NHL North Division Betting Report: Could Ottawa Surprise Everyone?
Based on the current standings we’ll look at each team’s record, how they got to where they are, and preview their upcoming week.
You can always check out the updated odds to win the North Division on the NHL Futures page.
- Toronto Maple Leafs
Position last week: 1 (18-5-2)
Leading scorers: Mitch Marner (34 points); Auston Matthews (18 goals)
Key injuries: Jack Campbell (day-to-day – lower body); Wayne Simmonds (late March – hand)
Upcoming games: @ VAN (March 6); vs. WPG (March 9); vs. WPG (March 11)
Odds to win North Division: Opening line +120; Last week -286; Current odds -625
You couldn’t have drawn last week up any better for Toronto. Heading into Edmonton with a four-point lead over the Oilers for top spot in the North Division, the three-game set between these teams was essentially a playoff series. And apparently when it’s not a first round series against the Boston Bruins (sorry Leafs fans), Toronto can actually deliver in a playoff atmosphere. Not only did the Leafs sweep the three game set, shut out Edmonton two straight games and outscore the Oilers a combined 13-1, they did it without the NHL’s leading goal scorer, Auston Matthews, for two of the three games. The offence has been there for a few years in Toronto, it’s the newly established defence that has turned this franchise into a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. The Leafs are averaging the sixth-fewest shots allowed per game (28.6) and the fourth-fewest goals allowed per game (2.36). Toronto is the real deal this year and as much as everyone outside of the Six hates to hear it, the Leafs are primed to make a legitimate run to the Stanley Cup Finals.
- Winnipeg Jets
Position last week: 3 (15-7-1)
Leading scorers: Mark Scheifele (32 points); Mark Scheifele (11 goals), Nikolaj Ehlers (11 goals), Kyle Connor (11 goals)
Key injuries: None
Upcoming games: @ MTL (March 6); @ TOR (March 9); @ TOR (March 11)
Odds to win North Division: Opening line +800; Last week +650; Current odds +700
As much as he would never admit it, you’ve got to think John Tortorella is stewing somewhere in Ohio as he re-watches videos of Pierre-Luc Dubois’ infamous last shift in Columbus and wonders how the newest Jet has already scored two OT winners for Winnipeg. Late comeback wins, however, have actually been a trend for the Jets since before Dubois brought his heroics to the Great White North. Winnipeg has trailed going into the third period eight times this season, but has actually pulled out wins in four of those games. With the storylines surrounding the other Canadian teams, the Jets have quietly been going about their business and building a comfortable three-point cushion over the Oilers for second place in the North Division with two games in-hand over Edmonton. Winnipeg has now won six of their last seven games, including three of four contests last week. With the North Division looking like it’s locked up for Toronto, Winnipeg has cemented themselves as the frontrunner for second place in the division.
- Edmonton Oilers
Position last week: 2 (14-11-0)
Leading scorers: Connor McDavid (40 points); Connor McDavid (14 goals)
Key injuries: Oscar Klefbom (out for season – shoulder); Zack Kassian (out indefinitely – upper body); Slater Koekkoek (out for season – collarbone); William Lagesson (out indefinitely – upper body)
Upcoming games: vs. CGY (March 6); vs. OTT (March 8); vs. OTT (March 10)
Odds to win North Division: Opening line +450; Last week +500; Current odds +700
This was easily the most disastrous week of the season for Edmonton. You couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to jump Toronto in the standings, as Edmonton played a three-game set at home against a Leafs team without their starting goaltender in Frederik Andersen and their best player in Auston Matthews. The Oilers responded by scoring just a single goal over those three games and getting shutout by Jack Campbell, who hadn’t played in over a month, and Michael Hutchinson, who’s a third string goalie at best. This team has the top two leading scorers in the league and they are still managing to find ways to lose in a division many people consider the weakest in the NHL. Edmonton is only two games up on Montreal for third spot in the North and they have played three more games than the Habs. Last week the Oilers proved they’re not a top Stanley Cup contender, this week they need to prove they can at least be a playoff team.
