Posted on
10/17/2007 1:24:28 AM
NHL Hockey Opinion: The Top Shelf Rankings, Week 3
By Tim Furious
The puck has dropped on the 2007-08 NHL betting season and there have been many pleasant surprises on the ice. The Buffalo Sabres are not nearly as morbid on the ice as their off-season was, while the top-team in the BetUS.com rankings is a very familiar face in NHL hockey. Remember to check our NHL Portal for tips on how to bet on hockey! For now, check out this week’s games and read on to see which teams deserve to be on The Top Shelf!
1. Ottawa Senators (6-1)
The Senators are pleasing their long-term betting investors by getting off to a hot start this season. They have won six games behind the steady goaltending of backup Martin Gerber. They rank fourth in goals against average with 2.00 and their team chemistry is undeniable.
This week: Montreal vs. Ottawa (10/18), Florida vs. Ottawa (10/20)
2. Carolina Hurricanes (4-1-1)
Two things needed to happen for the Hurricanes to become contenders again. Eric Staal and Cam Ward needed to overcome their 2006-07 injuries and return to their Stanley Cup Final worthy levels. Staal has five goals and Ward is averaging 1.79 goals against. With the Canes outscoring their opponents 3.50-1.83 per game, they are doing solidly against the spread.
This week: Carolina vs. Pittsburgh (10/19), Carolina vs. Philadelphia (10/20)
3. Minnesota Wild (5-0)
Three shutouts in five games? The Wild are making a statement this season as they fiddle with the lineup to find a true number one centre. The message is clear: the Wild are far better than the Canucks and Flames and are certainly justifying their No.2 BetUS.com preseason ranking. They are clearing the puck-line by 1.40 goals, making them an attractive bet.
This week: Minnesota vs. LA (10/16), Minnesota vs. St. Louis (10/20), Colorado vs. Minnesota (10/21)
4. Philadelphia Flyers (3-1)
Looks like all the naysayers that said the Flyers overpaid for Briere were idiots. The import from Buffalo has 7 goals in 4 games and the Flyers are second in the NHL in goals for average with 4.25 per game.
This week: Atlanta vs. Philadelphia (10/16), New Jersey vs. Philadelphia (10/18), Carolina vs. Philadelphia (10/20)
5. Detroit Red Wings (4-2-1)
Henrik Zetterberg for MVP? With two points-per-game in six matches so far, it is not inconceivable. Detroit is a surefire bet to make the playoffs this season and are in the lead of the Central Division.
This week: Anaheim vs. Detroit (10/15) Detroit vs. San Jose (10/18), Detroit vs. Phoenix (10/20)
6. Buffalo Sabres (3-2)
Ok, so I greatly exaggerated the demise of the Sabres in the preseason. But they have proven everyone wrong by leading the league in scoring with a 4.80 goals for average. They do give up a monstrous amount of goals (3.20 per game) so needs to be taken care of before we anoint the Sabres as contenders. So far, so good…
This week: Buffalo vs. Toronto (10/15), Columbus vs. Buffalo (10/19), Buffalo vs. Montreal (10/20)
7. St. Louis Blues (3-1)
Even with the majority of their defense licking their wounds on the injury reserve, Paul Kariya’s arrival has sparked the Blues to a please start. It is time to start stocking betting faith in these Blues, who are breaking the puck-line with a 3.75 GFA, while holding opponents to 2.00 points against.
This week: St. Louis vs. Chicago (10/17), Minnesota vs. St. Louis (10/20)
Score big with online sports betting in the BetUS.com sportsbook, where you’ll find NHL odds and lines for every NHL hockey game of the year. If you like to bet on NHL hockey, you’ll love the NHL player and game props in our online sportsbook. Join BetUS today!