The 2017 NHL All Star game may not get as much sports line betting coverage as another star-studded exhibition game which just happens to take place on the exact same day – Sunday, January 29th. So, what to do to attempt to steal the spotlight from the NFL All Star Game? Why not make our All Star game just really convoluted, as well as give fans not one, not two, but three games for the price of one? Check and check. Thus in good theory there should be three NHL betting lines; one for Atlantic Division vs. the Metro Division; another for the Central vs. Pacific, and finally for the final, featuring TBD vs. TBD – which is actually a storied rivalry in the world of professional sports.
The Atlantic NHL All Star game division will be coached by Michel Therrien of the Montreal Canadiens. Also from the Canadiens, we have goalie Carey Price, and defenseman Shea Weber. Not from the Canadiens but also from Canada, Boston Bruins’ forward Brad Marchand made the cut. Finnish goaltender Tuukka Rask (Bruins), Russian forward Nikita Kucherov (Lightning), and Swedish defensemen Victor Hedman (Lightning) and Erik Karlsson (Senators) round up the foreign contingent. Forwards Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs), Kyle Okposo (Sabres), and Vincent Trocheck (Panthers ) from ‘Merica complete the roster.
Minnesota Wild’s Bruce Boudreau is at the helm of the Central division, which recruited goalies Corey Crawford (Blackhawks) and Devan Dubnyk (Wild), forwards Patrik Laine (Jets), Patrick Kane (Blackhawks), Nathan MacKinnon (Avalanche), Tyler Seguin (Stars), Vladimir Tarasenko (Blues), and Jonathan Toews (Blackhawks), and defensemen PK Subban (Predators), Ryan Suter (Wild), and Duncan Keith (Blackhawks).
Columbus Blue Jackets’ John Tortorella is in charge of the Metro division – the potential NHL betting lines favorite – for which the following skaters were selected: netminders Sergei Bobrovsky (Blue Jackets) and Braden Holtby (Capitals), forwards Sidney Crosby (Penguins), Taylor Hall (Devils), Alexander Ovechkin (Capitals), Wayne Simmonds (Flyers), and John Tavares (Islanders), and defensemen Justin Faulk (Hurricanes), Seth Jones (Blue Jackets), and Ryan McDonagh (Rangers). Crosby and Ovechkin do make for sports line betting game-changers.
Peter DeBoer of the San Jose Sharks will call the shots for the Pacific division, which lineup comprises goalkeepers Martin Jones (Sharks) and Mike Smith (Coyotes), forwards Connor McDavid (Oilers), Jeff Carter (LA Kings), Johnny Gaudreau (Flames), Bo Horvat (Canucks), Ryan Kesler (Ducks), and Joe Pavelski (Sharks), and defensemen Brent Burns (Sharks), Drew Doughty (Kings), and Cam Fowler (Ducks).
Based roster alone, one would have to conclude that, as far as NHL betting lines are concerned, the NHL lines should favor the Metro division to win the whole thing. Even without Evgeni Malkin – who will miss the All Star game with a lower-body injury – the Metropolitans are still loaded with Conn Smythe trophy-winner Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Wayne Simmonds, and John Tavares. The 3-on-3 format should make for high scoring affairs and Crosby and Ovechkin alone should make the most of that. Though, as sports line betting fans might remember, they did have Malkin last year but lost to the Atlantics in the East game. But then Ovechkin was injured, so maybe they need both to be healthy.