The New York Islanders have been in the news a lot recently, if not for their unfortunate struggles on the year then for their roles in altercations over the course of the past few weeks. More recently, however, meshed within a series of intense goalie fights, brawls and suspensions, the Islanders have been scoring goals in abundance and – believe it or not – winning games.
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On Sunday night the Isles followed up a nine-goal night against the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 7-6 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Earlier in the 2010-11 season, Islanders sophomore star John Tavares put a hat trick past Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller. On this night it was rookie Michael Grabner registering a trick, including a pair of regulation goals and the eventual over-time winner.
The two clubs were tied at six apiece heading into the overtime, as Sabres forward Drew Stafford added a hat trick of his own, chasing young Islanders rookie goaltender Mikko Koskinen in the process.
Though neither team will get any bonus points for the lack of defense displayed in the game, the Islanders have started to generate what many had previously deemed impossible; interest. Now winners of three straight, and with a 20-29-7 record on the year, the club is started to pick themselves up off the cellar floor. Although they have no real shot a title, they could serve to be intriguing choices when it comes to midseason NHL betting.
According to Bodog, the club has 500/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup, perhaps NHL player props would be more appropriate.
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The Calgary Flames did more than just extend the Colorado Avalanche's most recent streak on Monday night, they eviscerated a team down on their knees in a 9-1 Northwest Division onslaught.
Make no mistake, the Flames and Avalanche are trending in opposite directions and have been for much of the new year, but that doesn't mean such a dramatic victory was anticipated. Bet on the Flames with Bodog.
Five Flames scored in the first period of their Monday night game, before taking a period off in the second and resuming the action with four more goals in the third. The victory bumped the club to 29-22-8 on the season, good enough to contend for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Until recently, the Flames had been just as much basement dwellers as the Edmonton Oilers.
With the loss, the Avalanche made it eight in a row, and now sit second last in the conference.
Though the Avs may have played themselves out of a post-season berth, Calgary's resurgence has them back in the conversation. According to Bodog's online sportsbook, the Flames have 50/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup.
If their recent play keeps up, the Flames could be a dangerous matchup for one of the West's top seeds. With the veteran leadership of Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff now supplemented by a barrage of scorers (including David Moss and Olli Jokinen who each added four points on the night), it's hard to picturing them crashing and – pun intended – burning heading into the final stretch.
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It didn't last long, but Peter Forsberg's most recent and probably last comeback attempt has wound to a close. After weeks of practicing with the Colorado Avalanche and just two games on the ice in an actual game for the squad, the 37-year-old is hanging up his skates yet again.
In Forsberg's defense, he has always said that his most recent campaign was simply to see if he could do it, making no guarantees of his success along the way.
The news comes at a bad time for the Avalanche, as they currently find themselves sliding right out of the playoff conversation in a tough Western Conference. Currently 25-25-6 and amidst a seven-game losing streak, the club could use all the help they can get. Unfortunately, it won't be coming from the franchise icon.
Forsberg won two Stanley Cups with the Avs during his first tenure with the club. This year the team has just 80/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup. Perhaps a more appropriate question than how far this team will go, then, is how long it will take them to snap their skid?
The Avalanche play host to the surging Calgary Flames tonight, a franchise that has found themselves trending in the opposite direction of the Avalanche. The Avs are listed as -115 favorites on the night. Bet on the Avs now.
Will the absence of Forsberg jeopardize the team's chances of ending the 2010-11 campaign on a high note? Though he didn't help him much in his two games last week, losing someone who, when healthy, would routinely contend for 100+ points in a season is a little bit hard to swallow.
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The Boston Bruins added another piece to their puzzle on Tuesday by acquiring tough forward Chris Kelly from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a second round pick in this year's NHL Entry Draft. The move comes just days after the struggling Senators shipped long-time blueliner Mike Fisher off to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a pick, suggesting that they have embraced the lone bright spot of having a dismal record: the opportunity to rebuild.
