Leafs vs Ducks – We’re the Favorites? Seriously?

I’m not a gambler. I’ve been to Vegas, but never sat down at a table or put a dime into a slot machine. I watch a lot of sports, but have never placed a bet on a game ever. Just not something I’m interested in doing. Now that doesn’t mean that I don’t understand sports betting. Spreads, handicaps, over/unders I understand the in and outs of making a buck on sports. So imagine the surprised look on my face when I heard that the Maple Leafs were the favorite in tonight’s matchup with the 5th place Anaheim Ducks. How is that even possible? Have the Vegas oddsmakers lost their mind? Yes, yes they have and here’s why in handy dandy list form.

1) Anaheim is 8-2-0 over their last 10 games and have won 2 in a row.

2) The trio of Perry-Getzlaf-Ryan. Perry is on pace for a 90 point season. Getzlaf and Ryan for 70. They’re pretty good.

3) Calder Trophy winner Teemu Selanne. He’s ageless and over a PPG pace at the age of 40. Oh yeah he’s pretty nasty on the power play as well.

4) Speaking of the Ducks’ powerplay, the Leafs penalty kill is 26th in the league with a dismal 77.5 success rate.

5) Former Duck J.S. Giguere is starting in net for the Leafs. His season has been atrocious with him posting a .898 save %. Also, I’m pretty sure his old team of 9 seasons knows exactly where to shoot on him.

Follow me after the jump for reasons 6 thru 10.

6) The former Leaf returning home to light the lamp syndrome will be in full effect tonight as Jason Blake comes back to Toronto for the first time since getting shipped out with Dog Shit Toskala last year. Expect an Ovechtrick out of him tonight.

7)The Ducks wanting to stick it to their former GM tonight and playing a true Burkian game tonight. Somebody on the Leafs is gonna get injured. Book it. Done.

8) It hasn’t been formally announced yet, but expect Brett Lebda to play tonight as Colton Orr may get supplemental discipline for his slash last night. Or Wilson might just go crazy and play Lebda on defense. Either way, with him in the game a loss is nearly guaranteed.

9) Jonas Hiller. He’s pretty good at that whole goaltending thing.

10) Tonight is the second game in as many nights and the Leafs are 1-2-1 in the second game of back to backs this season. Last season, they were 4-10-1 in the second game. Yeah, they don’t play very well without a rest.

So if you’re a Vegas odds maker, you’re an idiot. If you’re a Leafs fan, I recommend finding something else to watch tonight. Regardless, GO LEAFS GO!