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NHL Betting Tips of the Week

Minnesota Wild Turning Into Minor Miracle

No team saw a bigger drop in its Stanley Cup betting odds than the Minnesota Wild. At +4500 a week ago, Minnesota is now at +2400. I have little to no faith that the Wild can actually win the Cup, but what has happened lately is still something of a minor miracle.

The Wild looked absolutely dead not long ago, firing coach Bruce Boudreau and selling at the NHL trade deadline. But after beating Anaheim in overtime Sunday night on the road, Minnesota jumped into the first wild-card position in the Western Conference.

And, who are we to say the Wild would have no chance in the playoffs if Minnesota makes it? Let’s not forget: The four wild-card teams last season all eliminated division champions in the first round of the postseason last spring. Minnesota makes you nervous if you’re an opponent because it not only has momentum, it has a real veteran group with a lot of playoff experience.

Unlike previous years, the Wild would probably just have a “we got nothing to lose” attitude. That could free up the veterans even more and make the team that much more dangerous. After all, nobody thought the Wild had a chance to be in the playoff conversation at this point.

I hope everybody took a NHL futures betting flyer on them at +4500. At +2400, it’s less attractive, but the way the Wild is playing, those odds might go even lower soon.

Buy on Philadelphia Flyers Now

The Philadelphia Flyers have quietly ascended up the league standings and are tied for the Metropolitan Division lead entering Monday’s play. New skills coach Angelo Ricci has made a big difference in some of the Flyers' forwards having better years and Carter Hart has emerged as a bonafide top goalie.

But the biggest reason for the Flyers' turnaround? That has to be coach Alain Vigneault, who has a proven history of getting teams back on track. He did it in Vancouver and with the Rangers; it's happening again in Philly. I would say: Go right ahead and take the Flyers, at +1000, to win the Cup.

Those odds have really gone down of late, so hopefully many of you bought at a more affordable number. The way they're playing right now, I wouldn't bet too much against them. They're for real.

Sportsbooks Like Avs Or Knights In West

The Blues are the defending Stanley Cup champs, have the most points in the Western Conference and should have star wing Vladimir Tarasenko back before the playoffs.

But oddsmakers have St. Louis as an underdog to win the Western Conference. Colorado and Vegas entered Sunday at +350 NHL odds to win the West with St. Louis at +375.

Colorado is something of a darling for bookies because of flashy high-end, young talent. The Avs are going to get a bunch of really good players back from injury by the middle of the month, such as Mikko Rantanen, Nazem Kadri and Cale Makar, to name a few. Despite their injury problems all season, the Avs are contending for the best record in the West and appear to be a shoo-in for home-ice advantage in at least the first round of the playoffs.

It’s a bit more curious as to why Vegas is co-favorite to win the West rather than the Blues. The Golden Knights are good and will make the playoffs but their defense is iffier than previous years. The Blues have allowed 20 fewer goals than Vegas, for instance, and scored only four fewer (224-220).

I think Vegas is overpriced on that bet. Colorado? Maybe not. It’s a very good team.