With the NHL betting season almost upon us, we thought it would be wise to take a look back on what happened last year in the abbreviated 48-game campaign.
Here’s a refresher on the top puck line, over and under bets in the National Hockey League in 2013.
Best Teams Against The Spread
Anaheim (29-19, $2201)
The Ducks were one of the NHL’s best road teams a year ago, losing just five times in regulation. Nine of Anaheim’s 30 victories came as underdogs, including two wins at Chicago (cashing +145 both times), St. Louis (+169) and Vancouver (+165).
Ottawa (32-16, $2009)
The surprising Senators racked up most of their points at home, losing only six times in regulation at Scotiabank Place. Twenty-seven of Ottawa’s 48 games were decided by one goal, making them a great bet on the +1.5 puckline.
Pittsburgh (26-22, $1936)
Usually hard to find value with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and company, but the Pens still turned a nice profit for their backers last season. Much of that money was made in March, when Pittsburgh went 15-0. The Penguins were 12-2 in one-goal games last year.
Best Teams To Bet Over The Total
Tampa Bay (25-19)
The Lightning averaged 3.1 goals for (third in the league) and 3.1 goals against (26th), making for a lot of high-scoring contests. Oddsmakers caught on pretty quickly, setting a total of 6.0 in one-third of Tampa’s games.
NY Islanders (26-21)
New York ranked seventh in goals for (2.8) and 21st in goals against (2.8). Islanders games were pretty inconsistent when it came to the number of goals scored. New York scored seven against the Leafs, allowed seven against the Flyers, tallied six against the Habs and allowed six to the Penguins. But the Isles were also involved in seven games that featured a shutout and six games that ended with a 2-1 score.
Dallas (24-19)
The Stars were middle of the pack in offence (12th with 2.7) but did allow the 24th-most goals in the league (2.9). One big factor in Dallas’ over/under record is the fact that oddsmakers set a total of 5.0 in 26 of 48 games, although heavy juice was often associated with the over.
Best Teams To Bet Under The Total
Ottawa (11-30)
The biggest key to the Senators’ success last year might have been playing the most boring games in the NHL. Ottawa averaged a paltry 2.3 goals per game in 2013 (27th), but more than made up for it by allowing the second-least goals per game (2.1). In 27 of Ottawa’s games, either the Sens or their opponents were held to one goal or less. That makes for a lot of unders. Ottawa’s first 15 games of the season had totals of 5.5, but oddsmakers lowered the total to 5.0 for almost all of the Sens’ remaining games.
Edmonton (15-26)
The Oilers were 18th in goals for (2.6) and 19th in goals against (2.7), so why were they the second-best under bet last season? Maybe it’s because Edmonton has a reputation as being a flashy, young, talented, run-and-gun squad. The Oilers were anything but to begin the shortened 2013 campaign, going over the total in just three of their first 18 games (many of which were lined at 5.5).
Boston (16-28)
Boston was the third-most stingiest team last year, allowing just 2.2 goals per contest. And, despite ranking second in the league with 32.4 shots a game, the Bruins averaged only 2.6 goals for (13th). For some reason, oddsmakers listed a total of 5.5 on the majority of Bruins games, rather than 5.0. Eight of those times, Boston games featured 5 goals but still went under.
Honourable mention: San Jose (15-23)