With Sports betting and Daily Fantasy being among the fastest-growing sports concepts, fandom’s evolution has taken a turn in the past few years. In such a connected modern world, we no longer follow our one team or favorite player. Fans now have several screens up and are constantly staying updated on games they may not have cared about. Any given game could involve a player on your fantasy team or a bet that you made. The final minute in a 5-1 game may still have you tuned in because you had Under 6.5 Total Goals, whereas you might have turned the game off an hour ago otherwise. A late-season game between two bottom feeders may still gain your interest because you have a couple of players on each team in your fantasy lineup.
While these concepts of NHL betting and Fantasy hockey-related pursuits may be exciting, they can also lead people down the wrong path. At the end of the day, gambling can become an addiction, and a lot of harm can be created when bettors chase losses without boundaries. It is important to remember that wagering is supposed to be fun and recreational, and not a way to become rich fast.
A way to keep things safe and fun is to not take your betting approach too seriously. I will start today by doing just that.
Winnipeg Jets @ Detroit Red Wings:
Situation:
The Winnipeg Jets are currently the number one team in the NHL in terms of overall Standings, with an 8-1-0 record and 16 points. They were the last team this season to lose in any form and were handed their first loss on Monday.
The Detroit Red Wings have been a little streaky to say the least, and sit neither really here nor there near the middle of the pack in the Standings with a 4-4-1 record and 9 points. They are coming off two straight losses and are continuing their goaltending tandem approach with Alex Lyon being the confirmed starter in goal tonight.
My Take:
The Detroit Red Wings have shown in the early season that they can stick with it in any style against pretty much any caliber of team in the NHL. They have been able to grind out the defensive battles and win in low-scoring shutouts, as we saw against the Nashville Predators and the New York Islanders over the past three weeks. They have also been able to go shot for shot in high-octane situations and win, which we also saw against the same Nashville Predators, and the New Jersey Devils in this early season. The Red Wings have also looked far more settled since their 1-3 start to the season.
The Winnipeg Jets started off with an incredible rhythm, but the first loss can always be a little jarring. This isn’t to say they aren’t as good a team as their performance has suggested, but it is natural to have ups and downs throughout a season. After winning eight games in a row, losing can be a rude disruption to rhythm, and often lead to a bit of a groan zone and discombobulation of successful processes.
One of the best ways to enjoy NHL betting is to not become too invested and to be okay with losing. My approach in that sense, is to try to snipe a good value play. In other words, one where we would not be surprised to lose, but there is also an enticing payout concerning the likelihood of the bet winning. With the lineup of weapons that Detroit has, combined with the given situation explained above, I don’t think they should be anything worse than a 50/50 shot against anyone at home at this point of the season. I think the lopsided favor to Winnipeg is just more a product of power rankings and the early success pendulum swing of odds, rather than an actual reflection of how good both of these teams are in essence.
Play: Red Wings moneyline +140
Christopher John Ong, who goes by CJ, has always seen sports to be one of his greatest passions. He found an interest in sports betting back in his college days over a decade ago, and since then, has written for various publications such as: Bleacher Report, Daily Sports Edge (formerly Saturday Edge), and other handicapping services and websites. You can give him a follow at @RazorsInsight on Twitter/X
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