The sports betting experts are still interested at finding out how the Chicago Blackhawks sit on top of the Western Conference after almost missing the playoffs last season. Traditional west coast powerhouses such as the Vancouver Canucks are having problems getting going this season while the Nashville Predators seem to be picking up right where they left off after last year’s playoff run.
Nashville Predators @ Minnesota Wild
Wednesday, 8:00 PM ET
Anything can happen as the season progresses, but for right now the Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators are two of the top teams in the Western Conference. Nashville gave up a lot in off-season free agency, but seems to have retained enough to challenge for a playoff spot. The betting sites have been watching the Minnesota Wild build a winner for several years now and some key off-season acquisitions have helped to push the Wild into a top spot in the conference. Minnesota only trails Chicago for the top spot in the Western Conference by two points, and the Wild will try to pull even closer with a win over the Predators at home.
NHL Betting Pick: Minnesota Wild
Chicago Blackhawks @ San Jose Sharks
Wednesday, 10:30 PM ET
After a rough start to the 2011-2012 season, it looks like the San Jose Sharks are finally on a roll. The Sharks are 7-2-1 in the last 10 games and have climbed from the basement of the Pacific Division to get to within two points of division leading Los Angeles. The Blackhawks keep defying the sportsbooks by racking up a four-game winning streak and staying on top of the overall NHL standings. But Chicago’s “shoot first and ask questions later” of using offense to win rather than worrying about playing defense will haunt them throughout the season, and especially in this particular NHL game.
NHL Betting Pick: San Jose Sharks
Detroit Red Wings @ Boston Bruins
Friday, 1:00 PM ET
The Red Wings really thought that its slide down the standings would stop once goaltender Jimmy Howard came back from helping his wife to have their child. For a couple of games, the slide did stop. But in the last 10 games, the Red Wings are 4-5-1 and currently riding a two-game losing streak. The Bruins tripped over the blue line when the season started, but the defending Stanley Cup champions have a seven-game winning streak going that it should be able to continue against the struggling Red Wings. The Bruins have found that aggression that won it the Cup last year and have been pounding teams into submission. The Bruins’ defense is fast but physical, and that should be more than the Red Wings’ forwards will be able to deal with. Howard seems to be struggling in the Detroit net, and he will have to withstand the barrage of shots that the Bruins have been taking in recent games.
NHL Betting Pick: Boston Bruins