Detroit Red Wings at Vancouver Canucks Betting Odds
Opening Moneyline: Detroit +130 / Vancouver -150 O/U 5.5 goals
Time: 10 PM EST Saturday March 20, 2010 on CBC
Tonight the Vancouver Canucks host the Detroit Red Wings in a match up of a couple of teams that are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. The Red Wings are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in 19 seasons, as they are currently tied for the 8th and last playoff spot in the East with the Calgary Flames. Vancouver is on solid playoff ground being in the 2nd spot in the East 5 points back of Chicago and San Jose.
This season the Canucks have the 2nd best home record in the Western Conference at 26-8-1 and the Red Wings are 15-13-8 on the road.
The Canucks are coming off a win, as they beat the San Jose Sharks 3-2 on Thursday night and the Red Wings are coming off a loss falling to the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 last night.
The Red Wings could really use a win in this game, as after tonight's match up they head home for a 3 game stand, which begins with a game against the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins.
Detroit's offense has shown signs of life since the Olympic break, but they still only rank 17th in the league in scoring (2.65 goals per game). Their defense, which is giving up an average of 2.58 goals per game, will be facing a dynamic Canucks' offense that ranks 2md in the league in scoring (3.24 goals per game).
Detroit G Jimmy Howard (27 wins 2.31 GAA save percentage 92.4%) will have to play well between the pipes tonight.
Detroit's offense will have to deal with Vancouver G and Olympic gold medal winner Roberto Luongo (37 wins 2.45 GAA save percentage 91.6%), who stopped 32 shots in the Canucks' last win over San Jose.
The Detroit D has to contain the Sedin twins, especially Henrik Sedin, on the Canucks' first line as well as Alex Burrows, who leads Vancouver in goals (32).
At least Detroit will not have to worry about Mikael Samuelsson (30 goals 23 assists 53 points), who is out for this game with an injury.
The Red Wings are only 1-3 in their last 4 games against the Canucks, but they did win the last game against them.
Betting Trends
Vancouver is 5-2 in their last 7 games, 6-1 in their last 7 games against teams in the Central Division, and has an Over record of 10-2 in their last 12 games.
Detroit is 5-1 in their last 6 games against teams with a winning record and have an Over record of 5-2 in their last 7 games against teams in the Western Conference.
In the last 7 games in Vancouver between these 2 teams the Under record is 3-1-3.
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.