NHL: let's get started...!!!!
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I ment to say pointsNHL Northwest Division Preview
Calgary Flames
Outlook: Jarome Iginla will be a closely watched man this season. With most teams assigning their top checker to the sniper, he'll be hard pressed to put up the same numbers this time around. Despite having the league's top scorer last year, the Flames ranked a dismal 18th overall on the power play and 21st in goal scoring (2.45 goals per game). Calgary jumped out to a fast start last season, but had its playoff hopes extinguished with a weak second half. If the Flames want to make the playoffs in this term, head coach Greg Gilbert will need to keep his team focused for the entire season. Calgary has a solid blue line and Roman Turek has proved to be a solid regular season goaltender in the past. If the Flames make the playoffs, he?ll be under the gun to perform. Nevertheless, I?ll be looking to play Calgary as a dog early, as they have a balanced team who can cause some damage.
Stanley Cup odds: 75-1
Prediction: 3rd in the Northwest Division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 32-37 (+20)
Spread Record: 39-43-0
O/U Record: 35-35-12
Penalty Killing: 81.03% (Ranked 28th)
Power Play: 15.08% (Ranked 17th)
Defense: GA Avg 2.67 (Ranked 21st)
Offense: GF Avg 2.45 (Ranked 21st)
Vs. +500 Teams: 21-24-10 (Ranked 17th)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 11-11-2 (Ranked 27th)
Colorado Avalanche
Outlook: The Colorado Avalanche has one of the best groups of players in the league. And the keys to this Stanley Cup contender have all returned, including Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic, Rob Blake and Patrick Roy. If there?s a weakness on this Avalanche team, it?s on the blue line. Veteran blueliners Blake and Adam Foote will need help from guys like Greg de Vries and the newly acquired Derek Morris. Colorado was good for those bettors who like the 'under' play last season, as the 'under' held a record of 54-40-9. That's not surprising, given the Avs' allowed just 2.18 per game, a league-best mark. Plus, one of the Colorado's strongest assets is their GM Pierre Lacroix, who?s been a trade deadline magician in recent years, always grabbing the top available player. If the Avs are one or two players short come April, it's little doubt he'll be able to round out the roster.
Stanley Cup odds: 5-1
Prediction: 1st in the Northwest Division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 54-42 (+300)
Spread Record: 53-50-0
O/U Record: 40-54-9
Penalty Killing: 86.20 (Ranked 5th)
Power Play: 16.07 (Ranked 11th)
Defense: GA Avg 2.18 (Ranked 1st)
Offense: GF Avg 2.58 (Ranked 15th)
Vs. +500 Teams: 26-23-3 (Ranked 11th)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 19-5-5 (Ranked 4th)
Edmonton Oilers
Outlook: The Edmonton Oilers biggest problem last season was they played in the wrong conference. Had the Oilers played in the Eastern conference, their 92 points would have been enough to make the playoffs. Edmonton will skate into another strong Western Conference field led by determined young guns Ryan Smyth and Mike Comrie. And with the new rule changes, the Oilers? great team speed may turn into powerplay opportunities, especially early in the season as players and referees aren't on the same page. Craig MacTavish will have to find new ways to get more offense out of his group of players, as they ranked 20th in scoring last season, averaging 2.50 goals per game. Look at playing 'under' in Oilers games again this season, as appeared 43 times last year.
Stanley Cup odds: 30-1
Prediction: 4th in the Northwest Division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 39-31 (+50)
Spread Record: 47-35-0
O/U Record: 27-43-12
Penalty Killing: 85.67% (Ranked 11th)
Power Play: 15.40% (Ranked 15th)
Defense: GA Avg 2.21 (Ranked 2nd)
Offense: GF Avg 2.50 (Ranked 20th)
Vs. +500 Teams: 21-19-9 (Ranked 14th)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 17-9-3 (Ranked 16th)
Minnesota Wild
Outlook: It?s very difficult for an expansion team to find instant success. However, GM Doug Riseborough has one of the best coaches in the league in defensive specialist Jacques Lemaire, whose 'trap' is anything but 'Wild', yet extremely effective. Minnesota isn't as deep as most other teams and need to focus on converting on the powerplay. As their man-advantage unit ranked a dismal 23rd overall in the league last season. Nevertheless, in order to find victories, the Wild are going to have to outwork their opponents on most nights, and they?re still a few years away of being a playoff team.
