In case you missed it from covers.com:
Books score big on NHL`s opening week
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=290 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=smtext2 width="100%" colSpan=2>Josh Hansen</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Cross the first week off the NHL calendar and mark one up for sportsbooks while you’re at it.
Betting shops have made a killing so far this season while many bettors were sucked into the NHL’s promise that new rule changes would bring higher scoring games. Though scoring is up nearly half a goal (3.18 compared 2.58 in 2003-2004), it hasn’t been the drastic increase that many were anticipating.
The result has meant an ugly 8-20 record for over backers since opening night as oddsmakers have adjusted the totals, with the average sitting at 6 1/2 goals. And according to one
Bodog.com linesmaker, their action has far outweighed that of their under counterparts.
“There has been a lot more action coming in on the over,” says Bodog’s Sebastien Chalmers. “We’ve noticed it’s starting to flatten out a little bit but that was a bettor’s inclination there.” You can’t really blame them either.
Teams like the
Philadelphia Flyers,
Ottawa Senators and
Vancouver Canucks are all offensively driven teams, loaded with NHL talent. But they`ve combined to play over their posted totals in just three of their nine games, leaving many in the poor house.
The reason, says Chalmers, is likely because a lot of players are still finding their legs after an extended off season. Contract disputes between players and owners resulted in a lockout after the 2004 season, which was eventually cancelled.
The two sides reached an agreement this past summer, but the lack of conditioning and consistent playing time has obviously taken its toll. A handful of players were fortunate to play in Europe or with their NHL affiliates, but with 24 players on each team, it`s unrealistic to think everyone is going to come back on the same page.
Until they do, Chalmers doesn’t expect to see as much action from over backers. “I think that depends a lot what’s going to on during the games,” says Chalmers. “We may start seeing some more overs when players get their legs back and start playing at the same level again.”
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arty: 
