NHL Hockey Betting

As we pass the quarter mark in the online wagering season, it is easy to dismiss how good or how poorly some teams have played. But while it is true that some teams that have started strong are destined to cool off, those that have struggled out of the gates will have a tough time gaining back the ground they lost through their first 20 games. Here is a quick look at the NHL action that will open next week.

Carolina Hurricanes @ Ottawa Senators
Monday, 5:00 PM ET

While they both have shown some promise at different points this season, the Hurricanes and Senators both reside in their respective division basements, and will have a hard time climbing out of those holes anytime soon. While Ottawa is still a young team looking to preach consistency as they continue to develop into a contender, Carolina may be a team stuck in transition with a unique blend of veterans and developing players. Hurricanes’ netminder Cam Ward has given his team a chance to win at almost every opportunity this season, although the same cannot be said about Craig Anderson for the Senators. Carolina captain Eric Staal has been in an absolute funk, but playing on a line with young Jeff Skinner could be the spark he needs to get back on sports betting track.

NHL Betting Pick: Carolina Hurricanes

St. Louis Blues @ Columbus Blue Jackets
Monday, 6:00 PM ET

There is no debating that the Blue Jackets are the worst team in the NHL this season, but credit has to be given to the team since the arrival of Curtis Sanford, who has helped Columbus to maintain a .500 record over their past 10 games. While they do not have the offense to win shootouts, the Blue Jackets are hindered by the lack of an elite goaltender and a soft defense core, and that has resulted in the worst goal differential in the conference at minus-24. While Columbus’ slow start may have eliminated them from even coming close to contending even before their season really got underway, the Blues have caught fire since the arrival of new head coach Ken Hitchcock, with points in eight of their past 10 games. One of the last things that Hitchcock needs to fix is the ability to win on the road, something that has escaped St. Louis so far this season.

NHL Betting Pick: St. Louis Blues

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Anaheim Ducks
Monday, 9:00 PM ET

The entire NHL world seems to be waiting for the Maple Leafs to come crashing back down to earth, and while they have hovered around the .500 mark through their past 10 games, they haven’t shown that they can consistently contend with some of the league’s best teams. In contrast, the Ducks have been absolutely awful of late, and if they can’t turn things around in a hurry they will follow the Blue Jackets as the next team to be eliminated from sportsbooks playoff contention.  Anaheim has too much talent to continue to consistently lose, so they should have their way against the injury-riddled Maple Leafs on their own home ice.

NHL Betting Pick: Anaheim Ducks

The sports betting experts are still interested at finding out how the Chicago Blackhawks sit on top of the Western Conference after almost missing the playoffs last season. Traditional west coast powerhouses such as the Vancouver Canucks are having problems getting going this season while the Nashville Predators seem to be picking up right where they left off after last year’s playoff run.

Nashville Predators @ Minnesota Wild
Wednesday, 8:00 PM ET

Anything can happen as the season progresses, but for right now the Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators are two of the top teams in the Western Conference. Nashville gave up a lot in off-season free agency, but seems to have retained enough to challenge for a playoff spot. The betting sites have been watching the Minnesota Wild build a winner for several years now and some key off-season acquisitions have helped to push the Wild into a top spot in the conference. Minnesota only trails Chicago for the top spot in the Western Conference by two points, and the Wild will try to pull even closer with a win over the Predators at home.

NHL Betting Pick: Minnesota Wild

Chicago Blackhawks @ San Jose Sharks
Wednesday, 10:30 PM ET

After a rough start to the 2011-2012 season, it looks like the San Jose Sharks are finally on a roll. The Sharks are 7-2-1 in the last 10 games and have climbed from the basement of the Pacific Division to get to within two points of division leading Los Angeles. The Blackhawks keep defying the sportsbooks by racking up a four-game winning streak and staying on top of the overall NHL standings. But Chicago’s “shoot first and ask questions later” of using offense to win rather than worrying about playing defense will haunt them throughout the season, and especially in this particular NHL game.

