NHL Betting: Sharks in winning frenzy
In case you didn't know, the San Jose Sharks have raced to a 22-3-2 record on the season, their nine-game win streak recently snapped by the Edmonton Oilers who had to go to OT for the 3-2 victory.
If you don’t know the San Jose Sharks are by far the best team in the NHL right now, you probably have no business reading this article on this website.
The Sharks have raced out to what amounts to the best start in league history with an impressive 23-3-2 record, but it’s how they’ve performed for bettors that really counts. San Jose is third on the NHL money list at +8.83 units, trailing only the Boston Bruins (+25.33 units) and the Chicago Blackhawks (+11.24 units).
Thing is, it’s pretty easy to see why the likes of the Bruins and Blackhawks are at the head of the class: No one expected either team to be this successful. For the Sharks, expectations were sky high in the preseason, which makes their run all the more improbable.
San Jose isn’t exactly getting it done on the puckline, although a 14-13 record against the number is solid considering the Sharks have dropped only three games. It’s the sheer volume of wins that has San Jose backers rolling in cash, even though the Sharks’ +1.33 goal differential makes matters fairly academic.
Most hockey games are decided by a single goal, so anytime a team has a margin of more than one tally you pencil them in as a safe play. Only Boston has a better average margin of victory (+1.37) than the Sharks, followed by Chicago (+0.80) and Vancouver/Minnesota (+0.50). This means San Jose’s pedestrian mark on the puckline is likely the bottom of the barrel, so the Sharks could start padding more wallets by midseason.
To put things in perspective, San Jose is the only team among the leaders on the NHL money list defying public bettors. All the other teams making the most cash (Boston, Chicago, Vancouver, Los Angeles, and St. Louis) are there because they’ve surprised squares with how well they’ve performed. The only teams even within a whiff of the top that are in same cohort (very good to excellent team, everyone and their brother knows it) as the Sharks are Washington (+2.03 units) and Pittsburgh (-0.38 units).
Cementing the argument for San Jose’s dominance both in the standings and at the window is the performance of the only other team you would cap to challenge the Sharks if the playoffs were held today: The defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings, who are having another fine season in the standings at 18-4-4. The difference is unlike their counterparts on the West coast, Detroit is 29th in the league at -12.25 units because of a dismal 6-20 record against the puckline this season.
Calgary (+186) at Detroit (-204, 5½)
Wednesday, Dec 10, 7:30 p.m. (ET) TSN
The Red Wings get the chance to make a debt repayment for backers when they host the Flames (16-10-1, -6.20 units) on Wednesday night at Joe Louis Arena.
Detroit has won three straight and four of five against the moneyline heading into the matchup, although the Wings should be without a pair of checking line forwards against Calgary. Kirk Maltby is questionable with a bone bruise in his left ankle, while Darren McCarty is out indefinitely with a strained groin for Detroit.
The Wings skated past the Flames 5-2 when the teams met on November 22, as Detroit cashed as -135 road favorites. Pavel Datsyuk and Jiri Hudler had a goal and an assist, while Andreas Lilja recorded two helpers for the Wings. Curtis Glencross led the way for Calgary, which allowed three unanswered markers in the third period to lose the payday.
The Flames had won five of their last six contests before Tuesday night’s clash on the road against the Montreal Canadiens, and are playing their best hockey of the season following a slow start.
If recent history serves handicappers well, it could be a good night for the Red Wings. The home team is 12-3 against the moneyline in the last 15 meetings between the clubs, while the Over is 9-3 in Detroit’s last 12 matchups against Northwest Division opponents.
In case you didn't know, the San Jose Sharks have raced to a 22-3-2 record on the season, their nine-game win streak recently snapped by the Edmonton Oilers who had to go to OT for the 3-2 victory.
If you don’t know the San Jose Sharks are by far the best team in the NHL right now, you probably have no business reading this article on this website.
The Sharks have raced out to what amounts to the best start in league history with an impressive 23-3-2 record, but it’s how they’ve performed for bettors that really counts. San Jose is third on the NHL money list at +8.83 units, trailing only the Boston Bruins (+25.33 units) and the Chicago Blackhawks (+11.24 units).
Thing is, it’s pretty easy to see why the likes of the Bruins and Blackhawks are at the head of the class: No one expected either team to be this successful. For the Sharks, expectations were sky high in the preseason, which makes their run all the more improbable.
San Jose isn’t exactly getting it done on the puckline, although a 14-13 record against the number is solid considering the Sharks have dropped only three games. It’s the sheer volume of wins that has San Jose backers rolling in cash, even though the Sharks’ +1.33 goal differential makes matters fairly academic.
Most hockey games are decided by a single goal, so anytime a team has a margin of more than one tally you pencil them in as a safe play. Only Boston has a better average margin of victory (+1.37) than the Sharks, followed by Chicago (+0.80) and Vancouver/Minnesota (+0.50). This means San Jose’s pedestrian mark on the puckline is likely the bottom of the barrel, so the Sharks could start padding more wallets by midseason.
To put things in perspective, San Jose is the only team among the leaders on the NHL money list defying public bettors. All the other teams making the most cash (Boston, Chicago, Vancouver, Los Angeles, and St. Louis) are there because they’ve surprised squares with how well they’ve performed. The only teams even within a whiff of the top that are in same cohort (very good to excellent team, everyone and their brother knows it) as the Sharks are Washington (+2.03 units) and Pittsburgh (-0.38 units).
Cementing the argument for San Jose’s dominance both in the standings and at the window is the performance of the only other team you would cap to challenge the Sharks if the playoffs were held today: The defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings, who are having another fine season in the standings at 18-4-4. The difference is unlike their counterparts on the West coast, Detroit is 29th in the league at -12.25 units because of a dismal 6-20 record against the puckline this season.
Calgary (+186) at Detroit (-204, 5½)
Wednesday, Dec 10, 7:30 p.m. (ET) TSN
The Red Wings get the chance to make a debt repayment for backers when they host the Flames (16-10-1, -6.20 units) on Wednesday night at Joe Louis Arena.
Detroit has won three straight and four of five against the moneyline heading into the matchup, although the Wings should be without a pair of checking line forwards against Calgary. Kirk Maltby is questionable with a bone bruise in his left ankle, while Darren McCarty is out indefinitely with a strained groin for Detroit.
The Wings skated past the Flames 5-2 when the teams met on November 22, as Detroit cashed as -135 road favorites. Pavel Datsyuk and Jiri Hudler had a goal and an assist, while Andreas Lilja recorded two helpers for the Wings. Curtis Glencross led the way for Calgary, which allowed three unanswered markers in the third period to lose the payday.
The Flames had won five of their last six contests before Tuesday night’s clash on the road against the Montreal Canadiens, and are playing their best hockey of the season following a slow start.
If recent history serves handicappers well, it could be a good night for the Red Wings. The home team is 12-3 against the moneyline in the last 15 meetings between the clubs, while the Over is 9-3 in Detroit’s last 12 matchups against Northwest Division opponents.