NHL Post-Olympics Futures Best Bets

NHL Post-Olympics Futures Best Bets:

The NHL season resumes on Wednesday with 28 of the 32 teams in action. If last season is any indication, we could see many high-scoring games on Wednesday. Last season, coming out of the 4 Nations Face-Off, 10 of the 14 games on the first day back had a combined six goals or more, and eight of those games had a combined seven or more goals. The home and road teams split the14 games. Nine of the 14 games were decided by two goals or more, and underdogs won nine of the 14 games. Home underdogs were 4-1.

Teams have anywhere from 25-27 games remaining in their NHL season. In the Eastern Conference, I feel very confident that the top three teams in the Atlantic Division (Tampa, Montreal, Detroit) are all locked into a playoff spot. I will say the same for the Carolina Hurricanes, who currently own the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. 

Of the remaining Eastern Conference teams currently in a playoff spot (Penguins, Islanders, Sabres and Bruins), I feel the best about the Buffalo Sabres making the playoffs and putting an end to their 14-year playoff drought. The biggest question facing the Pittsburgh Penguins is the status of Sidney Crosby. The 38-year-old Crosby missed the final two games of the Olympics for Canada, and his status is still unknown. Regardless of when Crosby returns, according to the website, Tankathon.com, Pittsburgh has the toughest remaining schedule of all 32 NHL teams. Until we have clarity on the status of the Penguins’ captain, sportsbooks are holding off on posting any odds on making and missing the postseason. No team plays more back-to-backs than the Islanders, who have seven remaining.

Two Eastern Conference teams currently on the outside looking in that I believe are playoff worthy are the Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets won 11 of their final 12 games entering the Olympic break, 10 of those 11 wins came following the dismissal of head coach Dean Evason and the hiring of Rick Bowness. Ottawa has a bit of a tougher road to climb. The current NHL standings indicate they are six points back of a playoff spot, but because they trail the teams they are chasing in regulation wins (first tiebreaker), they are seven back. One other advantage for the Blue Jackets is that they are both five points back (including tiebreaker), both third place in the Metropolitan Division and the second wild card spot. Below are the odds of making and missing the playoffs for the Eastern Conference teams that I have discussed. 

Out west, the top three teams in the Central Division (Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota) are going to remain in the top three; it’s just a matter of the order of finish. The Utah Mammoth are sitting in a comfortable position as one of the Western Conference wild card teams, and while they only have a five-point lead on the Nashville Predators, the general feeling is that the Preds are going to be sellers and not buyers at the deadline. Utah has the sixth-easiest remaining schedule among the 32 teams (according to Tankathon.com). 

Vegas, Edmonton and Seattle currently own the top three spots in the Pacific Division, and Anaheim currently owns the second wild card spot. I say, Vegas and Edmonton will make the playoffs, so that leaves Seattle, Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Jose fighting for the two remaining playoff spots. The Sharks have the easiest remaining schedule, followed by the Kings and Ducks. 

The Kings come out of the break with six consecutive home games, with only the Calgary Flames as the only non-playoff team they will face. If they can come away being “NHL 500,” they will likely find themselves still in playoff contention. The Ducks also kick off the post-Olympic break with an extended homestand. Their seven-game homestand has three non-playoff teams, and the Sharks six game homestand features three non-playoff teams. If you like the Sharks to make the playoffs, then I suggest you add to your portfolio, Macklin Celebrini to win the Most Valuable Player (Hart Trophy). If San Jose makes the playoffs, no question in my mind, he is the league MVP. FanDuel has the best price at +490.