- Montreal Canadiens
Position last week: 4 (10-6-6)
Leading scorers: Jeff Petry (21 points); Tyler Toffoli (14 goals)
Key injuries: Josh Anderson (day-to-day – lower body)
Upcoming games: vs. WPG (March 6); @ VAN (March 8); @ CGY (March 11)
Odds to win North Division: Opening line +415; Last week+650; Current odds+1,200
No team’s odds have dropped quicker or faster than the Montreal Canadiens. Two weeks ago, the Habs were second in the North Division and challenging Toronto for top spot, now they’re clinging to the final playoff spot with only a two-point lead over Calgary. As bad as it seems though, don’t count this team out just yet. What Montreal has shown this season is they finally have a team in front of Carey Price that can win games. The problem the Habs are facing, is Price seems to have completely lost his game. He has an ugly .893 save percentage and has only picked up two wins in his last seven starts. The good news is despite his struggles, Price still has potential to be the best goalie in the world. This is a goalie who has been carrying Montreal for over a decade. If Montreal can find their early-season scoring touch again and Price regains his form, this team could make some serious noise in the North Division. It all starts with picking up some much needed wins in their Western Canadian road swing this week.
- Calgary Flames
Position last week: 5 (11-11-2)
Leading scorers: Johnny Gaudreau (21 points); Johnny Gaudreau (nine goals)
Key injuries: None
Upcoming games: @ EDM (March 6); vs. OTT (March 7); vs. MTL (March 11)
Odds to win North Division: Opening line +496; Last week +2,500; Current odds +3,300
Even a 7-3 win over Ottawa on Thursday couldn’t save Flames head coach Geoff Ward’s job. There will be a familiar face behind the bench for Calgary though, as Darryl Sutter is returning to the team he took all the way to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final. The Flames stand at a crossroads for the season and management clearly knows it. Calgary is only two points back of a playoff position and when you take into account number of games played, there’s a pretty sizeable gap between them and Vancouver and Ottawa below them. With games against a reeling Oilers team, the last place Senators and a Habs team they’re looking to jump in the standings, this is a big week for Calgary. If you’re a Flames fan, just hope the team’s response to their coach’s firing is better than Montreal’s was.
- Vancouver Canucks
Position last week: 6 (10-15-2)
Leading scorers: Brock Boeser (25 points); Brock Boeser (12 goals)
Key injuries: Elias Pettersson (day-to-day – upper body); Tyler Motte (out indefinitely – undisclosed); Justin Bailey (out indefinitely – upper body); Micheal Ferland (out indefinitely – concussion)
Upcoming games: vs. TOR (March 6); vs. MTL (March 8); vs. MTL (March 11)
Odds to win North Division: Opening line +800; Last week +7,500; Current odds +10,000
Vancouver has been playing better lately, but they dug themselves into such a big hole at the start of the season, it’s still not enough. The Canucks won two of three games this week, including one against the division-leading Leafs, but Vancouver still sits five games below .500. Outside of Brock Boeser, the entire lineup has struggled. They allow the third most goals in the league (3.46) and their power play and penalty kill both rank in the bottom half of the NHL. With their next four games at home, this is a show-me week for Vancouver. This week could be the last chance the Canucks have to breathe any type of life into their playoff hopes.
- Ottawa Senators
Position last week: 7 (8-17-1)
Leading scorers: Drake Batherson (18 points); Drake Batherson (nine goals), Brady Tkachuk (nine goals)
Key injuries: Mike Reilly (day-to-day – upper body); Marcus Hogberg (mid March – upper body); Derek Stepan (out indefinitely – upper body)
Upcoming games: @ CGY (March 7); @ EDM (March 8); @ EDM (March 10)
Odds to win North Division: Opening line +3,500; Last week +50,000; Current odds +25,000
The Senators are starting to look like they have assembled the best group of young talent in Ottawa since the trio of Daniel Alfredsson, Alexei Yashin and Alxandre Daigle in the mid-1990’s (google Daigle for anyone under the age 20). The top five point producers for Ottawa are under the age of 25 and Josh Norris and Tim Stutzle are No. 2 and No. 3 in the NHL rookie scoring race, respectively. If you’re looking for a snapshot of the Senators’ future, look no further than the line of Norris, Stutzle and Drake Batherson, who are all under the age of 23 and are also the top goal scorers on the roster. It’s going to be a tough Western Canadian road trip for Ottawa this week, but they only sit five points back of a Vancouver team that has fallen off a cliff. The Sens have officially become a contender to not finish last in the North Division. You’re welcome, Ottawa fans? Yikes.