NHL Second Round – Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks

NHL Semi-Final Preview! Blackhawks Visit Vancouver

The Canucks have to be worried about the time they’ve had off. Sure it gave Mats Sundin and others time to lick their wounds, but they were in a serious groove after shutting down the Blues in four straight games. Vancouver is undefeated in their last five games, 15-2 SU in their last 17 at home and have held the UNDER in five straight games.

The Hawks clawed their way out of a series with Calgary, stunning the NHL betting world with some incredible hockey that propelled them past a perennially known as first-round fodder. But playing in Vancouver has not been their forte. The Hawks are 2-11 SU in their last 13 games in Vancouver.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks

Thursday, April 30th — GM Place, Vancouver — 9:00pm EST

NHL Betting Line: Vancouver -145 (5)

I still don’t like the Hawks, no matter how many X-Box simulations the pundits run. This team is not built for the playoffs, and their too young to understand the serious difficulties in balancing the pressure of performing, and using that as motivation on the ice. The Hawks have averaged 3.22 goals for this season, and steadied themselves on the road for 3.0 goals. However, they’ll be meeting the scariest goal tender in these NHL Playoffs when they run in to the man known as Robert Luongo.

Things are going extremely well for the Canucks lately, and a lengthy rest will give them what they need to vanquish an inexperienced Chicago team traveling on the road after a physical series with the Flames.

NHL Furious Free Pick: Vancouver -145 (UNDER)