.
The question has to be raised: Is Price playing too much?
Again, not your problem. For the time being, keep them on your radar as an over club.
UNDER PLAY: Nashville Predators
Nashville really started to show the effects of a six-game road trip at the end of last week. Not only did the Predators lose the final two games on the swing, they scored just two goals total in those two contests.
But goaltender Pekka Rinne seems intent on keeping them in games, while the offense tries to get back in gear. And as long as he plans on doing that – he has a 2.11 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage – this team will remain an under play.
For now, what’s important, is that when they return Tuesday vs. Calgary in Nashville, the Predators will be riding a three-game under streak. The run has pushed them among the league leaders in unders now.
Surveying the schedule:
** The Rangers return from the break with four games in seven days, and they won’t be easy. Three of them are vs. playoff contenders – the Penguins, Canadiens and Red Wings – and the other is vs. rival New Jersey. New York was a mediocre 5-5 headed into the break and will need a good February to cement its playoff status.
** If the Canucks are going to keep up their current pace, they’ll need to avoid February fatigue. They stroll out of the break with five games in nine days, including a back-to-back doozy at Dallas and at Phoenix on Tuesday and Wednesday. Vancouver stopped a four-game slide with consecutive wins to end the first half.
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Tuesday, February 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pucking the trends: Weekly NHL betting trends
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Every week, we update you on who's hot, who's not and situational betting spots in the National Hockey League.
HOT TEAM: Dallas Stars
OK, so Jamie Langenbrunner hasn’t exactly ripped through the Western Conference since being traded back to Dallas by New Jersey, but the veteran forward, who has been a captain at both the NHL and Olympic levels, might be exactly what this Stars team needed.
He’s a calming influence on a bunch of young upstarts, a group that may win the Pacific Division title when it’s all said and done. He will lead one of the hottest teams in the league out from the All-Star break when the Stars meet the Bruins on Thursday.
In January, the Stars went 8-3, and grabbed at least one point in all but two games. Keep in mind, in December, without Langenbrunner, they went just 8-8.
They even shook off a two-game skid, defeated Edmonton, 3-1, last Wednesday, and headed to the break having won six of eight games.
Moving forward, for those who key on rest when it comes to playing sides, they’ll be one of the most rested out there, post-break. In fact, between the win over the Oilers, and the game vs. Boston, the Stars will have had seven full days off. You don’t get a chance to cash in on that often in the NHL.
COLD TEAM: Ottawa Senators
Goodness, it went so bad, so fast for the Senators, didn’t it? They can still play defense, make no mistake, but there just doesn’t appear to be enough finishers up front to save this season.
The Senators slumped into the break to the tune of six straight losses. They did not score more than two goals in any of those games, and – if you want to look big picture – Ottawa has now lost 12 of 13 games.
Goaltender Brian Elliott is keeping the team in games at times, but he sees a lot of pucks, and eventually he may wear down, too.
There is good news on the horizon, though. When they return from the break, Ottawa meets the Devils, Red Wings and Islanders in a five-day span. Two of those games are winnable.
OVER PLAY: Montreal Canadiens
Goaltender Carey Price made it to the All-Star Game, and is having a terrific season, but he wasn’t exactly razor sharp heading into the break.
When the Canadiens take on the Capitals Tuesday, they’ll be riding a three-game over streak in which 22 goals – for and against – have been potted. What’s more, the over is 5-1-1 in Montreal's past seven games.
The question has to be raised: Is Price playing too much?
Again, not your problem. For the time being, keep them on your radar as an over club.
UNDER PLAY: Nashville Predators
Nashville really started to show the effects of a six-game road trip at the end of last week. Not only did the Predators lose the final two games on the swing, they scored just two goals total in those two contests.
But goaltender Pekka Rinne seems intent on keeping them in games, while the offense tries to get back in gear. And as long as he plans on doing that – he has a 2.11 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage – this team will remain an under play.
For now, what’s important, is that when they return Tuesday vs. Calgary in Nashville, the Predators will be riding a three-game under streak. The run has pushed them among the league leaders in unders now.
Surveying the schedule:
** The Rangers return from the break with four games in seven days, and they won’t be easy. Three of them are vs. playoff contenders – the Penguins, Canadiens and Red Wings – and the other is vs. rival New Jersey. New York was a mediocre 5-5 headed into the break and will need a good February to cement its playoff status.
** If the Canucks are going to keep up their current pace, they’ll need to avoid February fatigue. They stroll out of the break with five games in nine days, including a back-to-back doozy at Dallas and at Phoenix on Tuesday and Wednesday. Vancouver stopped a four-game slide with consecutive wins to end the first half.
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