NHL Hockey Betting

When the NHL scheduled the next installment in the rivalry between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins for this Sunday afternoon, they had to have been thinking it would be another chapter in the ongoing battle between superstars and captains Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. But with the Penguins’ Crosby still out with concussion-like symptoms a new storyline has developed, as a Pittsburgh team that has been decimated by injuries continues to fight for a playoff position in the Eastern conference as sports betting underdogs.

Washington Capitals @ Pittsburgh Penguins
Sunday January 22, 2011 – 12:30 PM ET
CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
NHL best sportsbook Odds: Washington Capitals - 110

Along with their best forward and captain Crosby, the Penguins have also been without both their assistant and top defenseman Kris Letang, as well as center Jordan Staal long-term. Despite those injuries, Pittsburgh has managed to hang around in the top-eight, and can take another step towards a playoff spot when they host the Southeast division leaders.

Capitals Penguins Betting Preview: Washington Capitals

It took a while for the Capitals to get going under head coach Dale Hunter, and while they still have yet to peak, seven wins in 10 games helped elevate them past the Florida Panthers and in to first in the division. Consistency will be the key going forward in Washington, as the same team that beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-0 on Wednesday, had dropped a 3-0 decision to the New York Islanders the night before. The Capitals’ powerplay ranks fifth in the NHL at 19.5-percent, but will need to avoid taking dumb penalties of their own and hurting themselves.

Capitals Penguins Betting Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins

A rough skid sent the Penguins outside of the top-eight to open the month of January, but Evgeni Malkin and company responded with three straight wins to climb right back up to seventh, and they continue to show resiliency against the betting sites odds. While other teams would crumble without three of their best players, Pittsburgh has come together to get the job done, with Malkin’s 30 assists and 52 points each a team-high. The Penguins rank in the top-10 in the NHL in goals scored, goals against, powerplay percentage, and penalty kill percentage, and while the players have worked hard to put up those numbers, a lot of the credit should go to head coach Dan Bylsma, who has played a huge role in the team’s ability to handle the adversity that it has faced.

Capitals Penguins Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

One of the most impressive storylines this season has to be the way that the Penguins have overcome injuries, and it will continue in this game. Pittsburgh has raised its level of play to that of its competition over the past couple of weeks, and will be anxious to prove it is still the better team when they host Ovechkin and the Capitals.

Capitals Penguins Betting Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins have remained in the Eastern conference despite sustaining several injuries that would have crippled other teams. Jordan Staal recently joined captain Sidney Crosby on the list of players still out for the Penguins, but they continue to push forward with an excellent home record one of the catalysts for their success. Pittsburgh will get another chance to gain some ground and push back one of the teams that are chasing them for a playoff spot this Friday when the Montreal Canadiens arrive in town, and will need to match the intensity of their opponent in order to hold off a desperate visiting team.

Montreal Canadiens @ Pittsburgh Penguins
Friday January 20, 2011 – 7:00 PM ET
CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
NHL Sports Bet Line: Pittsburgh Penguins

The Canadiens can no longer afford to pass the blame around. 10 points out of a playoff spot with 37 games to play, Montreal will need to capitalize on every opportunity to get points if they are going to find a way to climb back in to postseason contention as the sportsbooks underdogs.

Canadiens Penguins Betting Preview: Montreal Canadiens

While it is certainly no excuse, the Canadiens have been limited by injuries of their own as captain Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez, and Andrei Markov have all missed significant time. Gionta and Markov remain out with no set date for their returns, but Gomez returned on Sunday and had an assist in a 5-1 win over his former team, the New York Rangers. If Montreal is going to climb back in to contention it will have to start with on offense, as they rank 18th in goals, and 30th on the powerplay. The Canadiens have done a solid job at their own end of the ice, and their penalty kill ranks second, but they need to be more consistent when it comes to scoring goals.

Canadiens Penguins Betting Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins

Scoring goals hasn’t been a problem for a Pittsburgh team that sits eighth in the NHL with an average of 2.9 per game, even without the power of Crosby, Staal, and Letang not in the lineup. The Penguins have made the most of their solid depth, and head coach Dan Bylsma remains among the most underrated coaches in the league. There remains some bad blood between these two teams as Canadiens’ forward Max Pacioretty was the one who took out Letang with a hit to the head, but both teams should be settled on taking care of their own business and getting two points.

