Pens Favored in Atlantic Division

The Pittsburgh Penguins began their 2008/09 NHL campaign over in Sweden against the Ottawa Senators last weekend, and they’ll get back on the ice in North America in their home opener against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night. And those doing any NHL betting early in the year note that those are the two Atlantic Division favorites.

Sidney Crosby and company are listed as the +140 favorite to win the Atlantic Division for the second straight season; they finished three points ahead of the Devils for top spot in that race last year. New Jersey is then tied with the Philadelphia Flyers at +250, with the New York Rangers at +400, and the New York Islanders well behind at +4000. The rebuilding Isles were 23 points behind Pittsburgh in last season’s Atlantic standings.

The Montreal Canadiens won the Northeast Division by 10 points over the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins last season, and they’re the -190 favorites to once again claim that division crown. Ottawa, who crumbled in the second half of last season, come in under the radar with +350 division odds this year, with Boston a step behind them at +550. The Buffalo Sabres then sit in fourth on the division odds list at +650, while the Toronto Maple Leafs (last year’s Northeast cellar dwellers) are way back at just +4000.

Three teams have solid odds to win the Southeast Division this season, with the Washington Capitals the +125 favorites, and the Carolina Hurricanes (+210) and Tampa Bay Lightning (+275) close behind them. The Bolts had the worst record in the Eastern Conference last year, but overhauled their roster in the offseason. Tomas Vokoun and the Florida Panthers are then at +650, with the Atlanta Thrashers trailing badly at +2500.

Over in the Western Conference the biggest favorites to claim top spot in a division are the defending-champion Detroit Red Wings, who are huge -1000 favorites to win the Central. Detroit won the Central by a whopping 24 points over the Nashville Predators last season. The Chicago Blackhawks, who added defenseman Brian Campbell to a offense led by young gun Patrick Kane, are next at +450, with the Columbus Blue Jackets at +1800. The Preds and the St. Louis Blues round out that odds list at +3000.

The San Jose Sharks are the slim +150 favorites to win the Pacific Division this season; they were six points up on Ryan Getzlaf and the Anaheim Ducks for top spot last year. The Dallas Stars and their high-scoring duo of Mike Ribeiro and Brenden Morrow are at +170, with the Ducks at +200, and the Phoenix Coyotes farther back at +1800. The Los Angeles Kings, who were 37 points behind San Jose last year, are down at +5000 odds.

Finally, the tightest division race could take place in the Northwest. The Minnesota Wild won that division by three points over the Colorado Avalanche last year, and they’re the +210 favorites to repeat as the champs. The Calgary Flames are next at +225, with the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks at +350, and the Avalanche in fifth at +650.

Check the BetUS NHL odds section for the latest odds and props for the hockey season.