Stanley Cup odds: 100-1
Prediction: 5th in the Northwest Division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 26-44 (-825)
Spread Record: 36-46-0
O/U Record: 42-33-7
Penalty Killing: 82.77% (Ranked 23rd)
Power Play: 15.05% (Ranked 18th)
Defense: GA Avg 2.90 (Ranked 24th)
Offense: GF Avg 2.37 (Ranked 25th)
Vs. +500 Teams: 15-28-9 (Ranked 23rd)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 11-7-3 (Ranked 20th)
Vancouver Canucks
Outlook: If the Canucks play this season like they played last year's second half, many teams will be looking up the standings for Vancouver. The team posted the NHL's best second half mark (26-9-3) last year. In fact, the Canucks were the league's most potent offensive unit, as they lit the lamp 254 times. That's an average of 3.1 goals per game. They were also the league's best squad against teams with sub-.500 records (21-5-2). Markus Naslund and Todd Bertuzzi will lead the Canucks into action again this season. And bigger things are expected from the Sedin twins this season. Veteran right-winger Trevor Linden will add some key leadership to a young club. Plus, it seems the chemistry on the team is great. Vancouver's biggest weakness is in goal, where Dan Cloutier is still trying to prove himself, but hasn?t been the most consistent goaltender over the last few years. The Canucks were the bettor?s best friends last season, as they collected +1735 SU.
Stanley Cup odds: 22-1
Prediction: 2nd in the Northwest Division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 44-36 (+1735)
Spread Record: 46-42-0
O/U Record: 42-34-12
Penalty Killing: 84.00% (Ranked 16th)
Power Play: 18.57% (Ranked 4th)
Defense: GA Avg 2.64 (Ranked 19th)
Offense: GF Avg 3.05 (Ranked 2nd)
Vs. +500 Teams: 21-25-5 (Ranked 19th)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 21-5-2 (Ranked 1st)
Calgary Flames
Outlook: Jarome Iginla will be a closely watched man this season. With most teams assigning their top checker to the sniper, he'll be hard pressed to put up the same numbers this time around. Despite having the league's top scorer last year, the Flames ranked a dismal 18th overall on the power play and 21st in goal scoring (2.45 goals per game). Calgary jumped out to a fast start last season, but had its playoff hopes extinguished with a weak second half. If the Flames want to make the playoffs in this term, head coach Greg Gilbert will need to keep his team focused for the entire season. Calgary has a solid blue line and Roman Turek has proved to be a solid regular season goaltender in the past. If the Flames make the playoffs, he?ll be under the gun to perform. Nevertheless, I?ll be looking to play Calgary as a dog early, as they have a balanced team who can cause some damage.
Stanley Cup odds: 75-1
Prediction: 3rd in the Northwest Division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 32-37 (+20)
Spread Record: 39-43-0
O/U Record: 35-35-12
Penalty Killing: 81.03% (Ranked 28th)
Power Play: 15.08% (Ranked 17th)
Defense: GA Avg 2.67 (Ranked 21st)
Offense: GF Avg 2.45 (Ranked 21st)
Vs. +500 Teams: 21-24-10 (Ranked 17th)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 11-11-2 (Ranked 27th)
Colorado Avalanche
Outlook: The Colorado Avalanche has one of the best groups of players in the league. And the keys to this Stanley Cup contender have all returned, including Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic, Rob Blake and Patrick Roy. If there?s a weakness on this Avalanche team, it?s on the blue line. Veteran blueliners Blake and Adam Foote will need help from guys like Greg de Vries and the newly acquired Derek Morris. Colorado was good for those bettors who like the 'under' play last season, as the 'under' held a record of 54-40-9. That's not surprising, given the Avs' allowed just 2.18 per game, a league-best mark. Plus, one of the Colorado's strongest assets is their GM Pierre Lacroix, who?s been a trade deadline magician in recent years, always grabbing the top available player. If the Avs are one or two players short come April, it's little doubt he'll be able to round out the roster.
