NHL Betting – It’s Go Time For Lord Stanley’s Cup

The muscles are aching, the ice is bad, the beards are itchy and NHL betting is heating up. It must be time for the Stanley Cup Final. The Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks kick off their battle for Hockey’s Holy Grail on Saturday night in Chicago with both teams looking to gain a little mojo in Game 1.

Philadelphia Flyers @ Chicago Blackhawks

When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, May 29, 2010
Where: The United Center, Chicago, Illinois
On: NBC (USA) and CBC (Canada)

Philadelphia Flyers: +165

The Philadelphia Flyers’ arrival on the Big Stage has been a long and difficult process. They have hardly been NHL betting darlings! If not for a shootout win in the last game of the regular season, the Flyers would not even have qualified for the post season. Now, in a position to win it all, the Flyers are hoping that they haven’t used up all of their good hockey just to get here.

Game 1’s of a Stanley Cup Final are usually feeling out games but this one should be different. With an abundance of offensive talent on both teams and questionable goaltending on each, it will be the one that scores often that wins the game. Look for Mike Richards to establish himself early in the game, throw some hits and try to force some chances off turnovers. Getting Jeff Carter into the flow early will be a focus as well. Danny Briere is pointless in his last three games and will need to pick up his play as well along with his second line of Claude Giroux. I think they will.

Defensively, it seems to be all about Pronger for this team but Kimmo Timonen, Matt Carle and Braydon Coburn are not bad themselves. They are going to have their hands full however, the Hawks are relentless. The goaltending is a total crapshoot in Game 1. I have no idea what to think about Michael Leighton.

NHL Puckline: Philadelphia: +1.5 (-175): Chicago: -1.5 (155)

Chicago Blackhawks: -200

It’s not that much of a surprise that the Chicago Blackhawks are in the final. They are stacked up front and are a handful to deal with. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien have been on fire in the playoffs. 56 points, 22G, 34A in the playoffs – 22 goals in 16 games is further proof. Patrick Sharp, Marion Hossa and Kris Versteeg are the second line and would be a number one line on most NHL teams. Agitator and shut down center Dave Bolland has been driving opponents nuts these playoffs and will likely make life miserable for Mike Richards in the Final. These guys will be ready for Game 1 and be pumped to put on a good show in front of their United Center faithful.

The Hawks are equally deep on defense. Canadian Olympians Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are the best duo in the league while Brian Campbell and Niklas Hjalmarsson have made names for themselves in this year’s playoffs. Antti Niemi is a tossup just like Leighton.

Game 1’s are a crapshoot in any sport and this one is no different. Gut feeling says that the Hawks will be super tight in this game and may have been better starting this series on the road. This is a young bunch of guys that has the weight of a whole city on their shoulders. Game 1 acts as a wakeup call for Chicago and Philadelphia pulls a mild upset in Game 1.

NHL Betting Pick: Philadelphia Flyers +165