Even though it is still quite warm outside in most parts of the country, the NHL is already gearing up for another season of bedlam on ice. Hockey is unique in that it is the only major sporting event that condones body slamming your opponent against the Plexiglas shield and/or banging him over the head with that big stick.
For example, there was a big brawl last week on the ice between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Buffalo Sabers in preseason action. Several players were actively involved in the fight which the refs had to wade in and break up. I don’t know about you, but if I were an NHL ref, I would want one of those big sticks too and lots of padding.
David Clarkson of the Maple Leafs got up off the bench in an emotional moment and received a 10 game suspension for doing so although he never even landed a good punch. Other than that, it is business as usual. Brawls seem to be the accepted order of the day in professional Ice Hockey.
So the NHL begins their long season on the ice on a familiar note and the fans seem to love it. A couple of the big sportsbooks in Nevada have already put up lines on total wins for the season as well as odds to win the 2014 Stanley Cup.
The Chicago Blackhawks won the cup last year after a hard fought series with the Boston Bruins and those two teams, along with the Pittsburg Penguins, are currently listed as favorites in both categories.
Season Totals:
| Blackhawks 111.5 (112.5) | Capitals 92.5 (91.5) |
| Penguins 110.5 | Islanders 91.5 |
| Bruins 105.5 | Coyotes 90.5 |
| Kings 104.5 | Oilers 90.5 |
| Rangers 103.5 | Blue Jackets 88.5 |
| Blues 103.5 | Stars 87.5 |
| Sharks 101.5 (102.5) | Predators 84 (82.5) |
| Canucks 100.5 (102.5) | Lightning 83.5 |
| Red Wings 99.5 | Jets 83.5 |
| Ducks 97 (98.5) | Devils 83 (81.5) |
| Senators 97 (95.5) | Hurricanes 82.5 (79.5) |
| Wild 96.5 | Avalanche 81.5 |
| Maple Leafs 95.5 | Sabres 76.5 |
| Flyers 95 (93.5) | Panthers 71 (69.5) |
| Canadiens 94.5 | Flames 63.5 |
Odds to win the Stanley Cup:
| Blackhawks 9-2 (5-1) | Wild 30-1 |
| Penguins 5-1 | Capitals 40-1 (30-1) |
| Bruins 8-1 | Coyotes 40-1 (60-1) |
| Rangers 10-1 (12-1) | Islanders 40-1 |
| Kings 10-1 (12-1) | Stars 40-1 (50-1) |
| Blues 14-1 | Lightning 50-1 |
| Red Wings 14-1 | Blue Jackets 40-1 |
| Canucks 16-1 (12-1) | Devils 60-1 |
| Sharks 16-1 | Hurricanes 60-1 |
| Canadiens 25-1 | Predators 60-1 |
| Ducks 25-1 (20-1) | Avalanche 60-1 (50-1) |
| Senators 25-1 (30-1) | Jets 60-1 (50-1) |
| Maple Leafs 25-1 | Sabres 100-1 |
| Oilers 30-1 | Panthers 200-1 |
| Flyers 30-1 | Flames 500-1 (300-1) |
