Can Vancouver Carry the Hopes of a Nation?

We’re down to the NHL’s version of the final four as Vancouver battles San Jose in the West in a meeting of perennial underachievers, while Boston clashes with Tampa Bay in the East without their best players. It has been a phenomenal Stanley Cup playoffs so far, and you can expect the drama and skill levels to increase as players get closer to the grand prize. Here is a look at how the odds are breaking it down.

Vancouver (+115): It should be no surprise that the Presidents’ Trophy winners are the favorites after defeating Chicago and Nashville, and they’re off to a good start after coming back to beat the Sharks in Game 1 at home. Still, how confident can you be in goaltender Roberto Luongo, especially after he gifted a goal to San Jose’s Joe Thornton in the series opener?

Boston (+325): The Bruins got run out of their building in Game 1, but they bounced back in a big way with a 6-5 win in Game 2. While you can’t underestimate the loss of Patrice Bergeron to a concussion, which robs the Bruins of their best player, rookie forward Tyler Seguin exploded in Game 2 with four points (two goals, two assists). Bergeron is one of the best two-way players in the NHL, he’s arguably the best faceoff player left in the postseason, and you can put him out in any situation. He says he is recovering nicely, and if he can get back in the lineup, the Bruins will have an even stronger opportunity to advance to the Stanley Cup finals and win it. 

Tampa Bay (+350): The Lightning are no joke, and after dismantling the Bruins in Game 1 on the road they had won eight straight games, spanning matchups with Pittsburgh and Washington as well. Goaltender Dwayne Roloson is a frontrunner for the Conn Smythe, and while we all know about Martin St. Louis, Vincent Lecavalier and Steven Stamkos, the Lightning have been getting goals from a number of different sources, notably Sean Bergenheim, who has eight.

San Jose (+475): The Sharks were badly outplayed in the third period of their 3-2 loss in Game 1 as they were outshot 13-7 and allowed two goals in a span of 1:19, but all is not lost in San Jose, who got good games from Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Logan Couture. Goaltender Antti Niemi kept the Sharks in the game, and he has experience against the Canucks from his time in Chicago, a team that was (and likely still is) Vancouver’s nemesis for the past two years in the playoffs, and he outplayed Luongo in Game 1. They’re a very good team at home, so if they can manage to go back to San Jose with a split after Game 2, it’s going to be a very tight series.

NHL Betting Odds – Sharks vs Red Wings Game 6

The Red Wings will try to force a seventh game when they host the San Jose Sharks tonight at Joe Louis Arena at 8:00 PM ET in crucial match for both teams.

NHL Betting Odds:
San Jose Shark +1.5
Detroit Red Wings -1.5
0/U 5.5

San Jose needed only one win two games ago but they failed to close out the stubborn Red Wings, but after giving up a 3-0 series lead the Sharks are on the brink of an epic collapse.

All of the first five games played in this series have been decided just by one goal and each of the teams have won once on the other’s home ice.  San Jose entered the series as a big favorite but two of their main stars have disappointed during the process.

Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton have been been non-factors against Detroit, both were the leading scorers for the Sharks in the regular season but against the Red Wings Marleau is scoreless and Thorton has only one assist since they got 3-0 series lead.

Detroit still isn’t a lock to win the series, only Philadelphia last year, the 1975 New York Islanders, and 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs have done it. 

Consider these NHL betting trends:

SAN JOSE:

11-2 ATS after a home loss versus opponent

20-16 ATS in a road game where the total is 5.5

DETROIT:

1-5 SU Away after scoring 4+ goals back to back games

9-4 ATS after 3 or more consecutive overs

The Sharks are the better team out of the two but the momentum right now is clearly on the Red Wings side.  Take the experience Red Wings back stopped by Jimmy Howard to win tonight.

NHL Betting Odds – Red Wings at Sharks

Coming from a 0-3 deficit the Detroit Red Wings are just one win away to achieve the unthinkable as they take on the San Jose Sharks this Thursday, at HP Pavilion at 9:00 PM ET, in what could to be a tremendous game seven to bet on.

NHL Betting Odds:
Detroit Red Wings +1
San Jose Shark -1
O/U 5.5

Detroit’s 3-1 win on Tuesday was the first time any of these teams won a game by more than one score. 

Before the series started the Sharks were the big favorites and they showed in the first three games but now the momentum switched completely and is on the Wings side.

Over the years just the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers, the 1975 New York Islanders, and 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs came back from a 0-3 deficit, meaning this is anything but an easy task.

