NHL Teams at the Olympic Break
The NHL is unique in that the league will shut down for several weeks to allow its players to participate in the Olympic Games. The trend could come to an end after this season, but it has been one of the best ideas to promote hockey in some time. People who typically don't follow the sport will generally give it a glance if their home country is involved.When the NHL resumes play, many teams will be making a final push towards the playoffs, as very few teams have been eliminated from post-season play.
Here, we'll look at which teams have been the biggest money makers and money burners up to now, along with the teams that have seen a large percentage of games go over or under the total.
The NHL's Biggest Money Makers
1. Phoenix Coyotes +13.70 units2. Colorado Avalanche +11.30 units
3. Los Angeles Kings +11.25 units
4. Washington Capitals +10.25 units
5. Ottawa Senators +8.60 units
Not surprising is the fact that four of the five teams on the list are by far exceeding their expectations. The only team expected to be a legitimate threat for the title was Washington and while the Capitals are favored in the majority of games, the have played well enough to overcome the odds.
Phoenix has been the biggest surprise and the NHL would like nothing more than to see the Coyotes make the playoffs to attract new fans.
The NHL's Biggest Money Burners
1. Toronto Maple Leafs -23.05 units2. Edmonton Oilers -19.65 units
3. Detroit Red Wings -15.90 units
4. Boston Bruins -15.10 units
5. Columbus Blue Jackets -14.55 units
It's not surprising to see the three teams with the lowest point totals on this list, but it is a bit of a surprise to see Boston and Detroit. Both teams have battled some injury problems this season and are typically favored in most games. While neither team has played exceptionally bad, and both are likely to make the playoffs, they have been unable to overcome the odds placed on them on a nightly basis.
The NHL's Top Over Teams
1. Atlanta Thrashers 35-20-52. Washington Capitals 34-24-4
3. Carolina Hurricanes 34-25-2
Not surprisingly, all three teams come from the same division and no doubt have helped each other get on this list. Washington typically has high totals posted, but the Caps have scored enough to still send the games over. Carolina and Atlanta have had some goalie issues, with Carolina's Cam Ward having a surprisingly bad season.
The NHL's Top Under Teams
1. Phoenix Coyotes 19-36-82. Calgary Flames 20-37-5
3. New Jersey Devils 21-34-6
Phoenix and Calgary have to be expected to be on this list, as both teams have gotten better play from their goalies than expected. While Martin Brodeur has played about as expected for New Jersey, the team's scoring woes have put the Devils on this list.
