In preparation for this meeting, an eight-man committee was created.  Consisting of Jim Rutherford (Carolina), Brian Burke (Toronto), Doug Wilson (San Jose), Ken Holland (Detroit), Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia),  Joe Nieuwendyk (Dallas), Lou Lamoriello (New Jersey), and Darcy Regier (Buffalo), this committee has been researching footage from the last four months of NHL games.  Their aim was to come to a decision on what is legal and what is not when it comes to head shots.

The group presented their findings at the GM meeting, and though there is nothing conclusive at the moment, the general consensus seems to be that there must be harsher penalties for hitting players that were ‘deemed vulnerable’.  There has also been some discussion about further penalization for repeat offenders.  It is something that has been on the minds of several involved in the sport, particularly Holland who has been very verbal about the subject for more than a year.

The group is confident that they will reach a deal regarding this issue by Wednesday.  Once a decision is made, it will have to be approved by the competition committee of players and team executives.  It would then go before the NHL’s Board of Governors.

In the mean time, the season rolls on with some midweek action.  There are a few games slated for Wednesday, including the following:

Dallas Stars v Buffalo Sabres
This will be a game for the goalies.  Sabres’ Ryan Miller gained international attention for his amazing performances throughout the Olympic games, and Dallas’ Marty Turco turned a few heads with his stellar performance against Washington on Monday.  History is on Buffalo’s side in this game though, as they have dominated Dallas the past four times these teams have meet.  They’ll be looking to hand the Stars a fifth consecutive loss on the home ice this Wednesday.  BetUS is offering the following odds:
Puck Line
Stars: +1 ½ -210
Sabres: -1 ½ +170
Moneyline
Stars: +160
Sabres: -190

New York Rangers v New Jersey Devils
Watch for the Devils to get back on track in their first game on the home ice in a month.  They’ve lost their lead in the Atlantic Division as well as losing six of their last eight games.  This includes a shocking shutout loss to the worst team in the league - the Edmonton Oilers - on Sunday night in which they were outshot 35-22.  Hopefully they’ll be able to recover in their game against New York. Though the Rangers will be hoping to gain some ground as well; expect a tough team.  They’ve lost three in a row and are sitting just outside the top eight.  With the playoffs on the line, they’ll be hungry for a win.  BetUS is offering the following odds:
Puck Line
Rangers: +1 ½ -215
Devils:-1 ½ +175
Moneyline
Rangers: +145
Devils: -165

There are plenty of other games set for this Wednesday, March 10, so get to BetUS to put down a wager.

The Canadian women hit the US hard right from the start of the game.  In fact, they scored both of their goals in the first period, and the rest of the game went without either team putting one in the net.  Marie-Philip Poulin started things off for the Canadians at the 13:55 mark with a shot off the point.  She followed it up just three minutes later with the second and final goal of the game.

Though the Americans turned up the heat throughout the second and third periods, they were unable to catch up, and the Canadian women took the gold medal with their 2-0 victory.

Though the women put on a fine show, the men played one of the best games I’ve seen throughout these Olympic games.  It looked like the Canadians were looking for a little retribution for the defeat the USA handed them in the qualifying round.  Jonathan Toews put the first one past USA goalie Ryan Miller at the 12:50 mark in the first period.  Though, with the gold medal on the line, the American defense picked it up and managed to hold off the Canadians for the remainder of the first period.

The 1-0 score lasted through more than half of the second period of the game with both teams playing superb defense.  But Corey Perry knocked one in at 7:13, putting the Canadians up 2-0.  Feeling the pressure, the Americans weren’t about to give up and quickly answered back with a goal from veteran Ryan Kesler to put USA up on the board.  This is when things started to get even more interesting.

The third period was all defense for the Americans.  They held off the Canadian onslaught for the entire period, and, still a goal down, they called a time out with less than 30 seconds left in the game.  Whatever was said during that timeout worked because, in a moment of ice hockey brilliance, they came back and scored a goal!  With just seconds remaining, they hit the Canadian net hard, and Zach Parise knocked in a rebound to tie up the game.  It was heading into overtime.

After a much-needed sweep from the Zamboni, overtime saw both teams working the ice even harder if that’s possible.  Both teams were playing nearly perfect hockey with the defense, once again, working overtime for the Americans.  But just a single slip up in this game is costly, which was proven when the puck just slipped past Brian Rafalski’s stick to set up Sidney Crosby’s game winning goal at the 7:40 mark.  It put Canada up 3-2 and gave them the gold medal.

