NHL power plays: This week’s NHL betting notes
By DOC'S SPORTS
There's a whole lot going on in the NHL that should be of interest to bettors, so let's not waste time.
Hot, but not for long
There is no team in the NHL playing better right now than Vancouver. They have points in nine straight games and 11 of the last 12. That puts the Canucks comfortably atop the Northwest Division and third in the conference. That's well ahead of expectations for a team that many saw as the weakest in the tight division.
The four most recent Canucks games have been on the road too, so they have been particularly kind to loyal bettors.
The key to the success can be put in one place - Roberto Luongo. The goalie has been the class of the league this season with five shutouts, three more than the next closest netminders.
Unfortunately for Vancouver, Luongo suffered a groin injury on Saturday against the Pens and is now week-to-week.
A promising sign for the Canucks is they beat the mighty Red Wings Sunday night with backup Curtis Sanford in nets but how long can they keep it up? .
A long list of injuries
Injuries are always a big story in the NHL, but the number of names that have gone down this week seems longer and more impactful than normal.
Anaheim defenseman Francois Beauchemin tore an ACL and is likely out for the year. Ottawa, already slumping, lost both Chris Neil and Mike Fisher for several weeks. Dallas will be without captain Brenden Morrow for the year. Edmonton lost Fernando Pisani for the long term, a much-needed offensive spark in Edmonton, after a nasty collision with the boards. Tampa Bay is without starting goalie Mike Smith thanks to an undisclosed injury.
Unrest in Calgary
The Flames are the most unpredictable team in the league. When they are good, they are as good as anyone. When they are bad, they make you gag.
The problem is you never know which team you are going to get. The entire personality of the team can even change from period to period. Those random fluctuations in effort reflect on the coaching, and that's bad news for Mike Keenan.
There is unrest in Calgary and the rumors from within the club arethat patience with Keenan is in short supply.
Home isn’t where the heart is
The Oilers are sitting a few points out of the playoffs and it's no surprise. Fourteen of their first 19 games were on the road, in large part due to the National Rodeo held in Edmonton.
Unbalanced schedules are a fact of life for NHL teams, but this is crazy. The good news for the Oil is a stretch of 12 of 15 games at home starting Dec. 11. That should provide all sorts of value for bettors.
Underappreciated players
These guys are a bettor’s best friend. They can help their teams win big games, but they don't get enough attention to alert the general public. Here are four players who fit that bill this year:
Devin Setoguchi, San Jose - Setoguchi is only 21 and in his second year, but he is quietly becoming a star. He has 24 points in 21 games and has more points, goals, and assists than he did last year as a rookie.
His improved play and feisty intensity is a big part of the reason why the Sharks are the top team in the league.
Thomas Vanek, Buffalo - Unlike Setoguchi, Vanek is already an established star. He just doesn't get enough attention for what he has accomplished. He has 79 goals in his last two years and with 15 goals in 20 games this year he's well on his way to his best year yet.
Marc Savard, Boston - Savard wasn't much when he was with the Flames, but he found his stride when he left town. He's second in the league in scoring this year. He and goalie Tim Thomas are two big reasons why Boston is the second best team and the biggest surprise in the league.
Erik Ersberg, Los Angeles - The Kings aren't quite in the playoffs, but they are much better than expected.
Goaltending was one of many questions for this rebuilding team, but Ersberg has five wins in nine starts and has been a reliable backstopper for L.A..