NHL Betting News

The highly anticipated National Hockey League playoffs get underway Wednesday night, and while the same two teams have made the online sportsbook Stanley Cup finals in each of the past two seasons, this year may mark a change at the top.  

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings represented their conferences in the Stanley Cup finals in both 2008 and 2009, but the 2010 season has been different for both teams. While the Penguins defense has been suspect for most of the season, and the team has missed the output it got from center Evgeni Malkin just one year ago, the Red Wings struggled near the final playoff spot in the west before making a late surge down the stretch to reach 100 points for the tenth consecutive season and finish fifth. While Detroit should be able to get by surprising Phoenix in the first round, the Penguins will have a much tougher NHL odds task taking on the Senators. Even should both teams reach the conference semi-finals, this year will mark a much tougher road to the finals.

The NHL trade deadline is only two hours away and already there have been plenty of moves made for the stretch run of the season. Let’s take a look at some impact trades. 

NHL Trade Deadline: Wednesday, March 3rd 2010 3PM EST

Phoenix trades Forwards Peter Mueller and Kevin Porter to Colorado for forward Wojtek Wolski.

• Wolski is a big addition for the Coyotes who also received defenseman Derek Morris today in an exchange for a 4th round pick next year. For the Avalanche, Wolski was second in goals (17) and points (47). Mueller has been a colossal disappointment this year with only four goals and 17 points and has been in the doghouse for most of the season. In his 3rd year in the league, the former 1st round pick will try to regain his rookie form when he scored 22 goals and had 54 points.

The Phoenix Coyotes and the New York Rangers will both be trying to pick up a win on Monday when they battle at Madison Square Garden.

Bodog Sportsbook currently have the Rangers listed as 160-moneyline favorites versus the Coyotes, while the game's total is sitting at 5½.

The Coyotes were defeated 5-3 by the Kings last time out, as -140 favorites. The eight goals sailed OVER the posted over/under (5.5).

Shane Doan scored a pair of goals for the Coyotes, and Radim Vrbata added the other goal in the loss.

The Rangers lost a 5-4 overtime game against the Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Saturday.

Montreal won as a +110 home underdog while the final score played over the 5.5-goal total.