The final medal count ended up with the USA on top (37), Germany (30), Canada (26), Norway (23), and Austria rounding out the top five (16).  It was a brilliant winter games particularly for ice hockey, but the NHL season must resume.  All players have returned from representing their respective countries to complete the regular season and head into the playoffs.  March 2 kicks off with 12 games, and BetUS is offering odds:

Montreal Canadiens v Boston Bruins
Puck Line
Canadiens: +1 ½ -210
Bruins: -1 ½ +170

Carolina Hurricanes v Toronto Maple Leafs
Puck Line
Hurricanes: +1 ½ -255
Maple Leafs: -1 ½ +215

Florida Panthers v Atlanta Thrashers
Puck Line
Panthers: +1 ½ -250
Thrashers: -1 ½ +210

Chicago Blackhawks v New York Islanders
Puck Line
Blackhawks: -1 ½ +165
Islanders: +1 ½ -200

Philadelphia Flyers v Tampa Bay Lightning
Puck Line
Flyers: -1 ½ +220
Lightning: +1 ½ -260

The USA hit the ice running, scoring the first goal of the game just 41 seconds in after Brian Rafalski knocked one past goalie Martin Brodeur.  The game remained 1-0 until Eric Staal put away the first goal for Canada at the 8:53 mark.  But, the Americans quickly answered back, once again reclaiming their lead with another goal from Rafalski less than a minute later.
The score was 2-0 going into the second, but not for long.  Canada came on strong and the persistence paid off.  Dany Heatley knocked in a goal to tie up the score. But, once again, the US answered back.  Chris Drury regained the lead for the Americans with another goal at the 16:46 mark.  This was followed by three penalties against the Canadians that sent Staal, Sidney Crosby, and Corey Perry to the box respectively.  And though the Americans had ample opportunity they were not able to capitalize on the power play.

The third period got off to a start with another goal for Team USA when Jamie Langenbrunner knocked one in to put the Americans up 4-2.  The Canadians, not willing to give up, took advantage of a power play and scored a goal at the 16:51 mark.  Just one point down and feeling the end of the game approaching, the Canadians really turned up the heat in the final two minutes of the game.  Play remained largely in the US defensive zone with the Canadians hammering the net with shots.  They even pulled their goalie to get the 6th man on the ice, but it was to no avail.  The US shut down everything they had, and then sealed the deal with a sweeping shot from Ryan Kesler on an empty Canadian net that put the final score at 5-3.

Though the young guns on the USA offense put on quite a show, it was goalie Ryan Miller that was the real hero of this game.  In one of the most impressive performances of these winter games so far that saw the Canadians out shoot the Americans 45-23, Miller made an amazing 42 saves.

This win gives the USA - who have been doubted throughout these games for being too young and inexperienced - a 3-0 record and puts them at the top of Group A with 9 points.  They’re guaranteed a spot in the Quarterfinals while Canada will now go on to face Germany in the Playoff Qualifications.

In other Olympic hockey news, the USA women have also continued to impress.  They’re plowing through the competition after just handing Sweden a 9-1 loss.  Both teams are well on their way to a gold medal.  Let’s just hope that they continue to play excellent hockey.  And, as these games continue, BetUS is offering odds on all the upcoming games.

Men’s Odds:
Canada v Germany
Puck Line
Canada: -4 ½ -135
Germany: +4 ½ -105

Czech Republic v Latvia
Puck Line
Czech: -3 ½ -105
Latvia: +3 ½ -135

Slovakia v Norway
Puck Line
Slovakia: -3 ½ -105
Norway: +3 ½ -135
Moneyline
Slovakia: -5000
Norway: +1200

Switzerland v Belarus
Puck Line
Switzerland: -1/2 -130
Belarus: +1/2 -110
Moneyline
Switzerland: -225
Belarus: +175

The women kicked off their quest for gold with a massive 12-1 win over China.  Veteran defender Angela Ruggerio picked up the first goal of the game just two minutes into the first period.  It was to set the tone for the game in which the USA heavily dominated the Chinese.  Star forward Jenny Potter picked up a hat-trick, two assists, and put away her 26th Olympic goal, making her the highest scorer on a team full of talent.