Canadiens Penguins Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

There is no denying that the Penguins have been playing some good hockey as of late, but the level of desperation in Montreal has peaked and cannot be overlooked. The Canadiens have played much better hockey over the past week or so and could get on a run if they can find that spark as the sports betting underdogs.

Canadiens Penguins Betting Pick: Montreal Canadiens

The Chicago Blackhawks are at the top of the Western conference, which is right where they expected to be at this point in the NHL season. Meanwhile, their next opponent the Buffalo Sabres currently rank 10th in the Eastern conference standings, and are on the outside looking in for the playoff race. The Sabres travel to the Windy City this Wednesday looking to bring a sense of focus and urgency against one of the top Stanley Cup contenders, and if they don’t start tallying some numbers in the win column, it might not be long before they are out of contention.

Buffalo Sabres @ Chicago Blackhawks
Wedneday January 18, 2011 – 7:00 PM ET
United Center, Chicago, Illinois
NHL Sports Betting Line: Blackhawks – 135

While the Sabres need to play desperate hockey, Chicago could not be more comfortable, especially after a 4-3 comeback win over the San Jose Sharks at the United Center on Sunday night. The Blackhawks have one of the best home records in the NHL, and will look to add to their win total when they host Buffalo.

NHL Betting Preview: Buffalo Sabres

For all of the money that new owner Terry Pegula spent after buying the team this past summer, things haven’t turned out the way that they were expected to for the Sabres. Buffalo added a couple of top-four defenseman in Robyn Regehr and Christian Erhoff, and brought in Ville Leino to be a top-six forward. While Regehr and Erhoff have shown promise, Leino has been a bust so far, and the Sabres are struggling with certain things that they were supposed to be able to deal with. Goalie Ryan Miller hasn’t been the same since taking that shot from Boston Bruins’ winger Milan Lucic, and he may never again return to the form that he showed during the Winter Olympics a couple of years ago.

NHL Betting Preview: Chicago Blackhawks

The best best sportsbook odds for this game undoubtedly say that the Blackhawks should win this game, even without Patrick Sharp, who has missed the past couple of games. Dave Bolland has done an excellent job filling in for Sharp, and he has four goals in his past four games while spending time on a line with Marian Hossa. Chicago appears to be over the goaltending controversy they faced starting in late December with Ray Emery emerging to steal some of the starts from Corey Crawford, but in the end the latter seems to be the favorite to take the no. 1 role. The Blackhawks are firing on all cylinders heading in to this game, and will look to move one step closer to their goal as top seed from the west.

NHL Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

Given the way that the Sabres have underachieved this season, it would be hard to get one against a Chicago team that has been outstanding at home. The Blackhawks are among the most complete teams in the NHL, and should be able to give Buffalo a lesson about that as the online sports book favorites.

NHL Betting Pick: Chicago Blackhawks

The ongoing drama in “La Belle Province” hit a new high this past week, with Montreal Canadiens’ winger Mike Cammalleri providing the media with some backhanded comments about the team’s desire to win, their defensive system being a handicap, and his openness to be moved to another team. It didn’t take long for Montreal General Manager Pierre Gauthier to address his request, and by the second period of Thursday night’s game against the Boston Bruins, Cammalleri had already been traded to the Calgary Flames. The Flames are familiar with what Cammalleri can bring to the lineup as he opened his career out west and hope he can add some offense up front, with the Canadiens are hoping that Rene Bourque can help be a part of positive change on a team that has reached its low point in the sports bet season and is on the verge of being eliminated from contention in the Eastern conference.

Los Angeles Kings @ Vancouver Canucks
Tuesday, 10:00 PM ET

The team that Cammalleri was drafted by certainly could have been in the market for his services, as the Kings rank dead-last in the NHL with just 93 goals. Los Angeles will be in tough again on Tuesday night as they travel to face the highest scoring team in the Western conference in Vancouver, which is firing on all cylinders and playing confident hockey after knocking off the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins last week. The Canucks are also getting solid goaltending from the tandem of Roberto Luongo and Corey Schneider, which will make the Kings’ chances of putting up some goals that much tougher in this sports betting contest.

