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PHT Oddsmaker: Let’s gamble on the NHL

Leafs

PHT Oddsmaker will be a regular feature where we set pretend odds and pretend to gamble on them. If you’d like to bet real money, meet us in the alley and we’ll talk.

Odds the Maple Leafs make the playoffs (-125)

It’s rather amazing when you think about it. The richest team in the NHL, playing in the world’s largest hockey market, and it hasn’t hosted a postseason game since May 4, 2004. Will the drought finally end this spring? The Leafs got off to a great start, compiling a record of 9-3-1 in their first 13 games. Since then, however, they’ve gone 7-8-2. To be fair, James Reimer’s concussion (or whatever he had) didn’t help. But Toronto’s still sunk considerably in the standings. Today the Leafs are just two points clear of eighth place in the Eastern Conference. If Philly, Boston, Pittsburgh and NY Rangers are locks to make the playoffs, it leaves Toronto, Florida, Buffalo, Washington, New Jersey, Montreal, Winnipeg and Ottawa to battle for the last four spots. (Prove me wrong, Tampa Bay.) I like the Panthers, Sabres, Capitals and Devils out of that group, so I’ll pass on this one.

Odds Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard wins the Vezina (+200)

He’s got to be the current favorite. Howard is 18-6-1 with a 1.82 goals-against average and .932 save percentage. The reason I didn’t make his odds shorter is the competition he’s facing. Tim Thomas, Henrik Lundqvist, Marc-Andre Fleury, Pekka Rinne, Niklas Backstrom, Nikolai Khabibulin and Jonathan Quick are all in the mix. Still, I like this bet. Howard should play over 60 games if he stays healthy, he’s got a good team in front of him, and being left off the all-star ballot is textbook bulletin-board material.

Total Drew Doughty points this season (Over/under 35.5)

He only has eight points now, so to hit the over he’d have to score 28 in the Kings’ remaining 52 games. Which really doesn’t sound too hard for a guy with his sort of talent. Except Doughty’s production has been trending downward since 2009-10 when he finished with 59 points. From the beginning of last season to now, he’s averaged .48 points per game, a pace that would leave him with 33 at the end of 2011-12. Put me down for the over though. I’ve got faith he’ll pick it up. A defenseman’s point total is highly dependent on the production of the forwards, and the Kings can only improve offensively.