They followed their first win with another massive win over Russia.  The USA managed to shut their opponents out with a 13-0 victory.  Again, they dominated the game right from the start with Monique Lamoureux slapping in the first goal at the 2:19 mark in the first period.  This was followed up by 4 more goals in the first.  They also managed to capitalize on a power play with Ruggerio, Kelli Stack, Natalie Darwitz, and Lamoureux all picking up goals.   The USA will now go on to face Finland on February 18.  BetUS is offering the following odds:

USA: -6 ½ -145
Finland: +6 ½ +105

China: pk +115
Russia: pk -155

The men also got off to a strong start by handing Switzerland a 3-1 loss.  In what turned out to be a pretty great matchup, Bobby Ryan got things rolling for the Americans with the first goal of the game at the 18:59 mark.  It was followed by a quick goal by David Backes five minutes into the second.  Ryan Malone wrapped up the game with the third goal for the US in the second while Roman Wick managed to grab the only goal for the Swiss around the middle of the third period.

It was an excellent start for Team USA as many have been wondering how the team would perform. It is the youngest team in the tournament, sporting no less than 16 players under the age of 26.  And, though many of them are making their first appearance in the Olympic games, the pressure doesn’t seem to be a factor.  The USA will play their second game of tournament on February 18 against Norway.  BetUS is offering the following odds:

Switzerland: +5 -130
Canada: -5 -110

Slovakia: +2 ½ -125
Russia: -2 ½ -115

Belarus: +3 ½ -125
Sweden: -3 ½ -120

Czech Republic: -3 -145
Germany: -2 ½ +105

As far as the competition goes, as mentioned in last week’s post, Canada is posing the biggest threat.  Their women’s team has gotten off to an equally big start as the USA as they trounced Slovakia 18-0.  They followed it up with a 10-1 win over Switzerland.  The men have also faired well, starting their Olympic bid off with an 8-0 win over Norway.  There is little doubt in my mind that these two women’s teams will meet up for an excellent gold medal game, but it will interesting to see if the USA men’s inexperience will start to show as the games progress.  Or will their underdog status inspire them?

Check out BetUS to put down a wager before the games get started on February 19.

There has been a lot of talk over this year’s hockey squad.  For the most part, this year’s team is pretty young and has no Olympic experience.

The offense is comprised of players like Patrick Kane, Zach Parise, Phil Kessel, and Bobby Ryan.  All four are under the age of 26, but they’ve proven that they can compete with veterans in the NHL as each has been helping their teams through the NHL standings.  Patrick Kane in particular has made a splash in Chicago by not only helping the Blackhawks to the top of the rankings but also making them into real Stanley Cup contenders for the first time in years.  Though, there is some question about whether these young superstars will be able to keep up on an international level.  They’re facing some tough competition, but my guess is that veterans like Scott Gomez and Chris Drury will be able to give the offense some of the leadership it needs in order to do well.

The defense is also largely made up of youngsters with Erik Johnson, Ryan Suter, and Ryan Whitney.  Though there seems to be more of a balance with players like Brian Rafalski, Michael Komisarek, and Paul Martin rounding out the lines.  Not only is it a good combination of youth and experience, but many of these players know how to shoot.  They’re going to give any offense a pretty tough game.   I’m happy to say that the USA has defensive coverage where it’s needed most: in the net.  This is the first year in a long time that the team has some great goaltenders.  Ryan Miller and Tim Thomas will be minding the net, and both have been league leaders in the NHL and make an excellent team.

Overall, the team is a bit inexperienced when it comes to offense, which may put some pressure on the defense to pick up the slack, though if the youngsters can follow the lead of those with more Olympic experience, they should do all right.  They are certainly contenders for a medal, perhaps even the gold.

And, let’s not discount the Women as they are definite medal favorites.  The women’s Team USA is sporting a much more balanced team with 12 first time Olympians, but with Angela Ruggiero, Jenny Potter, Julie Chu, and Natalie Darwitz returning there is plenty of leadership among these ladies.  Jessie Vetter is sitting in the net, who helped the USA team win gold in the 2009 Worlds.  Overall, a very strong team.

This year, the team to beat is going to be Canada for both the men and the women.  The Canadians have the best balance both with the forwards and defense, though don’t discount Russia for the men.  The forwards are packing some heat with NHL superstars like Alex Ovechkin and Evengi Malkin.

