EASTERN CONFERENCE<\/strong><\/p>\n Rangers Justifying Steep Odds in Eastern Conference<\/strong><\/p>\n One week in to your NHL hockey betting season, it became apparent that the New York Rangers were on a mission. Unlike years past, the Rangers have stormed out of the gates to a 8-2-1 SU record after replacing Jaromir Jagr with Markus Naslund, previously of Vancouver, and Nikolai Zherdev.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What\u2019s perhaps more surprising than anything for the Rangers is that Zherdev has the best +\/- of anyone on the team. Who would\u2019ve guessed that? On the road, they have one overtime loss making them a strong play whenever they\u2019re away from the comfort of the big apple. Right now, they are the most complete team in the Eastern Conference and are lobbying for support in our NHL futures at +500.<\/p>\n Hot on their tails in the Atlantic Division is, and will be, the Pittsburgh Penguins. They\u2019re easily the sexiest pick in the Eastern Conference betting pool with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin leading the charge. The two uberstars can co-exist; nobody has doubts about that. With Gonchar and Whitney returning to the blue line, the special teams will improve tremendously, but the team desperately needs for the rest of the team to pick up the slack.<\/p>\n Evgeni has 13 points, while Crosby is right behind him with 12 points. The highest point getter after that is Mirsolav Satan with six points. If they expect to be serious contenders this year, they\u2019re going to have to get more out of Jordan Staal, Petr Sykora, Fedotenko and center Tyler Kennedy as well. Finding a suitable replacement for Ryan Malone will be key in supporting the fact they are favorites in our NHL futures at +400.<\/p>\n And what of Alexander Ovechkin, last year\u2019s MVP and top goal scorer? Well it looks like he\u2019s finally found a suitable mentor in Sergei Federov and a partner in crime in Alexander Semin. Though Ovechkin has only 5 points this season, he\u2019s getting a stunning amount of support from Alexander Semin (14 points) and Michael Nylander (8 points).<\/p>\n Coaching will have to prevail in Washington, where the power play has been absent in the last week and the penalty kill has struggled. If there\u2019s any reason this team fades in to the sunset, that will be the reason. Just don\u2019t bank on it yet.<\/p>\n No team has stunned the community as much as the Buffalo Sabres. Thomas Vanek is becoming the most dangerous goal scorer in the league with 8 goals, 3 assists and a plus-5. He\u2019s nearly doubles his teammates\u2019 shots on net by rifling off a startling 43 shots thus far. Everyone thought this team would fade after Drury and Briere bolted town for bigger contracts, but the coaching staff and depth on this team has them thriving instead of surviving.<\/p>\n Ryan Miller is fourth in the league with a goals against average of 1.45 and the special teams is bailing this team out of penalties lie mad. The Sabres are 6-0-2 and have yet to lose in regular time. At +1400 to win the East, who else could I possibly like more than the Sabres as the upset specialists for the Eastern Conference?<\/p>\n The Habs haven\u2019t lost any steam from last season. They\u2019ve dropped one single match in regulation this season and are proving they have a nose for goal tending. With Carey Price starting most games, they\u2019ve found a suitable backup in Jarsolav Halek who has a 1.00 goals against average and a .967 save percentage. Montreal coach, Bob Gainey, is a freaking genius though and coaching is what runs the distance in the long and grueling NHL season. Everyone knew Robert Lang would be a solid addition and that Alex Kovalev was still the best stick handler in the league. But what about Saku Koivu? If Captain Koivu can keep up this point-pace, the rest of the league is in deep trouble.<\/p>\n The San Jose Sharks are 7-2 SU and have perhaps the most balanced system in th league. they are scoring goals at will and have held teams to just 24.2 shots per game. They have unbelievable depth at every position and are always one of the best plays in the regular season when you\u2019re betting on NHL hockey this season. They won\u2019t disappoint, especially at home.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s the same old story in San Jose \u2013 will Joe Thornton push them over the hump? At +350 to win the West in the BetUS Sportsbook, it\u2019s a little misleading. They\u2019re a great team, but they don\u2019t have the x-factor that makes them true Stanley Cup Champions.<\/p>\n And it\u2019s becoming a tired stored in Anaheim where the Ducks are +800 to contend for the Western Conference title. They\u2019re off to another bad start, and this year they have no real excuses.<\/p>\nYoung Guns in Washington, Pittsburgh Firing Off<\/h3>\n
Sabres Proving Worth At +1400<\/h3>\n
Celebrating the Century in Style<\/h3>\n
WESTERN CONFERENCE<\/h2>\n
Same Old Story in California<\/h3>\n