NHL Betting Free Picks: Detroit @ Phoenix
Added on Apr 16, 2010 by Jack Thurman in
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Sportsbooks are featuring NHL betting on the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs tonight, and we’ll take a look at a Western Conference game two matchup between the Phoenix Coyotes and Detroit Red Wings. The Coyotes took game #1 as their moribund power play erupted for three goals and that was enough for their nasty defense and goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov.
Detroit Red Wings @ Phoenix Coyotes
April 16, 7:05 PM Pacific
Red Wings are the NHL’s version of the New York Yankees, and no matter the matchup they’re typically overvalued. That’s certainly the case here both in the series and individual games against Phoenix. Coyotes finished with a better record, a higher seed, home ice advantage and have been playing consistent hockey all season. Despite this, the Red Wings were favored in the series and have been road favorites in game #1 and #2. Wings are a decent, though not dominant, road team and the Coyotes have been very good at home this season making it even more inexplicable. The two teams split the season series with each team winning once at home and once on the road.
Based strictly on the numbers, this is a very even series. But so are most of the other series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and for some reason the linesmakers have no respect for this Phoenix teams. Actually, the linesmakers are just reflecting public perception so its not their fault or a mistake in evaluating these teams. They’re just trying to balance the action, and the ‘squares’ love the Red Wings. As a result, we’re happy to play against them. We’ve had this gritty, grinding and defensively tenacous Coyotes team pegged for a long playoff run since mid season and nothing we saw in game #1 makes us think otherwise. We’ll play them every chance we get in this series as we’ll be getting good value–particularly when the series shifts to Detroit and we’ll be able to back the Coyotes at nice underdog prices. Look for them to play a similar game tonight that they did in game #1 and go up 2-0 in the series.
Bet Phoenix +115 over Detroit
