Saturday NHL Odds
(The Spread) – What are the key matchups in the NHL on Saturday? Continue reading for NHL hockey opening lines, odds and totals for January 8, 2011.
One matchup that oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com believe should be a hotly contested affair is at Scotiabank Place, where the Ottawa Senators will entertain the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7:00PM EST. Ottawa enters the contest with a 16-19-6 record, while Tampa Bay sports a mark of 24-12-5.
Although the Lightning have a decidedly better record, they are reeling a bit after an 8-1 loss to the Penguins in their last game. A couple of embarrassing moments haunted Tampa Bay as it gave up a goal to Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin just seven seconds into the game, while Lightning star Steven Stamkos later lost an edge on a penalty shot and never managed to put an attempt on net.
Prior to the loss to the Penguins, the Lightning had been playing outstanding hockey as they came in having won five of their previous six games. Ottawa, on the other hand, has lost four in a row including two in overtime with one of those being a 3-2 defeat to Chicago Friday night.
According to the latest trends, Tampa Bay is 220-311 against the spread since 1996 when playing a team with a losing record. Stamkos leads the Lightning into action as he has 31 goals and 25 assists. Ottawa veteran Daniel Alfredsson leads his squad with 13 goals and 13 assists.
Among the other top matchups Saturday night is the Montreal Canadiens (22-16-3) hosting the Boston Bruins (21-12-6) at 7:00PM EST. Oddsmakers have the Canadiens as a 120 favorite, while the Bruins are listed at +100. The over-under is set at 5. The Pittsburgh Penguins (26-12-4) are home against the Minnesota Wild (20-15-5) at 7:00PM. Pittsburgh is a -170 favorite and Minnesota is +145, while the over-under is 5.
For a complete list of NHL Odds for Saturday, January 8, 2011, see below.
1 New Jersey Devils +210 (5)
2 Philadelphia Flyers -250
3 New York Islanders +175 (6)
4 Colorado Avalanche -120
5 Boston Bruins +100 (5)
6 Montreal Canadiens -120
9 Tampa Bay Lightning -120 (5.5)
10 Ottawa Senators +100
11 Minnesota Wild +145 (5)
12 Pittsburgh Penguins -170
13 Nashville Predators +150 (5)
14 San Jose Sharks -170
17 Buffalo Sabres 17 +110 (5)
18 Phoenix Coyotes -130
21 Columbus Blue Jackets +165 (5.5)
Los Angeles Kings -185
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