If you bet Kentucky Derby online, there is still plenty of time until the “Run For The Roses”, so why not pass the time with some Stanley Cup betting action? Here is a look, as well as some picks, for next week’s slate in the NHL.

Monday – Bruins Canadiens Betting (7:30 PM ET)

Zdeno Chara returns to the Bell Center for the first time since almost decapitating Max Pacioretty, so don’t expect a warm reception for the Boston captain. The Canadiens should be favored at home, but we expect the Bruins to rally around their captain and like Montreal did in Game 1, we think the Bruins will steal a game in “La Belle Province”.

Tuesday – Canucks Blackhawks Betting (8:00 PM ET)

Roberto Luongo has never been great in Chicago in the playoffs, so Game 4 will be another big test for the Vancouver netminder. You can expect the Blackhawks to come out strong and give a good performance in front of their home fans, but take the Canucks as an underdog on the road.

Wednesday – Red Wings Coyotes Betting (10:30 PM ET)

The Coyotes could be slight favorites at home, but we think the discussion surrounding their ownership is a distraction on the team, and the Red Wings have enough veterans who smell blood in the water. It wouldn’t be a surprise if this was an elimination game, and we’re going with Detroit.

Thursday – Sharks Kings Betting (10:30 PM ET)

Finally, the Kings should be favored at home in this Game 4 showdown, and this is the game to watch if you’re a neutral because of all the skill on the ice. The Kings have been good at home all season and we don’t think they’ll stop now, so take them at your favorite online betting sites.

Online March Madness betting will be wrapping up on Monday, but there is an intriguing matchup on the ice on the West coast that you should keep an eye on as Los Angeles heads to San Jose. The Kings are managing to keep their head above water in the face of injuries, while the Sharks will be out to cement their spot in second in the West.

Kings Sharks Betting – Monday, 10:00 PM ET

The Kings are in fifth place in the West ahead of Saturday’s visit from Dallas, and they’re hanging on even though their top two scorers, Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams, are out. Michael Handzus and in particular, Trevor Lewis, have stepped up to fill the void for the Kings, who are going to be a tough out in the playoffs.

The Sharks have taken advantage of a struggling Detroit team to sneak behind Vancouver in the West, although the Canucks have clinched the conference title. However, the Sharks know they won’t be judged on how they are playing right now, it’s all about the playoffs. San Jose has been known as the biggest playoff underachievers in the league, and they’ll look to rectify this during the postseason.

San Jose should be favored at home, but the Kings have actually won three of their last five trips to the “Shark Tank”, with three of those games going over the posted total. We expect this game to have a playoff feel as these two rivals could end up meeting later on, and they’ll want to make a statement. In a close game, take San Jose at home in your best online sportsbook.

While your March Madness betting picks may be taking up your time, don’t forget about the action in the NHL as teams are scrambling to make the playoffs. Here are some picks for next week.

Penguins Red Wings Betting (Monday, 7:30 PM ET)

The Red Wings should be favored at home in this one, and they’ve won four of their last five at Joe Louis Arena against the Penguins, who are doing surprisingly well in the face of all their injuries. But we think the Detroit veterans will step up to the plate in this game as they look to build momentum for their next game, so take the Red Wings.

Canucks Red Wings Betting (Wednesday, 7:30 PM ET)

The Red Wings will again be favored at home in a meeting of the top two teams in the West, and the Canucks are 2-3 in their last five trips to Detroit. The Canucks did very well in a trip through the Southwestern United States, but we think Detroit will be motivated to show that the road to the Stanley Cup will have to go through them, so bet on Detroit once again.

Canadiens Bruins Betting (Thursday, 7:00 PM ET)

The Bruins will be favored at home in this emotional game as the two meet for the first time since Zdeno Chara’s hit on Max Pacioretty, but the Canadiens have won four of their last five in Boston and they’re just a tough matchup for the Bruins. We think they’ll want to win this for their fallen teammate, so bet on Montreal on the road in your sports betting picks.

The 2011 NHL Trade Deadline is quickly approaching, which means players will be on the move. Canadian teams have been active, and they’ll all be in action for the annual “Hockey Day In Canada” trio of matchups on Saturday.

