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NHL
Sunday, November 27
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Pucking the trends: This week's best NHL bets
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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: Boston Bruins
Well, it took awhile but is looks as though the Boston Bruins have finally shook their Stanley Cup hangover.
Boston has strolled through November and with one game left in the month, the Bruins are still unbeaten in regulation, going 11-0-1. The goaltending duo of Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask has been outstanding - the Bruins have three shutouts in that stretch - while the offense has found new life, scoring five or more goals six times on this run.
With 12 goals and 23 points, sophomore sensation Tyler Seguin is leading the way, and Seguin often didn’t make the lineup during the playoffs last season.
The Northeast race is tight right now, with Toronto, Buffalo, Montreal and even Ottawa in the mix. But Boston has more speed and skill than all of those teams, and it might just be a matter of time before the Bruins separate themselves from everyone.
COLD TEAM: Washington Capitals
The enigma that is the Washington Capitals in the Bruce Boudreau Era has returned. After a hot start, in which people were led to believe that maybe this team finally had it all figured out, along came November, and the mystery resurfaced.
The Rangers and Sabres are quality Eastern Conference teams and should make the postseason. But in a back-to-back stretch over 24 hours, those two clubs should not have their way with the Capitals.
Yet that’s exactly what happened, as New York dumped Washington, 6-3, on Friday, before Buffalo cruised past the Capitals, 5-1, on Saturday. In fact, Washington has now lost six of the last eight games and some of the scores have been alarming - 7-1 to the Maple Leafs in Toronto?
Center Nicklas Backstrom is having a tremendous season, with seven goals and 25 points, and perhaps an upcoming three-game home stand will help right the ship. For now though, Washington, with its hefty price tag at the window, has to be considered a consistent fade option.
OVER PLAY: Anaheim Ducks
There seems to be too much talent on this roster for Anaheim to be in last place, but for totals players, that is not your problem. The Ducks have been lax on defense and it’s cost them.
Anaheim, after a 6-5 loss to Chicago on Friday that was an over-player’s delight, had engineered four consecutive overs headed in a Sunday date against Toronto at home. Prior to the date versus the Maple Leafs, Anaheim had allowed four or more goals seven times in November.
Backup goaltender Dan Ellis has been adequate, but the Ducks need more out of incumbent Jonas Hiller, who through Saturday was 5-9-4 with a 3.17 goals-against average and an .899 save percentage. Not good enough for a netminder who has won at least 26 games each of the last two seasons.
Anaheim is in the midst of a six-game home stand, so maybe the Ducks can figure it out away from the road.
UNDER PLAY: San Jose Sharks
The Pacific Division race is shaping up to be a beauty, with four teams - San Jose, Phoenix, Dallas and Los Angeles - wrapped up in a neat little scrum right now. Everyone but Anaheim, for the time being, has a shot.
But the Sharks, with regards to talent, skill, depth, and even motivation, may be the best of that group. As the games get tighter, and points become more precious, it’s good to know the Sharks can slow it down and grind out games with the best of them.
That’s what they’ve clearly been doing. San Jose has won four of the last five games. Heading into Monday’s game with the Kings in Los Angeles, San Jose had orchestrated four consecutive unders, and six of the last seven have finished below the total.
Beginning Thursday, the Sharks have a four-game home stand, so perhaps with little travel to worry about, this run continues.
Surveying the schedule:
** It’s always important to highlight the Winnipeg Jets and their schedule, as there will always be clear opportunities to snag trends. They are currently on a nice break from their long road trips, so maybe this is a chance to fatten up at home. Tuesday’s game against Ottawa is the first of five consecutive games in Winnipeg, a stretch that doesn’t end until Dec. 9.
** The Penguins, and Sidney Crosby, will get to see what life is like on the road with their superstar back in the mix this week. Pittsburgh won in Montreal, 4-3, on Saturday, opening a stretch in which it will play six of seven games away from the Consol Energy Center. That is a stretch that continues Tuesday, at the Rangers and doesn’t end until Dec. 10.
