Hockey Tips!
As the NHL season returns, we are once again presented
with a tremendous oppportunity in a "below the radar"
sport that not many people follow...
This presents us with many weak lines and betting
opportunities.
1) The Anaheim Ducks are everyone's choice to hoist
the Stanley Cup this year. Now, while Brian Burke's
squad were three wins short of a trip to the Stanley
Cup Final, and with the addition of Chris Pronger
anchoring a blue line that already has Scott
Niedermayer, a spot to the Final does not seem out of
the question. But from a betting perspective, we will
find many opportunites where the Ducks are overvalued.
2) I believe there is tremendous value with the San
Jose Sharks. Now the Sharks have set a goal of
winning a Stanley Cup this year, especially after Joe
Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo's career seasons. The
major question put to the San Jose squad is who is
the team's starting goalie, Evgeni Nabokov or Vesa
Toskala?
3) One of the sea of changes this year, is that the
preeminent UNDER teams last year, the Calgary Flames
may present us with OVER opportunities this year. The
Flames had all the components for another run at the
Stanley Cup last year, but could not score any goals.
Jarome Iginla needed a solid center to fill the void
left by former linemate Craig Conroy. So, the Flames
went out and acquired winger Alex Tanguay and putting
him back in the middle, head coach Jim Playfair has a
potentially dangerous tandem for opposing defenders.
Also, the defense has six solid defenders and a Vezina
Trophy-winning netminder in Miikka Kiprusoff, look for
Calgary to contend again.
4) Conversely, we will look for a TREMENDOUS dropoff
for the Stanley Cup runners up, the Edmonton Oilers.
Defenseman Chris Pronger and center Michael Peca were
gone in the blink of an eye after the Oilers' lengthy
run to the Stanley Cup Final. I feel that GM Kevin Lowe
HAS NOT done enough to make them contenders next
spring, and that Playoff hero Fernando Pisani could
have a greater offensive role, but he could also be a
playoff wonder, and believe hs will drop off this
year. -- Bob Donahue
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