Will This Be The Night Chicago Died?
Who would have thought the Chicago Blackhawks would be doomed at all, let alone already by this point of the season? Seven points out of a playoff position, it's a grim scenario for the Blackhawks, but if they lose Thursday against the Dallas Stars, while the Minnesota Wild are most likely rolling the Arizona Coyotes at home, you can pretty much pen the epitath on Chicago's postseason hopes. Like the Wild, the Tampa Bay Lightning are generally money at home, which is bad news for the visting Vancouver Canucks.
While they aren't home and cooled out yet, both the Calgary Flames and New Jersey have displayed plenty of resiliency this season, and that should make for a spellbinding showdown as the Flames visit the Devils. We like all four of this Thursday contests in an NHL parlay, based on odds set by Bovada.
Dallas Stars vs Chicago Blackhawks Preview
Chicago's chances of qualifying for the playoffs are 10.1 percent, with a 0.1 percent chance of them winning it all. Expect those odds to plummet if they fall to the Stars. And it's the vets who led Chicago to glory that are failing the Blakchawks this season. Defenseman Brent Seabrook has struggled and was even sat for a game. Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith has taken 124 shots without scoring. Captain Jonathan Toews is goalless in 11 games. The Blackhawks are 0-4-1 in their last five home games and have given up 19 goals.
Dallas, over (5.5)
(-130)
Calgary Flames vs New Jersey Devils Preview
Flames goalie Mike Smith is the epitome of a brick wall on the road. With Tuesday's 3-2 win at Chicago, Smith improved to 10-3-3 away from home this season, with an NHL-best .948 save percentage and 1.84 goals-against average. Calgary is 14-5-5 on the road this season, and 5-0-0-1 in its last six away from home. New Jersey's three-game win streak came to a crashing halt via a 5-3 loss Tuesday at Ottawa. Devils forward Taylor Hall is riding an 11-game point streak, with 7-9-16 totals over that span.
Calgary, under (-5.5)
(-110)
Vancouver Canucks vs Tampa Bay Lightning Preview
Atop the NHL at 36-14-3, the Lightning just endured a stretch that included 13 of 16 on the road, going 9-5-2. But it didn't finish well, with a 6-2 loss at Edmoton. Prior to that was a 4-2 win at Vancouver, and Tampa Bay is 6-2 in its last eight. Surprsingly, the Lightning have lost three of their last four at home since a seven-game home-ice win streak was halted. The Canucks launched a four-game road trip with a 3-1 loss at Florida. Vancouver is 2-7-2 in its last 11 road games.
Tampa Bay, over (5.5)
(-260)
Arizona Coyotes vs Minnesota Wild Preview
The state of hockey in the State of Hockey is that home is where the success story is. Minnesota has posted a 10-game point streak (8-0-2) in Saint Paul since Dec. 27, tied for the longest point streak on home ice in franchise history. The Wild leads the NHL in home points in that span, outscoring opponents 40-19 in those 10 home games. Minnesota has earned at least a point in 18 of its last 19 home games since Nov. 14, leading the NHL home points and tied for first in home wins with a 15-1-3 record over that span.
Minnesota, over (5.5)
(-240)
Slap Shots
Dallas has won three straight, allowing just three goals, is 6-2 in the last eight and 7-2-1 over the last 10 games . . . Calgary and Boston are tied for the fewest road losses in the NHL, with five apiece . . . Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov leads the NHL in scoring (66 points) but has gone 11 games without a goal . . . The Coyotes have lost four straight and are 1-3-2 in their last six on the road.
Category : Betting Picks
Tag : Duncan Keith
, jonathan toews
, Mike Smith
, NHL Picks Parlay
, Nikita Kucherov
, patrick kane
, taylor hall
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When the NHL season got underway, not many would have touted the Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils as contenders, but both teams find themselves situated in playoff positions today as they clash at the the Prudential Center. On the other hand, the vast majority would have pegged the Chicago Blackhawks as postseason certainties, but as they face the Dallas Stars, the Blackhawks are seven points of a playoff position.
When the NHL season got underway, not many would have touted the Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils as contenders, but both teams find themselves situated in playoff positions today as they clash at the the Prudential Center. On the other hand, the vast majority would have pegged the Chicago Blackhawks as postseason certainties, but as they face the Dallas Stars, the Blackhawks are seven points of a playoff position.
When the NHL season got underway, not many would have touted the Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils as contenders, but both teams find themselves situated in playoff positions today as they clash at the the Prudential Center. On the other hand, the vast majority would have pegged the Chicago Blackhawks as postseason certainties, but as they face the Dallas Stars, the Blackhawks are seven points of a playoff position.
When the NHL season got underway, not many would have touted the Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils as contenders, but both teams find themselves situated in playoff positions today as they clash at the the Prudential Center. On the other hand, the vast majority would have pegged the Chicago Blackhawks as postseason certainties, but as they face the Dallas Stars, the Blackhawks are seven points of a playoff position.
