FROZEN ASSETS

How secure are the top 16?

Tonight, if the Canucks win and Kings lose, Los Angeles will be the first team officially eliminated from playoff contention. Sad. While not mathematically eliminated, many teams are long shots to make the playoffs.

EAST

Barring a 2007 New York Mets style meltdown, Pittsburgh, Montreal, New Jersey, Ottawa, and the Rangers are in the playoffs.
Carolina, Boston and Philadelphia should make the playoffs, despite the rumblings from certain Canadian media outlets regarding the chances of the Blue & White to make a late run. I heard from an unreliable source that the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for the 5% of you (.2 of a reader) that is (a) American (b) still reading this) has had to cancel original Canadian programming because of revenue that is lost when the Maple Leafs Miss the Playoffs.

Now is also a good time to mention that at least the final 8 games of the season are played against divisional opponents. If Carolina slumps during the final part of the season they would also likely be giving Florida and Washington valuable points.

Buffalo, the final team in the East that has a chance of making the playoffs has two wins in their last ten games.


WEST

Detroit is a lock to make the playoffs, so is the three headed monster from the Pacific Division. How is Phoenix going to survive six out of their final 8 games against San Jose, Anaheim, and Dallas? The Coyotes will have to start with wins in both of their games against Vancouver.

The Northwest Division is almost a toss up between Calgary, Colorado, Minnesota, and Vancouver. Look for more than a few three point games from these teams down the stretch.

Of the four, Vancouver is most likely to be caught by either Nashville or Phoenix (note: Phoenix must win tonight to be included with Nashville).

Edmonton, Columbus, and Chicago are seven points out of a playoff spot with twelve games left. These teams would have to go one notch below 2007 Colorado Rockies in order to make the playoffs.


Here are the standings and best odds as of March 13. I have ordered the teams by conference and points-per-game played. Note: I will only include a price at a betting exchange if there is more than $10 at the posted odds.


Eastern Conference


Team……........PPG…….…Best Odds......…Site....PPG Rank...Best Odds Rank

New Jersey…...1.23…………+1500….…Canbet...…...(4)….........(7)

Pittsburgh.........1.23…………+1200….….Beted...........(4)….........(3)

Montreal….......1.23…………+1500….....Beted............(4)….........(7)

Ottawa.........….1.20…………+1200…..…Carib............(8).............(3)

New York (R)...1.19………...+2500…..…Canbet..........(9)…..........(9)

Boston..………1.14…..…….+5000….....PaddyPower.(13)…........(16)

Carolina...........1.13…….......+4000.........Gamebookers(15)…........(14)

Philadelphia.....1.11….....….+4000….…Gamebookers(16)......…..(14)

Buffalo.........…1.06…….….+10000.......Gamebookers.(19)...........(19)

Washington…..1.04………..+8550....….Olympic.........(20)...........(18)

Florida..............1.03…...…...+32900….…Betfair.........(23)...........(25)

Toronto.............1.03…....….+20000….....Carib............(23)............(21)

New York (I)....0.99…….….+35000…...Betdirect........(26)...........(26)

Atlanta…….......0.96…….…+50000…....Bet365..........(28)...........(27)

Tampa Bay…....0.89…....…+100000…....Bet365..........(29)...........(29)


Western Conference

Team….….........PPG……………..Best Odds……Site….PPG Rank…Best Odds Rank

Detroit…...........1.40……………..+500…….....Beted….......(1)………..(1)

San Jose…........1.29……...…...…+1300…....…Beted...........(2)……......(6)

Dallas...............1.24…….…….…+1250….…...Betfair..........(3)…..........(5)

Anaheim...........1.21…………..…+825….…....Olympic.......(7)…….…..(2)

Calgary…........1.17………….….+2900……....Betfair........(10)…….…(11)

Minnesota....…1.16……………..+3500….......Betfair.......(11)….....….(12)

Colorado..........1.15…….….……+2750….......5Dimes......(12)…….......(10)

Vancouver.......1.14……………..+3500…...…5Dimes.......(13)……......(12)

Nashville.........1.10………….….+6000……...Canbet.........(17)..............(17)

Phoenix...........1.07………….….+22900..…....Betfair.........(18)…....…(22)

Edmonton.......1.04……………..+29900….…..Canbet........(20)….........(24)

Columbus.......1.04……………..+28900….......Betfair........(20).............(23)

Chicago…..…1.03………..……+15000…...…Betfair.......(23)..............(20)

St. Louis.........0.99……..………+50000…......Bet365........(26)............(27)

Los Angeles....0.85……………..+100000........5Dimes......(30)............(29)

For Illegal Curve, I'm Ari Baum-Cohen


March 6, 2008: Ten Futures Bets You Should Have Made Over the First Five-Sixths of the Season.
February 14, 2008: Trade Deadline Tips and (As Always) Best Odds On Teams To Win The Cup
February 7, 2008: To Win The Conference or to Win the Cup Revisited
January 31, 2008: Does Parity in the Standings = Parity At the Sportsbooks?
January 17, 2008: Reviewing the Division Predictions
January 10, 2008: 10 Futures Bets You Should Have Made Over the First Half of the Season
January 3, 2008: Glossary of Terms Used on Frozen Assets
December 27, 2007: Ho Ho Horrible Homestands and Road Warriors
December 14, 2007: Western Conference: Starting Odds, Current Odds, Highest Odds
December 7, 2007: Eastern Conference: Starting Odds, Current Odds, Highest Odds
November 29, 2007: How to Find the Sportsbook For You, The NHL's best division - The Central(?)
November 22, 2007: 10 Futures Bets You Should Have Made Over the First Quarter of the Season
November 15, 2007: Explaining the Exchange(2), Random Thoughts on the Futures
November 9, 2007: Exaplaining the Exchange(1), This Weeks Best Bets
November 1, 2007: Profiling the Eastern Conference Teams
October 25, 2007: Profiling the Western Conference Teams
October 18, 2007: To Win the Conference or the Cup? Frozen Assets' European Vacation
October, 11, 2007: Top 5 Hockey Futures Books, Stanley Cup Odds
October 4, 2007: Bad Lines, Soft Lines, and Conference Odds
September 27, 2007: Avoiding Fraudulent Sportsbooks and Preview of Division Betting
September 20, 2007: Introduction to Frozen Assets and Futures Highlights From Last Year