Last season the Flyers not only came from a 0-3 deficit but they had to finish the series visiting the Boston Bruins in game seven, just like Detroit tonight.  Philadelphia started losing the game 3-0 to them win it 4-3 in one of the most impressive and improbable comebacks in sports history.

Detroit will be the eighth team in NHL history to force a game 7 after being down 3-0, three completed the task and four failed in the attempt.

Keep in mind these NHL betting trends before making your bet:

DETROIT:

26-15 OVER off an Under
17-12 ATS after a win by 2 goals or more
7-9 ATS after a 3 game unbeaten streak
28-24 ATS when playing against a team with a winning record

SAN JOSE:

15-4 SU off a road loss by 3+ goals
21-15 ATS in a home game where the total is 5.5
33-26 ATS when playing against a team with a winning record
22-13 ATS revenging a loss versus opponent
13-5 ATS after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game

Simmons’ pick: Take the Sharks.

New NHL Season Promises Surprises and Big Betting Bucks

2011-12 NHL Preview

The gift of National Hockey League betting returns this Thursday, October 6.  Why do I call NHL betting a gift?  Because unbeknownst to many handicappers, the NHL is easily one of the best sports leagues on which to wager.

It’s important to recognize the difference between the NHL and leagues like the NFL and the NBA.  While the NBA, the No Brains Association, or basketball to those who still remember, and the NFL require sports handicappers to either take points or lay points, the NHL works like baseball, where gamblers wager on the moneyline or on the puck line, hockey’s equivalent to baseball’s run line.

Moneyline wagering requires a gambler to simply pick the winner of the game.  The way to make money when betting on the moneyline is to determine the value of the spread between the favorite and the underdog.  Take a look at a game on Thursday between the Philadelphia Flyers and 2011 Stanley Cup winning Boston Bruins.  The game goes off at 7:05 pm.  Odds are subject to change, of course.

Philadelphia Flyers      +115
Boston Bruins             -135

Boston is the favorite. The spread is -20 in this game, -135 + 115. Does the spread represent value for either the Flyers or the Bruins? Should the spread be -30, for instance, because the Bruins should be a bigger fave? Should the spread be -10 because the Flyers shouldn’t be such a big dog?

A spread of -20 really isn’t a lot.  In MLB spreads are usually much higher than that, but that’s one of the reasons that NHL is such a great league on which to make bets.  In baseball, a huge emphasis is placed on a single player, the pitcher.  Good pitchers versus bad pitchers often times equate to spreads of -40 or even -70 to -80 forcing handicappers to make much stronger value spread decisions.

In the NHL, because there is no dominant team (not a single team has repeated a Stanley Cup victory since 2006) the spreads are often times more respective of a teams actual chances of winning.  More spreads lead to stronger handicapping, facts become more important, and handicappers can get a better idea of how a game may unfold.

Being able to use your own logic and reasoning is one of the keys to success in sports gambling. Finding overlays requires understanding spreads and determining the value of those spreads.  Since moneyline spreads in NHL betting are often times a true indicator of a team’s chance of winning, finding those overlays becomes much easier.

That’s the real reason to wager on NHL games.

Also, hockey’s cool.

Friday Night Free Hockey Picks

Free Pro Hockey Picks – October 28

Friday NHL Picks: Detroit to stop San Jose streak, Carolina to bounce back against Chicago

The Central Division rivalry between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks takes centre stage on Friday night as the Red Wings look to bounce back after two defeats when they host the San Jose Sharks, and the Chicago Blackhawks aim to stay ahead of the Red Wings with a win over the Carolina Hurricanes.

San Jose Sharks at Detroit Red Wings 7:30 pm EDT 

Betting Analysis: After a slow start to the season – one win in the first four games – the Sharks seemingly found their mojo with a 4-3 win over New Jersey Devils last Friday and haven’t looked back since. Now riding a three-game winning streak, capped on Tuesday night with a 3-1 away victory over the Nashville Predators, the San Jose Sharks will aim to make if four in a row at the hallowed Joe Louis Arena.

The Sharks can upset the Red Wings at home because…

The San Jose Sharks 4-3-0 (Road: 3-1-0) have been better on the road than they have been at home, where they are a measly 1-2-0 on the season, but bearing in mind that they were an excellent road team last season, this traveling form is just a continuation of where they left off.

