Of the four NHL divisions, we took a look at where all the teams stand and how they stack up to where they were at the end of last year’s regular season. We have some unexpected teams in some unexpected positions. Why are they there and will they have a chance to stay there or recover?

Last year, the Oilers were second in their division. They are now at the bottom of their division with a much lower record than expected. Plus, their star player, Connor McDavid, is playing and scoring far less than expected. The Pacific division is off to a dry start to its seasons, all except the new team, the Vegas Golden Knights. The other teams have not shown outstanding matches. The Pacific split has been shaken compared to last year and the expected results have yet to come. There are many games to play and all it takes is a couple of teams to hit a hot streak to change the rankings in the Pacific division. One team that expected to see better participation in its season was the Arizona Coyotes. They had a very tough year last season and now they don’t see much improvement. The only team that has a win less than them right now is the Buffalo Sabers. The Coyotes are 7-18-5 and the Sabers are 6-17-4. They are fighting not to be in last place in the entire NHL. It’s hard to watch these teams fight, I don’t like seeing professional teams look so uncoordinated. I hope their seasons start to produce successes for the players and for the club as a whole!

On a different note, the Blackhawks came first in the central division last year and are now second to last this year. The Blackhawks have a lot of skilled players, but they seem to be underperforming. Another team in the central division that is not doing as well as it was at the end of last season is the Minnesota Wild. The Blackhawks and Wild finished in the top two in the central division last year, but they aren’t playing like they did at the end of the regular season. Right now, these two teams are sitting in two of the bottom three spots. The team that is last in the central division is the Avalanche. They had a horrible season last year and while they are doing much better now, they are still the team that was expected to be in last place. One team that was quiet last year and in first place in the central division is the Winnipeg Jets. Right now the Blues and Jets are vying for first place and it should be interesting to see what the product of more competition should produce.

After the Central division, there is the Metropolitan division. The biggest change we’ve seen in this division so far is the amazing courage the New Jersey Devils have shown. They had a poor season last year coming in last and now rank second in the Metropolitan division just two games away from being tied for first. The other teams in the division are not far from expected. The Pittsburgh Penguins have fared mediocre for being a Stanley Cup team and have had big losses to teams with big deficits. Usually the Stanley Cup team represents a challenge to the rest of the league, but there has been nothing extraordinary yet.

Finally, we have the Atlantic division, which has not surprised us too much. There are two teams in this division that have been a lot of fun to watch. These two teams are ranked first and second in the division and have great players. The Lightning are in first place with the Maple Leafs behind by one game in the win category, but with 3 points to tie. In Lightning, they have Stamkos and Kucherov, who are the dynamic duo. These two players have had great passes, plays and goals that you find yourself watching over and over again. In Maple Leafs, you have Auston Matthews, who is 20 years old and has had an incredible season. He’s a great points contender and has incredible goals. These top two teams, plus the Vegas Golden Knights, are some of the best teams to watch right now. The last teams in the Atlantic division are not very surprised. The only team that is surprised to be low in the rankings are the Ottawa Senators, who are in third to last place but in second place last year. They have had an unfortunate season, but they have the ability to make a strong comeback. The Sabers and Panthers are at the bottom of this division and haven’t been the best contenders for a while.

Every week of the college football season, I make at least one college football parlay bet. There is something magical about watching many games at the same time and having action in all of them. If you are new to NCAA college football betting, here is some information to help you.

Let’s start by talking about the difference between bookmakers when a game falls in number. Some bookmakers push ties, which means that your parlay card is reduced to the next number. So imagine you have a 5-team college football parlay and the Ohio State Buckeyes (-3) win by 3. Since it’s a tie, the card would be reduced to the next level. If you are playing a “tie win” card, you would win the bet.

College football parlay cards can have both sides and totals. A side is when you choose sides, like the Michigan Wolverines. And the total is when you bet less or more than the total number of points scored for both teams.

