Looking Ahead – Week 3
Dave Poleck
2010-10-23
It is over the next week or two that we will start to see everyone's schedule even out a bit and find out whether some of these supposed pretenders are actually contenders.
The New Jersey Devils are one of the supposed contenders that are off to a slow start, 2-4-1 through Thursday's game vs. Montreal. Although they are a "Best Bet" for five of the next eight days, they have a mean six game road trip after this Saturday's home game against the Sabres. They play the Rangers, San Jose, Anaheim, LA, Vancouver and Chicago.
The weak link of that group appears to be the Ducks; but remember, they are 2-0-1 at home while scoring 12 goals. However, the Ducks have scored only six goals in five games on the road (three came vs. Philly on Thursday). This is definitely not a new occurrence for the Ducks. In 2009-10, they were 25-11-5 at the Honda Centre while scoring 141 goals in those games, good for third in the League. On the road was a much different story; 14-21-6 and only 92 goals for, which put them 27th.
Easily the most popular team on the waiver wire so far in my leagues has been Long Island. But the league's third highest scoring team through Thursday (that is not a typo) is in for a test over the next while; they play eight of their next ten away from home. They only had 11 wins on the road last season, second least in the NHL.
As I noted last week, the Kings are the top ranked team on the Friday-Thursday and Saturday-Friday schedules, but also play all four of their games on the road over that stretch.
Last week I warned you about a slow stretch for the Red Wings, this week it is the Canucks who, after a rematch against the Wild on Friday only play one game between Saturday, October 23 and Sunday, October 31. Don't fret though; they come back strong in November with eight games before the 16th of the month.
Speaking of those Red Wings, stay strong owners. After yet another four day break this week, they play five games in ten days including a Western swing against Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Think of the positives though; they are in the midst of a four game home-stand as we speak and actually make it to the "Best Bet" section by Halloween.
Although Philly has played their last three at home, they still have five of their next seven games on Broad Street, so keep that in mind if you find yourself getting frustrated with some of their slow starters.
Friday October 22 to Thursday October 28, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
LA 4.25 – four games @COL, @MIN, @CHI, @DAL | ||||||
Calgary 4.15 – four games @CBJ, SJ, EDM, COL | ||||||
Phoenix 4.10 – four games CAR, @MON, @OTT, @DET | ||||||
Columbus 3.88 – four games CAL, @CHI, PHI, EDM | ||||||
Ottawa 3.66 – four games @BUF, MON, PHO, FLA | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Detroit 1.85 – two games ANA, PHO | ||||||
Carolina 1.86 – two games @PHO, WAS | ||||||
Vancouver 1.95 – two games MIN, COL | ||||||
Boston 1.98 – two games NYR, TOR | ||||||
NYI 2.11 – two games @FLA, @MON | ||||||
Saturday October 23 to Friday October 29, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
LA 4.25 – four games @COL, @MIN, @CHI, @DAL | ||||||
Philadelphia 4.17 – four games TOR, @CBJ, BUF, @PIT | ||||||
Montreal 4.16 – four games @OTT, PHO, NYI, @NYI | ||||||
Phoenix 4.10 – four games CAR, @MON, @OTT, @DET | ||||||
Edmonton 3.93 – four games SJ, @CAL, @CBJ, @CHI | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Vancouver 0.95 – one game COL | ||||||
Tampa Bay 1.82 – two games NAS, PIT | ||||||
Minnesota 1.84 – two games LA, WAS | ||||||
Detroit 1.85 – two games ANA, PHO | ||||||
St. Louis 1.91 – two games PIT, @NAS | ||||||
Sunday October 24 to Saturday October 30, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Philadelphia 4.16 – four games @CBJ, BUF, @PIT, NYI | ||||||
Phoenix 4.11 – four games @MON, @OTT, @DET, TB | ||||||
Montreal 4.16 – four games PHO, NYI, @NYI, FLA | ||||||
NYR 4.07 – four games NJ, ATL, CAR, @TOR | ||||||
New Jersey – four games @NYR, @SJ, @ANA, @LA | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Vancouver 0.95 – one game COL | ||||||
Detroit 1.68 – two games PHO, NAS | ||||||
St. Louis 1.99 – two games @NAS, ATL | ||||||
Boston 2.16 – two games TOR, @OTT | ||||||
Ottawa 2.64 – three games PHO, FLA, BOS | ||||||