Stanley Cup odds: 5-1
Prediction: 1st in the Northwest Division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 54-42 (+300)
Spread Record: 53-50-0
O/U Record: 40-54-9
Penalty Killing: 86.20 (Ranked 5th)
Power Play: 16.07 (Ranked 11th)
Defense: GA Avg 2.18 (Ranked 1st)
Offense: GF Avg 2.58 (Ranked 15th)
Vs. +500 Teams: 26-23-3 (Ranked 11th)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 19-5-5 (Ranked 4th)
Edmonton Oilers
Outlook: The Edmonton Oilers biggest problem last season was they played in the wrong conference. Had the Oilers played in the Eastern conference, their 92 points would have been enough to make the playoffs. Edmonton will skate into another strong Western Conference field led by determined young guns Ryan Smyth and Mike Comrie. And with the new rule changes, the Oilers? great team speed may turn into powerplay opportunities, especially early in the season as players and referees aren't on the same page. Craig MacTavish will have to find new ways to get more offense out of his group of players, as they ranked 20th in scoring last season, averaging 2.50 goals per game. Look at playing 'under' in Oilers games again this season, as appeared 43 times last year.
Stanley Cup odds: 30-1
Prediction: 4th in the Northwest Division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 39-31 (+50)
Spread Record: 47-35-0
O/U Record: 27-43-12
Penalty Killing: 85.67% (Ranked 11th)
Power Play: 15.40% (Ranked 15th)
Defense: GA Avg 2.21 (Ranked 2nd)
Offense: GF Avg 2.50 (Ranked 20th)
Vs. +500 Teams: 21-19-9 (Ranked 14th)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 17-9-3 (Ranked 16th)
Minnesota Wild
Outlook: It?s very difficult for an expansion team to find instant success. However, GM Doug Riseborough has one of the best coaches in the league in defensive specialist Jacques Lemaire, whose 'trap' is anything but 'Wild', yet extremely effective. Minnesota isn't as deep as most other teams and need to focus on converting on the powerplay. As their man-advantage unit ranked a dismal 23rd overall in the league last season. Nevertheless, in order to find victories, the Wild are going to have to outwork their opponents on most nights, and they?re still a few years away of being a playoff team.
Stanley Cup odds: 100-1
Prediction: 5th in the Northwest Division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 26-44 (-825)
Spread Record: 36-46-0
O/U Record: 42-33-7
Penalty Killing: 82.77% (Ranked 23rd)
Power Play: 15.05% (Ranked 18th)
Defense: GA Avg 2.90 (Ranked 24th)
Offense: GF Avg 2.37 (Ranked 25th)
Vs. +500 Teams: 15-28-9 (Ranked 23rd)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 11-7-3 (Ranked 20th)
Vancouver Canucks
Outlook: If the Canucks play this season like they played last year's second half, many teams will be looking up the standings for Vancouver. The team posted the NHL's best second half mark (26-9-3) last year. In fact, the Canucks were the league's most potent offensive unit, as they lit the lamp 254 times. That's an average of 3.1 goals per game. They were also the league's best squad against teams with sub-.500 records (21-5-2). Markus Naslund and Todd Bertuzzi will lead the Canucks into action again this season. And bigger things are expected from the Sedin twins this season. Veteran right-winger Trevor Linden will add some key leadership to a young club. Plus, it seems the chemistry on the team is great. Vancouver's biggest weakness is in goal, where Dan Cloutier is still trying to prove himself, but hasn?t been the most consistent goaltender over the last few years. The Canucks were the bettor?s best friends last season, as they collected +1735 SU.
Stanley Cup odds: 22-1
Prediction: 2nd in the Northwest Division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 44-36 (+1735)
Spread Record: 46-42-0
O/U Record: 42-34-12
Penalty Killing: 84.00% (Ranked 16th)
Power Play: 18.57% (Ranked 4th)
Defense: GA Avg 2.64 (Ranked 19th)
Offense: GF Avg 3.05 (Ranked 2nd)
Vs. +500 Teams: 21-25-5 (Ranked 19th)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 21-5-2 (Ranked 1st)
last one:
NHL Northeast Division Preview
Boston Bruins
Outlook: The Boston Bruins made the playoffs for the first time in three years last season and instead of keeping their nucleus together, they lost one of their top snipers, Bill Guerin, to Dallas and didn?t re-sign goaltender Byron Dafoe. Although Dafoe isn?t considered to be among the elite list of ?A? goaltenders in the league, he did lead the Bruins to the playoffs and first overall in the Eastern Conference with 101 points last season.
Let?s not forget, the Bruins let Jason Allison go the year before last, and you can only imagine the firepower the B?s would have if they had Guerin and Allison now.
As for goaltending, the Bruins have to rely on Steve Shields who lost his starting job to Jean Sebastien Giguere in Anaheim last season and the unproven John Grahame will serve as backup.
