Weekly NHL betting notes
by T.O. Whenham
The NHL is moving beyond those first giddy weeks and settling into the long, steady rhythm of the midseason. Depending upon your view of the sport, this is either the best time of the season as we get to slowly learn about which teams are contenders and which will be getting extra golfing practice, or it is soul-crushing monotony.
For bettors, this is also the time when we are able to start making betting decisions based not on what we expect to happen based upon what is on paper, but based on what we have actually seen unfold. With that in mind, here's a look at some of the bigger stories of the week for bettors to chew on:
Maple Leaf power
The Maple Leafs are the most valuable team in the league and, in their opinion, the axis around which the earth rotates. The only problem is that they aren't very good. They haven't been for a while, and the immediate future is bleak. The team, though, is showing some surprising moxie for a squad without talent or direction.
Three times already this year they have fought back from a two-goal deficit to win. That's a quarter of the games they have played. It's a positive sign for a young squad - they have heart if nothing else. Sadly, though, it goes both ways - on Sunday they blew a two-goal lead against Carolina. Despite that, the team is currently clinging to the last playoff spot, though I don't like their chances of hanging on. They'd be doing even better if they could figure out how to perform in the shootout - they have made it that far four times, and emerged with the win just once.
Red-hot Flames
Allow me to spread a little love for my hometown team. After a very rocky start, the Flames reeled off six straight wins. There were a few things that made the difference, but the biggest by far was goalie Miikka Kiprusoff. He looked terrible in early action, but then something clicked and he is back to his usual super-human self. His confidence drives this team. The streak ended on Sunday with a 3-2 loss to Anaheim, but even that game provided further proof of what has been a revelation - Todd Bertuzzi. The decision to sign hockey's biggest bad boy idiot in the offseason was divisive and risky, but it has paid off handsomely. His goal against Anaheim was his seventh on the year, and he has added a toughness and depth to the team that was missing. Calgary is living up to expectations, and should keep doing so as long as Bertuzzi stays strong.
Goaltending injury woes
A couple of goaltending stories in the New York area are going to impact bettors. The Islanders will have Rick DiPietro in town for the next decade or so, but he won't be there for the next month or so. DiPietro had knee surgery in June. He returned briefly, but was out again after just three games. The team hasn't disclosed the injury because they don't have to (a stupid new rule from the league), but we do know that he has had his second knee surgery. You don't have to be a Hall of Fame goaltender to know that a knee injury is not good news for a goalie, so this story could linger in some form all year long. There is a good part of this story for bettors, though - this team is lousy no matter who is in the net. They have just two wins on the year, and neither came in the two and a half games DiPietro played.
Of more concern is what is going on down the road in New Jersey. Martin Brodeur, the best goalie of his generation (and it's not even close), left a game last week with an elbow injury. There's no word on the severity of the injury, but he is not playing on Monday. That's big news in New Jersey - Brodeur just doesn't get hurt. He had played every minute of the season before his injury, and he has rarely missed any action - he has played at least 67 games every year since 1995. It's too soon to worry that Brodeur will be out too long, but if he is we'll have to watch closely to see how the Devils respond. Brodeur is the heart and soul of this team.
Mats Sundin
It seems like every year recently we have had a few veterans who hold off on deciding where they will play until well into the season. It's a diva move, but it makes sense for the players - they get to play a shorter season, and the bidding war for their services ensures their indecision doesn't cost them much. The biggest name in this camp this year is Mats Sundin. The long-time Maple Leaf star is currently working out in L.A. while teams drool over him. The reports are that he is in very good shape and he's about ready to start skating with a team. But which team? He wants to win a Cup, so that limits his choices. The Canucks can throw the most money at him, but they are way more than one player away from glory. Chicago, Ottawa and Anaheim also figure prominently in the discussion. There has always been talk of a return to Toronto, but that won't happen if he is truly committed to winning. The most logical and likely seems to be Montreal. They are a very good team, and their style of play would suit Sundin well. Sometimes these veteran returns don't amount to much, but Sundin will certainly be one to watch.
Brendan Shanahan
Speaking of veterans taking their time finding a new home. Shanahan's contract with the Rangers expired after last year, and he hasn't found a new home yet. He's not what he once was, but Shanhan is a brilliant leader and an inspirational force, and he could help several teams. The latest rumor about his new home is almost perfect - Pittsburgh. They are a young team with some holes and a lack of a strong veteran presence, and he wouldn't have to worry about being the main man on offense. It makes all kinds of sense. In the NHL, that probably means it won't happen.
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