NHL Betting Pick: San Jose Sharks

Detroit Red Wings @ Boston Bruins
Friday, 1:00 PM ET

The Red Wings really thought that its slide down the standings would stop once goaltender Jimmy Howard came back from helping his wife to have their child. For a couple of games, the slide did stop. But in the last 10 games, the Red Wings are 4-5-1 and currently riding a two-game losing streak. The Bruins tripped over the blue line when the season started, but the defending Stanley Cup champions have a seven-game winning streak going that it should be able to continue against the struggling Red Wings. The Bruins have found that aggression that won it the Cup last year and have been pounding teams into submission. The Bruins’ defense is fast but physical, and that should be more than the Red Wings’ forwards will be able to deal with. Howard seems to be struggling in the Detroit net, and he will have to withstand the barrage of shots that the Bruins have been taking in recent games.

NHL Betting Pick: Boston Bruins

Sprortsnet and TSN I think and google it and you will find out more!

Online gambling is banned in the US; your only legal option is to go to a casino in Nevada where sports gambling is legal.

If you live in Canada, Pro-Line (I won’t link the site due to potential legal issues) accepts online wagering on NHL games.

If you live outside of North America, Bodog accepts wagering on NHL games.

ProLine? That is the WORST way to bet on any sport. You must select at least 3 teams, and their odds are the absolute lowest that you will find anywhere.

Contrary to what the DOJ would like you to believe, online gambling is not illegal for players if you use an offshore sportsbook. There are several reputable online sports betting sites, where you can wager on NHL games in a safe and regulated environment. I have bet on NHL online for 10 years, and have never had a problem. You will find independent reviews of the best sites at http://www.Sportsbook-Ratings.net

Here are a few of my personal recommendations…

BetIslands (http://www.Sportsbook-Ratings.net/BetIslands.php These guys have really made a huge splash. Their focus on being the best customer service book, and offering same day payouts without the hassles of sending photocopies of all of your personal info to get your money, have really been a hit with the US based sports bettors

Bodog (http://www.sportsbook-ratings.net/Bodog.php Largest selection and best website layout, and excellent service!

Intertops.eu :: ( http://www.Sportsbook-Ratings.net/Intertops.php Great for selection and ongoing bonuses! They have reload bonuses too, usually on every Tuesday and Thursday. They offer free bankwire payouts, which is absolutely unheard of!

5Dimes :: ( http://www.Sportsbook-Ratings.net/5Dimes.php Their service is great, and their options are excellent. Visa and eCheck accepted as well as Western Union. Reduced JUICE!

BetOnline :: ( http://www.Sportsbook-Ratings.net/BetOnline.php Is the best site for bonuses and the easiest to deposit via any major credit card, as well as Western Union. Reduced JUICE!

BookMaker :: http://www.Sportsbook-Ratings.net/BookMaker.php They can be a challenge to complete a deposit (minimum $300 for bonus) The first ever offshore sportsbook and very stable. Bonus code: SRNET High limits, with no collar for professional bettors!

While it is still early in the NHL regular season, a quick look to the Eastern conference standings reveals two teams that made the playoffs a year ago are on the outside looking in, with two teams that didn’t make it occupying a pair of the top-three spots at the top. If the teams on the outside are going to have any chance at climbing back into contention as the sports betting year goes on, they will need to begin to turn it around now and avoid the complacency that could burn them in the end.

Philadelphia Flyers @ Carolina Hurricanes
Monday, 7:00 PM ET

Although the Hurricanes didn’t make the playoffs last year, the development of a couple of young stars in Jeff Skinner and Brandon Sutter and the steady play of Cam Ward had some believing in their quick start to the season. However, after losing three straight entering this past weekend, Carolina found itself near the bottom of the standings in the east along with the Winnipeg Jets and New York Islanders. It won’t get any easier for the Hurricanes this week with a visit from the powerful Flyers, which earned a point in five of their first six road games. Philadelphia’s powerful offense is capable of scoring a ton of goals, and if Carolina is going to keep this game competitive they will need a big game from both their young stars and Ward, but even then two points could be a difficult task.

