Up to NHL Articles

posted February 20, 2008 at 11:29 in NHL Articles

1. Anaheim Ducks (33-23-7)

Welcome to the top, Champs! Anaheim dons the crown for the first time in a long time after going 6-1 SU in their past 7 games and watching Ottawa and Detroit nose dive like faster than Luke Wilson’s fledgling career (seriously, what have you done lately? what have you done ever?! And don’t you dare take credit for Old School!). The Ducks are still amazingly the second-worst offensive team in the league with 2.41 goals per game. But that will change over the course of this week as they get three easy prey to munch on.

The Ducks are winning games properly, with a stingy team defense that allows only 2.40 goals per game. Ger on board before the NHL oddsmakers do and take Anaheim to sweep this week against three wobbly teams. They are once again the betting favorite to win the Cup for a second straight time. It’s amazing what can happen for a team in a Finnish Flash.

Schedule: Colorado vs. Anaheim (2/20), St. Louis vs. Anaheim (2/22), Chicago vs. Anaheim (2/24)

2. Detroit Red Wings (42-15-5)

Ok, so you just snapped your most historic tailspin of all time by crushing Colorado on the road. Good for you. And you have the second best offense in the league with 3.13 goals per game, with the best defense allowing only 2.13 goals per game. But how will you fare without veteran leader Nicklas Lidstrom perhaps shelved indefinitely with a knee sprain? Only time will tell. But time is also short, considering how well the rest of the West is playing these days. Good luck with those two other road games this week, Detroit. You’ll need it.

Schedule: Detroit vs. Colorado (2/18), Detroit vs. Calgary (2/22), Detroit vs. Vancouver (2/23)

3. Dallas Stars (37-21-5)

Dallas has roared out of nowhere to become one of the biggest threats in the NHL, and they deserve mention in the BetUS.com Top Shelf

Schedule: Calgary vs. Dallas (2/20), Edmonton vs. Dallas (2/22), Dallas vs. Nashville (2/23),

4. Ottawa Senators (34-20-5)

Trust me, I wanted to drop them lower. But with the league’s best offense at 3.37 goals per game, it was hard to justify lowering them any farther than fourth. The Sens are in a three game slump right now because tweaking is taking place with Cory Stillman and Mike Commodore, both recently acquired, trying to find the best spot in the line0up. They have a tough game against Philadelphia, which would love to snap their own losing streak in a big way against Ottawa.

Columbus will offer virtually no challenge to Ottawa who, if they don’t rectify their losing ways against Philly, will most certainly against Columbus. But the matchup against Pittsburgh is easily the most intriguing. It will prove once and for all (in my mind at least) if the Senators have the goal tending to go all the way in this year’s playoffs.

Schedule: Philadelphia vs. Ottawa (2/19), Columbus vs. Ottawa (2/21), Ottawa vs. Pittsburgh (2/23)

5. Montreal Canadiens (32-19-9)

Montreal is a nice team. And nice doesn’t cut the mustard or salami in the NHL. Their record speaks for itself, as does their fourth best 3.05 goals for average. But at 2.70 goals against, they are far from finding the answers their betting faithful is hoping for on the blue line. They are one big defenseman and one big banger away from being a good team. A four-game home stand begins tonight against the upstart Rangers, a team built to destroy teams like Montreal. The tilt against Pittsburgh will tell if they belong in the elite Top Shelf or not.

Schedule: NYR vs. Montreal (2/19), Pittsburgh vs. Montreal (2/21), Columbus vs. Montreal (2/23)

6. New Jersey Devils (34-21-5)

New Jersey just crushed Carolina last night in a devastating 5-1 lopsided win. And the most devastating thing about is that New Jersey can put up games like that despite only averaging 2.62 goals per game. Their power play and penalty killing remain the best, and Martin Brodeur will always give them a fighting chance. They protect the net better than most teams, allowing only 2.33 goals per game. The Devils have always been one playmaker shy of becoming the team to watch in the East, but this team is giving us plenty of reasons to tune in on the TV, and back them in the BetUS.com sportsbook.

Schedule: New Jersey vs. Carolina (2/18), San Jose vs. New Jersey (2/20), NYI vs. New Jersey (2/23)

7. Pittsburgh Penguins (32-21-5)

If Pittsburgh wanted a week to prove just how good they really are without Sidney Crosby, whose ankle is going to keep him sidelined for a while, then this is the week to do it. Montreal will test them on Thursday, then they host Ottawa and San Jose, both of whom matchup very well against the youngsters from the Igloo. Their power play has gone 12-for-37 with the extra man this month, and Evgeni Malkin continues to chase fellow Russian Alexander Ovechkin for the Rocket Richard trophy. If he keeps up this pace, the people who are taking him as a Hart Candidate in our hockey futures have little to worry about.

Schedule: Florida vs. Pitt (2/19), Pitt vs. Montreal (2/21), Ottawa vs. Pitt (2/23), San Jose vs. Pitt (2/24)

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