Senators Oilers Betting – Saturday, 2:00 PM ET

Ottawa, who just traded Mike Fisher to Nashville, may go into this game as the road favorite as they’re 4-1 SU in their last five trips to Edmonton, and they need to make something happen in this battle of last-place teams as the Senators have lost 11 straight games. Four of those meetings have gone under the posted total.

Maple Leafs Canadiens Betting – Saturday, 7:00 PM ET

In what is arguably hockey’s most heated rivalry, the Canadiens will be the home favorites against the Maple Leafs, who traded Francois Beauchemin to Anaheim for Joffrey Lupul . The Maple Leafs are 3-2 SU in their last five visits to the Bell Center, with two of the last three coming in under the posted total. It’s always a big occasion when these Original Six rivals face each other.

Flames Canucks Betting – Saturday, 10:00 PM ET

In the nightcap, the league’s best team, Vancouver, will definitely be the home favorites against the Flames, who are 2-3 SU in their last five trips to British Columbia. The Flames have been playing extremely well to storm into the playoff picture, and they won in Vancouver just back in January, but another win would be an upset for those betting online.

While Super Bowl betting odds are the focus of this week’s attention, the NHL will be back in action on Tuesday. But on Wednesday, there is a trio of matchups coming out of the Western Conference, and here is a look at a few trends to check out before heading to your sportsbook.

Kings Oilers Betting – Wednesday, 9:30 PM ET

The Kings should be favored on the road against the Oilers in this matchup of young teams, as Los Angeles is 4-1 SU in their last five trips to Edmonton. The last four meetings have gone under the posted total, and the Kings are 2-3 SU in the second half of back-to-back games. This is relevant as the Kings play Tuesday night in Minnesota.

Canucks Coyotes Betting – Wednesday, 9:30 PM ET

The Canucks also play on Tuesday night in Dallas, and they’re 2-3 SU in the second half of back-to-back games. The Coyotes are 4-1 SU in their last five against the Canucks at home, with three of those games going over the posted total. Phoenix also plays on Tuesday night, and they’re 6-6 SU in the second half of back-to-backs.

Sharks Ducks Betting – Wednesday, 10:00 PM ET

The Ducks should be favored at home as they have the night off on Tuesday, while the Sharks will be in Phoenix, and San Jose is 3-4 SU in the second half of back-to-back games. The Ducks are 3-2 SU in their last five at home against the Sharks, with three of those games going under the total, so the under is worth a bet in your sportsbook.

Those betting on Super Bowl odds will warm up with the Pro Bowl this weekend, while NHL betting players will focus on their All-Star game, which takes place on Saturday night in Raleigh, North Carolina. There are no odds or totals for the game yet, as we don’t know the teams due to the draft taking place on Friday night between Team Lidstrom (captained by Detroit’s Nicklas Lidstrom) and Team Staal (led by Carolina captain Eric Staal). Here is a look at the last few All-Star games in the NHL.

NHL All-Star Betting – Sunday, 4:00 PM ET

Despite not knowing who is on what team, one thing we can say for sure, is that it will be a shootout. Like the Pro Bowl, the NHL All-Star game is little more than an exhibition with no hitting, but the game will get competitive in the second half as no one wants to lose. There have been an average of 16.1 goals scored in the last 10 All-Star games, which have been under both the East/West and North America/World concepts. Two of the last 10 have gone to a shootout, including 2009′s 12-11 win for the East, and defense is definitely not the name of the game as the goaltenders are often left hung out to dry on breakaways.

There hasn’t been a goalie named as the All-Star MVP since 1994, when New York’s Mike Richter snatched the award, and hometown players also have a good chance to win the award if they have a great game (see Richter in New York, Alexei Kovalev in Montreal two years ago). Staal was the All-Star Game MVP in 2008, and he would be worth a sports betting wager again this year in North Carolina.

Those checking out NHL scores are gearing up for the All-Star break, which means it’s about time to start looking at the favorites for the end-of-season awards, beginning with the Hart Trophy awarded to the league’s MVP.

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh

If not for a concussion that has kept him out for the last couple weeks, Crosby would probably run away with this award, but the rest of the league is catching up to him. Still, his 25-game point streak is the biggest thing that has happened this year and he’s pulled away from the rest of the field as the best player in the world.

