With NFL and NCAA football starting to go full speed and the MLB playoffs about to get under way, most people forget about the potential profits available from NHL betting.  The season starts Oct. 7 and I am very excited about releasing NHL predictions to my clients.

This will be the first season that I will be offering hockey selections to my members subscribers, and following the success we’ve had in MLB, NBA, NCAAB and WNBA, I don’t see the NHL being any different.  I have been betting the NHL on my own for years and have mastered three or four systems that I feel will cash big units for both my clients and I.

Below are five ‘over/under’ total point predictions that I will be playing myself and decided to give out to get the NHL juices flowing a little bit. (Totals courtesy of Las Vegas Hilton).

Philadelphia Flyers UNDER 98.5 points – Yes, this team went to the Stanley Cup Finals last year.  Let’s not forget that they got into the playoffs following a shootout win on the final day of the season over the Rangers, and they didn’t have to worry about playing Washington or Pittsburgh in the playoffs.  Simon Gagne has been traded to Tampa Bay and there are huge question marks as to if the signing of Nikolai Zherdev is enough to replace Gagne’s goal scoring.  There are also huge issues in net as the Flyers go into the season with the tandem of Michael Leighton (back injury) and Brian Boucher.

Los Angeles Kings OVER 100.5 points – This team is young and ready to take the next step.  They are solid in net with both Jonathan Quick and Jonathan Bernier pushing each other for playing time.  Drew Doughty was the runner up for the Norris Trophy last year and is the leader of a steady defense.  They have enough scoring and grit up front to make a run in the West.  This team is worth a look at 15/1 or more to win the Stanley Cup.

Toronto Maple Leafs OVER 84.5 points – The Maple Leafs have been so bad for so long.  It looks on paper that they finally have enough talent to be a .500 team and that will be enough to cash this ticket for us.  Phil Kessel played in 70 games last year for the Leafs, but was only at full strength for about 30 of them.  If he stays healthy then the power play will be much better than it was last season.  A full season with newly named captain Dion Phaneuf on the blue line with Luke Schenn, Tomas Kaberle and Francois Beauchemin will cut down on the 267 goals allowed last year, which was worst in the East.  A few teams in the division (Montreal and Ottawa) should take a step back and help the Leafs surpass 84.5 points.

Carolina Hurricanes UNDER 86.5 points – Last season, playing in a terrible Southeast Division, Carolina was able to amass just 80 points.  This year, Tampa Bay, Florida and Atlanta have all made improvements while Carolina has done nothing to improve their situation.  I don’t see them even cracking the 80-point mark that they hit last year.  They may actually be fighting with the Islanders (also improved, but not quite ready) for last place in the East.

Columbus Blue Jackets OVER 78.5 points – Rick Nash is the best player in the NHL that most people have never heard of.  I give him credit; I figured he was one step away from signing with the Kings, dating a C-list celebrity in LA and just living the life.  Instead, he signed a long-term deal with the Jackets and said he wanted to bring a Cup to Columbus.  Expect a bounce-back year from 2008-09 Rookie of the Year goalie Steve Mason, who was horrendous last season.  Look for both Chicago (huge player turnover) and Nashville (everything fell perfect last year) to take a step back in the point column and help the Blue Jackets get somewhere between 82-88 points.

Check back on docsports.com for future, articles and upcoming NHL picks from Vegas Sports Informer. NHL handicapping is going to be big for us because we have the tools, the contacts, and the past hockey records to show the world that the Vegas Sports Informer can and will be as successful in the National Hockey League picks as I am with all my other sports. Also, remember that Doc’s Sports has up-to-the-minute hockey lines so you won’t ever miss out on the best numbers.