Apparently, March Madness odds don’t always have to mean basketball. They can just mean crazy stuff happening all over the online sports betting universe, and hockey is no exception.

Who could’ve predicted at the offshore sportsbook that Martin Brodeur would have a chance to tie Patrick Roy’s all-time career wins record in Montreal? That’s what’s going down this Saturday in the Devils vs Canadiens line. Pretty awesome. Well, it would be pretty awesome if Brodeur was actually one win behind Roy.

They must put something funny in the water in Montreal. First, the franchise is calling 2008-2009 its “centennial season” even though it’s the 99th, probably because it stands to lose so many free agents this summer and wanted to win the Stanley Cup odds in its magical “100th” season. Now, we have Brodeur supposedly tying Pat Roy’s wins record under phony conditions.

Why does no one acknowledge the shootout era when discussing wins records in NHL betting? It’s garbage. Patrick Roy never played in the shootout era and thus had far fewer chances to win. Some online betting fans will claim that “Martin Brodeur earned all those wins by stoning people in shootouts,” but to say that is to completely miss the point. Yes, every Brodeur shootout win is impressive compared to the records of other goalies who played during the shootout era. But Patrick Roy never even got the chance to earn extra wins in the shootout. Instead, games ended in ties after 65 minutes. Who knows how many more he could’ve won had he played in shootouts?

In my mind, Roy is still the record holder until we confirm that Brodeur passes him in non-shootout wins. That day will come too, but it won’t be as soon as most NHL betting fans think.