Chicago Blackhawks at Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Odds
Opening Moneyline: Blackhawks -130 / Maple Leafs +110
Total : 5.5
Time : 7PM EST Saturday March 5, 2011 on CBC
Tonight two of the hottest teams in the NHL faceoff when the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Chicago Blackhawks in a classic original six matchup. Since the beginning of February the Leafs have gone 10-2-4 in their last 16 games. Toronto has climbed back into contention for the final 2 playoff spots in the East. The Blackhawks have won 7 in a row and are 8-1-1 in their last 10. The defending Stanley Cup Champs look to be hitting their best stride as we head into the final month of the regular season.
This season the Leafs are 15-11-7 at home and the Blackhawks are 15-9-6 on the road.
In their last games Toronto beat the Eastern Conference leading Flyers 3-2 on Thursday, while Chicago won 5-2 at home last night over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Maple Leaf's G James Reimer (12 wins 2.28 GAA save percentage .930%) will be facing a Blackhawks' offense that ranks 2nd in the league in scoring (3.28 goals per game). Toronto’s young net-minder has been their best player on most nights over the last 5 weeks and is really the main reason that Leaf nation has any shot of making the playoffs.
Chicago has won their last 5 meetings and the Maple Leafs haven’t beaten the Blackhawks since Dec 2/2003.
Blackhawk’s G Corey Crawford (25 wins 2.17 GAA save percentage 89.8%) has been steady between the pipes as of late. Crawford has gotten the call in their last 10 games going 8-1-1 during that stretch. We still expect him to grt the start tonight despite playing last night at home. Coach Quenneville loves to ride the hot hand and Marty Turco has played in over a month.
Betting Trends
Blackhawks are 36-16 in their last 52 games playing on 0 days rest.
Chicago is 6-0 in last 6 as the favorite and are 5-1 in last six against the Eastern Conference.
Toronto is 4-1 in last 5 as a underdog and 4-1 in last five where their opponent has scored 5 or more goals in their previous game.
The Maple Leafs are 16-33 in their last 49 against the Western Conference.
In last 10 meetings between these 2 teams the Over has gone 7-1-2.
Our Selection : With both of these teams playing so well right now it very hard to come up with a straight up winner. Both the Leafs and the Blackhawks have only 1 lost in regulation in their last 10. We’re going to look to the total for our play tonight.
We really think that the young Leaf defense will have trouble handling the top line of the Blackhawks. Chicago is 2nd in the league for goals scored averaging 3.28 per game. One thing for sure about this young Toronto squad of late, they never take a night off. Coach Ron Wilson has them fighting it out for 60 minutes every night.
Leafs best player Phil Kessels has been on a tear as of late so look for that to continue. We like this game to be a high scoring affair, easily going over the posted total of 5.5 goals.
Take Over 5.5 goals at 5Dimes and get reduced juice on moneylines and totals.
Future Betting Odds
NHL Handicapping
Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins 5-17
The Boston Bruins need to play much better in game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bruins lost the opener 5-2 at home and can ill-afford to fall behind 2-0 to Lightning. Tampa Bay are on quite a roll, winning their last eight in a row in the playoffs. The oddsmaker at Bodog have the Bruins as a -145 favorite to even-up the series.