MONTREAL, Oct. 3, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- How much of an effect will last season's lockout have on this year's NHL season? In anticipation of the NHL's opening night scheduled for this Wednesday, October 5, BetUS.com predicts an increase in scoring.
"BetUS.com believes that the time off for the players will have a huge impact on the game," said Mike Foreman, BetUS.com spokesperson. "With team defenses not as strong as they should be, and with the new rule of no grabbing and holding in the neutral zone, we think there's going to be an increase in goals scored this season versus the last regular season in 2003-2004." Continued Foreman, "Among the NHL stars, we're looking at Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames to score a lot of goals." According to BetUS.com, Iginla is favored at 2.5 to 1 to have the most goals of any NHL player this upcoming season.
In addition to the NHL player scoring the most goals, BetUS.com has posted odds for the player to have the most points. Conversely, BetUS.com also posted odds on which goalie will have the best goals against average.
Player to have the most goals Jarome Iginla 2.5 to 1 Dany Heatley 4 to 1 Markus Nasland 5 to 1 Ilya Kovalchuk 6 to 1 Marion Hossa 8 to 1 Joe Thornton 9 to 1 Vincent Lecavelier 10 to 1 Todd Bertuzzi 12 to 1 Keith Tkachuk 15 to 1 Jason Spezza 15 to 1 Player to have the most points (goals+assist) Jarome Iginla 3.5 to 1 Peter Forsberg 4.5 to 1 Ilya Kovalchuk 4.5 to 1 Martin St. Louis 6 to 1 Dany Heatley 7 to 1 Markus Naslund 7 to 1 Joe Sakic 10 to 1 Daniel Alfredsson 10 to 1 Vincent Lecavelier 12 to 1 Marion Hossa 15 to 1 Player to have the best goals against average Martin Brodeur 4 to 1 Marty Turco 5 to 1 Robert Esche 5 to 1 Mikka Kiprusoff 5 to 1 Dominik Hasek 6 to 1 Evgeni Nabokov 8 to 1 Thomas Vokoun 8 to 1 Jose Theodore 10 to 1 Andrew Raycroft 10 to 1 Ed Belfour 12 to 1
About BetUS.com
BetUS.com (http://www.BetUS.com) is one of the oldest and most respected legal online sports betting organizations in the world and is licensed and bonded in two recognized gaming jurisdictions -- Canada and Costa Rica. Employing over 500 people, BetUS.com provides a safe and secure place for sports wagering to more than 100,000 clients. Members can enjoy wagering on some of their favorite sports including: football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf and boxing. BetUS.com has been in operation for 11 years and also offers Vegas-style casino games and interactive poker.