NHL betting online excitement was over the top when the New York Rangers lost the final regular season game of 2010 at Philadelphia in a shootout.
Heartbreaking End
The Rangers 2-1 shootout loss to the Flyers on NBC national TV was an all or nothing do or die game as the winner would go to the playoffs while the loser would go home. The Rangers saw the Flyers take advantage of the win to go all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. New York has resolved to get back into the playoffs this year and has opened at Sbgglobal as a +4000 choice to win the Stanley Cup this season.
Roster Tweaked
The Rangers did not make a massive overhaul of the roster and instead went with minor adjustments. The biggest acquisition they did make was enforcer Derek Boogaard, a 6-8/257 pound monster from the Minnesota Wild. Boogaard’s job will be to make sure those Rangers skill players such as Marian Gaborik do not get hassled and harassed as was the case throughout the 2009-10 season. Boogaard has signed a 4 year deal to police the Rangers opposition. Another key pickup that may help the Rangers make the NHL betting post season is Alexander Frolov, who scored 20 goals in 5 different NHL seasons.
Offensive Woes
The Broadway Blueshirts have been consistent at one thing, which is a lack of scoring punch. Although the Rangers did improve to finish 16th in the NHL for scoring at 2.67 goals per game last year they still do not strike fear in the hearts of opponents and their offense was the reason for their lack of a post season. Gaborik is far and away the Rangers main offensive weapon and a key NHL betting online asset as he had 42 goals and 44 assists. Gaborik has now posted 42 goals in 2 out of the last 3 seasons and will need a second scorer to emerge in order to relieve the pressure of having to carry the load himself.
Between the Pipes
Henrik Lundqvist is one of the best goaltenders in the league and a key reason why the Rangers remained in the NHL betting race last year. He finished with a .921 save percentage and goals against average of 2.38 with 35 wins in 73 games.