You know how much I love hockey. You know how much I adore the NHL. All of this does not need to be stated more than once. I spent a pretty large amount of time last season writing about NHL odds, and since we’ve just finished the 2009-10 preseason, I’m more stoked than ever for the actual season to kick off on Thursday. Bring it on, hockey goons!

Alright, so here’s who I like to dominate the league - and who I’ll be doing some online sports betting on, once the lines come around - judging by their preseason performances:

Toronto Maple Leafs. Look, I don’t care. I don’t care about the negative naysayers, the jaded critics and the disbelievers. This is their year. I’m not so crazy to think they’ll be your best Stanley Cup pick, but with Burkie leading the charge and the blueline flattening anyone in their way (can’t wait to see them taking on Boston!), they’ll definitely make it to the playoffs this year. If they keep newbie Victor Stalberg as a regular on the team, watch for him to light up the scoreboard. I like that kid.

Boston Bruins. Speaking of Boston, the Bruins are one of my top two picks to make it to the final show. They got so achingly close last year, but now I’m betting they took the time in the offseason to fix the little mistakes that held them back. Chara is awesome, Tim Thomas is a force in net and I have a soft spot for Lucic. Keep an eye on these guys — especially Marc Savard, who’ll have another banner year even without Phil Kessel.

Vancouver Canucks. Yes, another Canadian team, and the only other one I favor to make a mark in hockey betting. (Sit down, Habs.) They’ve been looking stronger than ever in their preseason matchups, coasting high on the skills of Roberto Luongo (who looks like he’s thankfully shaken off any self-esteem issues after last year’s implosion) and the uber-skilled Sedin twins. Alex Burrows will be a consistent scoring machine, and if Sami Salo can stay healthy this time around, he’ll make a mark. Again, like Toronto, they’ll make a good playoff run but I don’t think it’s their time for the Cup just yet. But watch for the fireworks.

Chicago Blackhawks. They’re young, they’re fast, they’re feisty, and they’re ready to take back their 20 cents change. Jonathan Toews, Patricks Kane & Sharp, and impressive new acquisition Marian Hossa will definitely blow the roof off. They’ll miss Martin Havlat, though I think Dustin Byfuglien will step up in his place. I’m sort of iffy on their goal - Cristobal Huet has never really proven himself to be a steady #1 netminder, under pressure especially - and this could be the Hawks’ only weakness — that is, if they let their opponents get close to the net. Which is a serious “if”.

Other teams on my radar: Los Angeles Kings, Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils.

Teams so far off the radar they might as well be in Timbuktu: New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche.

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.