Sports Bet Overview
The NHL playoff race is entering the last stages just as the 2011 March Madness betting starts to get interesting as well. There are teams that the sports betting bonus experts have not mathematically eliminated from NHL playoff contention, so those teams keep working towards their post-season goals. A 5dimes review of the Eastern Conference standings shows that the Toronto Maple Leafs are five points out of a playoff spot with nine games left to play. The chances are slim, but the Leafs keep playing for that final playoff spot.
The Minnesota Wild has a little higher mountain to climb. With nine games left on its schedule, Minnesota is seven points out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Unfortunately for the Wild, its schedule does not have as many conference games as some of the teams it is chasing. That puts the Wild at a distinct disadvantage. Another element that is working against the Wild is the play of the team itself.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs are 5-4-1 in the last 10 games and sit in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. Toronto trails the eighth place Buffalo Sabres by five points, and a road game is not exactly the ideal setting for the Leafs. Toronto has a 15-17-3 road record this year, which is not helping in the hunt for a playoff spot. Even with the emergence of rookie goaltender James Reimer, the Leafs cannot seem to score goals or play good defense on the road. The only thing that Toronto has going for it in this game is that the opponent is the Minnesota Wild. Other than that, this game will be a struggle for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild’s problems can be spelled out by the team’s record in the last 10 games. With a 2-6-2 record in the last 10 starts, Minnesota is not doing anything to help its chances of getting near the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Wild is in 11th place and it trails the eighth-place Anaheim Ducks by seven points. With only nine games to play, and an effort that is not helping the Wild win games, it does not look good for the team from Minnesota.
The Bottom Line
The Toronto Maple Leafs has a legitimate chance at a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The teams in front of the Leafs are playing inconsistent hockey, and a three or four-game winning streak by Toronto could catapult them into playoff contention. The Minnesota Wild, on the other hand, seems to be done for the season. They are playing with no emotion and are certainly not giving any of the signs that they are ready to fight for a playoff spot. This is exactly the kind of opportunity that the Toronto Maple Leafs need to take advantage of in order to jump-start its playoff hunt.
Gambling Advisor blog Free Pick: Toronto Maple Leafs
