[newb411breaker19]

what are the most important stats/trends to look at when handicapping hockey?

[Max Levine]

Apart from news (injuries, who will be scratched, who's hot and who's not, etc.), I personally look for the emotional factor. How the teams have been playing against each other. Despite the off year, you can look at past confrontations. You just need to take into consideration players added to each team's roster. There are some good rivalries and some games follow a certain pattern.

I also look at the way a team plays at home as opposed to playing on the road. Some teams tend to emphasize on defense on the road while others are less nervous and take more risks.

Max