posted September 1, 2008 at 10:32 EST in NHL Articles
NHL Betting - The Mighty Pacific Division
by BetUS Editor
Even though most of the Pacific Division's games occur too late in the night for BetUS hockey betting enthusiasts to enjoy them, that doesn't mean that they should ignore them altogether. Some of the league's best get stuck in the 10:30 PM ET timeslot on a nightly basis, including Chris Pronger, Joe Thornton and Anze Kopitar. In fact, the westernmost division also now boats at least three Stanley Cup contenders for the 08-09 season, and is the go-to place for those wagering on the NHL come this fall!
It's not worth trying to convince the many hockey bettors that have lost money wagering on the Sharks to win the Stanley Cup over the past five years. It's looked oh so promising every year, but something always goes awry. But, for those who have no hatred to the Sharks quite yet, I'll say it once more: This might be the year!
Perhaps Ron Wilson was the problem all these years. His record is conducive to what has happened with the Sharks--he makes the playoffs, but can't get the job done. With a fresh face behind the bench in Todd McClellan, and the same stellar cast, the fish might not bite the dust come next spring. San Jose has even improved on the blueline, landing Dan Boyle to replace high-priced rental Brian Campbell, and veteran Rob Blake for some much-needed grit and experience. Another proposed theory for the Sharks' playoff failure has been that their young defensemen could not handle the workload, but that has surely been rectified if that was the case. McClellan has very little to worry about in the crease as well, with Vezina candidate and team MVP Evgeni Nabokov between the pipes.
Every time the Sharks blow it in the postseason, they're only gaining experience. A more seasoned club with a fresh outlook may finally be the winning combination for San Jose.
If Brian Burke were a betting man, he'd be the guy only playing the hot tables. The outspoken GM stayed true to his reputation--and true to his strategy--and stuck with more or less the same bunch that brought him Stanley Cup glory in 2006. Why risk it? Playoff blunders aside, the Ducks were still a 102-point team last season, and led the league with a 2.34 goals-against average.
Statistics aside, the reasons to wager on the Anaheim Ducks are intangible. They won't have the distraction of Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne holding out until mid-season. Not to mention that the sophomore slump is no longer in effect--they're not the defending champs anymore, and will be hungrier than they were in '07-08.
The Ducks defensive proficiency keeps them in any game, every night. A bet on them to win the Cup or the Conference is not a bad one.
No team was more surprising in the playoffs last season than the Dallas Stars. Once thought of as a one-track, defensive minded fringe team, the Stars proved that they could score in bunches. With the addition of Brad Richards and the emergence of Mike Ribiero, Big D has two threatening lines that can stand toe-to-toe with any combination in the NHL.
Simply put, Dave Tippett has created an all-around very good squad. The Stars didn't rank lower than 18th in any major statistical category last seaso, making it very tough to say anything bad about them this year. With All-Star goaltender Marty Turco in net, much like the Ducks, the Stars are in almost every game, and will remain near the top of the Conference standings again this season.
While it may be a stretch to suggest that Dallas can win the Conference with high-powered clubs like Detroit and San Jose in the mix, they may have the game best suited for the postseason. A futures bet on the Cup to return to the Lonestar State would make for a real nice payday!
Everyone's favorite sleeper last season will have a second chance to prove that they have arrived. A Stanley Cup contender they are not, but a potential 8th place finish in the West is a definite possibility. Don Maloney and Wayne Gretzky have added Olli Jokinen up front, and have a No. 1 goaltender in Ilya Bryzgalov--something that's never existed in Phoenix.
Unfortunately, in terms of wagering on hockey, the Coyotes aren't a viable option. Although they have a very bright future ahead of them with a young cast and a fantastic head coach, 2008-09 will not be the year they go all the way to the finals.
Certainly look at a futures bet on forwards Kyle Turris or Mikkel Boedker to win the Calder Trophy however!
Playing in possibly the toughest division in all of hockey is not a good position for a team with no clear starting goaltender, no perennial top pairing defensemen and no proven scorer outside of Anze Kopitar to be in.
The Kings will surely be throttled by the NHL's elite--and even mediocre, for at least one more season, until they solve their overriding issues.
