Stanley Cup Betting Free Picks – Blackhawks Look Vulnerable On The Road

Chris Pronger got the last laugh as Philadelphia swarmed the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 to earn the victory. Despite Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane snapping a pointless streak throughout Stanley Cup betting, the Blackhawks fell 4-3 to the Flyers. For all intents and purposes, it looks like Philadelphia is poised to even this series.

What stands out about the Game 3 win by Philadelphia is that Chicago’s trap showed no ability to stop the Flyers’ crisp, cross-ice passing. The Flyers employed a blue line busting, leading pass game plan to deploy Jeff Carter and Daniel Briere effectively in to Chicago’s zone to pepper Antti Niemi with 32 shots.

Chicago’s netminder has now faced 97 shots in the Stanley Cup Finals, allowing 10 goals. The Flyers furiously tried to lift the puck against Niemi, and the constant net crashing left him scrambling. In all honestly, Jeff Carter was denied a poke-in lamp lighter due to the ref blowing an early whistle. That game should’ve cleared the puck line for Philadelphia.

While we didn’t see the type of conservative game from Michael Leighton that we were hoping for, he certainly did enough to get the job done. Leighton looked out of place throughout the first two periods and gave up a slew of nauseatingly bad rebounds. That’s the type of game he plays, and it’s almost too late to refine his technique.

For their part, the Flyers are doing a much better job defensively of clearing the puck allowing Leighton to catch his breath. Maybe they know what he’s truly capable of in net, and that’s simply the game plan they have to employ.

Chicago Blackhawks (55-22-8) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (41-35-6)
Friday, June 4th — Wachovia Center — 8:00pm EST
NHL Betting Lines:

CHI – Antti Niemi +1.5 -290 EV O 9.0 -120
PHI – Michael Leighton -1.5 +240 -120 U 9.0 EV

In terms of tonight’s game, I’m sticking handedly with the home team. They’re not only undefeated in their last 5 games at home in the playoffs, they’re also 5-0 SU when hosting Chicago overall.

Even as stacked and talented as everyone keeps preaching Chicago to be, I still don’t see it as a championship caliber team. The Flyers are much deeper through four lines, especially with Scottie Hartnell doing tons of beautiful set-up work in the corners to get the puck to the front.

Cue up one screaming one-timer by Chris Pronger to burn down the net behind Niemi and the Flyers fans will come alive and put Chicago on their heels. Young teams have trouble handling pressure, especially in the grueling Stanley Cup Finals. That’s why you have to back up a team like Philadelphia in Game 4 betting tonight.

Furious Stanley Cup Betting Pick: Philadelphia -120 ML Only (UNDER)