The sports wagering sites are starting to settle on Stanley Cup favorites in the NHL, but we are still two significant milestones away from deciding who will make the playoffs. As the NFL betting for the playoffs heats up, the NHL starts to roll towards the All-Star break and the half-way point of the season. After that, the season really picks up speed after the trade deadline.
The NHL scores really start to count now as teams jockey for position in the NHL standings. This is the point in the season where teams start to put together winning streaks to put themselves into the NHL playoff picture.
Wednesday – Dallas Stars @ Chicago Blackhawks
These two teams have been nipping at each others’ heels all season long. Even though they are not in the same division, it seems like a Dallas versus Chicago hockey game has become a more energetic affair. It could be that the starting goaltender for the Blackhawks, Marty Turco, was the starting goaltender for the Dallas Stars for the past nine years.
But Turco is no longer the main netminder in Chicago. That job has gone to fourth-year player Corey Crawford. Crawford is 4-1 in his last five games, and that includes a stretch where he only allowed four goals combined in three games.
The Blackhawks replaced Stanley Cup winning goaltender Antti Niemi with former Atlanta Thrashers back-up goalie Kari Lehtonen. Things were going well until Lehtonen hit a recent stretch where he put together a 1-4 record in his last five games. The Stars are still reeling from recent losses, and they are playing inconsistent defense. They are ripe for the picking in Chicago.
Pick: Chicago Blackhawks
Wednesday – Nashville Predators @ Anaheim Ducks
The Nashville Predators are like a prize fighter on rubbery legs. They are up, then down, then up and then down again. The Predators were challenging the Detroit Red Wings for first place in the Central Division just a month ago. But a rough stretch of games dropped the Predators to fourth in the division. They are currently riding a two-game winning streak and trying to get back on their feet.
The Ducks are slowly, ever so slowly, climbing up in the Pacific Division. Thanks to a recent stretch of 10 games where the Ducks went 6-4-0, Anaheim has moved into third place in the division and only one point out of second place. They are playing much better hockey in Anaheim, and that will continue to show in the standings.
Pick: Anaheim Ducks
Thursday – Pittsburgh Penguins @ Montreal Canadiens
Things are not good in Montreal. The Habs have gone 3-6-1 in their last 10 games. All of the faith that was put in goaltender Carey Price is starting to erode. The team is having problems scoring goals, and the defense is not able to clear the zone on a regular basis. To top it off, the Canadiens have a 9-11-0 road record this season.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are not happy about the results of the Winter Classic. The Pens lost a game to the Washington Capitals that was close right up to the third period. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is starting to show signs of problems again, and the Pittsburgh offense is not clicking. But when you have Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on the same team, things will start to click eventually.
Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins
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