Series Picks
Anaheim (+225) -- risking 1 to win 2.25: I figured by now the bookies would have stopped looking at the regular season standings. No? Ok, good enough for me. I'll gladly take this price with a reduced wager, since the Red Wings are considerably better than the Sharks. That being said, the Ducks are playing a great defensive game, and even with their limited offensive potential they should be able to put some pucks behind the worst goalie left in the NHL playoffs (Osgood). It's a true testament to the Wings that they can not only win with this guy, but make him look good with their sound defensive play. Ducks will have to work very hard for their chances. I give both teams a 50-50 chance in this series, so I have to take the value.
Vancouver (-150) -- risking 6 to win 4: With a few extra units to play with after Round 1, I think this is a great investment. Calgary played terrible (to my surprise, since I had $$ on them), and Chicago was able to just squeak by them. You could argue that Calgary could have swept that series with a bit better defensive play in Games 1 & 2. Well, Chicago now moves on to a team that will protect a lead. A team that has a goalie who will play much better than Kiprusoff. A healthy defence (cept for Salo). A team with two scoring lines, and who are rested. If the Hawks choose to put their two best dmen on the Sedins, well then the Canucks will find a way to beat them with Kesler/Sundin/Demitra OR Raymond/Wellwood/Bernier. Finally, I will say that I do believe that Toews is playing injured. Now he faces a much more physical defence, and I really don't give the small Hawks' stars much of a shot. I can see them getting a lot of their production from guys like Byfuglien.
GL
Record: 10-8-1, +10.07 units
Anaheim (+225) -- risking 1 to win 2.25: I figured by now the bookies would have stopped looking at the regular season standings. No? Ok, good enough for me. I'll gladly take this price with a reduced wager, since the Red Wings are considerably better than the Sharks. That being said, the Ducks are playing a great defensive game, and even with their limited offensive potential they should be able to put some pucks behind the worst goalie left in the NHL playoffs (Osgood). It's a true testament to the Wings that they can not only win with this guy, but make him look good with their sound defensive play. Ducks will have to work very hard for their chances. I give both teams a 50-50 chance in this series, so I have to take the value.
Vancouver (-150) -- risking 6 to win 4: With a few extra units to play with after Round 1, I think this is a great investment. Calgary played terrible (to my surprise, since I had $$ on them), and Chicago was able to just squeak by them. You could argue that Calgary could have swept that series with a bit better defensive play in Games 1 & 2. Well, Chicago now moves on to a team that will protect a lead. A team that has a goalie who will play much better than Kiprusoff. A healthy defence (cept for Salo). A team with two scoring lines, and who are rested. If the Hawks choose to put their two best dmen on the Sedins, well then the Canucks will find a way to beat them with Kesler/Sundin/Demitra OR Raymond/Wellwood/Bernier. Finally, I will say that I do believe that Toews is playing injured. Now he faces a much more physical defence, and I really don't give the small Hawks' stars much of a shot. I can see them getting a lot of their production from guys like Byfuglien.
GL
Record: 10-8-1, +10.07 units
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