Action Back On Ice As NHL Begins 2010-2011 Season

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Action Back On Ice As NHL Begins 2010-2011 Season

After a couple of the slowest sports betting days of the year the action will heat up on Thursday as the National Hockey League begins its 2010-2011 season. NHL hockey is increasing in popularity as a betting option, and along with the forthcoming NBA season means that there will be great wagering opportunities available every night of the week.

The action starts bright and early on Thursday as the Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild play the first of two games in Helsinki, Finland. Face off time for this game is 12 noon Eastern and an eye opening 9 AM on the West Coast. Both of these teams fell short of the playoffs a year ago and will be looking to get back into the postseason mix. This isn’t the only international matchup to open the regular season—the San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets will play in Stockholm, Sweden on Friday and Saturday.

Thursday night features a quartet of marquee matchups involving championship contenders and traditional rivals. A ‘Battle of Pennsylvania’ is on tap last year’s surprise Stanley Cup Finalists the Philadelphia Flyers play on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pittsburgh was expected to challenge for the NHL crown last season but was ousted in the conference semifinals by the Montreal Canadiens.

‘Les Habs’ will also start the season on Thursday as they continue the NHL’s oldest rivalry on the road against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Montreal made it to the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the Flyers while the Leafs finished out of the playoffs and were near the bottom of the league standings for much of the season. Of course records are seldom an issue when this heated rivalry is renewed, and there’s every reason to expect a spirited effort from the Leafs on their Air Canada Centre home ice.

A rivalry of more recent vintage but none the less intense will be on display as the Edmonton Oilers host the Calgary Flames in the ‘Battle of Alberta’. Both teams are trying to improve upon disappointing seasons in 2009-2010. Edmonton spent much of the season in the NHL cellar while Calgary missed the playoffs after leading their division at one point following a franchise record losing streak. This game will be nationally televised in Canada on CBC.

The evening’s action concludes with the season debut of the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks who’ll play on the road against the improving Colorado Avalanche. The Avs were eliminated in the first round by the San Jose Sharks but have been pegged by many experts as a team to watch this year. Chicago returns most of their championship team with the notable exception of goaltender Antti Niemi, who signed with San Jose as a free agent. Veteran Marty Turco will be between the pipes for Chicago as they attempt to defend their championship.