Flyers, Bruins prepare for outdoor skate at Fenway
The NHL is on its way back into the limelight, thanks in part to the popularity of the Winter Classic which will take place this season at Fenway Park in Boston on Friday. Even the weather is cooperating with temps forecast in the low-20s and a solid chance of snow for the affair. The host Bruins and visiting Philadelphia Flyers seem to be gearing up for the contest and enter this week having each won three straight games.
Hockey is definitely on an upswing in the sports marketplace. Of course, the NHL put itself deep in the hole over the past 30 years with overexpansion, dubious broadcasting decisions and labor strife between owners and players.
But the game’s profile has been resuscitated in part through the success of the Winter Classic. The next outdoor game is January 1 at Fenway Park between the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers; Friday’s forecast calls for a 50 percent chance of snow and temperatures in the low 20s. Perfect hockey weather.
While they put the final touches on the ice surface at Fenway, we’re here giving you the latest news you can use while handicapping the NHL.
Why, Mr. Anderson? Why?
The Colorado Avalanche were the feel-good story of the whole league in October before levelling off at 5-6-3 in November. And now they’re back, winning seven of their last 10 games to stay on top of the Northwest Division at 22-12-6 (4.59 units).
But how long can the Avalanche keep this up without their No. 1 goaltender? Craig Anderson was a scratch in Saturday’s 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars (+106) due to an undisclosed illness.
Anderson (.917 save percentage) is Reason No. 1 for Colorado’s reversal of fortune this year. However, and improbably enough, Peter Budaj (.927 SV%) is outperforming Anderson in a relief role after struggling in his previous four seasons between the pipes.
Budaj stood strong earlier this month when Anderson missed some time with a head injury, winning two of his four starts and allowing a total of five goals. As long as Budaj can maintain that level of play, the Avs will be good value against the betting odds until Anderson’s return.
Vanek Switch
This has been a bit of a down year for Thomas Vanek, the talented winger for the Buffalo Sabres (23-11-2, 1.01 units). But the good times may be back now that Vanek has returned from a week off with a sore abdomen – reportedly the consequence of taking too many pucks to the gut.
Vanek scored a goal against the Ottawa Senators (+172) in Saturday’s 3-2 shootout loss, then added an assist in Sunday’s 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues (-113).
The Sabres were 2-1-1 without their two-time 40-goal scorer, maintaining their lead atop the Northeast Division with 50 points (five more than the Boston Bruins). Buffalo has tremendous depth at the forward positions as well as one of the league’s top goalies in Ryan Miller (.935 SV%).
But keep an eye on Derek Roy’s health – he left Saturday’s game with an undisclosed upper-body injury and did not travel with the team to St. Louis. Roy leads the team in assists with 21 and points with 30.
Ryan’s Hope
The Los Angeles Kings (22-13-3, 6.37 units) have also managed reasonably well without top-line left winger Ryan Smyth (nine goals in 23 games), who missed almost six weeks of action with a rib injury. Smyth finally made it back into action on Saturday against the Phoenix Coyotes and was immediately put back onto the first line with Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams.
Unfortunately for the Kings, Williams (eight goals in 33 games) was knocked out of the game with a broken leg and the Coyotes (-123) prevailed 3-2. Los Angeles has lost three of its last four games while scoring a total of just seven goals.
Although Williams was stretchered off the ice, it has yet to be determined how severe the injury is or how much time he will miss. The Kings are still waiting on the return of Jarret Stoll (10 goals in 33 games) from a groin injury; coach Terry Murray told the Los Angeles Times he believed Stoll would be back in the lineup “soon.”
Goals will be at a premium in L.A. until Stoll is healthy. The Kings are competitive again because of their goal scoring, which has jumped from 2.46 per game last year (No. 27 in the NHL) to 2.84 this year (No. 9 overall).
The NHL is on its way back into the limelight, thanks in part to the popularity of the Winter Classic which will take place this season at Fenway Park in Boston on Friday. Even the weather is cooperating with temps forecast in the low-20s and a solid chance of snow for the affair. The host Bruins and visiting Philadelphia Flyers seem to be gearing up for the contest and enter this week having each won three straight games.
Hockey is definitely on an upswing in the sports marketplace. Of course, the NHL put itself deep in the hole over the past 30 years with overexpansion, dubious broadcasting decisions and labor strife between owners and players.
But the game’s profile has been resuscitated in part through the success of the Winter Classic. The next outdoor game is January 1 at Fenway Park between the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers; Friday’s forecast calls for a 50 percent chance of snow and temperatures in the low 20s. Perfect hockey weather.
While they put the final touches on the ice surface at Fenway, we’re here giving you the latest news you can use while handicapping the NHL.
Why, Mr. Anderson? Why?
The Colorado Avalanche were the feel-good story of the whole league in October before levelling off at 5-6-3 in November. And now they’re back, winning seven of their last 10 games to stay on top of the Northwest Division at 22-12-6 (4.59 units).
But how long can the Avalanche keep this up without their No. 1 goaltender? Craig Anderson was a scratch in Saturday’s 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars (+106) due to an undisclosed illness.
Anderson (.917 save percentage) is Reason No. 1 for Colorado’s reversal of fortune this year. However, and improbably enough, Peter Budaj (.927 SV%) is outperforming Anderson in a relief role after struggling in his previous four seasons between the pipes.
Budaj stood strong earlier this month when Anderson missed some time with a head injury, winning two of his four starts and allowing a total of five goals. As long as Budaj can maintain that level of play, the Avs will be good value against the betting odds until Anderson’s return.
Vanek Switch
This has been a bit of a down year for Thomas Vanek, the talented winger for the Buffalo Sabres (23-11-2, 1.01 units). But the good times may be back now that Vanek has returned from a week off with a sore abdomen – reportedly the consequence of taking too many pucks to the gut.
Vanek scored a goal against the Ottawa Senators (+172) in Saturday’s 3-2 shootout loss, then added an assist in Sunday’s 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues (-113).
The Sabres were 2-1-1 without their two-time 40-goal scorer, maintaining their lead atop the Northeast Division with 50 points (five more than the Boston Bruins). Buffalo has tremendous depth at the forward positions as well as one of the league’s top goalies in Ryan Miller (.935 SV%).
But keep an eye on Derek Roy’s health – he left Saturday’s game with an undisclosed upper-body injury and did not travel with the team to St. Louis. Roy leads the team in assists with 21 and points with 30.
Ryan’s Hope
The Los Angeles Kings (22-13-3, 6.37 units) have also managed reasonably well without top-line left winger Ryan Smyth (nine goals in 23 games), who missed almost six weeks of action with a rib injury. Smyth finally made it back into action on Saturday against the Phoenix Coyotes and was immediately put back onto the first line with Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams.
Unfortunately for the Kings, Williams (eight goals in 33 games) was knocked out of the game with a broken leg and the Coyotes (-123) prevailed 3-2. Los Angeles has lost three of its last four games while scoring a total of just seven goals.
Although Williams was stretchered off the ice, it has yet to be determined how severe the injury is or how much time he will miss. The Kings are still waiting on the return of Jarret Stoll (10 goals in 33 games) from a groin injury; coach Terry Murray told the Los Angeles Times he believed Stoll would be back in the lineup “soon.”
Goals will be at a premium in L.A. until Stoll is healthy. The Kings are competitive again because of their goal scoring, which has jumped from 2.46 per game last year (No. 27 in the NHL) to 2.84 this year (No. 9 overall).