NHL Betting Pick: Vancouver Canucks

Calgary Flames @ San Jose Sharks
Tuesday, 10:30 PM ET

Cammalleri is likely destined to join captain Jarome Iginla on the top line in Calgary, and you have to think that they will out someone other than Olli Jokinen between that pair after the trio struggled together the first time around. The Flames are another team that has struggled to score goals, and should be in tough again on the road against a talented San Jose team that is finally on a roll. The Sharks struggled out of the gate in a conference that is ruled by parity, but after putting together a 7-1-2 run heading in to this past weekend, they were back to the top of the Pacific division.

NHL Betting Pick: San Jose Sharks

Washington Capitals @ Montreal Canadiens
Wednesday, 7:30 PM ET

The fact that the Canadiens have been consistent best sportsbook underdogs at home is testament to how trying this season has been, and their play at the Bell Centre has been a big part of their struggles as they haven’t been able to get on the right side of .500. Bourque will add some toughness and grit to the lineup while still being able to score goals, but Montreal will need a better effort from the players that he will join in order to tame a Capitals’ team that is finally starting to heat up under head coach Dale Hunter.

NHL Betting Pick: Montreal Canadiens

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As the midway mark of the NHL regular season passes, sports betting players have already witnessed the contenders begin to separate themselves from the pretenders, and establish themselves ahead of the rest. This weekend will move us closer to the playoffs, and while several teams have put themselves in a good position to compete in the big dance later on this year, the rest of the teams have to get going before they fall to far out of contention.

Chicago Blackhawks @ Detroit Red Wings
Saturday, 12:30 PM ET

The Blackhawks and Red Wings are two of those teams that have already established themselves as legitimate contenders in the west, and this could be a preview of a conference final matchup. Chicago is fighting to get back to the top of the west after dropping four straight before a home game against the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets, while the Red Wings were handled with ease on Long Island. Detroit has been a very good team at home, but the desperate Blackhawks will give them all they’ve got in this online betting matinee listing.

NHL Betting Pick: Chicago Blackhawks

New York Rangers @ Toronto Maple Leafs
Saturday, 7:00 PM ET

While Maple Leafs’ fans are happy to see their team back in playoff contention, Toronto will have to be careful not to let off the gas, as they still have the entire second half of the season to avoid falling back outside of the postseason picture. The Rangers meanwhile aren’t worried about anything at all with a comfortable lead atop the Eastern conference, but that is partly because head coach John Tortorella has constantly preached the concept of consistency being tied to success. The Maple Leafs have already had some hiccups against top teams this season, and could be caught against a New York team that has more credit than is being acknowledged.

NHL Betting Pick: New York Rangers

Ottawa Senators @ Montreal Canadiens
Saturday, 7:00 PM ET

It will be a meeting of teams that were expected to be in opposite positions at this point in the season when the Canadiens play the Senators, as Ottawa has exceeded expectations to remain in a top-eight spot while Montreal has failed to capitalize on their considerable young talent and put it all together. The Canadiens are too talented to remain down for much longer, while the opposite can be said about a Senators’ team that could start to slide.

NHL Betting Pick: Montreal Canadiens

Philadelphia Flyers @ Nashville Predators
Saturday, 8:00 PM ET

Of all the problems that Flyers’ fans thought they would have to deal with this season, goaltending had to have been at the bottom of the list after restructuring their entire team to sign free agent Ilya Bryzgalov to a long-term deal. Despite Bryzgalov’s struggles, Philadelphia has managed to remain a top team based on the offensive contributions of a stacked top-six that includes Claude Giroux and Jaromir Jagr. The Predators are known for their strong defensive play, but even they will struggle to contain the Flyers’ forwards as best sportsbook underdogs.

NHL Betting Pick: Philadelphia Flyers

I don’t. I’ve encountered many white people that are hardcore NFL, MLB, and NHL fans, but never the NBA.

These white people couldn’t stop shutting up when it comes to their favorite NFL, MLB, and especially, NHL teams but when the topic of the NBA comes up, they automatically feel uncomfortable and try to change the subject back to their sport.

I have a feeling this is related to race.

Let’s face it…the NBA is considered a "black" league and many white people are turned off by that. Don’t be fooled by the "fans" you see on TV. Although most of them are white, they’re there because they’re not fans. They’re there because they have money and it’s something to do.If you ask one of those white spectactors who a certain player is, I bet you they probably won’t even know who they are.

