The Los Angeles Kings have earned more than double the points at home than on the road this season. (Photo credit: © Bridget Samuels)
Home ice advantage is factored into every NHL betting line, based on the notion that teams are more likely to win a game at home than on the road.
But while statistics prove there is an advantage to playing at home, some teams don’t benefit from playing at home as much as others.
Some teams also tend to struggle on the road more than others do, which the NHL betting lines also might not completely take into account.
Here’s a look at the three worst home and road teams in NHL betting so far in the 2014-15 season. Rather than just going by overall win/loss records at home and on the road, we’ve chosen teams with the greatest disparity between home points and road points to determine our rankings (stats as of January 18, 2015):
WORST HOME TEAMS
1. Winnipeg (25 points at home, 33 on road)
The MTS Centre has a reputation of being one of the most difficult places for visiting teams, but the Jets are just 11-9-3 there this year.
That record pales in comparison to the 14-5-5 road mark Winnipeg has compiled this year.
2. Vancouver (23 points at home, 30 on road)
The Canucks are a solid 14-7-2 away from home, but just 11-8-1 at GM Place.
Vancouver has recently lost at home as favourites of -197 (Calgary), -153 (Florida), -171 (Detroit) and -145 (NY Rangers).
3. Columbus (20 points at home, 21 on road)
The Jackets were a solid 22-15-4 at home last year, but they’ve been unable to duplicate that success this season at Nationwide Arena.
Columbus is 9-12-2 at home, compared to 10-9-1 on the road.
WORST ROAD TEAMS
1. Los Angeles (35 points at home, 16 on road)
The Kings didn’t win two Stanley Cups in three years by struggling on the road.
Yet, that’s what LA is doing this year. They’re 15-6-5 at Staples Centre, but just 5-8-6 on the highway.
2. Carolina (22 points at home, 13 on road)
Everyone knows Carolina stinks this year, but it’s more accurate to say the Hurricanes stink on the road.
The Canes are above .500 (10-9-2) while playing in Raleigh, but 5-16-3 everywhere else.
3. Buffalo (22 points at home, 9 on road)
The Sabres are threatening for the coveted last place in the NHL standings, thanks to their play on the road.
Buffalo is an awful 4-17-1 away from Marine Midland Centre, but a respectable 10-13-2 on home ice.