The Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers are two teams in search of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The sports betting world remembers these two teams at the beginning of the season when both were having a difficult time winning games. With all of the March Madness odds going on, the fact that both teams are now looking towards the playoffs can sometimes be lost. The sportsbook reviews for this upcoming Canadiens at Rangers game are much different than they were at the beginning of the season.

Goaltending

When you bet March madness you look for a team that plays solid defense and can keep the other team off the scoreboard. The same is true when betting on a hockey game and in hockey the most important defenseman on the ice is the goaltender.

Ranger goalie Henrik Lundqvist has won his last two games in impressive fashion by allowing only three goals in those two games. The early struggles of the Rangers were mirrored in Lundqvist’s shaky start. But he has started to string together a good season with a respectable .919% save percentage and a 2.45 goals against average for the season.

The shaky start for the Canadiens can be directly traced back to their goaltending problems. Carey Price was supposed to be the next Patrick Roy. The Canadiens gave him the reigns this season and he has struggled terribly. As the season progressed the Canadiens had seen enough and put Jaroslav Halak in goal to save the season, and save the season he did. Halak is red-hot winning his last five games including one with as shut-out. He is one of the main reasons the Canadiens have bolted from near the basement into seventh place in the conference.

Offense
The Canadiens have always had offense. This year they have nine players with double-digits in goals and three players with 30 or more points. Tomas Plekanec is the team’s leading scorer with 68 points and he has a goal in three of the last five games.

The Rangers have eight players with double-digits in goals, but when you get past leading scorer Marian Gaborik the production really drops off. This is another reason for the Rangers’ early troubles; they cannot put the puck in the net.

Defense

Both teams have more goals against than they do goals for, and the numbers are pretty similar. The Rangers are -7 in the difference between goals for and goals against, and the Canadiens are -3. Much of what the Canadiens have done to close that gap has happened in the last 15 to 20 games with Halak in goal.

Bottom Line
The Canadiens are on fire with a goalie that is on a hot streak. By all accounts this should be a game where the Canadiens roll over the Rangers. The fact that the game is being played in Madison Square Garden may help the Rangers a little, but with the Canadiens riding a huge wave of momentum it will be very difficult for the Rangers to make any progress in their hunt for a playoff spot in this game. Right now the Rangers are in ninth place and the Canadiens are in seventh with the Rangers one point out of a playoff spot. This game does not appear to be the game that will change that for the Rangers.

Pick: Montreal Canadiens 5-2

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People who take their online betting seriously are probably a little confused by the Colorado Avalanche after the Olympic break. The US Sportsbook Reviews were probably confused when the Avalanche lost their first game back to Detroit. But, as it turns out, Detroit is healthy and surging towards a playoff spot. After beating the Anaheim Ducks, the Avalanche then fell to the newly-remodeled Phoenix Coyotes. As it turns out, the Coyotes have been doing that to everyone they have come into contact with since the break.

The Stanley Cup odds on the Avalanche sit at 30 to 1. Not bad considering the team had no hope of making the playoffs last year. The Vancouver Canucks are 12 to 1 favorites to win the Cup. There is a lot of talent in Vancouver to back that up and this NHL game preview should put some interest back in the Avalanche for the betting community.

The last time the Canucks and Avalanche tangled it was in November, it was in Vancouver and the Canucks won 5-2. By contrast the Canucks have only lost one of their four games since the Olympic break ended, and that was to heavy 5 to 1 Stanley Cup favorite Chicago. The Canucks and Avalanche are an interesting study in how NHL hockey teams develop and evolve.

The Canucks have been building their team for years. The Sedin twins, Roberto Luongo and defenseman Sami Salo were all brought in from other teams to help create a core for the Canucks to build on. The problem with the Canucks is that they cannot get any better unless they make a blockbuster trade that would tear them apart. This Canuck team is what the fans will have to work with for at least another two or three years, and this Canuck team cannot win big games.

The Avalanche are doing things in a very similar manner to the Canucks. Goalie Craig Anderson was with the Florida Panthers not too long ago, and the only stalwart on the Avalanche team is Adam Foote who has been in the Nordiques/Avalanche organization on and off since 1992.

The Avalanche have veteran leadership and a solid defensive core to build from. The problem with the Avalanche is that they do not have the scoring punch they need to win big games, yet. Young players like 19-year-old Matt Duchene are giving the Avalanche what they need to win in the future. The only question for the Avalanche is how they will fill in the holes that will be left behind when older players such as Adam Foote and Stephane Yelle retire in the very near future.