Unsurprisingly, you can increase your pay by adding more equipment. The risk also increases. While most bookmakers tend to have the same payouts, some offer special payout amounts.

Charging for college parlays is fun. Here are some common payment amounts:

Parlay of 3 country teams 6-1

Parlay of 4 country teams 11-1

Parlay of 5 country teams 20-1

Let’s go.

There are also teasers that are somewhat popular with sports bettors. They are easier to win, but pay much less. Many like betting teasers because the lines are more favorable for sports bettors. As an example, you could see the Washington Huskies as a 14-point dog on the royal line and a 21-point dog in a teaser. As you can see, these bets are much easier to win.

Do you know what is the best college football parlay bet you can make? There is a “best” bet and many sports bettors don’t realize it. Whether you’re betting on teasers, semicircles, or straight parlays, you need to know what you’re doing to get ahead.

Don Lyle, the Northern California area scout for the Cleveland Indians, has some unique ideas on how to search for baseball prospects.

In less than 20 years, Lyle has signed more than 50 prospects to major league contracts, eleven of whom have made it to the major leagues. That is a success rate of more than 20 percent. Lyle is best known for signing Sacramento-area native Derrek Lee, who was recently traded from the Cubs to the Braves. Lyle removed Lee from El Camino High School to a contract with the Padres in 1993.

Sitting with Lyle at a mid-summer display sponsored by the El Dorado Hills Hard 90 Baseball Academy, you learn that he is evaluating players just by the way they walk across the field to start practice. “That (athletics) puts me on the radar.”

Next is another intangible: sincerity. Lyle is looking for people who are serious about business in the field. “Geoff Jenkins did that,” the Indians scout recalls of the Cordova High star who recently retired after an official career and a World Series championship with the Phillies.

When players start to throw the ball, Lyle looks for those with good fundamental arm action and strength in their throws. Eventually, when they warm up, he will instinctively know if he got it right. Even if the arm action “… isn’t exactly how I want it, but the speed is there, then I’m buying,” says Lyle.

During a ball game, the Indians scout times runners to first base, the pitcher’s pitch to home plate with a runner on base, and the catcher throws to second to catch a base robber. All standards for the profession. But Lyle is looking at the batter before he even walks into the box. He’s checking out the prospect while he’s in the circle on the deck, his focus, his sincerity, again seeing if the player is “challenging himself to get that pitcher to the mound. You can see it.”

Lyle will also move to the opposite sideline to view the prospect through his binoculars. “I’m watching him on the bench to see how he’s looking at the game. Do you want to come up with the game on the line? No, when he’s at the plate. Once he gets out of that circle, it’s about his set. Up.”

When Don Lyle ultimately scores a player, he is trying to determine if that player is ready to play in the big leagues today. “Only 1 percent (of prospects) want me right now,” he admits, but marks the others with a touchdown to “go on.” He often recommends those players to college scouts, hoping they will have a chance to further develop and be prepared for the major leagues in time.

The main indicator to measure a player’s skill level compared to those now playing in the major leagues is the standard scoring system of 20-80 from scouts, with 20 being the lowest score and 80 reserved for the maximum of players from all over the world. “Even with Barry (Bonds), I would have had to rate him at 70,” laughs Lyle over a fictitious score by one of his all-time favorite players. “Give it an 80 and there are no advantages.”

When evaluating a high school talent, particularly the bat and arm, Lyle will score a rank rather than an exact number. “You’re kidding yourself a bit. If (the prospect) makes it to the majors, and his arm is 50 now, it’ll probably be a 60 in the majors. I’ll put it as a 50-60, as I hope it’s going to be better. The performance it is still what it is. “

Trent Reznor, the mastermind behind the industrial rock group Nine Inch Nails, is no stranger to the realm of the best songs in the sexy rock music genre. And if you asked anyone who’s stuck their head into the rock world for an iota of time, they might respond by saying that NIN’s “Closer” definitely deserves a spot on any top 10 list.