In Kelly, the Bruins get a gritty 30-year-old who can contribute offensively when needed. Through 57 games this season Kelly has scored 12 goals and added 11 assists. He had previously played with Ottawa for the entirety of his seven-year career.
Will the addition of Kelly help improve Boston's standing in the Eastern Conference? The 31-19-7 club is currently third in the conference but just barely atop the Northeast Division. That lead might not last long, however, as the Montreal Canadiens are dangerously close to matching them. Bet on the Bruins with Bodog.
If not for the league's playoff seeding format, the club would be on the verge of losing home ice advantage in the East altogether. They still might if they can't keep the Canadiens at bay over the course of the next few months. According to Bodog's online sportsbook, the Bruins have 12/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup this year. The advantage of playing at home in the first-round will certainly help their cause if they can keep.
Though Kelly alone won't singlehandedly reverse Boston's current three-game losing streak, the move is indicative of the team's approach to the rest of this season. The club is shaping up to for a playoff run that could help erase the damage of their second-round collapse last spring.
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Tomas Kaberle made his debut as a member of the Boston Bruins on Friday night, going pointless with a -1 rating in just under 20 minutes. The Bruins might not have gotten much out of their latest acquisition in the box score, but they came away with a 4-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators.
The deal that sent Kaberle to the Bruins was made official just earlier in the day, making the fact that he made his debut just hours afterwards quite impressive. After 12 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs he was the most prominent figure in a deal that sent a first-round pick in this year's draft, as well as prospect Joe Colbourne, from Boston back to Toronto.
Will the addition of Kaberle improve Boston's odds of winning the Stanley Cup? According to Bodog they have a 10/1 shot.
Currently the Bruins are on a two-game run that has them out in front of the Northeast Division. If the club can hang on to the spot despite the best efforts of division rival Montreal, they'll find themselves with home ice in the first round of this year's playoffs. They'll also find themselves with an opportunity to redeem themselves after last year's disappointing postseason exit.
With their defense now bolstered with the addition of Kaberle, the Bruins are not to be overlooked when it comes to NHL betting this spring. Will the move be enough to push them over the top? Bet on the Bruins with Bodog.
In case you're wondering, the odds of the Toronto Maple Leafs making a run at the title this season are next to nil (at 200/1), you can imagine it will take some getting used to for Kaberle to be playing for a contender.
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Traditionally, a Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins game would get every NHL betting fan talking around the water cooler. But the rivalry has lost a bit of its luster. With Alex Ovechkin having an off year and both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin out of Pittsburgh’s lineup thanks to serious injuries, what should we expect Monday night?
For one, don’t be surprised to see the Washington Capitals favored on the road. The Penguins have done an admirable job hanging in the race without Crosby (concussion) and Malkin (knee) but it was only a matter of time before losses started piling up. Pittsburgh has lost four of its last six games, though three of those defeats came during a recently concluded four-game road trip.
Washington will play its fifth consecutive road game on Monday night. The Caps have won two of three; they beat Anaheim 7-6 in a barn burner last week and took down Buffalo on Sunday. While Ovechkin’s numbers are down across the board – his 23 goals stand out like a sore thumb – he’s showing signs of heating up, with two goals and five points over his last three games.
The Caps shut the Penguins out the last time these two teams met and Pittsburgh could have trouble lighting the lamp again with its big stars missing. Even Chris Kunitz, who had picked up the slack in Crosby and Malkin’s absence, will miss Monday’s game with a lower-body injury. Marc-Andre Fleury may have to steal this game for Pittsburgh in goal if the Pens want a shot to hobble past the Caps at home.
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In Wednesday’s NHL betting action, the San Jose Sharks at Pittsburgh Penguins will feature one streaking team against one desperate one.
Leading into their Tuesday-night battle with the Detroit Red Wings, the red-hot Sharks had won eight of their last 10 games. But how? Joe Thornton (49 points, minus-11), Dany Heatley (20 goals), Patrick Marleau (44 points, minus-13) and Dan Boyle (36 points, minus-7), all usually huge contributors for the Sharks, have struggled mightily this year.