It’s going to be a great year for ice hockey.  Don’t forget to check it out when the action gets underway on February 13 for the women and February 16 for the men (schedules are below).  And visit BetUS to put down a wager as they will be offering odds throughout the competition.  Check it out before the game get started on February 12.

Washington began their amazing winning streak on January 13 with a 5-4 win over the Panthers.  Since, they’ve managed to get wins over such top teams as Detroit, Phoenix, and Pittsburgh.  This surge has powered them to the top of the standings, not only in their division but in the Eastern Conference as well, going up one win over the New Jersey Devils.

This Sunday’s game will be the second out of four meetings between the Pens and the Caps.  Of course all eyes will be on Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin as these two superstar forwards battle it out for the top scorer in the NHL.  Though, there will be plenty more to watch out for, including whether or not Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury can get over his forgettable performance against the Canadiens.  He allowed four goals out of 28 shots before being pulled in the third period.  Also keep an eye on the suspected rivalry between Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin, particularly because Malkin has been on fire in recent weeks.  He’s picked up seven goals and nine assists in nine games.

The Capitals are coming into this game with major motivation and momentum.  Add to that the severe weather and the home ice advantage for the boys in red they’re going to be a tough team to beat. It’s going to be the game to watch this week.  Before the puck hits the ice, get to BetUS and put down a wager on your favorite team.  They’re offering the following odds:

Pittsburgh Penguins v Washington Capitals
Puck Line
Penguins: +1 ½: -190
Capitals: -1 ½: +160
Moneyline
Penguins: +150
Capitals: -170

Don’t forget to check out their early Winter Olympic lines as well:
Canada: -200
Czech Republic: +1000
Finland: +1800
Russia: +200
Slovakia: +4000
Sweden: 500
USA: +700

Florida Panthers v New Jersey Devils
New Jersey is returning to the home ice after a rough road trip.  Even top goalie Martin Brodeur has hit the skids as the Devils lost their third consecutive game on Monday night against the New York Islanders.  They were outshot 46-20 while Brodeur let 4 goals slip by in the first 40 minutes of the 4-0 shutout.

On the other side of the ice, Florida is coming into this game on a three game winning streak.  The Panthers have picked up their game, which was certainly evident in their game against Atlanta on Monday, in an effort to set themselves up for the playoffs.  Helping them to their 1-0 shutout and their previous two wins is goalie Thomas Vokoun.  In the last give games, he went 4-0-1 with two shutouts and a 1.57 goals against average.

These two teams have met twice before, each game resulting in a win for each team.  The Devils will be missing key center Patrik Elias, who took a massive hit on Saturday against Colorado.  And, the Panthers may be missing top scorer Stephen Weiss, who is listed as day-to-day with a lower body injury.  It should be a pretty close game, but look for the Devils to get back on track on the home ice.

St Louis Blues v Montreal Canadiens
A new coach appears to be just what the doctor ordered in St Louis.  Since Jan 2, when head coach Davis Payne came aboard, the team has seen its longest winning streak of the season.  They won four in a row before their loss to Columbus on Monday night.  Despite their renewed spirit, the team is still lacking goal scorers.  None of their offensive stars are close to the 30-goal mark (which, as you can from above, many players are surpassing).  This is going to be an issue they’ll need to address by Wednesday night if they want to beat the Canadiens.

Montreal has had a rough couple of games, first losing to Senators and then losing to the Rangers.  They’re hoping that a return to the home ice will see them put an end to their losing streak. It shouldn’t be a problem as Benoit Pouliot alone has scored four goals in his last four games.  Between him, Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta, there have been 12 goals and 14 assists, which is a fair bit better than the Blues.  This will be the first meeting between these two teams since November 2008.  If the Habs can keep up strong offense to rack up the goals, they should do well on the home ice.

BetUS is offering the following odds:
Puck Line
Blues: +1 ½ -290
Canadiens: -1 ½ +240
Moneyline
Blues: +115
Canadiens: -135

Vancouver Canucks v Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton has been hopeless this season.  They’ve won just 16 out of 48 games played.  They are in the last position in their division and lead only the Hurricanes in the overall standings.  They were hammered by Colorado (6-0) on Monday night, and followed it up with a pretty brutal practice on Tuesday.  One of their biggest issues has to be injuries.  With a handful of forwards, Ales Hemsky, Gilbert Brule, Mike Comrie, and Nikolai Khabibulin, out at various times, the Oilers haven’t ever really played this season at full strength.

