Wednesday's Best NHL Bets
Columbus Blue Jackets at Detroit Red Wings
In baseball, the media has labeled Albert Pujols “The Machine” but that nickname should probably be duplicated for the NHL and slapped on the helmet of Detroit rookie goalie Jimmy Howard.
Prior to Sunday’s 4-3 loss where veteran Chris Osgood positioned himself between the pipes, Howard had started 25 consecutive games for the Red Wings.
Howard has been remarkable in his inaugural season while helping Detroit get to its 19th straight postseason, compiling a 34-15-10 record with a 2.30 goals-against average.
Expect Howard and the Wings to put up an inspirational effort for the fans in the team’s regular season home finale.
Detroit could also be aided by the absence of the Blue Jackets’ leading scorer, Rick Nash, who missed Monday’s game with an upper-body injury. With the Jackets far removed from the playoffs, many of Columbus’ younger players are also expected to see extended ice time.
Pick: Red Wings
Nashville Predators at Phoenix Coyotes
This matchup could be a Western Conference first-round playoff preview.
That being said, the game could end up looking like a skate-around with both teams not wanting to tip their hand to the other. Those types of games are usually snoozers to watch.
The Coyotes offense has been inconsistent all season and has scored just four regulation goals in the last three games. Leading scorer Shane Doan has registered zero points during that span and hasn’t netted a puck since Jan. 31.
"I think we're to the point we're joking about it now," Doan said. "There is not a lot else you can do. It's as frustrated as I've ever been with scoring goals."
Phoenix went 0-for-9 on power play opportunities on Sunday and has only one man-advantage goal in its last six games.
Nashville has sharpened its defensive skills while surging toward the postseason, holding opponents to 1.8 gpg during the last 10 games. This effort has produced a 2-8 over/under mark for the Preds in that timeframe.
Pick: Under
NHL Betting News, Notes and Trends
By ARI BAUM-COHEN
Second-Half Surges
Hockey writer Pierre LeBrun advocates looking at teams’ second-half records to best predict playoff performance. LeBrun (courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau) provides a breakdown of the top teams in the second-half of the season, as well as the top teams since the Olympic break.
The top three second-half teams are the Washington Capitals (27-4-6), Vancouver Canucks (24-11-3), and Phoenix Coyotes (23-12-3).
The bottom three second-half teams occupying playoff spots are the Boston Bruins (15-17-5), New Jersey Devils (15-16-6), and Colorado Avalanche (19-17-1).
The top three teams post-Olympics are the Detroit Red Wings (13-3-2), Washington Capitals (10-2-4), and Phoenix Coyotes (11-4-1).
The bottom three teams post-Olympics: the Colorado Avalanche (7-9-1), Philadelphia Flyers (7-9-3), and Ottawa Senators (7-8-1).
Washington is +385 to win the Cup at 5Dimes, Vancouver is +1000, Detroit is +1100, and the surprising Phoenix Coyotes are +2000.
Olympic-Sized Scoring Droughts
Ken Campbell of the Hockey News observes that not only has scoring dropped since the Olympics, but the NHL could be without a 50 goal-scorer for the first time since the lockout.
Not including shootout goals, scoring has dropped from 5.50 goals per game before the Olympics, to 5.17 goals after the Olympics.
Campbell acknowledges that teams are tightening up for the playoffs, but says some of the league’s star players are wearing down because of the extra two weeks of hockey.
Alex Ovechkin has four goals since the Olympic break, Crosby has five and Patrick Marleau has six.
Huet? No Way!
There is no longer a goaltending controversy in Chicago. Antti Niemi will be Chicago’s starting goalie heading into the playoffs.
"(Niemi's) playing well," coach Joel Quenneville told reporters. "It was nice to show him some confidence (with back-to-back starts) and he responded with the game we were looking for."
Niemi has started seven of the Blackhawks’ last eight games. He has three shutouts and allowed one goal twice.
The Blackhawks rookie is 23-7-3 with a 2.16 goals against average and a .915 save percentage. Niemi is tied for third in the NHL with seven shutouts despite only starting 31 games.
Range-rs of Outcomes
The New York Rangers can finish anywhere between sixth and 11th place in the Eastern Conference.
The Rangers have gone 5-0-1 in their last six games and currently control their own destiny. The typically low-scoring Blueshirts have averaged four goals a game during that span.
In other positives for New York, Michael Obernauer of the New York Daily News points out that, on Saturday, the Rangers won for the first time this season when trailing after two periods (1-24-2), and that assistant captain Ryan Callahan could be ready to return from a knee injury sooner than expected.
The Rangers are the top team ATS this season according to Covers.com statistics, with a 44-33 record netting backers +22.01 units.
On the Schedule
This week, I've identified the games potentially having the biggest playoff implications.
Fri. April 9, Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers, Sun. April 11, New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers
Currently in ninth, the Rangers can thank the schedule makers for still being able to control their own destiny. Sweeping the Flyers in the home-and-home series will likely mean a trip to the postseason.
Sat, April 10, Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks
Sorry Flames fans, but this one will probably be meaningless. Colorado needs two wins or two Calgary regulation losses to clinch a playoff spot. If the Flames can get by the Sharks and Wild, and the Avs slip up against the Canucks, Oilers and Blackhawks, the final regular season Hockey Night in Canada game could be a meaningful one.
Sun. April 11, Buffalo Sabres at New Jersey Devils
New Jersey is in a fight with Pittsburgh for the Atlantic Division title, and Buffalo has a chance to finish second overall. Finishing second or third in the Eastern Conference guarantees that you won’t have to face the Washington Capitals until the conference finals (if at all).