Don’t be fooled by their overall record, which puts them 20thoverall in the league and 11th overall in the Western Conference.  Clearly, through the last three games, the Sharks have been playing as a bona fide playoff contender.
In the off-season, the offensive line was revamped and although the Sharks started the season with a 6-3 win over Phoenix, this frontal makeover needed time to really gel – case-and-point: three straight losses following the victory over Phoenix. Since then, they won three in a row and Joe Pavelski leads the team with 8 points (six goals and two assists) while Joe Thornton nips at his heels with six points (1 goal and five assists), four of which were gained in the last four games. Right wing Martin Havlat is yet to score for his new team but has three assists; surely, it’s only a matter of time before the talented Czech finds his scoring arm.

Detroit Red Wings can win because…

Jimmy Howard is reportedly back and assumed to be starting the game on Friday – a fact that has to inject confidence into their odds to win over the Sharks. Howard has been flawless so far, with a 4-0-0 start for the Red Wings and a solid 1.72 GAA and .933 save percentage.

True, the Red Wings are on a two-game losing streak going into Friday’s game but that’s entirely down to journeyman goalie Ty Conklin, who was called to duty when Howard had to rush to his wife’s bedside for the birth of their son James on Sunday.

Now that Howard appears to be back, why bring up ancient history. No need to talk about those disgusting defeats. I mean, why talk about the 7-1 debacle against the Washington Capitals or the subsequent inexplicable 4-1 defeat to a winless Columbus Blue Jackets when it’s down to Conklin being in net. Wipe the slate clean and start over with the Red Wings as deserved home favourites.

Pick: Expect the Red Wings to play better than they did in front of Conklin with Howard back in the posts and to take the win. The San Jose Sharks are not a team to go down without a fight, so I expect it to be a close game, one or two-goal margin. Finally, when two offensive-minded and big-hitting teams battle for the win the game could easily go ‘Over’ on the totals.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Betting Analysis: The Carolina Hurricanes take an unimpressive 3-3-3 mark on the season into their next game, a clash against the former Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, who boast a solid 5-1-2 mark, which includes a (shootout) win over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night that saw them move ahead of the Red Wings in the Central Division.

The Canes might win because…

The Carolina Hurricanes have see-sawed their way through the first nine games of the season, losing the first three, winning the next three and losing the last three. If this trend were any indication they are due to start another three-game winning streak. Of course, such an unequivocal approach can’t be taken to hockey betting or, for that matter, to a team’s form.  
Then there is home form, which is typically a plus for any side. In the Canes case, it amounts to a 1-1-1 mark on the season. Let’s face it, that is rather mediocre and hardly revealing of what is to come down the stretch.

The Chicago Blackhawks must win because…

The Blackhawks are enjoying top spot in the Central Division right now and while it is early in the season it is the best spot to be in and don’t they know it. Last year, they barely squeaked into the playoffs and we all know how that run ended. Speaking of which, is it any surprise that the Blackhawks welcomed back on to the roster 2010 Stanley Cup winning teammates Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd?

Pick: You can bet the Blackhawks will be looking to maintain the edge in their division by going for the win in Carolina. The way the Canes have been playing is not going to inspire any fear in the audacious Blackhawks. Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa, Dave Bolland and Jonathan Toews have been racking up the points at will, combining for 33 in total and I don’t even think this will be a tight game. Look for the Blackhawks to blow out the Canes; take the Over.

Hockey Season Heats Up On Friday Night

Untitled Document

Pro Hockey Betting is back at BetOnline Sportsbook as the 2011-2012 season picks up its pace. On Friday night, two standout games are on the menu: Carolina at Buffalo and San Jose at Anaheim.

Carolina (1-2-1) (Road 0-1-1) vs. Buffalo (2-0-0) (Home 1-0-0)

NHL Betting Analysis: The Hurricanes are off to a slow start this season with a 1-2-1 record ahead of Friday’s clash against Buffalo, a team that is enjoying contrasting fortunes having won their first two games, bursting out of the NHL season gates with verve and swagger to win convincingly in each.

The Hurricanes are looking to return to the playoff picture this season after missing three in a row, but they are not off to a positive start, which can become an issue while playing in a tough Southeast Division. In fact, Carolina has lost to division rivals Tampa Bay and Washington already this season, the two teams that decided supremacy in the Southeast Division last season.

Carolina opened the season by taking a 5-1 thrashing from the Lightning at home. The next day, while an improved Hurricanes side showed up in the nation’s capital they still lost in overtime (4-3) to the Capitals. It is early in the season yet and many things can change but there is no underestimating the importance of division rivalries and if the Canes fail to measure up to the Bolts and Capitals this early in the season, the question that must be asked (and will continue to be asked if the trend persists): what chance do they have of a playoff spot, really?

