Vancouver Canucks at Chicago Blackhawks Betting Odds
Opening Moneyline: Vancouver +150 / Chicago -165 O/U 5.5 goals
Time: 8:30 PM EST Friday March 5, 2010
Tonight in the Windy City the Chicago Blackhawks host the Vancouver Canucks. Chicago is in 2nd place in the Western Conference only trailing 1st place San Jose by 2 points and Vancouver is in 3rd place trailing the Blackhawks by 9 points.
This season the Blackhawks are 24-6-2 at home and the Canucks are 16-15-1 on the road.
Both teams won in their last games on Wednesday night, as Canucks beat the Detroit Red Wings 6-3 and the Blackhawks beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-2.
These 2 teams combine for 13 players on their rosters that played in the Olympics including gold medal winning goalie Vancouver's Robert Luongo.
Even though Chicago eliminated Vancouver in last season's playoffs the Canucks have outscored the Blackhawks 19-7 in winning 4 of the past 5 regular-season games including 2 of 3 this season.
Tonight's match up is one that features 2 of the best offenses in the league, as Vancouver ranks 3rd in scoring (3.19 goals per game) and Chicago is right behind them ranking 4th (3.16 goals per game).
Defense is key in this game since both teams have no problem scoring. In terms of goals allowed per game these teams are pretty even, as Chicago is giving up an average of 2.35 goals per game and Vancouver is giving up an average of 2.48 goals per game.
Both goalies will be tested tonight and each team's starter has been solid this season. Chicago's Antti Niemi (17 wins 2.26 GAA save percentage 91%) ranks 4th in the NHL in GAA and Vancouver's Roberto Luongo (32 wins 2.36 GAA save percentage 91.9%) is 4-1-0 with a 1.41 GAA in his last 7 regular-season starts against Chicago.
Patrick Kane, who leads Chicago in goals (26), assists (46), and points (72) will be one player the Vancouver defense really has to worry about tonight.
Vancouver is 4-1 in their last 5 road games, has an Over record of 4-0 in their last 4 games, and an Over record of 4-0 in their last 4 road games.
Chicago is 7-1 in their last 8 games against teams with a winning percentage above 60%, has an Over record of 5-0 in their last 5 games, and an Over record of 8-3 in their last 11 games against teams with a winning percentage above 60%.
In the last 5 games between these 2 teams in Chicago the total has gone Under.
Our Selection : The public are betting the over in this game with both hands, you have 2 of the best offenses in the league, as Vancouver ranks 3rd in scoring (3.19 goals per game) and Chicago is right behind them ranking 4th (3.16 goals per game). Vancouver has an Over record of 4-0 in their last 4 games, and an Over record of 4-0 in their last 4 road games. Chicago has an Over record of 5-0 in their last 5 games, and an Over record of 8-3 in their last 11 games against teams with a winning percentage above 60%. So the Over looks easy here right, not so fast. Vancouver's Roberto Luongo will be up for this game and has had the Blackhawks number as of late going 4-1-0 with a 1.41 GAA in his last 7 regular-season starts against Chicago. Look for the Canucks to play a solid tight checking game and keep this game well under the posted total. Take Under 5.5 goals.
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.