But what about Trent’s other bands / projects? What about How To Destroy Angels, the band he shares with his wife, Mariqueen, and his friend / collaborator Atticus Ross? What about your soundtracks, also co-composed by Ross? Their remixes / covers?

How about we dive into less mapped territory?

Here’s an example of a playlist that uses Trent Reznor’s sexy deep cuts:

1. All Time Low (Nine Inch Nails – Hesitation Marks)

Get the ball rolling with this strong mid-tempo funk song, which sounds a lot like “Closer” (Trent even inserts verses from “Closer” when he performs “All Time Low” live). Between Adrian Belew’s dissonant ’70s guitar, Pino Palladino’s staccato bass lines, and the drugged arpeggiator at the end of the song, this song takes you on a drunken sexual journey. Good way to start.

2. Get Down Make Love (Nine Inch Nails – Sin)

Heighten the angst a bit with Trent’s industrial version of Queen’s deep theme from “News of the World.” Produced by Ministry’s Al Jourgensen, Trent’s distorted voice makes him sound even more desperate and sexually frustrated, the complete opposite of Freddy Mercury’s confidence: “I’m the provider of all things sexual, now do what I say.” Trent’s opinion is more “Do what I tell you ???

3.27 Ghosts III (Nine Inch Nails – Ghosts I-IV)

Keep the distress and noise high. This super deep cut is an instrumental from a series of instrumental EPs called “Ghosts”. These EPs were the main reason David Fincher asked Trent and Atticus to score his films. Fincher would put “Ghosts” songs on the “The Social Network” soundtrack to test the feel of things, trying to hear what the difference would be between a darker score and a more upbeat Elvis Costello rock score.

4. Solo (El-P Remix) (Nine Inch Nails – Every day is exactly the same)

This halftime version of NIN’s hit single “Only” by hip hop artist El-P turns the original disco feel into a super sexually charged mix of sweaty beats / turntable effects. Technically Trent didn’t, specifically, but shut up. It is part of the Halo canon (Halos is the official Nine Inch Nails catalog system). This will totally work in your favor.

5. The loop closes (How to destroy angels – Welcome to oblivion)

An almost instrumental song, this melody unites electronics and exotic instrumentation, solidified by another “Closer” -like rhythm. A great song that uses upward dynamics throughout, starting soft, steadily climbing its way to the loud (and you should be climbing to your own loud) before unleashing its energy and resolving into blippy electronic pianissimo. It’s also great to hear Trent and his wife riffs together on vocals.

6. Reptile (Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral)

A classic NIN song from a classic album, but a deep cut nonetheless. Trent is totally in his element of sexual loss and frustration. It takes things a little darker (which, considering everything on this playlist is dark, is saying something).

7. Closer (Forerunner) (Nine Inch Nails – Closer to God)

I know I said we would stay in more uncharted territory, so why does “Closer” appear? Play. BUT this is a remix made by Coil. If you’ve seen the opening credits for “Se7en” (from the aforementioned David Fincher, no less), then you’ve heard this great version of NIN’s biggest single. It’s dirty, muddy, long, and has a slightly more haunting feel than the original.

8. A familiar taste (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross – The Social Network)

This song is a revised and modified version of a song from the Nine Inch Nails “Ghosts” collection. But I like this version better. In the movie, “The Social Network,” it is played while Mark Zuckerberg is imagining what happens at all the frat parties he would like to attend when young college girls are invited out for a night of drunken sex revelry. This song is a nice warm top for the next track on the list …

9. Container (Nine Inch Nails – Year Zero)

I love this track. This truly rivals “Closer’s” reign of NIN’s sexiest song of all time. This vibrant, throbbing cartilage is ideal for the most violent sexual rompers out there. The noise, the beeps, the rhythm: it’s perfect.