This game is going to be a learning exercise for the Avalanche. They will see where they are at, and what they can become by playing a Western Conference elite team. The Canucks have beaten the Avalanche in all previous meetings this season including an 8-2 pasting in November. That pattern will continue for the foreseeable future, but pay attention to the way this game is played. The Canucks will play with confidence because they know how to beat the Avalanche. But the Avalanche will have a few surprises for the Canucks before this game is over.

Pick: Vancouver Canucks 4-2

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New Jersey Devils (34-15-1) vs. Ottawa Senators (28-21-4)

While most of the betting focus being on Super Bowl odds and NFL picks after Championship Weekend, many are overlooking key matchups in the NHL. The NHL season has just past its mid-point and the games now have more serious implications in the standings and some preview possible playoff matchups.
This Tuesday night one such matchup is taking place as Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils travel up to Ottawa to take on the surging Senators.

Bookmakers Review : *note lines are approximations as they have not been posted yet
Spread: Senators -1.5
Over/Under: 5.5
Money line: Ottawa-130 New Jersey +115

Why the Devils Will Win

The New Jersey Devils are led by the greatest goaltender of all-time in Martin Brodeur. This season he has eclipsed the all time Shutouts record (now standing at 108 and counting) and hasn’t seemed to lose a step. The fact that the Devils have only one overtime loss is a testament of Brodeur’s greatness in both clutch in-game moments and shootouts.
The Devils offense is spear-headed by LW Zach Parise (23 goals, 28 assists) and captain and RW Jamie Langenbrunner (14g, 31 a). C Travis Zajac (14g, 26a) has been a revelation this season providing both strong Power Play and Penalty Kill play for the Devils. The Devils strong defense is led in scoring by Andy Greene with Mike Mottau, Swedish Olympian Johnny Oduya and Bryce Salvador playing big minutes. The Devils play a lot of low scoring affairs as a result of their strong play as well as their legendary goalie.

Why the Senators Will Win

The Ottawa Senators are coming into this game versus the Devils on a six-game winning streak. Captain Daniel Alfredsson is having another solid year for the Senators leading them in scoring (14g, 26 a) while missing 11 games. A big reason for the improved play is the awakening of new Senator Alexei Kovalev from his catatonic state. Struggling most of the season, Kovalev has come on in the last two months and has registered at least one point during this six-game winning streak (1g, 6a). Unheralded Center Mike Fisher has been solid for the Senators (17g, 22a) and Defenseman Chris Phillips is putting up yet another solid season for them. The big reason for the recent solid play of the Senators however, are goalies Billy Elliot and rookie backup Mike Brodeur (Martin’s distant cousin). Neither net-minder has allowed over 2 goals during the Senators streak.

Who Will Win?

The Devils have been outstanding this season and their record shows it. The Devils play a disciplined game, and even without star forward Patrik Elias (concussion) can score the puck very well. The Senators defense is porous and could spell their demise in this one. The Devils are 3-0 against the Senators this season while outscoring them 10-6 in those contests. Expect more of the same in this one.

Final: New Jersey 3- Ottawa 1
Sports Betting Parlay: Take the Devils at +1.5 or money line, and the under.

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If this had an NFL betting equivalent, it would be Indianapolis-Minnesota as Washington will host Detroit on Tuesday night in a battle of two championship favorites. Washington is Minnesota, the explosive team with star players and a big home-ice advantage, while the Red Wings are Indy, a team that has already won a championship and has plenty of experience.

Detroit Red Wings vs Washington Capitals betting – Tuesday, January 19, 7:00 PM ET

The Red Wings have lost three of their last four, one of which was a 6-0 humiliation at the hands of the Islanders in New York, and then two shootout losses to Dallas and Chicago. Jimmy Howard is still getting used to being a No.1 goaltender in the NHL, especially on a team with such high expectations to NHL betting players, but the Red Wings have been inconsistent in front of him. Not that players like Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom, have been terrible, but they haven’t dominated as they have in recent years.

The Capitals have won six of their last seven, scoring four goals or more in each of those games. Jose Theodore is the latest goalie in the Washington revolving door in nets, but it almost doesn’t matter who is between the pipes when the Capitals take to the ice as the lead the NHL in goals scored by a wide margin. Alex Ovechkin has a six-game point-scoring streak right now, with 14 points during that time.