The reason for San Jose’s success: Antti Niemi is carrying the team almost singlehandedly in goal. After going 3-0-0 with a 0.98 goals-against average and .963 save percentage last week, he earned NHL First Star honors.
Niemi is not the goaltender Pittsburgh wants to face right now. The Pens are without their three highest-scoring forwards, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Chris Kunitz, due to injury. It’s thus no wonder Pittsburgh has lost four of its last five games. Kunitz could play Wednesday but is questionable.
Maybe Pittsburgh’s newest personnel can help? The Pens are reeling after being shut out by Washington on Monday but should have their two new acquisitions in the lineup against San Jose.
On Monday, the Penguins traded defenseman Alex Goligoski to the Dallas Stars for defenseman Matt Niskanen and forward James Neal. Niskanen will be a steady stay-at-home presence on the blueline but Neal is the real key to the trade for Pittsburgh. The 6’2”, 210-pound winger has 21 goals so far this year and has three straight 20-goal campaigns to start his career. Pittsburgh could really use his offense Wednesday night against Niemi and the stingy Sharks.
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The new-look Dallas Stars have a daunting NHL betting matchup at the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night. While they acquired a solid defenseman from Pittsburgh this week in Alex Goligoski, they also gave away James Neal, one of their top goal scorers, plus steady defender Matt Niskanen.
In a span of a month, the Stars have gone from Stanley Cup contender to a team in a full-fledged freefall, tumbling right out of the playoff picture. The Stars have lost five straight and nine of their last 10 games, slipping to last place in the Pacific Division in the process. A severe offensive drought is to blame; the Stars haven’t scored more than two goals in any of their five consecutive defeats.
It’s easy to see why Dallas can’t score right now: top scorer Brad Richards is out with a concussion. With Richards sidelined, NHL betting fans know they’re taking a big risk if they bet on Dallas at the Detroit Red Wings.
Though Detroit fell to red-hot San Jose at home on Tuesday, it had won five straight games before that point, so it still makes Dallas a big underdog. Nicklas Lidstrom continues to be an ageless wonder; the future Hall-of-Fame defenseman has 48 points in 60 games with a plus-three rating this season at 40 years old. Jimmy Howard started slowly in goal but has a .918 save percentage this month.
If you still feel like gambling on the Stars and want some evidence to back up your decision, it’s worth noting that Dallas has won seven of its last nine against Detroit.
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When the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens reunited in the Northeast Division a little more than a decade ago, NHL betting fans rejoiced. Hockey’s oldest rivalry was back. Sadly, however, a Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens matchup has rarely meant much since then, as it seems that one team has a terrible year whenever the other is competitive.
Could things finally be changing? The Habs have been in a dogfight for the playoffs all season and the Toronto Maple Leafs have climbed back into the hunt. The Blue and White are 6-2-2 over their last 10 and have closed to within six points of eighth-place Carolina with a game in hand. That means Thursday night’s battle with Montreal really means something.
Bettors should expect a close tilt, as Toronto and Montreal have split their last 10 games with five victories apiece. Some factors go against the Leafs’ chances for Thursday, however. The home team has won the last four meetings and Carey Price has shut Toronto out twice in a row (the Leafs won against Alex Auld between those two starts).
It’s fairly safe to assume Montreal will start Price tonight given his success against the Leafs. The Habs badly need a win, having lost six of their last eight games. But will they score enough? The Habs are 25th in the league in goals per game and leading scorer Tomas Plekanec has just 46 points.
Montreal could have trouble beating James Reimer. The rookie netminder has become Toronto’s de factor starter in the New Year, going 9-4-2 with a 2.12 goals-against average, .934 save percentage, and two shutouts.
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A lot of teams tweaked their lineups through a series of minor deals at Monday's NHL Trade Deadline, but one of the afternoon's biggest winners would have to be the Washington Capitals. In a pair of packages, the Caps acquired veterans Jason Arnott and Dennis Wideman. The two will join an already competitive Washington team within a handful of points of claiming the Southeast Division lead.
