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Pucking the Trends: NHL's weekly betting news and notes
Every week, we update you on who's hot, who's not and situational betting spots in the National Hockey League.
For the week of Jan. 5-11
Hot Team
New York Islanders (3-0 SU)
Every so often, the Islanders show the promise hockey fans have come to expect out of a team boasting an elite talent in John Tavares and a handful of complementary options. Despite wallowing at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division, New York has been on a roll with three straight victories - a 7-3 home triumph over the Dallas Stars followed by impressive wins in Toronto and Colorado. With six victories in their last seven games overall, the Islanders have caught fire just as they enter a difficult week featuring four road games - highlighted by a visit to Dallas, where the Stars will be looking for revenge.
Cold team
Toronto Maple Leafs (0-3 SU)
Panic buttons are being slammed all over the greater Toronto area as the Maple Leafs continue their slide down the Eastern Conference standings. Looking to bounce back from a 7-1 thumping at the hands of the New York Rangers, the Maple Leafs couldn't muster much of anything last week, falling to the Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals. Toronto will be desperately looking to bounce back with four games this coming week - including home dates with the New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres and rival Montreal Canadiens.
Best Over play
Edmonton Oilers (3-0 O/U)
The Oilers may be headed back to the head of the NHL draft lottery, but their games have had plenty of scoring. Edmonton has played the Over in 10 of its last 11 games, including all three it played last week. The Oilers opened the stretch with a 5-3 triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning, followed it up with a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the St. Louis Blues and capped it with a stunning 4-3 overtime win over Pittsburgh. With the offense rolling and the defense still as porous as ever, the Oilers kick off a four-game road trip against Chicago before visiting Dallas, Minnesota and Vancouver.
Best Under play
Chicago Blackhawks (0-3 O/U)
The defending Stanley Cup champions came into the week as one of the best Over plays through the opening half of the season, but saw the well run dry in three straight losses. Chicago dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to visiting San Jose, fell 3-2 three nights later to the New York Rangers and capped the winless stretch with a 2-1 overtime loss in Montreal. The Blackhawks are 1-5 O/U in their last six games, but with a relentless offense led by Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, they likely won't be held down for long. Chicago kicks off a four-game homestand with games this week against Edmonton, Colorado and Anaheim.
Surveying the schedule:
The Winnipeg Jets find themselves slipping out of the playoff picture thanks to a five-game losing skid that prompted the club to fire head coach Claude Noel on Sunday morning. Only the Flames and Oilers have fewer points among West teams, and Winnipeg's 14 regulation victories are also the third-fewest in the conference. The Jets will have an opportunity to put more space between themselves and their prairie cousins, facing both Calgary and Edmonton this week. Phoenix is also on the docket.
Every week, we update you on who's hot, who's not and situational betting spots in the National Hockey League.
For the week of Jan. 5-11
Hot Team
New York Islanders (3-0 SU)
Every so often, the Islanders show the promise hockey fans have come to expect out of a team boasting an elite talent in John Tavares and a handful of complementary options. Despite wallowing at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division, New York has been on a roll with three straight victories - a 7-3 home triumph over the Dallas Stars followed by impressive wins in Toronto and Colorado. With six victories in their last seven games overall, the Islanders have caught fire just as they enter a difficult week featuring four road games - highlighted by a visit to Dallas, where the Stars will be looking for revenge.
Cold team
Toronto Maple Leafs (0-3 SU)
Panic buttons are being slammed all over the greater Toronto area as the Maple Leafs continue their slide down the Eastern Conference standings. Looking to bounce back from a 7-1 thumping at the hands of the New York Rangers, the Maple Leafs couldn't muster much of anything last week, falling to the Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals. Toronto will be desperately looking to bounce back with four games this coming week - including home dates with the New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres and rival Montreal Canadiens.
Best Over play
Edmonton Oilers (3-0 O/U)
The Oilers may be headed back to the head of the NHL draft lottery, but their games have had plenty of scoring. Edmonton has played the Over in 10 of its last 11 games, including all three it played last week. The Oilers opened the stretch with a 5-3 triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning, followed it up with a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the St. Louis Blues and capped it with a stunning 4-3 overtime win over Pittsburgh. With the offense rolling and the defense still as porous as ever, the Oilers kick off a four-game road trip against Chicago before visiting Dallas, Minnesota and Vancouver.
Best Under play
Chicago Blackhawks (0-3 O/U)
The defending Stanley Cup champions came into the week as one of the best Over plays through the opening half of the season, but saw the well run dry in three straight losses. Chicago dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to visiting San Jose, fell 3-2 three nights later to the New York Rangers and capped the winless stretch with a 2-1 overtime loss in Montreal. The Blackhawks are 1-5 O/U in their last six games, but with a relentless offense led by Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, they likely won't be held down for long. Chicago kicks off a four-game homestand with games this week against Edmonton, Colorado and Anaheim.
Surveying the schedule:
The Winnipeg Jets find themselves slipping out of the playoff picture thanks to a five-game losing skid that prompted the club to fire head coach Claude Noel on Sunday morning. Only the Flames and Oilers have fewer points among West teams, and Winnipeg's 14 regulation victories are also the third-fewest in the conference. The Jets will have an opportunity to put more space between themselves and their prairie cousins, facing both Calgary and Edmonton this week. Phoenix is also on the docket.
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