However, the white fans that you see at NFL, MLB and NHL games (especially the NHL), are there because they’re true fans of the game and they truly love their teams.

Now, back to my question. Do you personally know any white person that follows the NBA religiously like they do other sports? I’m not talking about a casual fan, but a hardcore one!
I live in the NYC area, and I’m a hardcore Knick fan. It frustrates me because most of the people I interact with are white, but I can’t relate to them when it comes to the NBA.
I live in the NYC area, and I’m a hardcore Knick fan. It frustrates me because most of the people I interact with are white, but I can’t relate to them when it comes to the NBA.

Yes, Me

I’ve been a NBA fan and Nuggets fan for about 13 years

yup one of my friends is a pure ginger head irish and he is a huge fan of boston celtics

yea i know many..basketball aint only for blacks u know.

Me
Fuck yeah go bulls
<3

I have a lot of friends who are white and are hardcore nba fans, you just got
to look deeper.

I don’t know any hardcore nba fans that are white, but I know A LOT of football fans who are.

yea lots

BTW I dont know a single person who’s a NHL fan regardless of race

edit: do you live in an area without a NBA team? that could be one reason

Me!!

I’m female too

Im white and I’m a diehard celtics fan.

I am. I’ve watched the celtics since I was 9 and have always stood by then and they will always be my favorite team. they may be 4-4 now but I still support them and even if they had 10 wins in one season I would still wear the jerseys and talk trash to my friends. Celtics 2012 champions!

The upcoming weekend of National Hockey League action gives you ample room for several selections. Might as well focus on some of the teams that are making a splash on the ice.
2012 NHL Betting Picks For The Weekend Of January 7 and 8
1) Vancouver Canucks @ Boston Bruins – Saturday, January 7
Sports betting lines were made for this kind of clash, a repeat of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals won by Boston in seven games, only some of which were contentious. Boston blew out Vancouver in the three games the Bruins hosted in that particular series. Everyone knows that Boston went into Vancouver to capture Game 7 in authoritative fashion, but this series never would have gotten to a Game 7 if Boston hadn’t been able to win three times at home when trailing in the series. Down two games to none, Boston looked cooked as it headed home for Game 3, but then the Bruins chased Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo in Games 3 and 4 to even the series. Vancouver narrowly pulled out Game 5, but Boston was again able to bring down the heavy hammer back in New England for Game 6. As Vancouver comes back to Boston for this regular-season showdown, it will be hard for the Canucks to feel particularly confident. Oh, they’ll be intent on doing something differently, but pure intentions can only go so far. Trust the Bruins – now with a championship swagger – on their home rink.
2) Columbus Blue Jackets @ Los Angeles Kings – Saturday, January 7
When you place your best best sportsbook on a regular-season NHL game, you should make it count. This is certainly a spot in which to make a play, and it should naturally go with the Kings at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Columbus has the fewest points in the NHL right now with just 25. The Blue Jackets have been floundering since the very start of the season in early October. They’ve won just two of their last 10 games and do not show any signs that they’ll be able to mount a big-league fightback over the next three and a half months of the season. Los Angeles, on the other hand, is leading the Pacific Division, ahead of the San Jose Sharks. This game is as good a regular-season value as you can ever reasonably expect to find in the NHL. Go with the Kings against the road-weary foe from the state of Ohio.
3) Colorado Avalanche @ St. Louis Blues – Saturday, January 7
The St. Louis Blues have been up and down over the past four seasons, making the playoffs one year and then failing to get in the next. This year, the Blues are back at it. They’re hot on the trail of the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings in the Central Division; with 49 points, they’re just three points behind the Blackhawks and (in the Eastern Conference) the New York Rangers for the most points in the NHL. When considering an NHL betting sites play this weekend, take the Blues over Colorado, because St. Louis has lost just three times in regulation at home this season.

As the page turns to the year 2012, there are several NHL teams feeling comfortable on track to reach the postseason, and there are others that it is time to hit the panic button for. Here is a quick look at some key matchups for this week and the best sportsbook underdogs that need to come through.