On the Upstate New York side, new owner Terry Pegula left no doubt about his intentions when he took over the Sabres, coming out of the pocket to keep several stalwarts from absconding on free agency and beef up his team with new acquisitions, such as former Canuck Christian Erhoff and young gun Ville Leino (Flyers).

So far, the first two games are a positive indictment of his shrewd wheeling and dealing in the off-season. Opening night for the Buffalo Sabres saw them thrash the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 in Helsinki before flying down to Berlin to route the Los Angeles Kings 4-2.

NHL Betting Verdict: Although last season the pair split four meetings evenly, from this early vantage point, one has to like what the Sabres offer. The ‘Under’ is worth a look where these two teams are concerned; last season, all four games went under.

San Jose (1-0-0) vs. Anaheim (1-1-0)

NHL Betting Analysis: The Sharks and Ducks are set to renew their rivalry on Friday night. After fighting for first place in the Pacific Division most of last season, the same can be expected this year. The pair finished a point apart in the standings but San Jose took four out of six meetings with the Ducks last year, so it is hard not to overestimate the importance of any meeting between the teams.

Anaheim opened the season with a 4-1 defeat against Buffalo, in Helsinki, Finland; the following day they rebounded with a 2-1 shoot-out win over the Rangers in Stockholm. Having played their NHL season opening two games in Europe, the Ducks next play at home on Friday night, gaining only five days (or so) to acclimatize to their surroundings and recover from jetlag.

That’s not a whole lot of reprieve after a gruelling opening weekend, playing back-to-back games in neighbouring countries on the other side of the Atlantic Pond. This gives the San Jose Sharks, who have only played one game to date, a home NHL season opener at that, an edge over the Anaheim Ducks for their first of many clashes this season. 

The Sharks hosted the Phoenix Coyotes on Sunday night, treating them to a 6-3 thumping in the Shark Tank, to the delight of home fans. The win was a complete team effort with all four lines scoring, power-play hitting the mark and newbies falling in-line with the game plan. Thomas Greiss, who was making his first NHL appearance since March, 2010, made 26 saves.

NHL Betting Verdict: These teams know each other well as long-time division rivals. There should be few surprises, even if it is a new season. Home-advantage is diluted by this to a certain extent.

Anaheim is 1-1-0 ahead of Friday’s clash but both games were played in Europe and the unfamiliar surroundings together with travel have to be considered a factor in the lopsided results. The Sharks, on the other hand, played only one game, a winning performance granted but not necessarily indicative of what is to come.

Based on the Sharks’ strong start and record last season over the Ducks one would have to give them the slight edge, however if Corey Perry, one of the offensive leaders last season and a game-changing player, gets going then he could swing the game for the home team.

Best bet on this game, hands down, is the Over; four of the six games last season went over, proving the strength is in the offense where these teams are concerned and if it’s clicking, it’s a scoring bonanza.

NHL Free Picks: Anaheim Ducks to win, Over on the team totals.

New NHL Season Promises Surprises and Big Betting Bucks

2011-12 NHL Preview

The gift of National Hockey League betting returns this Thursday, October 6.  Why do I call NHL betting a gift?  Because unbeknownst to many handicappers, the NHL is easily one of the best sports leagues on which to wager.

It’s important to recognize the difference between the NHL and leagues like the NFL and the NBA.  While the NBA, the No Brains Association, or basketball to those who still remember, and the NFL require sports handicappers to either take points or lay points, the NHL works like baseball, where gamblers wager on the moneyline or on the puck line, hockey’s equivalent to baseball’s run line.

Moneyline wagering requires a gambler to simply pick the winner of the game.  The way to make money when betting on the moneyline is to determine the value of the spread between the favorite and the underdog.  Take a look at a game on Thursday between the Philadelphia Flyers and 2011 Stanley Cup winning Boston Bruins.  The game goes off at 7:05 pm.  Odds are subject to change, of course.

Philadelphia Flyers      +115
Boston Bruins             -135

Boston is the favorite. The spread is -20 in this game, -135 + 115. Does the spread represent value for either the Flyers or the Bruins? Should the spread be -30, for instance, because the Bruins should be a bigger fave? Should the spread be -10 because the Flyers shouldn’t be such a big dog?