Will the addition of 36-year-old Arnott as a solid No. 2 center be enough to boost the Capitals back in front of the Tampa Bay Lightning? For a look at Bodog's Stanley Cup odds, check out the online sportsbook. Though they aren't considered favorites, stranger things have happened than a team in Washington's position winning the championship.
Ruling out Alex Ovechkin is never an easy thing to do. Especially now that he is surrounded by even more veterans.
Arnott, a former Stanley Cup champion himself, once reached 72 points in 79 games. Although it's unlikely he'll reach such production with the Caps, he should benefit from the change of scenery. In 63 games with the Devils in 2010-11 he had managed 24 points.
In addition to Arnott, the presence of former Florida Panther Wideman is expected to prove valuable as well. In 61 games on the Florida blue line, 27-year-old Wideman totalled 33 points.
Will it be enough to make the Capitals favorites in the East? they'll have to get past a pair of tough Pennsylvania franchises if they hope to go all the way, but one can't help wondering whether the franchise – guided by stars Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Semin – is simply due.
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The NHL Trade Deadline has come and gone and the biggest move of the day was one that sent Edmonton Oilers veteran Dustin Penner packing for sunny Los Angeles. The 28-year-old winger was sent to the Kings in exchange for a pair of draft picks (including LA's 2011 first-round choice) and prospect Colton Teubert, a 13th overall pick in the 2008 draft.
Considering that the basement-dwelling Edmonton Oilers aren't going anywhere any time soon, the addition of two solid draft picks and a defensive prospect are more than enough to ease the pain of the third year Oiler's departure. In 2009-10 – Penner's second with Edmonton after playing his first two seasons in Anaheim – he managed a career high 63 points in 82 games.
Will the addition of the versatile forward help LA contend for a championship this season? Their 35-23-4 mark has them sitting fifth in the Western Conference, just four points out of third. For Stanley Cup odds and team futures, check out Bodog's online sportsbook. Make no mistake, the fact that the Kings were able to pick up another competent scorer without giving up any of their current core is a definite improvement.
Not only do teams look to improve their prospects for the current season, it goes without saying that the future is always a concern as well. By retaining the services of super prospect Brayden Schenn and still acquiring a big name forward, the Kings are winners on the day.
Given the Jordan Eberle/Taylor Hall-led youth movement in Edmonton, they fared alright for themselves as well. Bet on the Kings and Oilers with Bodog.
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With the trade deadline having passed, the Buffalo Sabres at New York Rangers NHL betting matchup signals the start of the season’s home stretch.
The Sabres geared up for their playoff push by acquiring Brad Boyes from the St. Louis Blues on Sunday night. He scored 43 and 33 goals in 2007-08 and 2008-09, respectively, but has just 26 goals in 144 games over the last two seasons.
Buffalo has been hot and cold of late as they chase the Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes for one of the last two Eastern Conference playoff berths. Over their last six games, they've lost three straight at home, then bounced back with two straight home wins, then blew a lead and lost to Detroit at home last Saturday. After the six-game homestand, the Sabres enter a crucial stretch of their season in which they’ll play seven consecutive road games.
The Rangers have been absolutely ravaged by injuries this season; the latest casualties are Marian Gaborik (concussion) and Marc Staal (knee – but probable for Tuesday). So it’s no wonder the Broadway Blueshirts have lost six of 10.
Still, the Rangers have plenty to play for. They sit seventh in the East, three points ahead of Carolina. With a stud goaltender in Henrik Lundqvist and a physical, grinding group of forwards that includes Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan, New York has the type of roster makeup that could make noise in the playoffs.
The Rangers are a disappointing 14-14-3 at home this season. The Sabres have been solid on the road, going 15-10-4 thus far.
The Detroit Red Wings at San Jose Sharks matchup on Thursday resumes a bitter Western Conference rivalry. Few if any teams have been better NHL betting picks in 2011 than the Sharks. They’ve won seven straight games, including one at Detroit last week, and they are an amazing 16-2-1 since Jan. 15.