10. Consummation (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross – Gone Girl)

This is dark. The darkest on the list. And it’s the latter for a reason. I won’t say what happens in the movie “Gone Girl”, but this song takes place during its most moving and violent scene. I would use this song to bring the climax when it comes to your playlist. The slow pulse, the rising cacophony (it looks like your speakers are being smashed) all lend themselves to the perfect ending (read: orgasm) to your ten-song Trent Reznor sex festival.

*** 11. Sugar Storm (Reprise) (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross – Gone Girl)

As a bonus, use this song as you go down. It is short but pleasant to listen to. It also has the perfect leading key ending, a big cherry on top of everything you just heard. ***

If you liked this list, check out another example of a sexy rock music playlist I’ve compiled that doesn’t just use Nine Inch Nails to full effect:

http://www.patchbandmusic.com/sexy-rock-music-top-10-sexy-rock-songs/

But yes, “Closer” might appear near the end.

Well, the new season has finally arrived, and once again we are getting ready to see who the “Cinderella” teams will be. We want to know how the teams are doing compared to last year. We also want to know if the good teams from last year will be able to play well again.

I’m a fan of the Wings so the only way we can improve is if we really win the cup, but here are the top 5 teams you’ll want to see this season.

# 5: Washington capitals

Caps look really good at the beginning of the season. Last year they finished second in the eastern conference and ended up losing to the Penguins in the seventh game of the second round.

This year, they want to do it again. They have a lot of talent that they had last year and they could go further in the playoffs. With the experiences acquired in his last career.

What I like about this team is their offense. They have 3 players that are actually producing for them right now. Ovechkin (duh), Semin and Backstrom (who is giving assists). These players have contributed greatly to making the Capitals one of the highest goal scoring teams in the league.

# 4: Colorado Avalanche

At first, I didn’t think they were going to play well. I didn’t think they had good players that they could trust.

The Avalanche obviously realized this. They have also come up with a very creative and simple solution. Your solution, trust everyone and let’s work together.

It is one of the few good teams that does not have a distinguished scorer, but the offense is widespread. 7 games in the season and only 4 players on the team do not have a point, 3 of them defenders.

If they can keep it up, they’ll get back to where they were at the beginning of the decade, competing in the playoffs.

# 3: Vancouver Canucks

Even before the season started, he was telling people to keep an eye on this team. They really caught my attention during the preseason “nonsense.”

During the preseason they were 7-0-2. However, they got off to a really bad start when the actual season started. They lost their first 3 games.

However, I am still going to say that they are a great team because of the work they did in the preseason. They also have some quality players on their team.

With the twins Sedin and Roberto Luongo (one of the top 3 goalkeepers in the league in my opinion) they have some players they can trust.

The other thing they have done is to increase their scouting ability. Because of that, they ended up with some prospects and a much deeper team than last year.

# 2: Buffalo Sabers

This is another team that didn’t make the playoffs last year. However, the playoffs were not missed much. Remember that last year’s playoffs were very close in the Eastern Conference.

This year, they will fight for the same thing.

The biggest difference between the Sabers and the rest of the league is that Buffalo is a very defensive team. In fact, they have allowed the fewest goals of any NHL team.

Much credit must go to goalie Ryan Miller for keeping the puck out of the net. At the start of the season, he has a 1.6 GAA. It will probably increase, but it is still impressive.

# 1: Pittsburgh penguins

When the Pens took Crosby a few years ago, they were one of the worst teams in the NHL. They weren’t making the playoffs and they were pretty much a team you wanted to take on.

Now, they have changed that. Last year he rose from the ashes to win the Stanley Cup. Of course, they did some trades on the trade deadline that really helped them achieve this.

This year, they have the same talent. Crosby, Malkin, Getzlaf and Guerin can score goals.

The last piece of the equation comes in their goalkeeper, Marc-Andre Fleury. He has shown us that he has what it takes to win championships.

I do not mean that the Pens can repeat, it is still too early for that. However, they will definitely be the team to beat when the playoffs hit.