Monday October 25 to Sunday October 31, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Philadelphia 4.16 – four games @CBJ, BUF, @PIT, NYI | ||||||
Phoenix 4.11 – four games @MON, @OTT, @DET, TB | ||||||
Montreal 4.09 – four games PHO, NYI, @NYI, FLA | ||||||
LA 3.98 – four games @MIN, @CHI, @DAL, NJ | ||||||
Buffalo 3.31 – three games @PHI, @ATL, @DAL | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Vancouver 0.95 – one game COL | ||||||
Detroit 1.68 – two games PHO, NAS | ||||||
San Jose 1.80 – two games NJ, ANA | ||||||
Tampa Bay 1.88 – two games PIT, @PHO | ||||||
Nashville 1.88 – two games STL, @DET | ||||||
Tuesday October 26 to Monday November 1, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
NYR 4.14 – four games ATL, CAR, @TOR, CHI | ||||||
Chicago 4.14 – four games LA, EDM, @MIN, @NYR | ||||||
NJ 4.09 – four games @SJ, @ANA, @LA, VAN | ||||||
Philadelphia 4.03 – four games BUF, @PIT, NYI, CAR | ||||||
Carolina 3.91 – four games WAS, @NYR, PIT, @PHI | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Vancouver 1.73 – two games COL, NJ | ||||||
Detroit 1.68 – two games PHO, NAS | ||||||
Minnesota 1.80 – two games WAS, CHI | ||||||
San Jose 1.80 – two games NJ, ANA | ||||||
Tampa Bay 1.88 – two games PIT, @PHO | ||||||
Wednesday October 27 to Tuesday November 2, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Montreal 4.43 – four games NYI, @NYI, FLA, @CBJ | ||||||
NYR 4.14 – four games ATL, CAR, @TOR, CHI | ||||||
Chicago 4.14 – four games LA, EDM, @MIN, @NYR | ||||||
NJ 4.09 – four games @SJ, @ANA, @LA, @VAN | ||||||
Carolina 3.91 – four games WAS, @NYR, PIT, @PHI | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Dallas 1.74 – two games LA, BUF | ||||||
Detroit 1.68 – two games PHO, NAS | ||||||
Anaheim 1.75 – two games NJ, @SJ | ||||||
Tampa Bay 1.88 – two games PIT, @PHO | ||||||
Nashville 1.88 – two games STL, @DET | ||||||
Thursday October 28 to Wednesday November 3, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
NJ 4.06 – four games @ANA, @LA, @VAN, @CHI | ||||||
Carolina 4.04 – four games @NYR, PIT, @PHI, NYI | ||||||
Chicago 4.03 – four games EDM, @MIN, @NYR, NJ | ||||||
Toronto 3.81 – four games @BOS, NYR, OTT, @WAS | ||||||
Montreal 3.35 – three games @NYI, FLA, @CBJ | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
LA 1.92 – two games @DAL, NJ | ||||||
Colorado 2.00 – two games @CAL, CBJ | ||||||
Tampa Bay 2.04 – two games @PHO, @ANA | ||||||
St. Louis 2.06 – two games @NAS, ATL | ||||||
Vancouver 2.06 – two games NJ, @EDM | ||||||
Friday October 29 to Thursday November 4, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
NYI 4.15 – four games MON, @PHI, @CAR, @OTT | ||||||
NYR 4.11 – four games CAR, @TOR, CHI, @PHI | ||||||
Philadelphia 4.08 – four games @PIT, NYI, CAR, NYR | ||||||
NJ 4.06 – four games @ANA, @LA, @VAN, @CHI | ||||||
Carolina 4.04 – four games @NYR, PIT, @PHI, NYI | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Minnesota 1.73 – two games CHI, SJ | ||||||
Dallas 1.81 – two games BUF, PIT | ||||||
Calgary 1.83 – two games WAS, DET | ||||||
LA 1.84 – two games NJ, TB | ||||||
Edmonton 1.85 – @CHI, VAN | ||||||
Saturday October 30 to Friday November 5, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Carolina 4.16 – four games PIT, @PHI, NYI, @FLA | ||||||
NYR 3.93 – four games @TOR, CHI, @PHI, @NJ | ||||||
NJ 3.82 – four games @LA, @VAN, @CHI, NYR | ||||||
Pittsburgh 3.43 – three games @CAR, @DAL, @ANA | ||||||
NYI 3.24 – three games @PHI, @CAR, @OTT | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Edmonton 1.79 – VAN, DET | ||||||
LA 1.84 – two games NJ, TB | ||||||
Nashville 1.88 – two games @DET, @PHO | ||||||
St. Louis 1.92 – two games ATL, SJ | ||||||
Colorado 1.96 – two games CBJ, VAN | ||||||
Sunday October 31 to Saturday November 6, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Carolina 4.19 – four games @PHI, NYI, @FLA, FLA | ||||||
Vancouver 3.99 – four games NJ, @EDM, @COL, DET | ||||||
Ottawa 3.29 – three games @TOR, NYI, @MON | ||||||
Florida 3.24 – three games ATL, CAR, @CAR | ||||||
Detroit 3.23 – three games @CAL, @VAN, @EDM | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
St. Louis 1.78 – two games SJ, @BOS | ||||||
Edmonton 1.79 – VAN, DET | ||||||
Nashville 1.90 – two games @PHO, @LA | ||||||
Washinton 1.90 – two games TOR, BOS | ||||||
Colorado 1.96 – two games VAN, DAL |