NHL Betting Pick: Philadelphia Flyers

Buffalo Sabres @ Montreal Canadiens
Monday, 7:00 PM ET

The Canadiens snapped a string of consecutive losses with an overtime win at the Phoenix Coyotes, but need to be able to put together an extended winning streak if they are going to make up for a slow start and move back into the top eight. Montreal pushed the defending Stanley Cup champions to overtime of game seven in last year’s opening round series, and improved on paper in the offseason, so they should eventually come around. There won’t be a better time to start that run than at home against the division rival Sabres, who have been hot of late and could be overdue for a loss. The Canadiens have struggled at home out of the gate with just two sportsbooks wins in eight games, and simply have to be better at the Bell Centre.

NHL Betting Pick: Montreal Canadiens

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Winnipeg Jets
Monday, 8:30 PM ET

The fact that this game will be played the day before the general manager meetings means that this could be the Lightning’s last chance to show off their awful 1-3-1 scheme, although a trip to Winnipeg is hardly reason to use it. It isn’t that the Jets haven’t held their own in the goal department, it’s that they had allowed more goals than any other team in the Eastern conference with the exception of the Ottawa Senators heading in to this past online wagering weekend. Led by Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis, the Lightning offense can score a ton of goals, and should be more than willing to flex their muscle at that end of the ice and pick up another win.

NHL Betting Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning

The NHL sports betting fans are seeing some interesting developments as the teams continue to work through the 2011-2012 NHL season. The Winnipeg Jets had the promise of a playoff team when the season started, but so far things have been rough for the Jets. The Minnesota Wild had made some off-season changes that got people’s attention, and now the Wild are turning those changes into wins on the ice.

Los Angeles Kings @ San Jose Sharks
Monday, 10:30 PM ET

It is early in the season, but the Pacific Division is looking to be the most competitive in hockey. The first place Dallas Stars and last place Anaheim Ducks are only separated by four points. Right in the middle of the division are the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks. After a hot start that had the betting sites buzzing, the Kings have slowed down just a little. The San Jose Sharks were making a move up the standings but ran into a slight problem in the last two games where San Jose barely won one game and lost the other. These two teams will be battling for the top spot in the Pacific Division all season long. In this battle, the Kings take the prize.

Betting NHL Hockey Online Pick: Los Angeles Kings

Winnipeg Jets @ Buffalo Sabres
Tuesday, 7:00 PM ET

The Sabres keep falling lower and lower in the standings as the team just cannot win at home. The entire team looks lethargic and world-class goalie Ryan Miller is not sharp at all. The Jets could either be just what the Sabres ordered to get out of the funk they are in, or Winnipeg could be the gutsy and hungry young team that comes in and makes life even worse for Buffalo. The Sabres are a veteran team that is still trying to get things together. While this will be a close game, the Sabres should be able to pull out this game against the struggling Jets. The interesting thing to watch in this game is whether the Sabres play Ryan Miller in goal, or if Buffalo is giving a more serious look at back-up Jhonas Enroth.  

Betting NHL Hockey Online Pick: Buffalo Sabres

Minnesota Wild @ Calgary Flames
Tuesday, 9:30 PM ET

The Minnesota Wild start its west coast road trip with a visit to play the struggling Calgary Flames. The online sportsbooks look for some sign each season that the Flames will be able to put together a winning season, but every year the Flames fall just short of making the playoffs. This year, the problem in Calgary seems to be offense. The Flames are averaging less than 2 ? goals per game while Calgary goaltending is keeping the opposition to less than 3 goals per game. The Wild are getting some great goaltending and play well on the road. The Flames play their best hockey at home, but it won’t be enough to fend off the visiting Wild.

Betting NHL Hockey Online Pick: Minnesota Wild

Basically funny moments.