TORONTO (29-37-0-13, 71 pts.) at NY RANGERS (36-32-0-10, 82 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 29-50 ATS (+86.7 Units) in all games this season.
TORONTO is 14-24 ATS (-11.1 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
TORONTO is 64-46 ATS (+17.0 Units) in April games since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 11-16 ATS (-6.8 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
NY RANGERS are 134-152 ATS (-88.0 Units) in home games second half of the season since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 9-14 ATS (-9.9 Units) in home games revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 6-5 (+3.0 Units) against the spread versus NY RANGERS over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 6-5-0 straight up against NY RANGERS over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.6 Units)
COLUMBUS (32-34-0-14, 78 pts.) at DETROIT (41-24-0-14, 96 pts.)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 15-7 (+2.1 Units) against the spread versus COLUMBUS over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 15-7-0 straight up against COLUMBUS over the last 3 seasons
12 of 19 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+4.9 Units)
ST LOUIS (39-31-0-9, 87 pts.) at CHICAGO (49-22-0-7, 105 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 29-15 ATS (+9.8 Units) in home games in April games since 1996.
ST LOUIS is 80-85 ATS (+176.3 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 17-13 ATS (+34.2 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
ST LOUIS is 22-17 ATS (+39.6 Units) second half of the season this season.
ST LOUIS is 13-10 ATS (+28.7 Units) in road games vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 209-247 ATS (+494.3 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record since 1996.
CHICAGO is 20-19 ATS (-10.7 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
ST LOUIS is 9-10 (+2.3 Units) against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 10-9-0 straight up against ST LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
9 of 18 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-0.4 Units, Under=-1.8 Units)
COLORADO (42-29-0-7, 91 pts.) at EDMONTON (25-46-0-8, 58 pts.)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
COLORADO is 12-7 (+4.1 Units) against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
COLORADO is 12-7-0 straight up against EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
10 of 19 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-0.3 Units, Under=-1.6 Units)
NASHVILLE (46-28-0-6, 98 pts.) at PHOENIX (48-25-0-6, 102 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
PHOENIX is 48-31 ATS (+82.9 Units) in all games this season.
PHOENIX is 23-14 ATS (-20.4 Units) second half of the season this season.
PHOENIX is 10-3 ATS (+13.4 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 22-14 ATS (+7.4 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
NASHVILLE is 45-34 ATS (+79.4 Units) in all games this season.
NASHVILLE is 15-7 ATS (+7.6 Units) after a division game this season.
NASHVILLE is 20-17 ATS (+40.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
NASHVILLE is 6-5-0 straight up against PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
5 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.2 Units)
TORONTO vs. NY RANGERS
Toronto is 5-19 SU in its last 24 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Toronto's last 8 games on the road
NY Rangers are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 10 of the NY Rangers last 15 games when playing at home against Toronto
COLUMBUS vs. DETROIT
Columbus is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Columbus is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Detroit
Detroit is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Columbus
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Detroit's last 17 games when playing Columbus
ST. LOUIS vs. CHICAGO
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of St. Louis's last 9 games when playing Chicago
St. Louis is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Chicago
Chicago is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing St. Louis
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Chicago's last 9 games when playing St. Louis
COLORADO vs. EDMONTON
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Colorado's last 9 games
Colorado is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games
Edmonton is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Edmonton's last 7 games
NASHVILLE vs. PHOENIX
Nashville is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Phoenix
Nashville is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Phoenix's last 7 games
Phoenix is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Hot Teams
-- Rangers won five of their last seven games.
-- Blackhawks won last four games, outscoring foes 15-4. Blues won five of their last six games.
-- Predators won three of their last four games.
Cold Teams
-- Toronto lost four of last five games, scoring once in last two games.
-- Blue Jackets lost last three games, scoring five goals. Red Wings lost last two games, both 4-3, after winning previous seven.
-- Edmonton lost five of last six games. Avalanche lost four of last five road games.
-- Coyotes lost four of last six games, scoring five goals in last three.
Totals
-- Five of last seven Ranger home games stayed under the total.
-- Last four Columbus games stayed under the total. Five of last seven Detroit games went over.
-- Three of last four Chicago games stayed under the total.
-- Eight of last nine Colorado games went over the total. Five of last seven Edmonton games stayed under.
-- Eight of last ten Nashville games stayed under the total.
Playing second of back-to-back nights
-- Rangers are 8-4 if they played night before, 4-2 after a loss.
-- Blackhawks are 13-4 if they played the night before.
-- Colorado is 3-8 on road if it played the night before.
Series Records
-- Toronto won four of last five games against the Rangers.
-- Red Wings won eight of last nine games against Columbus.
-- Blues won three of last four visits to Chicago.
-- Avalanche shut Edmonton out in last two meetings, 6-0/3-0.
-- Predators won six of last eight games against Phoenix.
TORONTO at NY RANGERS
TORONTO: 4-14 SU off BB home games
NY RANGERS: 15-6 Under off a combined score of 7+ goals
COLUMBUS at DETROIT
COLUMBUS: 1-9 SU off a road loss by 1 goal
DETROIT: 52-17 SU off BB Overs
ST LOUIS at CHICAGO
ST LOUIS: 4-12 SU off a combined score of 3 goals or less
CHICAGO: 9-0 SU at home off BB games allowing 2 goals or less
COLORADO at EDMONTON
COLORADO: 14-5 Under playing their third game in four days
EDMONTON: 6-27 SU playing with same-season revenge
NASHVILLE at PHOENIX
NASHVILLE: 9-2 Under off an overtime win
PHOENIX: 10-3 SU playing with 3+ days rest