Like I predicted just under a month ago, Sidney Crosby has slowed down his scoring speed — significantly. In the time of the last update, the Penguins captain was scoring on a ridiculous 23.2 percent of his shots but since then he has scored only 3 goals on 28 shots, decreasing his shooting percentage to a 20 percent. Other guys like Alex Ovechkin, Max Pacioretty and Brad Marchand have turned up the heat and have scored their way back in the goal-scoring race.
BetOnline has acknowledged Crosby’s cold streak and transferred him from his -285 chances into the +140 number where he sits. If you listened to me and put your money on Mr. Ovechkin’s +550 value, you would better thank me. The Great 8 has scored nine times since the turn of the calendar and has set himself back in great position to make his fifth successive Maurice”Rocket” Richard Trophy along with his line has been adjusted to +205.
Along the same lines as Ovi, we have the Small Ball of Hate, Brad Marchand. Marchy is among the most polarizing players since the likes of Sean Avery and Todd Bertuzzi roamed the ice but something his haters can’t deny — the guy can frigging score. He’s popped 13 goals since the start of January and is beginning to provide hope to people who followed my advice at the start of the season and place money on the +2500 line for Marchand to lead the league in goals. He has 23 and it seems like he’s just beginning to crank up the intensity knob. A problem with betting on the Bruins winger at the moment is that he’s one clear slew foot away from a suspension. He has gotten away with just two iffy ones at the previous two weeks but a third could have him watching the activity in the press box.
And we have Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens. Patches had an incredibly terrible start to his year, scoring only five goals in his first 24 games, but has since bulged the twine 19 times using two hat-trick performances. Max has had to step up with many of the Habs’ first-choice wingers going down with injury and he’s benefited immensely in the re-emergence of Alexander Radulov. The two have combined to give a large chunk of Montreal’s crime and the majority of Patches’ goals this season have come from Rad-Dad helpers.
Also throwing their proverbial hats at the race are rookies Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine, that are neck and neck at the Calder Trophy conversation. They have 23 goals apiece and have surprised many with their NHL readiness. Laine is supplying more worth at +1600, even though playing fewer games than the man who travelled one spot ahead of him in the 2016 draft which makes zero sense. The Finn has already proved he’s the natural goal scorer of the two and is beyond a shadow of a doubt going for a 50-a-year man for the rest of his profession.