Tim Thomas, Boston

A goalie hasn’t won this award since Jose Theodore in Montreal in 2001-02, but Thomas has been playing out of his mind at 36 years old after hip replacement surgery, leading the NHL in goals against, save percentage, and he’s currently tied for third in wins. Of course, he has a great defense led by Zdeno Chara in front of him, but Tuukka Rask slipped up just enough for Thomas to take his spot, and the Bruins haven’t missed a step.

Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay

Stamkos is second to Crosby in points and now leads the league in goals as the young sniper continues to improve. He’s not only utilizing his lethal one-timer, but Stamkos picks up the scrappy goals as well, and he’s one of the fastest players in the league from zone to zone. If the Lightning can win the Southeast Division, Stamkos has to be worth a look at your sports wagering sites.

Super Bowl betting lines will be the big play of the weekend, but sports betting players should still keep an eye on the ice with an interesting trio of Eastern Conference matchups.

Penguins Bruins Odds (Saturday, 1:00 PM ET)

The Bruins should be favored at home in this contest, and they’re 3-2 SU in their last five at home against the Penguins, while three of the games have gone under the posted total (with an over and push as well). Pittsburgh will likely still be without captain Sidney Crosby, who has a concussion.

Rangers Canadiens Odds (Saturday, 7:00 PM ET)

The Canadiens should be the home favorites at the Bell Center, where they are 4-1 SU in their last five against the Rangers. All five of those games have gone over the posted total, and Montreal has scored six goals three times during that stretch. Both teams have Friday night off, so they should be rested for this one.

Flyers Rangers Odds (Sunday, 7:00 PM ET)

We can’t say the same about the Rangers on Sunday, when they could be home underdogs against the Flyers, one of the NHL’s best on the road. The Rangers are 4-1 SU at home in their last five against the Flyers, with three games going under the posted total, and playing the next night may not be as big a deal as you think as the Rangers are a sparkling 8-1 SU in the second half of back-to-back games this season. Still, they could be underdogs in your sports book.

If these teams were college football betting options, it’s likely that they wouldn’t garner invites to the upcoming blows that will get underway later this month.

New York Islanders- The Islanders fired Scott Gordon on November 15^th, and the Isles have lost seven of eight since. They’re just not a good hockey team, but they are still very young. Don’t bother with them at all this season.

New Jersey- Martin Brodeur and Zach Parise were injured, Ilya Kovalchuk is trying to do too much, and the Devils look as bad as, well, as bad as we’ve ever seen.Only once in the last 10 games have the Devils scored more than two goals.

Florida- The Panthers have a decent defense, but what does it matter when you can’t score? Florida is fifth in goals allowed, but 25^th in goals scored. You do the math. If the Panthers figure out how to light the lamp, they could be a problem.

Calgary- The Flames shouldn’t be as bad as they are, but they’re inconsistent and you just never know which Calgary team is going to show up from game to game. Their defense is struggling this year, for a change.

Toronto- The Maple Leafs simply can’t score, and they give the puck away like it’s their job. It can’t be long for Ron Wilson in Toronto now, although he’s very tight with GM Brian Burke, who isn’t going anywhere. Giving Wilson the axe may bring a brief spike in confidence, but without a top-line center, don’t bet on the Maple Leafs.

If you’re betting on college football, you’re going to ride the top teams as much as you can. It’s the same in hockey, and here are the top five to ride so far in this young NHL betting season.

Washington- There isn’t a more sure thing in the NHL than the Capitals at home, where they are 10-1-1. Any time they’re at home, it doesn’t matter against you, take them and run to the house.

Detroit- The Red Wings are a bit more balanced than the Capitals, although like most teams,they’re better at home. Detroit has too many veterans on their team to be bothered by a little crowd noise.

Philadelphia- The Flyers are tied with Washington for the league lead in points, and they’re good both at home and on the road. Along with the top two, they have nine home wins, but the Flyers are also a stellar 5-2-2 on the road.

Columbus- A surprising inclusion, but the Blue Jackets are off to a good start and it’s because they have six wins at home, and seven on the road. If they can improve their home form even a little bit, watch out: Columbus could be this year’s Phoenix.

Pittsburgh- You can never count out a team with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and even though they got off to a slow start, the Penguins are warming up, and they’ve been better on the road than at home, which you can expect to change. When that happens, the Penguins will be an even stronger team to lay a bet on.