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If you are following NHL scores, you are well aware of the history of the Stanley Cup, which may be the coolest trophy in professional sports and the traditions that come with the Cup are well documented.
The Stanley Cup is named for Lord Stanley of Preston, who was the Governor General of Canada and donated the Cup in 1893 to the Montreal Hockey Club. Since 1927, the Stanley Cup has been awarded to the champions of the National Hockey League, and the team with the most victories is the Montreal Canadiens, who have won a staggering 24 Cups in their storied history, while Toronto is next in line with 13 and Detroit comes in with 11. Last season’s Cup was won by Boston, who defeated the team that most price per head services had as the favorites, Vancouver, in a seven-game series. Seven defunct teams have won the Stanley Cup, and there are six current teams that have never had the chance to play for Lord Stanley’s Cup. It is a very difficult task to repeat as champions in the NHL, and the last team to do so was Detroit, back in 1997 and 1998.
The Stanley Cup playoffs is arguably the toughest of all the postseasons in professional sports, but the winner gets to drink champagne out of the Cup (a tradition that began in 1896), and the image of the winning captain hoisting the Cup and skating around the rink is one that NHL fans look forward to every year. Make sure to take history into account before making your sport betting pick for the Stanley Cup.
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The NHL world was abuzz on Tuesday morning after Sidney Crosby returned to the Pittsburgh lineup with a vengeance against the New York Islanders, and he should be ready to go on Saturday when the Penguins head to Montreal, where Crosby always seems to get up for the team he idolized as a kid.
Penguins Canadiens Odds – Saturday, 7:00 PM ET
Crosby had two goals and two assists as the Penguins rolled to a 5-0 rout of the Islanders at home on Monday, and while they did very well with Crosby on the sidelines to start the season, they’re now price per head sports favorites to win the Stanley Cup. It was only one game, but Crosby picked up where he left off and it isn’t a stretch to put the Penguins at or near the top of the list.
The Canadiens were blanked 1-0 at home in Boston on Monday, as they failed to solve Tim Thomas, and Montreal ranks in the bottom half of the league in terms of scoring, so that’s no surprise. From Wednesday to Wednesday, the Canadiens play four games, with three on the road, so they’ll want to bring their “A” game at home on Saturday night.
Montreal should be slight home favorites against Pittsburgh, who are 2-3 SU in their last five trips to the Bell Center, with three games falling under the posted total. Crosby has 11 goals and 26 points in 19 games against Montreal, and if Monday was any indication, he’s back and the Penguins should really start to take off. Bet on Pittsburgh in your online sportsbooks.
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The Edmonton Oilers have been a major surprise in the early part of the NHL season, and with all of their young players, they’re one of the most exciting teams in the league. However, they’re currently slumping and the Oilers will hope to be out of it by the time Saturday rolls around, when they’ll go for their first win in three tries against their rivals from Calgary.
Oilers Flames Odds – Saturday, 10:00 PM ET
The Oilers had dropped four of their last five after a loss to the Flames on Saturday, and many bookies that use price per head services are backing off Edmonton, whose offense is struggling with Taylor Hall on the sidelines. The defense is regressing as well and the Oilers have two chances to fix things as they host Carolina and Colorado this week.
The Flames followed up their big win in Edmonton with a 5-1 loss in Vancouver, and backup goalie Henrik Karlsson is still looking for his first win of the season. Calgary will also host Carolina and Colorado this week as the teams make their trips through western Canada, and the Flames will be looking to get to .500 before the Oilers come to down.
Calgary should be the home favorites with two wins over Edmonton this season, and they’ve won nine in a row at the Saddledome over their neighbors to the north. Four of the last five have gone over the posted total, and you can expect a couple of fights as well. Both teams are a little shorthanded due to injuries, but taking Calgary at home is the play to make at sports betting sites.
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NHL betting players have watched Boston suffer through their Stanley Cup hangover, but they’re starting to come around this week and on Saturday, they’ll welcome Buffalo to town in what should be another close game.
Sabres Bruins Odds – Saturday, 7:00 PM ET
The Sabres will host Winnipeg and Ottawa this week, and the Ottawa game is the first half of a back-to-back, so fatigue could be an issue. While Ryan Miller is the key to Buffalo’s price per head odds this year, Jhonas Enroth beat Calgary (home) and Ottawa (road, shootout), so it’ll be interesting to see who is in goal for this game. If we had to make a guess, we’d say Miller gets a chance in a game against the Stanley Cup champs.
The Bruins only play on Thursday, hosting Edmonton, and the previous three games yielded 18 goals and three victories. You couldn’t blame the hangover on one player, it was a group effort, but now the Bruins seem to be awake and they’re ready to defend their Cup. Tyler Seguin, in particular, has been playing some inspired hockey and he has four goals in his last two games ahead of the Edmonton game.
NHL odds should favor the Bruins at home, where they are 3-2 SU and 3-0-2 ATS in their last five meetings with the Sabres, with three games going over the total (along with two pushes). Four of those five games have been decided by a goal, and this should be another close affair, but the refocused Bruins should be your sport betting online pick.
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