Winnipeg Jets @ Montreal Canadiens
Wednesday, 7:30 PM ET

The fact that the Jets are playing in Winnipeg alone has helped the team become a legitimate contender in the Eastern conference as they have been dominant at home, but there is still work for head coach Claude Noel to do. Montreal is a good place to start, as the Canadiens’ circus has reached another level with players fighting eachother in practice and the promise of a new coach before next season. Interim coach Randy Cunneyworth had a tough enough time motivating his troops before it was confirmed that he wouldn’t be back this week by general manager Pierre Gauthier, and now he will need to get them going when they already know he isn’t their long-term bench boss. Eight points out and with three months of hockey ahead of them, the Canadiens technically still have a chance. However, if they are going to keep those hopes from completely fading away, they are going to have to find a way to win at home now against a Jets’ team that they are chasing in the standings.

NHL Betting Pick: Montreal Canadiens

Boston Bruins @ New Jersey Devils
Wednesday, 7:30 PM ET

Following a slow start, the defending Stanley Cup champions have put things together and are now in position to challenge for the top spot in the conference. That journey will continue this week in New Jersey, where the Devils have earned a point in eight of their last 10 games to climb in to the top-eight in the east. Despite their recent success, New Jersey cannot afford to let off the gas, and they could catching the sports betting favorites for this game napping following the holiday break and earn a big win at home this Wednesday.

NHL Betting Pick: New Jersey Devils

San Jose Sharks @ Anaheim Ducks
Wednesday, 10:00 PM ET

A slow start to the season will prevent the Ducks from having a shot at the playoffs, but they do have pride to play for, as well as the future under new head coach Bruce Boudreau. The insertion of Boudreau as the main man in Anaheim hasn’t helped turn things around the way that management thought it would, but these things take time, and it’s unlikely they will be ready to handle a tough team in San Jose that wants to make sure it doesn’t let another winnable game slide. The Sharks are currently on the outside looking in for the Western conference playoff race, which is simply unacceptable considering the team that they have as online wagering favorites.

NHL Betting Pick: Anaheim Ducks

The sports betting websites are having a hard time keeping up with all of the coaching changes in the NHL. Bruce Boudreau gets fired from Washington and four days later is coaching the Anaheim Ducks. Dale Hunter takes over in Washington and losses his first game. Then there is Kirk Muller in Carolina who still has not won a game as a head coach. Is the coach carousel done? Probably not, but let’s look at how the current new coaches will fare in the coming week.

Washington Capitals @ Florida Panthers
Monday, 7:30 PM ET

New Washington head coach Dale Hunter may remember the good ol’ days when the Florida Panthers were the doormat of the NHL. But the Panthers are one of the top teams in the NHL and not exactly the kind of team that a struggling coach wants to face. The Panthers play a tight game where scoring is at a premium, which could favor Washington. But Hunter needs to get his two big stars, captain Alex Ovechkin and goaltender Tomas Vokoun, hitting on all cylinders if this team wants to win. The online sports book experts are not so sure that a game against a team like Florida is going to help those players’ confidence.

NHL Betting Pick: Florida Panthers

Carolina Hurricanes @ Calgary Flames
Tuesday, 9:00 PM ET

If new Hurricanes’ head coach Kirk Muller hasn’t grabbed his first win by this time, then this game will be a breath of fresh air for him. Nothing cures a losing streak like a trip to Calgary to play the Flames. The Calgary Flames are getting good goaltending but just cannot score goals. That is the same problem that the Hurricanes are having. But the Hurricanes have a fairly mobile defense that can help move the puck against a stagnant Calgary team. The online wagering crowd usually bets against the Flames when the opposition is desperate. There is no more desperate team in the NHL that the Carolina Hurricanes.

NHL Betting Pick: Carolina Hurricanes

Anaheim Ducks @ St. Louis Blues
Thursday, 8:00 PM ET

Earlier this season, this game would have received no attention from hockey fans outside of St. Louis and Anaheim. But with new Blues’ head coach Ken Hitchcock stepping in and curing the Blues’ ills and Bruce Boudreau stepping in with the Ducks and having an immediate positive effect, this game suddenly takes on new meaning for all hockey fans. The honeymoon with Boudreau will end soon. Players take the firing of their coach personally, and the Ducks are responding to the firing more than they are responding to Boudreau’s coaching. The Ducks need a lot of help on the ice, and it will start showing through. The Blues, on the other hand, are a quality team then needed a coach that knows how to utilize talent. That is what Hitchcock does.

NHL Betting Pick: St. Louis Blues