What We Learned in the NHL This Week
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While Christmas is rapidly approaching, the bigger question is how the Canadian teams are doing.
Let’s get down to business.
Alex Ovechkin Reaches 800 Goals!
Alex Ovechkin from the Washington Capitals is chasing the record of Wayne Gretzky. On Tuesday, the “Great 8” notched a hat trick to join Gretzky as members of the “800 goal club”. Let that sink in.
Ovechkin has 3 ½ years left on his current contract. Breaking Gretzky’s hallowed record is a question of when and not if.
If had under 40 games for the Ovechkin to 800 prop, congratulations! That was nice cash at 5.00.
Edmonton Oilers Trending Better
The Edmonton Oilers did not have the most optimal week, but overall this team is trending in the right direction. Despite their goaltending issues, they have gone 7-3 in their last 10 games and won again on Tuesday night.
Edmonton is now up to four games over .500 as we approach Christmas. Its futures have slid to 18.03, which could be valuable. Keep an eye on their number. If it gets above 20, that is probably a good time to take a shot.
Calgary Flames Schedule Has Been a Challenge
Calgary lost to Montreal again, which has frustrated everyone with the Flames to no end. The Flames have endured the most challenging schedule out of all 32 teams in the NHL. However, they are still sputtering.
For those wondering, Calgary's numbers lengthen more in the NHL Futures to 20.95, according to Sports Interaction. There is this growing sense that the hot seat is getting toasty, even for Darryl Sutter.
The Flames play four times this week, with two games against San Jose at the end. That is not a misprint. Both games are in San Jose.
Winnipeg Jets Holding On
Scott Arniel and Rick Bowness have maintained Winnipeg near the top of the Central Division with an 18-9-1 record. This was an upside-down week where Winnipeg looked sharp early but dropped two straight games.
Again, Connor Hellebuyck determines the fortunes of Winnipeg ultimately. The Jets still yield far too many scoring chances. However, Winnipeg keeps finding a way to win games. Is allowing 11 goals in the past two contests a sign of things to come? The leadup to Christmas may see bettors on the other side of the Jets.
Toronto Maple Leafs Continue to Roll
The Toronto Maple Leafs are happily winning this holiday season. Yes, the Leafs have gone 15-1-4 since that 4-4-2 start. John Tavares, Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner are leading the way. Yes, Marner is now on a 23-game point-scoring streak. His prop has tilted to a range for anytime point that would make Connor McDavid blush.
Ontario Sports Bettors allowed Toronto’s Stanley Cup Futures to drop under 9.00 now. Toronto, again, is on an incredible run. Even Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov are performing exceptionally well. Most forget that Toronto is a bettors’ darling because their scoring chances and shots allowed are in the upper third of the league metrics.
Even their ATS number is over .500 since that abysmal 1-9 ATS start. That should tell you something!
Montreal Canadiens Still Up and Down
Montreal split their week with a loss to Los Angeles and a shootout win over Calgary. This is how the Canadiens play. They are 14-12-2 but have yet to win more than three consecutive games all season.
Again, the fun factor aside, expect a few more wild contests as Montreal plays Ottawa, Anaheim, and Tampa Bay this week. That first game could see a high Over, but keep an eye on Cole Caufield to see his playing status first. That will impact some numbers.
Ottawa Senators And Vancouver Canucks
Ottawa's 2022-23 season is about as murky as Vancouver’s. Both teams are just under .500 and have played better of late. However, is it enough? Bruce Boudreau and D.J. Smith have been regularly on the coaches' hot seat since late October.
They are teams to monitor while betting the Over with consistency.
Do not forget “Coaches Hot Seat” column comes out again this Friday. Thanks for reading.
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