Head coach Robbie Ftorek, who finished third in voting for the coach of the year award last season, will have to improve his power play unit. It ranked a wretched 23rd last season, despite being the sixth-ranked offensive team in the league. The Bruins need to develop a steady quarterback on the blueline, if they want to succeed in that department.
The 'over' may be the way to go for the first few weeks when looking at the Bruins, as their goaltending will be questionable, but they have the bodies to put the puck in the net. Look for Sergei Samsonov and Joe Thornton to carry this team.
Stanley Cup odds: 10-1
Prediction: Third in the Northeast division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 45-36 (-20.0)
Spread Record: 46-42-0
O/U Record: 40-38-10
Penalty Killing: 86.43% (Ranked 4th)
Power Play: 14.76% (Ranked 23rd)
Defense: GA Avg 2.51 (Ranked 14th)
Offense: GF Avg 2.88 (Ranked 6th)
Vs. +500 Teams: 25-18-4 (Ranked 3rd)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 18-6-2 (Ranked 6th)
Buffalo Sabres
Outlook: Baseball is not the only league with troubled franchises, and right now the Sabres are in ownership limbo. Nevertheless, the Sabres are just like the Expos and Twins, they play hard and bring their lunch box for each game.
Buffalo?s strength is from the backend-out. Goaltenders Martin Biron and Mika Noronen are the backbone of the Sabres and combined for a 2.44 goals against average. They combined to be the best stopping tandem on any penalty-killing unit and helped the Sabres earn the third-best man-disadvantage unit in the NHL last season.
One of the main reasons Lindy Ruff and company missed the playoffs for the first time in 5 years last season was a lack of scoring punch. The team's power play ranked 27th overall. One aspect of the Sabres game which deserves credit is their team toughness, as they have a bunch of gritty forwards who like to dish it out and a solid group of stay-at-home defensemen. Due to of their team's lack of scoring and defensive style play, you always have to consider the 'under' when looking at Buffalo.
Stanley Cup odds: 40-1
Prediction: Fifth in the Northeast Division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 35-36 (-390)
Spread Record: 40-42-0
O/U Record: 31-38-13
Penalty Killing: 86.51% (Ranked 3rd)
Power Play: 13.36% (Ranked 27th)
Defense: GA Avg 2.43 (Ranked 10th)
Offense: GF Avg 2.59 (Ranked 14th)
Vs. +500 Teams: 25-23-6 (Ranked 15th)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 10-12-5 (Ranked 29th)
Montreal Canadiens
Outlook: When players know they have a No. 1 goaltender backing them up, the team knows it has a chance to win each and every game. Montreal?s goaltender Jose Theodore won the Hart trophy last season as the leagues MVP and practically carried the Habs in last season's playoffs. And he stole the first round from the Bruins.
What Montreal lacks in size, makes it up in team speed. Although they only ranked 17th overall last season in goal scoring, expect the Canadiens to be more offensive this season, as Koivu is back for a full season and Richard Zednik is will be out to earn his freshly signed lucrative contract. Don't forget Yanick Perreault, as the puck has eyes when he is around the net. I?ll be looking at playing the Habs when they are home dogs this season, because with Theodore in nets, you have a shot every night!
Stanley Cup odds: 35-1
Prediction: Second in the Northeast Division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 42-40 (+1245)
Spread Record: 51-43-0
O/U Record: 38-43-13
Penalty Killing: 85.01% (Ranked 14th)
Power Play: 15.47% (Ranked 14th)
Defense: GA Avg 2.63 (Ranked 18th)
Offense: GF Avg 2.54 (Ranked 17th)
Vs. +500 Teams: 19-22-10 (Ranked 18th)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 17-9-2 (Ranked 17th)
Ottawa Senators
Outlook: The Senators fell victim to Ontario-rival Toronto once again, and were ousted from the playoffs by the Leafs for the third straight season. This year, nothing short of a Conference Final berth with will be accepted by Sens faithful. On paper, Ottawa has built a solid squad in a small market, but the team consistently crashes and burns in the playoffs.
New GM John Muckler is looking to bring toughness to his squad and acquired Dennis Bonvie in the off-season. The Senators are deep up front with players who have had trouble showing up come April, but are fantastic in the regular season. Defensively, Ottawa?s deep in that area as well, with the likes of Chris Phillips, Zdano Chara, and Wade Redden.
Backstop Patrick Lalime quieted his critics last season with a stellar performance during the regular and playoffs.