Once when I was 10 Ron Stern gave me sh*t at a hockey school in Chestermere, AB because I kept my stick up all the time. He told me I was surely going to get a high sticking penalty, so I bet him 5 bucks he would get a high sticking penalty the first game of the season…. the funny part was he actually did get a high sticking penalty the first game of the season and I know the thought must have crossed his mind as he was sitting there in the box.

The other one was with Carey Price in Calgary. He was hitting on my friend and I was drunk so I went up to him and said "hey… this sounds weird but can you go like this" (I was referring to his hand gestures he gave the Montreal crowd when they were booing him earlier in the season that year). He looked at me, laughed, looked at my friend and then just left.
S… you should show your friend this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tixyJJph2g&feature=BFa&list=FLnSprCw9JilvJnEDKX6N3EQ&lf=mh_lolz

Not me but my friend met zedano chara in the locker room and after he signed an autograph he got sharpie on his jersey and he growled at him

I met Chris Stewart at the movie theatre right after he was drafted! got his autograph!!!

I met Wayne Gretzky at an airport

When I turned 13, my mom invited my favorite Caps player, Jeff Halpern, to my bar mitzvah (the tables were named after famous Jews, him being one). He actually initially accepted, but the Caps made the playoffs, and would be on the road that weekend (I forget where, but I think Pittsburgh, because I remember the team wore black), so he sent me a letter cancelling, and sent me an autographed photo, a game puck, and a hand written letter apologizing.

Another time, I was working at a national park in Anacostia. They have a skating rink, and I went to check it out on my off time and go for a little skate (it was open even in the summer). I walk in to see Donald Brashear doing a program to teach blacks to skate.

A friend of mine grew up down the street from where Peter Bondra grew up. In 1998, they had a big party and bbq to see the Caps players (there were like 3 of them in that neighborhood) off before they went to Detroit. My friend said she felt sooooooo guilty when the Caps lost.

in boston, i met hal gill. then, about a month later, there were bunch of players at a rink, including hal gill and shawn thornton. Gill was jokingly complaining about the drills the coach (keith yandles bro) was running, so he and shawn got off the ice. Gill was making fun of shawn badly, and then when he saw me and my brother, he said, very loudly “Shawn thornton is the best player in the NHL! He does it all!”

The same day, Adam McQuaid (bruins defensemen) got off the ice. This is in Massachusetts, in a rink, but nobody at all except me and my brother recognized him. I think he was mad, and then my brother said “Hi mr. Mcquaid”, and mcquaid didnt stop smiling the rest of the time at the rink.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bUPE37N3Iw (i swear he does that once every 10 games)

I’ve met alot of hockey players through the years (through signings and such, but funny…hmmm

I guess I would have to say watching PK Subban hiding in my hubby’s new card with his face covered with his hoody. and then the two of them filming an ad and doing a couple of takes and trying to act like it was the first time they met on each take. It was quite funny.

While the NHL regular season is still only weeks old, these wins are the ones that put teams in position to contend for a playoff spot when it matters later on in the year, making them just as important as the ones played in March and April. Here is a quick look at three key matchups for early next sports betting week.

Winnipeg Jets @ Florida Panthers
Monday, 7:30 PM ET

The Jets will fly to Florida for their next stop on a season-high seven-game road trip looking to really build some momentum after playing the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Winnipeg opened the trip with their second win in three games, a 9-8 win over the Philadelphia Flyers which head coach Claude Noel still hasn’t figured out, but with all of the adversity the team will face this season he should be happy every time they earn two points. While the Jets have a lot of traveling to do in their first season back in the NHL, the Panthers have traveled the long road to try to get back to the playoffs, and new head coach Kevin Dineen appears to have them on the right track early on. Winning at home will be absolutely crucial if Florida is going to clinch a spot in the elite eight this season, and although it is still early, they should come out with a sense of urgency and focus against another division rival.