A spread of -20 really isn’t a lot.  In MLB spreads are usually much higher than that, but that’s one of the reasons that NHL is such a great league on which to make bets.  In baseball, a huge emphasis is placed on a single player, the pitcher.  Good pitchers versus bad pitchers often times equate to spreads of -40 or even -70 to -80 forcing handicappers to make much stronger value spread decisions.

In the NHL, because there is no dominant team (not a single team has repeated a Stanley Cup victory since 2006) the spreads are often times more respective of a teams actual chances of winning.  More spreads lead to stronger handicapping, facts become more important, and handicappers can get a better idea of how a game may unfold.

Being able to use your own logic and reasoning is one of the keys to success in sports gambling. Finding overlays requires understanding spreads and determining the value of those spreads.  Since moneyline spreads in NHL betting are often times a true indicator of a team’s chance of winning, finding those overlays becomes much easier.

That’s the real reason to wager on NHL games.

Also, hockey’s cool.

Boston Focuses on Playing a Full 60 Minutes in Game 2

The final round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs officially got underway last night at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver and to the utter delight of the home crowd – they went berserk – the Canucks took a 1-0 series lead on a goal by Raffi Torres in the dying seconds of the third period, just when the game, deadlocked and scoreless, seemed almost certain to go into overtime.

Vancouver Canucks were the betting faves in both the to win the Stanley Cup and to win Game 1. This sends them with even better odds into the second home game on Saturday night and sees their odds shorten in the futures market.

In Game 1 the first two periods, you’d be hard pressed to find a difference between the pair and credit goes to Boston entirely for playing an excellent road game. They played the Canucks tight and had ample opportunities to nudge ahead. In the third period however Boston did let up a bit and that’s when Vancouver took over, its depth showing up the Bruins and capitalizing with a soupcon of luck on a lone shot that beat Tim Thomas.

Going into Game 2, the Bruins have everything to play for yet and should come out with even more punch. It’ll be important for them to put the opening game behind them, prevent it from becoming a defining moment in the series. After all, going into the series they were the betting underdogs.

The challenge for the Canucks will be to keep a level head in Game 2 after the euphoric ending to another epic at Rogers Arena. Coming down from such a huge high is not easy but the Canucks have managed to keep it cool throughout the playoffs, taking each and every game in stride. They might be the hot faves in online hockey betting markets but they know better than anybody that the next game is going to be even bigger in the broad spectrum of the series.

Who is the next Stanley Cup Winner?

As far as the markets are concerned, Vancouver Canucks are the runaway faves to win the Stanley Cup, now tipped upwards of -500. The Bruins, following the loss in Game 1, have moved beyond the +300 mark.

But game 1 was a tight game, in which both teams showed plenty of potential. Arguably, the main battle came down to goaltending, the fierce contest between the two Vezina Trophy candidates – Tim Thomas and Roberto Luongo. Now, Luongo has one “W” in his column but you can’t exactly say he outplayed Thomas when it was just the one shot that beat the Bruins net minder can you?

Game 2 is pivotal to the broad spectrum of this final series because there is a huge difference between levelling 1-1 and being down 0-2 before returning to Boston. Thomas is a big-time player and I expect he’ll do his best to outshine Luongo and get his team back into the series. It’s what he’s done for his boys throughout the playoffs so it would be hardly surprising if he does it in the next game.

Vancouver has more depth and quality in both offense and defence than the Bruins have and that is an area that they’ll need to capitalize on if they want to win the Cup. I don’t doubt that they do but if Game 1 were any indication, they really need to up the ante. I mean, they simply can’t sit back on their laurels and leave it to the goalies to duke it out and decide the series because, in that case, I believe Thomas to be psychologically steadier than Luongo is, especially the deeper the series goes. To put a finer point on it: the Vancouver Canucks, who were the best offense and defence in the NHL this season, need to show up en tandem in Game 2 and onwards if they hope to win their first-ever Stanley Cup.

NHL Free Picks: Take Vancouver Canucks to win Stanley Cup

NHL Betting Preview and Picks – Vancouver Canucks at Nashville Predators

The Vancouver Canucks go into Game 4 with a vital 2-1 lead over the Nashville Predators and as they attempt to extend that advantage to a two-game edge, they are listed as the hot favourites at -125 with BetOnline Sportsbook.

Nashville Predators, who are hosting Game 4, are at the disadvantage at +105 but, despite those odds, they have a chance to level the series. It would be perverse to deny it isn’t so, especially when they’ve already levelled the series once before, in Game 2 in Vancouver.