They’re certainly going to have a tough time divisional rivals the Canucks as Vancouver has been cleaning up in recent weeks.  They’re coming into this game off of a massive 6-2 win over the Penguins on Saturday nigh, snapping a three game losing streak. They are sitting pretty in the top eight of the Western Conference.  They’ve met the Oilers four times before this season, three of which equaled substantial wins for the Canucks. And unless Edmonton really picks it up, it looks like it will be yet another win for the Canucks.

BetUS is offering the following odds:
Puck Line
Canucks: -1 ½ +170
Oilers: +1 ½ -210
Moneyline
Canucks: -170
Oilers: +150

Joseph, known for his mask that featured a snarling dog inspired by Stephen King’s Cujo, entered the NHL in 1989 as a free agent signed by the St Louis Blues, though he gained recognition with the Edmonton Oilers, helping them to their first playoff win in years.  He also played for the Detroit Red Wings, Phoenix Coyotes, and Calgary Flames before finishing off with his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs.  He was also a member of the 2002 Canadian Winter Olympic team that took the gold medal.

Over his 19-year career, he was a three time NHL All Star, picked up the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, an Olympic gold medal, the Spengler Cup, and 454 victories.

In a new conference on Tuesday, Joseph said that he had a “great career” and he “didn’t leave anything on the table.”  So now, CuJo is onto to newer things and perhaps a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame.  But the game must go on.  Monday night will see another exciting lineup of teams battling it out for a spot in the postseason.  I’m particularly looking forward to the Buffalo/Phoenix game, as these are two teams that have been pretty impressive to say the least.  Plus, the Maple Leafs (CuJo’s final NHL team) will take to the ice against the Nashville Predators.  Don’t forget to check out all of the Monday night action at BetUS:

New Jersey Devils v New York Islanders
Puck Line
Devils: -1 ½ +220
Islanders: +1 ½ -260
Moneyline
Devils: -135
Islanders: +115

Buffalo Sabres v Phoenix Coyotes
Moneyline
Sabres: -110
Coyotes: -110

Tampa Bay Lightening v Carolina Hurricanes
Puck Line
Lightening: +1 ½ -260
Hurricanes: -1 ½ +220
Moneyline
Lightening: +120
Hurricanes: -140

St Louis Blues v Columbus Blue Jackets
Puck Line
Blues: +1 ½ -270
Blue Jackets: -1 ½ +230
Moneyline
Blues: +105
Blue Jackets: -125

Toronto Maple Leafs v Nashville Predators
Puck Line
Maple Leafs: +1 ½ -210
Predators: -1 ½ +170
Moneyline
Maple Leafs: +160
Predators: -190

Minnesota Wild v Dallas Stars
Puck Line
Wild: +1 ½ -250
Stars: -1 ½ +210
Moneyline
Wild: +120
Stars: -140

Edmonton Oilers v Colorado Avalanche
Puck Line
Oilers: +1 ½ -175
Avalanche: -1 ½ +155
Moneyline
Oilers: +165
Avalanche: -200

So to kick off my return, here’s a little preview of the two games slated for this Monday night.

Boston Bruins @ New York Rangers
Boston will be traveling to New York for their first game after a fantastic 2-1 OT victory against the Flyers in the Winter Classic while the Rangers are coming in after a 1-2 OT loss to the Hurricanes.

These two teams have met twice already this season, which has resulted in a win for each.  The Bruins are on a high, not only getting a historic win at Fenway Park, but they’ve also won four of their last five games.  They’re currently sitting in second place in the Northeast - five games behind the Sabres.  Center Marc Savard has managed to lead his team to 21 wins with the help of Milan Lucic, Michael Ryder, and Marco Sturm who scored the winning goal in the Winter Classic.

Despite their slow start, the Bruins are now outperforming the Rangers, who conversely started the season out with seven straight wins, but then hit the skids.  They’ve compiled 19 wins, but many top performances from Marion Gaborik and goalie Henrik Lundqvist have been all for naught as the team keeps giving up games.  They’ll need to get back on track after their loss against the ‘Canes - one of their worst performances to date - if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.  Expect them to play hard.