Stanley Cup odds: 15-1
Prediction: 1st in the Northeast Division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 46-39 (-530)
Spread Record: 49-45-0
O/U Record: 41-42-11
Penalty Killing: 84.48% (Ranked 15th)
Power Play: 16.58% (Ranked 10th)
Defense: GA Avg 2.40 (Ranked 8th)
Offense: GF Avg 2.89 (Ranked 5th)
Vs. +500 Teams: 24-20-6 (Ranked 10th)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 15-7-3 (Ranked 15th)
Toronto Maple Leafs
Outlook: The biggest question mark on the Leafs is between the pipes. Sensational goalkeep Curtis Joseph fled for Motown and now the Leafs will have to depend on Eddie Belfour and Trevor Kidd to hold the fort in Toronto.
I believe the Leafs are in deep trouble in goal this year, when you consider Belfour lost his job to Marty Turco in Dallas at the end of the season and Trevor Kidd was a back up to Roberto Luongo and was 4-16-5. Mats Sundin will have to carry much of the offensive load this season and will need guys like Shane Corson, Darcy Tucker and Alexander Mogilny to pick up their games. Expect to go against the Leafs early in the season until the oddsmakers adjust their numbers, because the Leafs will be overrated early.
Stanley Cup odds: 10-1
Prediction: 4th in the Northeast Division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 52-40 (+670)
Spread Record: 53-49-0
O/U Record: 42-41-19
Penalty Killing: 83.41% (Ranked 21st)
Power Play: 15.22% (Ranked 16th)
Defense: GA Avg 2.50 (Ranked 13th)
Offense: GF Avg 2.88 (Ranked 7th)
Vs. +500 Teams: 25-18-9 (Ranked 4th)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 18-7-1 (Ranked 8th)
NHL Northeast Division Preview
Boston Bruins
Outlook: The Boston Bruins made the playoffs for the first time in three years last season and instead of keeping their nucleus together, they lost one of their top snipers, Bill Guerin, to Dallas and didn?t re-sign goaltender Byron Dafoe. Although Dafoe isn?t considered to be among the elite list of ?A? goaltenders in the league, he did lead the Bruins to the playoffs and first overall in the Eastern Conference with 101 points last season.
Let?s not forget, the Bruins let Jason Allison go the year before last, and you can only imagine the firepower the B?s would have if they had Guerin and Allison now.
As for goaltending, the Bruins have to rely on Steve Shields who lost his starting job to Jean Sebastien Giguere in Anaheim last season and the unproven John Grahame will serve as backup.
Head coach Robbie Ftorek, who finished third in voting for the coach of the year award last season, will have to improve his power play unit. It ranked a wretched 23rd last season, despite being the sixth-ranked offensive team in the league. The Bruins need to develop a steady quarterback on the blueline, if they want to succeed in that department.
The 'over' may be the way to go for the first few weeks when looking at the Bruins, as their goaltending will be questionable, but they have the bodies to put the puck in the net. Look for Sergei Samsonov and Joe Thornton to carry this team.
Stanley Cup odds: 10-1
Prediction: Third in the Northeast division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 45-36 (-20.0)
Spread Record: 46-42-0
O/U Record: 40-38-10
Penalty Killing: 86.43% (Ranked 4th)
Power Play: 14.76% (Ranked 23rd)
Defense: GA Avg 2.51 (Ranked 14th)
Offense: GF Avg 2.88 (Ranked 6th)
Vs. +500 Teams: 25-18-4 (Ranked 3rd)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 18-6-2 (Ranked 6th)
Buffalo Sabres
Outlook: Baseball is not the only league with troubled franchises, and right now the Sabres are in ownership limbo. Nevertheless, the Sabres are just like the Expos and Twins, they play hard and bring their lunch box for each game.
Buffalo?s strength is from the backend-out. Goaltenders Martin Biron and Mika Noronen are the backbone of the Sabres and combined for a 2.44 goals against average. They combined to be the best stopping tandem on any penalty-killing unit and helped the Sabres earn the third-best man-disadvantage unit in the NHL last season.
One of the main reasons Lindy Ruff and company missed the playoffs for the first time in 5 years last season was a lack of scoring punch. The team's power play ranked 27th overall. One aspect of the Sabres game which deserves credit is their team toughness, as they have a bunch of gritty forwards who like to dish it out and a solid group of stay-at-home defensemen. Due to of their team's lack of scoring and defensive style play, you always have to consider the 'under' when looking at Buffalo.
