Sportsbook Website – Coach-Star Problems in New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils were a very good team last year against the NHL odds at the sportsbook website but not this year. They are off to a rotten start including being winless against the online sportsbook at home. Things are not getting any better either as their head coach and star player are at odds.
$100 Million Dollar Man Benched
The big story in New Jersey is that head coach John MacLean benched star scorer Ilya Kovalchuk. Sometimes when you bench a star player it can pay dividends but New Jersey went out and disgraced themselves on Saturday, losing at home 6-1 to Buffalo. The decision to bench Kovalchuk now looks very bad.
Winless at Home – The Devils are winless at home this season at 0-4-1 against the odds at the online sportsbook. It is the longest winless streak at home since 1983. The Devils are tied for the worst record percentage wise in the NHL.
6-1 Slaughter
The Devils were simply slaughtered on Saturday night at home by the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller stopped 26 shots as Buffalo ran over the Devils at Prudential Center. Thomas Vanek scored twice while Tyler Ennis had a goal and an assist for the Sabres. Zach Parise scored the only goal for New Jersey. Johan Hedberg started in goal but was poor as he gave up four goals on 15 shots. Martin Brodeur finished the game and let in two more. And a healthy Ilya Kovalchuk watched the entire game from the bench as he was a healthy scratch.
Upcoming Schedule
If you think things are going to turn around for New Jersey against the NHL odds at the sportsbook website you may want to look at the upcoming schedule. The Devils go on the road for a big road trip and it began on Sunday in New York. They then have to fly across the country for games at San Jose, Anaheim, Los Angeles and Vancouver. It sounds like they may need their $100 million dollar man on that trip if they are to win anything on the road against the SBG odds. New Jersey is last in the league in goals per game so perhaps their head coach will have to come to his senses and put Kovalchuk back into the lineup.