The Capitals should be the favorite in this NHL betting contest according to US sportsbook odds (US sportsbook reviews), and it’s due to an outstanding 16-3-3 record at home. The crowd at the Verizon Center is gaining a reputation of being one of the loudest arenas in the league, and it starts with the energetic play of Ovechkin, along with his linemates, Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom. The Red Wings have won seven of their last 10 against the Capitals, including a 3-2 win at home over the Capitals in Detroit on October 10th, and the Capitals will be out for some revenge. The Red Wings have suffered some injuries on the blue line, namely to Nicklas Kronwall, and you need all of your defensemen healthy if you’re going to keep up with the speedy Capitals.

Place your internet bet with Washington on Tuesday night.

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Minnesota Wild @ Los Angeles Kings
5Dimes Review Odds: Kings -135

The Minnesota Wild have won two straight games and they will try to stay hot against a team that has dominated them of late.

The Kings have won the last three meetings between the two teams and have won five of the last six matchups overall.

The Kings looked like they were finally getting healthy as Ryan Smyth and Wayne Simmonds made it back for the Kings last contest against the Phoenix Coyotes but the Kings then lost forward Justin Williams when he got tangled up with Ed Jovanovski.

It may be a tougher test than usual for the Kings who are going up against a hot Niklas Backstrom, who has won six of his last eight starts while posting a 1.87 goals against average in those games. Keep in mind that like the Wild, he struggles against the Kings. He’s 0-2-1 with a 3.10 in the last four meetings and was pulled halfway through their last contest.

Look for the Kings to get back on track after a rusty road trip and take care of a team that they have lots of success against.

Stanley Cup Picks: Kings -135

Phoenix Coyotes @ San Jose Sharks
Sports Handicapping Odds: Sharks -180

The San Jose Sharks are winners of four straight and will look to extend that streak against a team that has also been hot of late.

The Sharks have tried to pull away from the pack in the Pacific Division as they have in years past but the Phoenix Coyotes are one of the main reasons while they haven’t been able to. On Monday, the Coyotes can close the gap a little bit more with a win.

The Sharks won the division by 26 points last year but a surprising 24-13-2 start by the Coyotes, which has been one of the most surprising in the NHL.

But one thing stands out when handicapping this matchup. While the Coyotes have a fantastic nine-game home-winning streak, they have struggled on the road.

To contrast, the Coyotes have won just nine games all year on the road and just four of their last 12.

The Sharks will be ready for their division rivals at the Shark Tank and they’ll extend their own winning streak and the Coyotes road woes with another win.

Internet Bet Pick: Sharks -180

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San Jose Sharks @ Chicago Blackhawks

The San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks are locked in a battle for Western Conference supremacy and the two teams will step on the ice on Tuesday.

The Blackhawks have been fantastic this season and are riding a four-game winning streak heading into this game. On top of that, they have already defeated the Sharks twice this season including a 7-2 thrashing at the Shark Tank in the last meeting. Look for more of the same.

NHL Betting Odds: Blackhawks

Anaheim Ducks @ Colorado Avalanche

The Anaheim Ducks and Colorado Avalanche are doing some role playing this season but the two teams have swapped what they were perceived to be in the preseason. Anaheim was considered to be a decent playoff team in the West and they have been the worst team in the conference whereas the Avalanche were supposed to be the worst team around but they are in the playoff hunt.

Still, the Avs have struggled of late. Since starting 10-1-2, the Avs are just 10-10-4 since.

The Ducks have won three of their last four games and should be able to catch the Avs at a vulnerable time.

Sports Betting Pick: Ducks

Nashville Predators @ Vancouver Canucks

The good news for the Vancouver Canucks is that they have played a lot of home games early on in the 2009-10 NHL season and they have developed a record above .500 because of it. The bad news is that the Canucks have played more home games than almost anyone in the league and with a month-long road trip looming (stemming from the Winter Olympics being held in the city of Vancouver), the Canucks better figure out a way to win more home games or start winning on the road.

The Canucks will host the surprising Nashville Predators on Tuesday, who are one of the hottest teams in the NHL right now.

The Preds have won six of their last seven games and they have been lighting the lamp regularly during this hot streak. In their last nine wins, the Preds have scored at least four goals in each game and in their current hot streak, they have averaged 4.7 goals per game.

Sports wagering handicappers know that when a team is hot, you stick with them so stick with the Predators in this one.

Bet Jamaica Reviews Picks: Predators

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