NHL Betting – Sunday’s All-Star Game on Versus. This year’s game is a radical change as the players on both teams will be drafted with each captain, Eric Staal and Nicklas Lidstrom, alternating picks. The NHL is trying to create some excitement for their All-Star showcase game and perhaps gamblers making an NHL bet at SBG will be more interested.
All-Star Draft
It could be that the draft on Friday night is more interesting than the game on Sunday. If you look at football then you can understand just how exciting the draft can be and that applies to fantasy football drafts as well. The Versus television network will televise the draft on Friday and the game on Sunday. Staal has already gone on record saying that he will take teammate Cam Ward with his first pick. Lidstrom has not said what he will do although he could throw a wrench into everything if he gets the first pick and takes Ward.
That does seem unlikely though as the NHL would seem to want Ward to play for Team Staal so the fans in Carolina could cheer for him. It is more likely that Lidstrom will take Washington’s Alex Ovechkin. We do know that two of the best players in the league who impact NHL betting, Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will not be selected as both players are injured and out of the game. As you make an NHL bet keep in mind that each team will have three goalies, 12 forwards and six defensemen. Fans voted in Crosby, Malkin, Kris Letang, Marc-Andre Fleury, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith. The other 36 players were picked by the NHL’s hockey operations department.
Team Lidstrom
Captain: Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit. Alternates: Patrick Kane, Chicago; Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay
Team Staal
Captain: Eric Staal, Carolina. Alternates: Ryan Kesler, Vancouver; Mike Green, Washington
Remaining players
Forwards: Corey Perry, Anaheim; Jeff Skinner, Carolina; Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, Chicago; Matt Duchene, Paul Stastny, Colorado; Rick Nash, Columbus; Loui Eriksson, Brad Richards, Dallas; Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles; Martin Havlat, Minnesota; Patrik Elias, New Jersey; Danny Briere, Claude Giroux, Philadelphia; David Backes, St. Louis Blues; Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay; Phil Kessel, Toronto; Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin, Vancouver; Alex Ovechkin, Washington
Defensemen: Dustin Byfuglien, Atlanta; Zdeno Chara, Boston; Duncan Keith, Chicago; Brent Burns, Minnesota, Shea Weber, Nashville; Marc Staal, N.Y. Rangers; Erik Karlsson, Ottawa; Keith Yandle, Phoenix; Kris Letang, Pittsburgh; Dan Boyle, San Jose
Goaltenders: Jonas Hiller, Anaheim; Tim Thomas, Boston; Cam Ward, Carolina; Carey Price, Montreal; Henrik Lundqvist, N.Y. Rangers; Marc-Andre-Fleury, Pittsburgh