The New York Islanders are hearing footsteps in the Eastern Conference, as the New Jersey Devils creep out of the conference cellar and into their territory as the second worst team in the East.
Needless to say, the 2010-11 campaign hasn’t been what the Isles had hoped, as another disappointing season unfolds in Long Island. On Friday, news broke that the situation’s not about to get better any time soon. Primary goaltender, and benefactor of a great chunk of New York’s salary cash, Rick DiPietro, will miss the next four to six weeks as he recovers from a series of facial fractures.
Earlier this week, DiPietro made news for engaging in a goalie scrap with Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Brent Johnson. With no disrespect intended, DiPietro’s scrapping skills left a lot to be desired and a powerful hit from Johnson sent him to the ground. It turns out, the punch to the head was as devastating to his maxilla as it was to his pride.
On the season, the Islanders have managed a 16-28-7 record, giving them, by Bodog’s calculation, 500/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup this year.
Though they might not be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs just yet, new of their impending elimination should come soon enough. For that reason, betting on the Isles to contend for the championship would make no sense. But, when it comes to NHL betting, there are always opportunities in Bodog’s online sportsbook.
Bet on the Islanders on an individual game basis if you think they can keep things together while their primary goalie takes to the sidelines.
Now, if only they could just go out and pick up a free agent netminder like Evgeni Nabokov… oh wait.