With the Bruins flying high and the Rangers hoping for a win, expect a tough game between these two teams.  In the end though, I can’t go against the Bruins.

BetUS is offering the following odds:
Moneyline
Bruins: Ev
Rangers: -120
Puck Line
Bruins: +1 ½ -300
Rangers: -1 ½ +250

Los Angeles Kings @ San Jose Sharks
This will be the fourth of six meetings between these two teams this season.  The Kings have taken two of the previous three, making them a real contender to snap San Jose’s eight game winning streak.

The Kings are handing losses to some of the best teams in the league this year, and are coming into this game off of a confidence-boosting 2-1 win against the Capitals.  There’s no doubt that their mission this season is to put an end to the six-season playoff drought, and they’ll need to hand the Sharks another loss if they want to continue on their way.  This is a perfect opportunity to gain ground in the standings, as they are the only team in the Western Conference slated for a game this Monday.

The Sharks, despite a five game losing streak, are currently putting up the best record in the league.  With just eight total losses, they are not only leading the Pacific division, but the Western Conference as well.  They have been particularly impressive in recent weeks, shutting down teams left and right with eight straight wins.  A ninth seems imminent as they face the Kings with the home ice advantage.  Though the offense has been helping the Sharks rack up the wins, much credit has to be given to goalie Evgeni Nabokov who has allowed two goals or less in eight consecutive starts.

The Sharks are a good bet to win this one, but expect a tough game, as the Kings know how to play them tough.

BetUS is offering the following odds:
Moneyline
Kings: +170
Sharks: -210
Puck Line
Kings: +1 ½ -170
Sharks: -1 ½ +150

Check out the abovementioned odds at BetUS and don’t forget to browse their Olympic futures as they are already offering lines on the men’s ice hockey.

Yep, that’s right.  The famous baseball park - home of the Boston Bruins - has been transformed into an outdoor ice rink to host the Winter Classic.  Now that the ice has been laid all that’s left is to play the game.

The players have already had a sneak peek of the setup, taking a tour of Fenway last week.  As you might expect, all attention went to the Green Monster as players marveled at the iconic wall standing in left field.  Immediately the conversation turned to who could shoot the puck from the ice (which runs from the third baseline to the first baseline) over the Monster.  Could it be a preview to some pregame action on January 1?  I hope so.

Though the players may have been sizing up the Monster, this was also a chance for them to get a feel for what the rink will be like when they take to the ice to face off.  Many are predicting that setup of the smaller park provides much more intimate seating.  The Green Monster hovers over the rink, which means that fans occupying those seats will have a front row view of the game.  Unfortunately for the Flyers, their net is closest, meaning that they’re sure to get an earful of booing Boston fans.  The unique setting is certainly going to make this Winter Classic one to remember.

Once the game has been played, the rink will open to the public for skating sessions on Jan. 3 until Jan 10.  If I could get to Boston, you can be sure I’d be taking a few laps around that rink!

There are still a few weeks to go before the puck drops, so, in the mean time, check out the live webcam of Fenway below. And don’t forget that there is still plenty of NHL action between now and then.  BetUS is offering the following odds on this Tuesday’s games.

Philadelphia Flyers @ Pittsburgh Penguins
Puck Line
Flyers: +1 ½ -175
Penguins: -1 ½ +155
Moneyline
Flyers: +165
Penguins: -200

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Nashville Predators
Puckline
Lightning: +1 ½ -220
Predators: -1 ½ +180
Moneyline
Lightning: +140
Predators: -155

Calgary Flames @ St Louis Blues
Puck Line
Flames: -1 ½ +250
Blues: +1 ½ -300
Moneyline
Flames: -115
Blues: -105

Columbus Blue Jackets @ Minnesota Wild
Puck Line
Blue Jackets: +1 ½ -220
Wild: -1 ½ +180
Moneyline
Blue Jackets: +135
Wild: -155

Washington Capitals @ Colorado Avalanche
Puck Line
Capitals: -1 ½ +220
Avalanche: +1 ½ -260
Moneyline
Captials: -135
Avalanche: +115

Los Angeles Kings @ Edmonton Oilers
Puck Line
Kings: +1 ½ -240
Oilers: -1 ½ +200
Moneyline
Kings: +115
Oilers: -135