Taking it one-step further, it is a must-win game for the Predators because a loss tonight could spell the end, as it would send the Vancouver Canucks with a 3-1 edge back to Vancouver and a chance to close the series.

NHL Betting Line:

Vancouver Canucks -1½  +250   -125   5  O +105   U -125    2½  O -115   U -125  

Nashville Predators  +1½  -300   +105  5  O +105   U -125    2½  O +110   U -150

1st Period

Vancouver Canucks   -115   1½  O +125   U -155  

Nashville Predators     -115 1½  O +125   U -155  

2nd Period

Vancouver Canucks     -115   1½  O -120   U -110  

Nashville Predators     -115 1½  O -120   U -110  

3rd Period

Vancouver Canucks   -115   1½  O -115   U -115  

Nashville Predators     -115   1½  O -115   U -115  

Game Time: 08:35 PM Eastern Time (05:35 PM Pacific Time) Thursday May 5, 2011

NHL Betting Verdict: This series has been one of the tightest in round 2 of the playoffs this season, if not the tightest. Fewest goals have been scored in this series and games have been decided by a goal, two of which were in overtime. 

Vancouver won the first game 1-0 and Nashville bounced back with a 2-1 win in a second overtime in Game 2. Upon moving to Nashville, the Canucks pulled ahead in the series with a 3-2 overtime win in Nashville.

For being the quintessential underdogs in the playoffs, the Nashville Predators have managed to hold their own quite well against the so-called Stanley Cup favourites and they deserve heaps of praise for that alone.

Speaking of the Vancouver Canucks, they are ahead in the series, which is a positive sign, but let us not pretend that they are there on the back of convincing performances –for example,of the Tampa Bay Lightning variety, as the Bolts just finished off the Washington Capitals in four straight games. Or, for that matter a la Bruins and Sharks, who are on the verge of sweeping the Flyers and Red Wings, respectively.

Neither the Bolts nor the Bruins and Sharks (up to this point) were threatened by their opponents. The same cannot be said of the Canucks – the NHL’s best team this season, mind.

The outcome of all three games in this series went the way of the better team, statistically and literally, on the night, a fact that would give the Predators hope and, in turn, should give the Canucks pause. Based on skill, quality and depth, you’d think the Canucks would be outplaying the Predators, exposing them for the playoff upstarts that they are. However, that isn’t the case. Far from it, and that is a touch concerning if you are a Vancouver fan.

All the same, the Vancouver Canucks are correctly deemed the favourites in this game and I would go even further by saying they are the better bet to win tonight. I don’t expect the Predators to give the Canucks anything easily and, if truth were told, they do have a chance to win tonight and send the series back to Vancouver, nice and levelled. Yet, I think it is time the Canucks start playing up to their potential and not allow the Predators to trap them into playing down to their game. I mean, a win here would put them on the verge of clinching the series and going into the Western Conference semi-finals. What is that if not motivation.

NHL Free Picks: Vancouver Canucks -125 | Over 5 +105

NHL Betting Odds – Sharks vs Red Wings Game 6

The Red Wings will try to force a seventh game when they host the San Jose Sharks tonight at Joe Louis Arena at 8:00 PM ET in crucial match for both teams.

NHL Betting Odds:
San Jose Shark +1.5
Detroit Red Wings -1.5
0/U 5.5

San Jose needed only one win two games ago but they failed to close out the stubborn Red Wings, but after giving up a 3-0 series lead the Sharks are on the brink of an epic collapse.

All of the first five games played in this series have been decided just by one goal and each of the teams have won once on the other’s home ice.  San Jose entered the series as a big favorite but two of their main stars have disappointed during the process.

Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton have been been non-factors against Detroit, both were the leading scorers for the Sharks in the regular season but against the Red Wings Marleau is scoreless and Thorton has only one assist since they got 3-0 series lead.

Detroit still isn’t a lock to win the series, only Philadelphia last year, the 1975 New York Islanders, and 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs have done it. 

Consider these NHL betting trends:

SAN JOSE:

11-2 ATS after a home loss versus opponent

20-16 ATS in a road game where the total is 5.5

DETROIT:

1-5 SU Away after scoring 4+ goals back to back games

9-4 ATS after 3 or more consecutive overs

The Sharks are the better team out of the two but the momentum right now is clearly on the Red Wings side.  Take the experience Red Wings back stopped by Jimmy Howard to win tonight.

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