So many sporting events lost in the chaos and hype that is March Madness odds! So many poor, neglected championships and playoff runs that go unnoticed to the dedicated legions of college basketball fans that become slaves to their brackets all month. (Also known as: many of the men in my life.) Oh well, that means there’s more for us multi-minded online sports betting players — like, say, Stanley Cup odds! Don’t worry, NHL, I haven’t forgotten about you. You’re my favorite.

Get well soon, scruffy Toskala!

As the playoff race tightens in the National Hockey League, it really becomes hard not to check the standings every single morning. Especially this season, when the final holder of the eighth playoff spot in both Eastern and Western Conferences is just brutally uncertain. The competition is crazy, man. Right now, hockey betting has got its eye on the Florida Panthers taking on the Buffalo Sabres tonight, and the cats really have to step their game up if they want to stay with Montreal (who are playing the Tampa Bay Lightning tomorrow and, barring any acts of God, will probably destroy them - sigh). Likewise, the Sabres are struggling to pull ahead of the Panthers, and will definitely be playing for their (playoff) lives tonight. Oh baby.

Craig Anderson’s sort of a tool.

Also racing into playoff contention is the Anaheim Ducks, who will make short work of the Colorade Avalanche tonight and keep ahead of Nashville, who are tying them for the eighth place spot. I have severe doubts the Ducks will even make the playoffs this year, but with their closest competition being the Preds, it might even happen that they both stay in the standings and push the Edmonton Oilers right out of the Western Conference. Dwayne Roloson’s improved goaltending aside, the Oilers are looking just weak right now.

I still love you, sexy Sheldon Souray.

Meanwhile, we’ve got some big names tonight too: how about some Flames vs Penguins odds? The game’s tonight, and I gotta say it looks like an even match. The Flames, while a strong team in general, are pretty terrible on the road - they lost to the LEAFS a few weeks ago, fer god’s sake - and they’ll be taking on the Pens on their home turf in Pittsburgh. The Penguins are sure to be steaming about their loss to rival Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday, and they’ll be looking to take advantage of both the Flames’ lack of effort away from home and also Dion Phaneuf’s lackluster play as of late. Possible Olli Jokinen hat tricks notwithstanding, this could be a crazy one. Buckle up.

Plus, um, Sidney.

Thanks.

Mmmmm…hockey. Hockey on a Tuesday night. Is there anything better? No, really, is there any other reason to look forward to Tuesday? It’s not as crappy as Monday, but then again, it’s not exactly Hump-Day Wednesday either. And so, by default - happily so - Tuesday is NHL Odds Day. Hurrah!

But before we get to tonight’s matchups, a matter of great importance: one of my favorite hockey sites, Mother Pucker Hockey, did up a fun little poll for all the hockey-lovin’ girls out there — to vote for the hottest NHLer. Round 1 and Round 2 were intriguing (full disclaimer: I voted for Toskala), yet the final winner ended up being Henrik Lundqvist.

Really, ladies? I mean, really? Okay, so I get the hot suit-n-tie thing, and I completely understand the goalie sex appeal, but…ah, I don’t know. I guess this means I should highlight a couple of the good-lookin’ menz of the NHL:

Fair admittance: I am a big sucker for Kyle Wellwood. “Well-fed” or no, he’s adorable, and his comeback is pretty darn admirable. Go Wellwood!

Taylor Pyatt. What a cutie. Mmmm, pretty eyes.

That’s a pretty big stick you got there, Louie.

Mike Fisher. Carrie Underwood is one lucky bitch, I can say that. (To say nothing for Elisha Cuthbert and all the notches on her puck-bunny belt…)

Also, Sheldon Souray. Just Sheldon Souray in general. He could be his OWN hockey team of hotness. SOURAY FOR NEXT GQ COVER PLEASE.

I do agree, however, that Ovechkin is hot as long as he keeps his mouth shut. He seriously looks like the long-lost Russian Gallagher brother.

Alright, back to the sportsbook business. Tonight is toplined by a monumental struggle for a playoff spot: the Penguins vs Canadiens line. Both teams have been looking a little shabby lately - a lot more so than in the first half of the season - so they’ve both got a lot on the line in this one. Still, my poor Pens just lost to my equally poor Leafs on Saturday, so there’s obviously struggles going on there. I’d put my wager on the Habs to win. I could also probably watch Luke Schenn take down Tyler Kennedy - MULTIPLE TIMES - all day long:

That’s right.