What We've Learned About the Canadian NHL Teams So Far
We are now one week into the NHL season for the Canadian teams. It seems hard to believe, but time truly has flown by.
The Calgary Flames, by far, have gotten off to the best start at 3-0. By contrast, there is the Vancouver Canucks. At 0-3-1, the Canucks and Bruce Boudreau face the reality of expectations. So far, they are failing later in games. There is more below about Vancouver.
Let’s dig into some of these teams, pondering our NHL betting for the future.
Calgary Flames
This column is to not look at all seven teams every week but spotlight the most noticeable ones. Brad Treliving had the most eventful off-season among general managers. Through one week, his Calgary Flames are paying off the best.
Calgary stands on top of the Pacific Division and is one of the few undefeated teams left in the league. The Flames are averaging four goals a game, led by Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau. No one has more than one goal. The balance has been a key to their early success.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs must like the movie “Groundhog Day.” Last season, they sputtered off to a 2-2 start with strange losses to Ottawa and San Jose. This year, Toronto upped the ante for Canadian sports bettors by losing to Arizona at home. Goaltending has been an issue, but Toronto should start to kick it into gear.
Some Ontario sports betting players will panic . The Maple Leafs are an excellent regular-season team. Yes, their players are profitable.
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers have lost two out of three games early in the season. But, it's OK. Their one win was a stirring three-goal comeback against the Vancouver Canucks. As usual, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are getting their points. The depth scoring will kick in with regular spurts, and the team's defense/goaltending will sometimes improve. That is just how the Oilers operate.
Indeed by American Thanksgiving, Edmonton will be well into a playoff spot. Until then, there will be some rough times, especially for bettors. However, there is value too in betting against their defense.
Vancouver Canucks
Bruce Boudreau and the Canucks were rolling along at a playoff pace (32-15-10 in their last 57 contests) last year but simply ran out of time. Vancouver’s management kept things about where they were at. For the Canucks and their fans, that was good news. Then, the season started.
Maybe, the law of averages caught up with them. However, what has occurred in the first week is unprecedented (it has never happened). The Canucks have lost multiple-goal leads in four straight games and then lost each game (0-3-1). Giving up 18 goals, even with Thatcher Demko, is not an ideal start. One of the biggest reasons is their penalty kill. It operates at just 57.1%, while the league average is 78.7% (three goals yielded higher).
Three goals do not sound like a lot, but it is in four games. Vancouver, like Minnesota, are teams that cannot overcome a poor penalty kill. Fixing that will be essential in their fortunes as October and November roll along.
Next week we will look at all the teams, and do not forget a “Coaches Hot Seat” column may just be in the offing. Thanks again for reading.
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