Stanley Cup odds: 40-1
Prediction: Fifth in the Northeast Division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 35-36 (-390)
Spread Record: 40-42-0
O/U Record: 31-38-13
Penalty Killing: 86.51% (Ranked 3rd)
Power Play: 13.36% (Ranked 27th)
Defense: GA Avg 2.43 (Ranked 10th)
Offense: GF Avg 2.59 (Ranked 14th)
Vs. +500 Teams: 25-23-6 (Ranked 15th)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 10-12-5 (Ranked 29th)
Montreal Canadiens
Outlook: When players know they have a No. 1 goaltender backing them up, the team knows it has a chance to win each and every game. Montreal?s goaltender Jose Theodore won the Hart trophy last season as the leagues MVP and practically carried the Habs in last season's playoffs. And he stole the first round from the Bruins.
What Montreal lacks in size, makes it up in team speed. Although they only ranked 17th overall last season in goal scoring, expect the Canadiens to be more offensive this season, as Koivu is back for a full season and Richard Zednik is will be out to earn his freshly signed lucrative contract. Don't forget Yanick Perreault, as the puck has eyes when he is around the net. I?ll be looking at playing the Habs when they are home dogs this season, because with Theodore in nets, you have a shot every night!
Stanley Cup odds: 35-1
Prediction: Second in the Northeast Division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 42-40 (+1245)
Spread Record: 51-43-0
O/U Record: 38-43-13
Penalty Killing: 85.01% (Ranked 14th)
Power Play: 15.47% (Ranked 14th)
Defense: GA Avg 2.63 (Ranked 18th)
Offense: GF Avg 2.54 (Ranked 17th)
Vs. +500 Teams: 19-22-10 (Ranked 18th)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 17-9-2 (Ranked 17th)
Ottawa Senators
Outlook: The Senators fell victim to Ontario-rival Toronto once again, and were ousted from the playoffs by the Leafs for the third straight season. This year, nothing short of a Conference Final berth with will be accepted by Sens faithful. On paper, Ottawa has built a solid squad in a small market, but the team consistently crashes and burns in the playoffs.
New GM John Muckler is looking to bring toughness to his squad and acquired Dennis Bonvie in the off-season. The Senators are deep up front with players who have had trouble showing up come April, but are fantastic in the regular season. Defensively, Ottawa?s deep in that area as well, with the likes of Chris Phillips, Zdano Chara, and Wade Redden.
Backstop Patrick Lalime quieted his critics last season with a stellar performance during the regular and playoffs.
Stanley Cup odds: 15-1
Prediction: 1st in the Northeast Division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 46-39 (-530)
Spread Record: 49-45-0
O/U Record: 41-42-11
Penalty Killing: 84.48% (Ranked 15th)
Power Play: 16.58% (Ranked 10th)
Defense: GA Avg 2.40 (Ranked 8th)
Offense: GF Avg 2.89 (Ranked 5th)
Vs. +500 Teams: 24-20-6 (Ranked 10th)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 15-7-3 (Ranked 15th)
Toronto Maple Leafs
Outlook: The biggest question mark on the Leafs is between the pipes. Sensational goalkeep Curtis Joseph fled for Motown and now the Leafs will have to depend on Eddie Belfour and Trevor Kidd to hold the fort in Toronto.
I believe the Leafs are in deep trouble in goal this year, when you consider Belfour lost his job to Marty Turco in Dallas at the end of the season and Trevor Kidd was a back up to Roberto Luongo and was 4-16-5. Mats Sundin will have to carry much of the offensive load this season and will need guys like Shane Corson, Darcy Tucker and Alexander Mogilny to pick up their games. Expect to go against the Leafs early in the season until the oddsmakers adjust their numbers, because the Leafs will be overrated early.
Stanley Cup odds: 10-1
Prediction: 4th in the Northeast Division.
Inside the numbers
ATS Money Line: 52-40 (+670)
Spread Record: 53-49-0
O/U Record: 42-41-19
Penalty Killing: 83.41% (Ranked 21st)
Power Play: 15.22% (Ranked 16th)
Defense: GA Avg 2.50 (Ranked 13th)
Offense: GF Avg 2.88 (Ranked 7th)
Vs. +500 Teams: 25-18-9 (Ranked 4th)
Vs. ?500 Teams: 18-7-1 (Ranked 8th)
