Super Bowl betting enthusiasts also handicapping the NHL are chomping at the bit for the start of the second half of the regular season to get underway tomorrow. This past weekend was the NHL’s annual All Star weekend in which the best players in the world pay tribute to the fans for cheering them night in and night out. All Star weekend is also the unofficial half waypoint of the 82 game long regular season. Meaning tomorrow, when the second half begins, price per head fans, can expect to see teams play with a little more intensity then in the first half. Today we’ll look at a few teams to keep an eye on during the second half of the season. Sitting in a three way tie for seventh, the Toronto Maple Leafs are hoping that their annual second half run finally pays dividends to a playoff run. Since Head Coach Ron Wilson and General Manager Brian Burke took over, the Leafs have grown into one of the best second half teams in the NHL. In fact, it’s a bit of a head scratcher why the Leafs can’t play like it’s the second half, all year around. Through the nearly five year tenure of Wilson and Burke, the Leafs late season surge has yet to pay off, as they constantly fall eight to 10 points back of the final playoff spot. Yet, bookie software site Sports Club Stats, places the Leafs chances at breaking the playoff drought, at 72.4 percent. In other words, the best chance since the aforementioned duo took over. If they fail to make the playoffs again, look for one or both coach and GM to be shown the door. In the Western Conference, there are plenty of teams to keep an eye on in the second half of the season. For all intents and purposes, the Nashville Predators are a team everyone and their uncle will be keeping a close eye on. The Predators currently sit fifth in the conference with 64 points on the season. However, the reason they’ll be a team of interest, is because the Predators two best defensemen, Shea Weber and Ryan Suter, are each free agents this summer. Both players have indicated they want to stay in Nashville, but given the salary cap constraints, it may be difficult to keep one or the other let alone both. The month to consider laying or fading your money on the Nashville Predators, will be in February. Each team experience’s a ‘hell month’ as we call it, as they take on the perennial playoff contenders. For Nashville, that month will be February, as they will look to build up on the 14 and two record they owned to close out the first half of the season. If the Predators are for real, the team that went 14 and two will dictate the NFL scores. If not, the Predators may be on the outside of the playoffs looking in, and may have to deal one of Weber or Suter for help.