NHL Betting Pick: Florida Panthers

Ottawa Senators @ Boston Bruins
Tuesday, 7:00 PM ET

This Northeast division rivalry is sure to heat up in the first meeting of the season between these teams, as Ottawa’s Zenon Konopka and Chris Neil look to have some fun with the Bruins’ Shawn Thornton and company. While their should be plenty of fists flying in this game, there will also be an important two points on the line for the defending Stanley Cup champions, who have started slow out of the gate with just three wins through their first nine games. The Senators have surprised with a .500 record through their first 10 games but have struggled on the road with just one win in four tries. Look for the Boston to get back on best best sportsbook track with a win at home on Tuesday.

NHL Betting Pick: Boston Bruins

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Carolina Panthers
Tuesday, 7:00 PM ET

After making it all the way to the Eastern conference finals in general manager Steve Yzerman’s first season at the controls, the Lightning have hit a familiar road block with some poor goaltending as the biggest reason for their slow start to the season. Tampa Bay had allowed 35 goals through its first 10 games to tie the worst mark in the east, and will need to be better defensively if they are going to have any sportsbooks chance at slowing down opposing offenses. Then again, they could just continue to rely on Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis and their other top scoring weapons. The Hurricanes have been as inconsistent as they come this season with three losses to open the year, followed by three wins, followed by three more losses heading in to this past weekend. Tampa Bay took the first meeting between these teams 5-1, and while this contest should be closer the Lightning should remain in control.

NHL Betting Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning

Sports betting experts know that it is difficult for a franchise to put a winning team on the ice in the NHL every season. The Vancouver Canucks were the Western Conference champions last year and have been at the top of the league for the last four years. But Vancouver is having a rough start to the 2011-2012 season. The Philadelphia Flyers started off well this season, but hit a snag over the weekend. Both teams hope to get back on the winning track this week.

Vancouver Canucks @ Edmonton Oilers
Tuesday, 9:30 PM ET

It’s early in the season, but Edmonton Oilers’ fans are still loving it. The Breeder’s Cup betting is not getting much play in Edmonton as the Oilers are actually off to a good start this season and trail the Canucks by only one point in the standings. The additions of rookie Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin seem to have helped the Oilers establish a little bit of consistency. The Canucks got off to a very rocky start but managed to start to pull things together over the weekend. But there is something about this Oilers team that makes them an interesting pick in this game. If Khabibulin can stay solid in the nets, then the young guns up front seem capable of scoring. As the season wears on, the Oilers may start to fade away and the Canucks will rise to the top of the conference again. But, for now, this game will be very interesting to watch.

NHL Betting Pick: Edmonton Oilers

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Buffalo Sabres
Tuesday, 7:30 PM ET

The Buffalo Sabres went out and spent a lot of money to bring in a stronger defense and some scoring forwards. As the season begins, the online wagering hockey fans in Buffalo are not seeing a huge difference in the way this team plays versus last year’s team. The one significant difference is that this year’s team wins. As has been the case with the Sabres for a long time, the wins do not look pretty, but they are still wins. The Lightning are having a problem picking up where it left off last season. It is the same cast of characters in Tampa, but the results are much different. The Lightning are having problems closing out games, but that may not be a handicap against a Sabres’ team that still cannot win at home.

NHL Betting Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning

Philadelphia Flyers @ Montreal Canadiens
Wednesday, 7:30 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Penguins are becoming a thorn in the side of the Philadelphia Flyers. The Penguins were not supposed to compete early in the season because Sidney Crosby is still out. But the Penguins currently hold a three-point lead over the Flyers in the Atlantic Division. The Flyers took a hammering from the Capitals late last week, but Philly should be able to recover in time for this game. The Canadiens are just not scoring enough goals to win games this year. The physical Philadelphia defense is not going to give Montreal a chance to fix that problem in this game.

NHL Betting Pick: Philadelphia Flyers

NHL sports betting experts around the league will argue that the first 10-15 games of the regular season will give a good indication of where a team will end up in the final standings with consideration to injuries in all circumstances. The regular season is already approaching that 10-game mark, and as we enter the third weekend of the year, here is a quick look at some of the key matchups for this Saturday.