Antti Niemi continues to be the main reason for San Jose’s success. The same goaltender who beat the Sharks in the playoffs last season is now a big part of their future. Niemi went 10-2 with a 1.89 goals-against average and .934 save percentage in February, earning NHL Second Star of the Month honors, and was rewarded with a four-year contract extension this week.
Though the Red Wings have lost three of four against San Jose, they won’t go quietly. The Wings are playing good hockey right now as well; through Tuesday they’d won seven of nine. Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk continue to rack up points as always but they’ve gotten nice support of late from an unsung hero: Jiri Hudler.
Hudler, a forgotten man in Detroit’s 2008 Stanley Cup run, spent last season overseas and the Wings missed his secondary scoring presence badly. Back in North America this season, he’s really elevated his play over the last month, tallying 14 points in 14 games.
The Wings have an uphill climb on Thursday night, as they’ll be playing their second of back-to-back games after facing Anaheim on Wednesday. The key may be whether or not they can contain Joe Thornton. He went off for three points the last time he faced Detroit.
The battle expected between the two clubs is indicative of their conference. The Red Wings have 3/1 odds of winning the NHL's Western Conference, compared to San Jose's 13/2.
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The struggling Tampa Bay Lightning need to right the ship with the playoffs inching closer, but first they have to worry about the Southeast Division — the Washington Capitals have caught up and the two rivals meet in a clash of potential contenders with considerable NHL betting odds this Monday.
The Lightning (37-21-7 on the year) have lost three straight games. They fell 4-2 to the Canadiens on Saturday, though fatigue could have played a role — it was the team’s third game in four days. The Bolts have been very streaky lately; this skid follows up a three-game winning streak, which followed another three-game losing streak.
Washington (36-20-10) is coming off a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Sunday night. Washington has played very well over the past couple of weeks and has its sights set on another division title.
This will be the sixth time these teams have faced off this season. The Capitals have won three of them, though the clubs haven’t met since early February, when Washington won 5-2 in Tampa. The Capitals haven’t scored as much as usual this season, but they always seem to find the back of the net against the Lightning; in Washington’s three victories over Tampa this year, the Caps have piled up 17 goals.
Nicklas Backstrom (10 points), Alex Ovechkin (nine points) and Alexander Semin (eight points) have done most of the damage in this head-to-head series. Semin has been particularly impressive, racking up six goals in just three games.
The Lightning, meanwhile, are struggling to score against anybody right now. Tampa Bay has scored just four goals in its past three games, all losses, and it’s hard not to point fingers at star forward Steven Stamkos. Stamkos has an NHL-best 41 goals this season, but he’s tickled the twine just once in his past 11 games.
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Few rivalries live up to the hype, but the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens have certainly delivered this season. NHL betting fans watch on as the two teams meet up on Tuesday.
The last time these clubs met, they racked up over 180 minutes in penalties. Boston came away with an 8-6 victory, the first time it beat Montreal in four tries this season. The Habs are just 8-2 in their past 10 games against the Bruins.
Montreal (36-23-7) is building momentum. The Canadiens beat Tampa Bay 4-2 on Saturday, giving them four straight victories. The recent surge has been largely due to an explosive offense.
The Canadiens have racked up 15 goals during the winning streak. Montreal is led by a group of rock-solid players—there aren’t any true standouts—and there’s no better example than David Desharnais. The fourth-line rookie is more than pulling his weight, as he’s racked up 11 points in his last dozen games. Desharnais has been particularly impressive on the power play, scoring three goals with the man-advantage during that span.
Even if Montreal was struggling to score, it might not matter. Carey Price has been playing out of his mind. He’s won three straight games and, after making 43 saves against the Lightning, has a 1.00 goals-against average and .974 save percentage in that span.
Boston (38-19-8) had a seven-game winning streak snapped with Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss against Pittsburgh. Despite playing so well lately, the offense is a growing concern, as Boston has just five goals in its past three games.
Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask are carrying the club. With that duo taking care of business between the pipes, Boston allowed just 10 goals during its seven-game winning streak.
