Danica Patrick’s Indy 500 odds looked better than Evgeni Malkin’s odds of scoring another playoff goal this season just a few weeks ago. Boy, has that ever changed.

After everyone wrote him off or called him out — including this blog — Geno has responded in a big way, to the tune of 13 friggin’ points in his last five hockey betting contests. Pretty damned impressive. Who knows what flicked the switch? Whatever the reason, he’s totally rediscovered his game. He’s using his great size to protect the puck, he’s hitting, he’s taking punishment — hell, he even dropped the gloves last night — and he’s handling the puck with confidence. The crescendo was last night’s hat trick, topped off by this gorgeous goal:

The Stanley Cup odds look better for the Penguins by the second, don’t they? Crosby hasn’t slowed down and Malkin’s back. It’ll be interesting to see if he can avoid another disappearing act in the Final should the Penguins get there.

Enjoy the Red Wings vs Blackhawks odds tonight! More Pens tomorrow plus the UFC 98 odds. Should be fun for sports wagering fans.

You have to admire Kentucky Derby odds horses. As soon as they hear that gun (horse race betting has gun shots, right?), they get going with no hestitation. While the stakes aren’t the same for us humans — a hesitation doesn’t put us in the glue factory — I figure I should apply that principle to NHL playoff betting. The series have started, with a game in the books everywhere, so let’s just jump in and start commenting.

* Mats Sundin needs to find his legs soon. It was forgivable when he scored just 28 points in 41 regular-season games with Vancouver, but his lack of speed and reaction time in Game 1 was concerning. He needs to be an important contributor for the Canucks odds to really go anywhere.

* Milan Lucic is a somewhat polarizing player in that some people love him and build him up, almost to the point of overrating him, while others get pissed off about his overhype and love to hate him. Whatever you think of him, online betting fans have to love what he did in Boston’s Game 1 win over the Habs. Forget the two assists, even — the kid is just built for the playoffs. He was a terror in the corners, throwing his body into anything that breathed. It’ll be interesting to see how he handles himself on the road; it’s always easier for a player like him to feed off the crowd at home.

* Chris Osgood took the first step toward quieting his NHL betting critics last night, making a pile of serious saves in Detroit’s win over Columbus. If he finds himself in time NHL playoff betting, the Red Wings odds look pretty damn good right now.

* It’s only one loss, but there was something…I dunno….eerie about the Sharks’ Game-1 loss at home last night. Nobody wanted to play the Ducks in the first round and the Sharks have that choking history…gulp. Still way too early to right them off at the sportsbook; they remain my Stanley Cup odds pick.

* Relax, Flames odds detractors. Calgary will be fine. There was no way the NHL attendance leader Hawks were going to lose Game 1 in front of a wild crowd that hadn’t seen a playoff game since 2002.

Just like the top performers in March Madness betting or Daytona 500 betting always find a way to win, the Detroit Red Wings have that same uncanny ability. In theory, the struggles of Chris Osgood, their trusty starter from last year’s Stanley Cup winning squad, should’ve pushed the Wings down the standings. Instead, they turned to the plucky Ty Conklin and are right back on track, having won four straight games on the strength of Conklin’s six shutouts in 27 starts. Not too shabby.

A few weeks ago, NHL betting fans probably figured Detroit would be looking for a goalie at the NHL trade deadline. Now, I’m not so sure. Conklin showed last year in extended duty with the Pens that he can handle a starting job. He was also thrust into that role in the 2006 Stanley Cup final when the Oilers lost Dwyane Roloson to injury. So maybe Detroit will ride the Alaskan after all. Whatever happens, bet against Detroit in the offshore sportsbook at your own risk…