NHL Hockey – Stanley Cup Finals Free Predictions: Flyers vs. Blackhawks – Game 2
Hockey Gambling fans sure are getting their money’s worth from the free nhl picks for the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals we give out here at Capperspicks.com.
Team Records:
Philadelphia: 41-35-6
Chicago: 52-22-8
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Chicago leads series 1-0
Sportsbook odds:
Flyers: +170 +1.5 (-170) Over 6 (even)
Blackhawks: -200 -1.5 (+150) Under 6 (-120)
Flyers vs. Blackhawks Game One Preview
Game 1 is over. The score was 6-5 and Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter were held pointless. Richards and Carter and Simon Gagne were a combined minus seven and the Top Line for Chicago was a combined minus nine. The rough and tumble Philadelphia Flyers went 60 minutes without a single penalty.
Only a crystal ball or a time machine would have helped predict these type of stats – Insane!
The Philadelphia Flyers played a pretty decent game and with a little help from their goaltender, they might have gotten the win and seized home ice advantage from the Hawks. They didn’t and now they will need a win to return home even in the series.
Secondary scoring obviously was the difference for the Flyers in Game 1. For the Flyers, Danny Briere woke up after going pointless in his previous three games and registered a goal and three assists. Scott Hartnell, who has been mired in a playoff slump, emerged with a goal and two assists. Ville Leino and light scoring Aaron Asham and Blair Betts also scored for the Flyers.
You have to think that Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne won’t be shut out again in these playoffs unless Dave Bolland is Superman
Defensively the Flyers just have to tighten up. The checking and their zone coverage were lax and Chicago took advantage of it. Some key stops from Michael Leighton would have been nice too. Leighton should bounce back and look a little better in Game 2.
The Chicago Blackhawks sound like the team that lost Game 1. Despite scoring six goals, they did not seem satisfied with their effort at all. The best players for the Hawks were not their best players.
Thankfully, the second best players on the Hawks were their best players – make sense? Five different Hawks scored, six players had multiple point games and none of them were named Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane or Dustin Byfuglien.
Keep in mind that the Blackhawks rely on the power play and they did not get ONE in the whole game.
Just like the Flyers, the secondary scoring is nice but is the exception not the rule. Kane and Toews will get it going – that much is certain.
Chicago’s defense was a bit of a disappointment and a lot had to do with the shaky goaltending of Antti Niemi. Keith and Seabrook held down the Richards line but that’s about it.
The defense HAS to be better and I think it will.
It is not much of a surprise that Game 1 was high scoring. Expect a lower scoring game on Monday although I think the score will challenge the total.
I think that Philadelphia gets some better goaltending and pulls out Game 2. I believe that Hockey Karma will pay them back for a decent Game 1 effort.
NHL Betting Trends:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia’s last 7 games
Philadelphia is 7-14 SU in its last 21 games on the road
Philadelphia is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games when playing Chicago
Philadelphia is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games
Chicago is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Chicago is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Chicago is 3-5-1 SU in its last 9 games, when playing at home against Philadelphia
Chicago is 3-13-1 SU in its last 17 games, when playing Philadelphia
Game 2 Pick: Philadelphia Flyers
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