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In a potential preview of a first-round playoff matchup, the Los Angeles Kings will visit the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday. Bet on the game with Bodog's NHL betting odds. Something has to give, as both teams are suffering through losing streaks, can you make the call?
Detroit (39-19-8) has lost its past three outings, despite 7/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup. The Red Wings fell 5-4 in a shootout to the Coyotes on Saturday. All three losses came in a span of four days – with two of them lasting beyond regulation – so the Wings were undoubtedly thankful for three full days off before hosting Los Angeles.
Saturday’s loss was especially painful since the Wings led 4-1 heading into the third period. Turnovers and poor decision-making has cost Detroit dearly during the skid, but a goal-scoring drought by some of the club’s top players has been just as frustrating.
Henrik Zetterberg has just two goals in his past 23 games, although he has a healthy 18 assists in that span. Leading goal-scorer Johan Franzen (27 goals) endured a 14-game scoreless streak before finally potting a goal in the loss to Phoenix.
Los Angeles (36-25-5) is coming off back-to-back losses. The Kings were dropped 4-3 in overtime by the Dallas Stars on Monday, which followed up a 3-1 loss to Vancouver on the weekend. Los Angeles has just one win in its last four games.
Suddenly, L.A. might have a goaltending controversy on its hands. Jonathan Quick has started 47 of the Kings’ 66 games this year, and it was assumed he’d be the man down the stretch. But Los Angeles started backup Jonathan Bernier against Dallas and head coach Terry Murray has suggested using a rotation during the late playoff run.
Los Angeles has beaten Detroit twice in three tries this season, though the Red Wings won 7-4 when they met on February 28.
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Sidney Crosby’s concussion, which the Pittsburgh Penguins originally said was probably a week-type injury, still hasn’t seen the superstar return to play for the Pens since suffering it at the start of January.
But Sid the Kid could be close to finally taking the ice for a game as he practiced with the team on Monday morning for the first time since being sidelined. Crosby, who has missed the last 29 games, skated on the ice for about 15 minutes in Pittsburgh. He stick-handled around some cones and shot a few pucks.
“I feel good. It’s really early. It’s just part of progress and trying to get better,” Crosby said to PittsburghPenguins-com. “I felt pretty good doing some light workouts. I was told I had the opportunity to skate. I went out there for 15 minutes to see how I felt. No real plan going forward. I felt good, so that’s a good sign.”
Crosby has been symptom-free for a few days but did not identify a possible return date. He said he has “no clue” if he will play again this season. He’s been riding an exercise bike and Monday was his first opportunity to get back on the ice, although he cautioned that he may not even be able to skate Tuesday. Crosby was the NHL leader in goals and points at the time of his injury. His 32 goals are currently sixth and his 66 points are 11th.
Enter play Monday the Penguins (40-22-8, 88 points) are fourth in the Eastern Conference but within three points of first-place Philadelphia in the Atlantic Division. The Pens are in Ottawa on Tuesday night.
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Tuesday’s NHL betting board features odds on a Wild West showdown, as the San Jose Sharks pay a visit to the Dallas Stars. The clubs are battling for the Pacific Division title.
Dallas (37-24-8) lost 3-2 to the division-rival Los Angeles Kings on Sunday, giving the Stars two losses in their past three games. Despite a few recent defeats, though, the team has managed to salvage points by losing in shootouts or overtime. Dallas is 6-1-2 in its last eight games.
A big part of the puzzle was solved when Nicklas Grossman returned to action Friday night. The defenseman had missed 11 consecutive games with a hip injury. Since the Stars acquired former Penguins defenseman Alex Goligoski during Grossman’s absence, the blue line should have plenty of depth now.
Of course, the “D” played a big role in the loss to Los Angeles. The Stars were tied 2-2 and just seconds away from securing a crucial point; Dallas failed to protect the front of the net, though, and the Kings scored with just 20.8 seconds remaining.
San Jose is coming off a contest against Chicago on Monday night, so playing back-to-back games could be a factor. It will also be San Jose’s third game in four days.