San Jose Sharks @ Boston Bruins
Saturday, 7:00 PM ET

The defending Stanley Cup champions have learned in a hurry that if they want to get back to the big game they are going to have to fight for it, although not in a literal sense. Fighting and unnecessary penalties led to Boston’s undoing in a 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, a game in which they probably could have won trailing by just one goal late in the third before coming undone. One of the biggest problems for the Bruins this season has been their inability to score goals, something that has also hurt San Jose through their 1-3-0 start with an average of just 2.5 per game themselves. The Sharks will be the more desperate sportsbooks team on the road in this game, and with more offensive firepower they should be able to find a way to frustrate the Bruins.

NHL Betting Pick: San Jose Sharks - 110

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Montreal Canadiens
Saturday, 7:00 PM ET

Fans won’t forget how quickly the Maple Leafs unraveled a year ago at this point, and it could very well happen again this season with a tough schedule that continues in Montreal. The Canadiens have also been among the league’s slow starters although injuries have contributed in that department, but with winger Mike Cammalleri set to make his return from a knee injury it should provide a spark for their offense. Montreal cannot afford consecutive losses against a division rival this early, and they should be able to get one back at home as they fight for their first win at the Bell Centre this season.

NHL Betting Pick: Montreal Canadiens

Dallas Stars @ Los Angeles Kings
Saturday, 10:30 PM ET

Two of the most improved teams in the NHL will be on the ice at the Staples Center as the Kings and Stars clash in a meeting of Pacific division best best sportsbook favorites. Los Angeles has started strong despite having to open their season overseas, and they will look to keep that going against a Dallas team that opened the year with four wins on home ice but split their first two on the road. The acquisition of Mike Richards up front gives the Kings the secondary scoring that they had been missing, and with the goaltending tandem of Jon Quick and Jonathan Bernier pushing one another for starts there is little doubt this team is on the verge of becoming Stanley Cup contenders out of the Western conference.

NHL Betting Pick: Los Angeles Kings

Well, Not ALL girls are bad at sports, There are some chicks that kick @ss. But 85% of women suck really bad. Like My girlfriend and I play lacross. And Guys were armor, and we basiclly fight each other and it’s really fun. My gf play’s on the girls team. And they like suck so bad. They just Prance around with no armor on and always drop the ball when its thrown to them, so womens team’s are a joke. Not trying to be sexist here but its true. You dont see women in the NBA, NFL, MLB, Or NHL. And for shooting. They cant ever hit a target and if they do there inches off. And There too weak to even hold a gun. And There scared of the noise. They even stink at driving too. I let my gf ride my dirt bike and she crashed it in under 10 seconds. Why dont women just stay making sandwhiches!! Just kidding. Thats really sexiest to say. But Does anyone get my point? And girls are so defensive too. I bet a ton of girls will nag about feminist, women rights and crap

“85%”? That sounds like a made up statistic.

She sounds like a feminist ^. and it’s because they are inferior to men, thats all :]

It’s like anything if it’s something you enjoy and you have confidence in your ability you will do well. Otherwise it’s not going to happen.

Females are bad at everthing besides being dramtic and whores

Most women have a lot of housekeeping to do while they grow up and they don’t have the chance to practice sports too often to get hooked, I guess. I had no housework to do, so I had the chance to practice lots of sports and I’m a very good shot.

Well, this seems like an obvious troll question. I’ve seen some women hit a bullseye at 100 yards with no scope or tripod. That’s hard to do for most people. It was at an indoor range, so no wind shear, but still a mean feat.

Yes a good chunk of women are not good at sports, why, because they are not interested in them. And the ones who are, they are not afforded the same quality of training and opportunities. So yes I will nag. Personally I know a lot of good female athletes, my best friend growing up kicked football players ass in gym class but wasn’t allowed to join the football team, only able to compete in the “powderpuff” competition once a year. And I was raised around guns (8 brothers and nearly all of them hunt) I learned to shoot early and though I never shoot live targets I am a better shot then all of them with the exception of my father. I really like skeet shooting. So Boo-yah

Bad at sports, or just not the best at sports? There’s a difference.