NHL Betting News: Fade Canada
NHL Betting News: Fade Canada
There's no questioning the history Canada brings to the ice, nor the passion Canadians have for the sport. But in terms of betting, backing teams from north of the border is very much a losing proposition.
If Canada is so damn good at hockey, why can’t they cover?
The NHL is a never-ending source of angst for true-blue Canadian puckheads. Hockey is nothing short of a religion in the land of caribou and Kraft Dinner; the league’s expansion into the Sun Belt and the transfer of franchises from Winnipeg and Quebec City to Phoenix and Colorado weighs heavily on Canada’s collective psyche. And don’t get Don Cherry started about the Swedes.
No matter what part of the world you call home, Canadians represent a huge chunk of the competition you’ll find in the NHL’s online gambling marketplace. And just because they know their hockey doesn’t mean they’re not prone to overvaluing their favorite teams. Here’s how the six remaining clubs from the Great White North are doing this year in the standings and against the puckline.
That’s enough red ink to fill Hudson Bay. The Senators are clearly the most disappointing of the Canadian teams, but that’s what happens when your defense loses Wade Redden to the New York Rangers in free agency. Redden was one of Ottawa’s top blueliners with 44 Player Contribution points. The Sens also shed Joe Corvo (44 PC points) in a trade with Carolina last February, getting Cory Stillman as part of the package – and Stillman promptly signed with the Florida Panthers in July.
Ottawa has its charms, and Redden certainly never wanted to leave; GM Bryan Murray hastened Redden’s departure by trying to trade him last year. But luring free agents is always a chore for Canadian clubs. Vancouver is an exception as an international city with a temperate climate and a history of success with elite Swedish players, from Thomas Gradin to Markus Naslund and now Mats Sundin. Otherwise, there’s a serious issue with talent heading south. It’s practically your duty to exploit the betting odds and fade Canadian teams, even if you bleed red and white.
Detroit Red Wings (-160) at Anaheim Ducks (+140)
Wednesday, Jan 14, 10:00 p.m. (ET)
The Red Wings are having their own troubles this year against the puckline at 14-28 ATS, dropping 9.87 units. But Detroit is humming right along on top of the Central Division at 29-7-6 SU. The Wings lead the NHL in scoring with 3.74 goals per game; that’s enough to win a lot of games, but not enough to cover when No. 1 goalie Chris Osgood (.885 save percentage) is struggling the way he is this season. He’s played in both of Detroit’s games against Anaheim this year: a 5-4 overtime loss at The Pond and a 2-1 victory at Joe Louis Arena.
The 22-17-5 Ducks have fared much better at the pay window, going 21-23 ATS for a profit of 3.29 units. But Anaheim only has a goal differential of +2 on the season compared to +39 for Detroit. The Ducks are No. 16 in the 30-team league in goals scored at 2.80 per game, and No. 14 in goals against at 2.77. Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere is taking some of the flack – he was benched last week against the Kings – but Giguere (.907 SV%) isn’t nearly as much of a problem as Anaheim’s team defense. The Ducks are allowing 31.5 shots per game; only five teams are more generous in their own end.
Anaheim will be without center Todd Marchant (broken finger) for the next two weeks. That shouldn’t slow the Ducks down too much – Marchant has just two goals this year in 42 games and is minus-4 on the plus-minus scale. His reputation as an effective penalty-killer is the only thing keeping him employed at the NHL level these days. Detroit is relatively healthy as well with bruising winger Darren McCarty (hernia) the only injury of note
There's no questioning the history Canada brings to the ice, nor the passion Canadians have for the sport. But in terms of betting, backing teams from north of the border is very much a losing proposition.
If Canada is so damn good at hockey, why can’t they cover?
The NHL is a never-ending source of angst for true-blue Canadian puckheads. Hockey is nothing short of a religion in the land of caribou and Kraft Dinner; the league’s expansion into the Sun Belt and the transfer of franchises from Winnipeg and Quebec City to Phoenix and Colorado weighs heavily on Canada’s collective psyche. And don’t get Don Cherry started about the Swedes.
No matter what part of the world you call home, Canadians represent a huge chunk of the competition you’ll find in the NHL’s online gambling marketplace. And just because they know their hockey doesn’t mean they’re not prone to overvaluing their favorite teams. Here’s how the six remaining clubs from the Great White North are doing this year in the standings and against the puckline.
- Vancouver Canucks: 22-18-5 SU, 24-20 ATS (+1.95 units)
- Montreal Canadiens: 25-11-6 SU, 16-26 ATS (minus-3.57 units)
- Calgary Flames: 26-12-4 SU, 19-23 ATS (minus-5.24 units)
- Edmonton Oilers: 21-18-3 SU, 19-23 ATS (minus-7.04 units)
- Toronto Maple Leafs: 16-21-6 SU, 20-22 ATS (minus-9.32 units)
- Ottawa Senators: 14-21-6 SU, 17-24 ATS (minus-11.42 units)
That’s enough red ink to fill Hudson Bay. The Senators are clearly the most disappointing of the Canadian teams, but that’s what happens when your defense loses Wade Redden to the New York Rangers in free agency. Redden was one of Ottawa’s top blueliners with 44 Player Contribution points. The Sens also shed Joe Corvo (44 PC points) in a trade with Carolina last February, getting Cory Stillman as part of the package – and Stillman promptly signed with the Florida Panthers in July.
Ottawa has its charms, and Redden certainly never wanted to leave; GM Bryan Murray hastened Redden’s departure by trying to trade him last year. But luring free agents is always a chore for Canadian clubs. Vancouver is an exception as an international city with a temperate climate and a history of success with elite Swedish players, from Thomas Gradin to Markus Naslund and now Mats Sundin. Otherwise, there’s a serious issue with talent heading south. It’s practically your duty to exploit the betting odds and fade Canadian teams, even if you bleed red and white.
Detroit Red Wings (-160) at Anaheim Ducks (+140)
Wednesday, Jan 14, 10:00 p.m. (ET)
The Red Wings are having their own troubles this year against the puckline at 14-28 ATS, dropping 9.87 units. But Detroit is humming right along on top of the Central Division at 29-7-6 SU. The Wings lead the NHL in scoring with 3.74 goals per game; that’s enough to win a lot of games, but not enough to cover when No. 1 goalie Chris Osgood (.885 save percentage) is struggling the way he is this season. He’s played in both of Detroit’s games against Anaheim this year: a 5-4 overtime loss at The Pond and a 2-1 victory at Joe Louis Arena.
The 22-17-5 Ducks have fared much better at the pay window, going 21-23 ATS for a profit of 3.29 units. But Anaheim only has a goal differential of +2 on the season compared to +39 for Detroit. The Ducks are No. 16 in the 30-team league in goals scored at 2.80 per game, and No. 14 in goals against at 2.77. Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere is taking some of the flack – he was benched last week against the Kings – but Giguere (.907 SV%) isn’t nearly as much of a problem as Anaheim’s team defense. The Ducks are allowing 31.5 shots per game; only five teams are more generous in their own end.
Anaheim will be without center Todd Marchant (broken finger) for the next two weeks. That shouldn’t slow the Ducks down too much – Marchant has just two goals this year in 42 games and is minus-4 on the plus-minus scale. His reputation as an effective penalty-killer is the only thing keeping him employed at the NHL level these days. Detroit is relatively healthy as well with bruising winger Darren McCarty (hernia) the only injury of note