NHL - Week Ahead February 9th
By: Jimmy The Moose
The NHL trade deadline is less than a month away and in the next couple of weeks teams will decide if they are buyers or sellers. The playoff race is tight in both conferences with eight-points separating 4th from 10th place in the Eastern Conference. In the Western Conference, the race is even closer with nine points separating 5th from 15th place. Let's take a look at a few NHL Betting matchups this week that will have a direct implication on the NHL Playoff race.
Tuesday, February 10
San Jose Sharks vs. Boston Bruins
The Sharks are having another very good season and a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals is a possibility this season. The Sharks sit in top spot in the Western Conference with 79 points and they are second in the NHL in points overall. The only team with more points than San Jose is the Boston Bruins with 85. Not many are surprised with the Sharks leading the West but the Bruins have shocked many and are now turning NHL bettors into believers.
This game may be a preview of this year's Stanley Cup Finals. The Sharks entered this week having lost three straight and over their last 10 games they are 6-2-2. San Jose doesn't have trouble winning away from home where they are 13-5-4 this year. The Sharks are quietly going about their business with hope that this year's playoff run is longer than their last one. The Bruins are playing incredible hockey at both ends of the ice and are very deserving of their 39-8-7 record. Boston has a 6-1-3 record over their last 10 games. On home-ice the Bruins are 19-3-4. Big game here should the two meet in the playoffs.
Thursday, February 12
Minnesota Wild vs. Detroit Red Wings
The Wild currently sit in 7th place in the Western Conference with 57 points but they need to play more consistently if they hope to make the playoffs this season. The Wild have always been known as a defensive team and they are indeed solid on that side of center but the offense needs to pick-up. If the playoffs started today the Wild would be traveling to Detroit for the opening round. The Red Wings are currently in top spot in their division and their 77 points have them sitting in second place in the Western Conference, two points behind the San Jose Sharks.
Minnesota comes into the week having won 6 of their last 10 games. The Wild have 27 wins on the season with 16 of them coming on home ice. On the road, the Wild struggle posting an 11-12 record. On Thursday, they meet a Detroit team that has a 19-4-2 home record. The Wings are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games but started the week riding a 4-game winning streak. Both teams’ need this one for different reasons, but one thing is for sure - the two points up for grabs are huge.
Saturday, February 14
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Carolina Hurricanes
The Blue Jackets have never made the playoffs but they see that changing this season. Columbus currently sits in 10th place in the Western Conference with 55 points, but they are only four points from being in 5th place. This is a young team that is a few big wins away from making Blue Jackets history. The Hurricanes won the Cup a few years ago and this year they hope to make the playoffs but they have been another one of those inconsistent teams. Carolina has 59 points and are currently holding on to the final playoff spot in the East but the 9th place Panthers are only one point behind them. This is another game where the two points are big for both teams.
Columbus has a good home record, but on the road they are 9-14-4. Over their last 10 games overall Columbus is 4-5-1 and to make things worse their rookie goaltender was placed on IR. The Hurricanes have won their last two games and are 6-4 in their last 10 games. On home ice, Carolina is 14-10-1 and they are hoping that the home ice is really an advantage in this one.