Phoenix Coyotes at Chicago Blackhawks Betting Odds
Opening Moneyline: Phoenix +150 / Chicago -170 O/U 5.5 goals
Time: 8:30 PM EST Tuesday March 23, 2010
Tonight in a match up of the teams tied atop the Western Conference the Chicago Blackhawks host the streaking Phoenix Coyotes. Chicago has been mediocre lately going 4-4-2 in their last 10 games while Phoenix has been on fore winning 9 straight and going 9-1 in their last 10 games.
This season Chicago is 26-7-3 at home and Phoenix is 20-12-3 on the road.
In their last games Chicago lost to the Coyotes 5-4 on Saturday and Phoenix beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 on Sunday.
The Coyotes are the only team in the West that Chicago has not beat this season and tonight will look to sweep the season series for the first time in franchise history.
The winner of tonight's game will be all alone in 1st place in the Western Conference.
The Blackhawks have a solid defense only allowing 2.44 goals per game, but in 3 of their last 4 games they have given up at least 4 goals.
Chicago G Cristobal Huet (26 goals 2.40 GAA save percentage 89.9%) has missed 4 games in a row with the flu, but should go tonight. Even though the Coyotes offense only ranks 21st in the league in scoring they have played well lately and Chicago has a few injured defenseman. Huet is only 2-2 with a GAA of 3.42 since the Olympic break.
Chicago has the league's 3rd ranked offense scoring an average of 3.18 goals per game. They will be facing Phoenix G Ilya Bryzgalov (39 wins 2.28 GAA save percentage 92.1%), who has 2 shootouts and a GAA of 1.66 in his last 7 starts. However, he is only 1-4 in his last 5 games against Chicago and in those 5 games he has given up 17 goals.
The Coyotes defense has to mark Patrick Kane, who leads Chicago in goals (27), assists (53), and points (80).
Betting Trends
Phoenix is 5-0 in their last 5 road games, has an Under record of 12-5 in their last 17 games, and has an Under record of 15-5-3 in their last 23 games against teams with a winning record.
Chicago is 1-4 in their last 5 games, 11-4 in their last 15 games against teams with a winning percentage above 60, and has an Over record of 5-1 in their last 6 home games.
Phoenix is only 1-4 in their last 5 games in Chicago.
Our Selection : The Blackhawks are a tough team to beat at home, but with the loss of 2 of their top 4 D and shaky goaltending of late they look ripe for the picking in this spot. The Coyotes have won 9 straight and beat Chicago last Saturday at home. The Coyotes are the only team in the West that Chicago has not beat this season. 5Dimes have the Coyotes at +168 on the moneyline and we feel that is an awful juicy price on a team that has won 9 in a row and beaten the Blackhawks every time they met this year. Take Phoenix +168.
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.