The sports betting surrounding the NHL is getting a bit more intense as we get closer to the 2011 Winter Classic between the Pittburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals. Since betting on NFL games in Washington has gotten a bit stale, the sports fans in the Nation’s Capital welcome the diversion of the NHL. But there is still plenty of hockey to be played between now and the Winter Classic, and the NHL betting odds are shifting all of the time. Let’s take a look at some games that will have profound effects on the NHL standings when they are done.
San Jose Sharks @ Philadelphia Flyers
This will be an interesting game because of what has happened to each team over the past few days. It looks like Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi has found his groove in San Jose and has played very well the past few games. The Flyers seem to be faltering a bit and have given up first place in the Atlantic Division to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Of course, in Philadelphia a stumble means losing two of the last five games. Philadelphia rookie goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky looks solid still, but it is a long season.
Antti Niemi has won two of his last three starts. He has only allowed five goals in his last three games. This could be a situation where the Sharks catch the Flyers just at the right time and walk out of Philadelphia with a win.
Pick: San Jose Sharks
Toronto Maple Leafs @ Pittsburgh Penguins
Things started out so promising for the Leafs in the 2010-2011 season. But it all fell apart about three or four weeks ago, and the Leafs have not been able to fix it. Toronto is being bit by the same bug that has bothered them the past few years – goaltending. Just when starting goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere was rolling, he got hurt. Last season, back up goalie Jonas Gustavsson was a breath of fresh air when Giguere was not playing so well. But Gustavsson has lost four of his last five starts, and even in the game he won he let in four goals.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have that unstoppable look about them again. It is that same look that took them to two consecutive NHL finals and won them a Stanley Cup. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is finally playing like a Stanley Cup caliber goaltender, and the puck is just finding Sidney Crosby wherever he goes. Crosby is playing great defense, he is scoring goals and he is making plays. The rest of the Penguins roster is following suit, and Pittsburgh looks determined at this early part of the season.
Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins
Dallas Stars @ Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Marty Turco gets to face off against his old team in this extremely important game for the Blackhawks. Only seven points separates the first place team from the last place team in the Central Division, and the Blackhawks are right in the middle of it. The defending Stanley Cup champions have won seven of their last 10, but they have a 7-8-0 record at home.
The Dallas Stars are rolling and lead the Pacific Division by two points over the Phoenix Coyotes. The Stars have only lost one of their last 10 games in regulation, but in that stretch they do have two overtime losses as well. Dallas is scoring goals and playing great defense.
Pick: Dallas Stars
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