The Sharks lost twice last week, 5-4 to Vancouver and 3-2 to the Rangers. San Jose earned valuable points by forcing the games beyond regulation, but it’s a little concerning. The Sharks have been red-hot over the past month or so, but much of the run was driven by the spectacular play of goalie Antti Niemi. Niemi played in three straight overtime games last week, so fatigue is becoming a factor, especially at a time when the Sharks can’t afford to rest him.
This will be the fifth meeting of the season between San Jose and Dallas. The Stars already have a 3-1 lead in the series.
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Fans of NHL betting will be treated to a potential preview of the Stanley Cup final on Wednesday as the red-hot Capitals host the Detroit Red Wings.
Detroit (41-20-8) is trying to gain some steam after a deflating four-game losing streak. The Red Wings have won back-to-back games since then, including a 5-3 win over St. Louis on Saturday. Neither victory came against a playoff contender, though, while all four losses were against teams in the hunt.
A struggling offense was the major culprit during the slump. Detroit managed four goals in an overtime loss to the Coyotes, but it scored just one goal in each of the other three losses.
Henrik Zetterberg is shouldering a large part of the blame. The veteran forward has a career high 51 assists, tied for third in the NHL, but he’s managed just two goals in his last 26 games. And while Zetterberg was at least setting up his teammates for scoring opportunities, even that has dried up; he has a six-game pointless streak going and is minus-10 in his last 10 games.
Washington (41-20-10) is coming off a 4-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens. The team improved to 11-1-0 with that win in its past 12 games, clearly one of the hottest teams in the NHL.
The Caps have been pleasantly surprised by the outstanding play of 21-year-old goalie Braden Holtby. Holtby has taken the NHL by storm since being called up as an injury replacement; he was named the NHL’s first star last week after going 3-0-0 with a 1.05 goals-against average, .965 save percentage, and a shutout in four appearances.
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The Chicago Blackhawks' odds of winning the Stanley Cup may very well depend on the health of star Patrick Sharp. Sharp injured his left knee on Sunday night against the Phoenix Coyotes and did not return to the game.
Though an exact diagnosis of the injury won't be announced until Tuesday, the Blackhawks are forced to prepare for the worst without the 29-year-old forward. Through 71 games this season, Sharp had recorded 34 goals and 34 assists, putting him on pace to have one of the best seasons of his pro career. The 68 points he has recorded already eclipse his previous career high (66).
Currently the Chicago Blackhawks have a record of 39-25-8 and sit tied for fifth in the West. According to Bodog's online sportsbook they even have 16/1 odds of winning the championship this year. After a slow start to the 2010-11 season, the reigning champions have started to prove why they came out of last year's postseason victorious.
With stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews leading the Blackhawks attack, a Sharp injury may not throw them out of the running for their Western Conference playoff spot entirely, but considering just one point separates fifth from ninth in the West, they won't want to have to take any chances.
During the team's run to the Stanley Cup, Sharp was an instrumental part of their success.
Will the Blackhawks be able to take on the rest of their schedule if news comes back regarding Sharp that doesn't have him dressing in a Hawks jersey any time soon?
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On Sunday night the Isles followed up a nine-goal night against the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 7-6 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Earlier in the 2010-11 season, Islanders sophomore star John Tavares put a hat trick past Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller. On this night it was rookie Michael Grabner registering a trick, including a pair of regulation goals and the eventual over-time winner.
The two clubs were tied at six apiece heading into the overtime, as Sabres forward Drew Stafford added a hat trick of his own, chasing young Islanders rookie goaltender Mikko Koskinen in the process.
Though neither team will get any bonus points for the lack of defense displayed in the game, the Islanders have started to generate what many had previously deemed impossible; interest. Now winners of three straight, and with a 20-29-7 record on the year, the club is started to pick themselves up off the cellar floor. Although they have no real shot a title, they could serve to be intriguing choices when it comes to midseason NHL betting.
According to Bodog, the club has 500/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup, perhaps NHL player props would be more appropriate.
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