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Sunday, November 27
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pucking the trends: This week's 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: Boston Bruins
Well, it took awhile but is looks as though the Boston Bruins have finally shook their Stanley Cup hangover.
Boston has strolled through November and with one game left in the month, the Bruins are still unbeaten in regulation, going 11-0-1. The goaltending duo of Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask has been outstanding - the Bruins have three shutouts in that stretch - while the offense has found new life, scoring five or more goals six times on this run.
With 12 goals and 23 points, sophomore sensation Tyler Seguin is leading the way, and Seguin often didn’t make the lineup during the playoffs last season.
The Northeast race is tight right now, with Toronto, Buffalo, Montreal and even Ottawa in the mix. But Boston has more speed and skill than all of those teams, and it might just be a matter of time before the Bruins separate themselves from everyone.
COLD TEAM: Washington Capitals
The enigma that is the Washington Capitals in the Bruce Boudreau Era has returned. After a hot start, in which people were led to believe that maybe this team finally had it all figured out, along came November, and the mystery resurfaced.
The Rangers and Sabres are quality Eastern Conference teams and should make the postseason. But in a back-to-back stretch over 24 hours, those two clubs should not have their way with the Capitals.
Yet that’s exactly what happened, as New York dumped Washington, 6-3, on Friday, before Buffalo cruised past the Capitals, 5-1, on Saturday. In fact, Washington has now lost six of the last eight games and some of the scores have been alarming - 7-1 to the Maple Leafs in Toronto?
Center Nicklas Backstrom is having a tremendous season, with seven goals and 25 points, and perhaps an upcoming three-game home stand will help right the ship. For now though, Washington, with its hefty price tag at the window, has to be considered a consistent fade option.
OVER PLAY: Anaheim Ducks
There seems to be too much talent on this roster for Anaheim to be in last place, but for totals players, that is not your problem. The Ducks have been lax on defense and it’s cost them.
Anaheim, after a 6-5 loss to Chicago on Friday that was an over-player’s delight, had engineered four consecutive overs headed in a Sunday date against Toronto at home. Prior to the date versus the Maple Leafs, Anaheim had allowed four or more goals seven times in November.
Backup goaltender Dan Ellis has been adequate, but the Ducks need more out of incumbent Jonas Hiller, who through Saturday was 5-9-4 with a 3.17 goals-against average and an .899 save percentage. Not good enough for a netminder who has won at least 26 games each of the last two seasons.
Anaheim is in the midst of a six-game home stand, so maybe the Ducks can figure it out away from the road.
UNDER PLAY: San Jose Sharks
The Pacific Division race is shaping up to be a beauty, with four teams - San Jose, Phoenix, Dallas and Los Angeles - wrapped up in a neat little scrum right now. Everyone but Anaheim, for the time being, has a shot.
But the Sharks, with regards to talent, skill, depth, and even motivation, may be the best of that group. As the games get tighter, and points become more precious, it’s good to know the Sharks can slow it down and grind out games with the best of them.
That’s what they’ve clearly been doing. San Jose has won four of the last five games. Heading into Monday’s game with the Kings in Los Angeles, San Jose had orchestrated four consecutive unders, and six of the last seven have finished below the total.
Beginning Thursday, the Sharks have a four-game home stand, so perhaps with little travel to worry about, this run continues.
Surveying the schedule:
** It’s always important to highlight the Winnipeg Jets and their schedule, as there will always be clear opportunities to snag trends. They are currently on a nice break from their long road trips, so maybe this is a chance to fatten up at home. Tuesday’s game against Ottawa is the first of five consecutive games in Winnipeg, a stretch that doesn’t end until Dec. 9.
** The Penguins, and Sidney Crosby, will get to see what life is like on the road with their superstar back in the mix this week. Pittsburgh won in Montreal, 4-3, on Saturday, opening a stretch in which it will play six of seven games away from the Consol Energy Center. That is a stretch that continues Tuesday, at the Rangers and doesn’t end until Dec. 10.
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