For The NHL Gamblers!
Headline: Heated and Hated Rivalry Continues – Canucks Host Blackhawks Friday Night
One of the best rivalry’s in the NHL writes another chapter Friday night when the Chicago Blackhawks, fresh of their first loss of the season (albeit a shootout loss) pays visit to the Vancouver Canucks who climbed over .500 with a 3-0 win over Colorado on Wednesday night.
Chicago Blackhawks (6-0-0-1) at Vancouver Canucks (3-2-0-2)
When: 10:00 PM ET, Friday, February 1, 2013
Where: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia
Broadcast: TSN, RDS2, CSN-CH+
Hawks vs. Canucks Betting Lines from Bodog.ca
Chicago Blackhawks +1½ -285 +105
Vancouver Canucks -1½ +240 -116
Over/Under: 5.5
*NHL ATS Matchup Report*
The Canucks will ride the hot hand on Friday night – it has been announced that Roberto Luongo will get his third straight start in net. Hmmmm!
The Chicago Blackhawks have been terrific this season. It took until their seventh game to taste defeat and even in defeat they gained a point in the standings. The Hawks have been masters of the tight game – they enter Friday’s showdown having played five straight one-goal games. The team is averaging 3.43 goals per game and they are surrendering 2.14.
With numbers like that it is no wonder they are #1 in the entire league.
Chicago’s superstars are really getting it done – every one of their top flight players is contributing. Marian Hossa leads the team with five goals and is second on the club with 9 points, Patrick Kane has 10 points in seven games, Jonathan Toews four goals and three assists and the defensive tandem of Keith and Seabrook each have three points on the season.
The Blackhawks can and will score even though the team netted just two against Minnesota Wednesday night.
Chicago hasn’t been just about offense this season – the defense and goaltending has been terrific as well. Corey Crawford has been solid in net with a 1.79 GAA after making 23 saves Wednesday.
He and his very good defensive corp have killed 26 of 27 short handed situations so far – 19 straight on the road. But with a game on Saturday looming against Calgary, Crawford may get the night off in favor of Ray Emery who allowed 4 goals in his only start of the year.
The Vancouver Canucks climbed over .500 for the first time this season with a convincing 3-0 win over Colorado Wednesday night. The difference in that game? Roberto Luongo who typically shines in the regular season and wilts in the playoffs.
Heated and hated rivalry resumes tonight in Vancouver.
Lou is 1-0-2 this season with a sterling 1.16 goals against average and .938 save percentage while Cory Schneider is 2-2-0 with a 3.13 GA and .897 save percentage. It is pretty clear which goaltender gives them the best chance to win at this moment in time.
Coach Alain Vigneault’s decision was made even easier based on Luongo’s recent record against the Hawks. Luongo has played a key role in the constantly developing rivalry against Chicago.
He is 2-0-1 with a 1.60 GAA in his last three starts in the series, including the postseason.
The Vancouver Canucks absolutely need some production up front from Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. Each are averaging less than a point per game so far – Daniel has six points in seven games and Henrik has just four assists so far.
The team as a whole is averaging 2.43 goals per game – a far cry from last year when they were at or near the top of the NHL in offensive production.
Zack Kassian has been great and leads the team with five goals, Mason Raymond has three goals and Alex Burrows had a two game goal scoring streak snapped against Colorado – but he looks to have shaken his early season funk.
Dave’s Won’t Cost You Anything Free Betting Prediction:
A few trends to consider:
• CHI are 1-7 in their last 8 vs. Northwest.
• Under is 7-2 in CHI last 9 Fri. games.
• CHI are 8-3 in their last 11 Fri. games.
• VAN are 14-6 in their last 20 Fri. games.
• VAN are 7-3 in their last 10 vs. Central.
• VAN are 114-56 in their last 170 home games.
The Hawks are just 2-5 in the last seven meetings in Vancouver are therefore enter Friday night’s game the underdog.
Vancouver has gained three of a possible four points in their last two games – all because of Roberto Luongo. But the team hasn’t played all that great ahead of him. Chicago is sizzling – the Canucks are just luke-warm. I like the road team in this one.
Chicago’s stars are simply shining way brighter than those on the Canucks!
Free NHL Pick: Blackhawks +105
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Original Story:
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February 02, 2013
