NHL Picks: Detroit Red Wings vs Dallas Stars

Sunday, 17 February 2008

The Detroit Red Wings look to avoid their longest losing streak of NHL Picks in 17 years when they travel to take on the Dallas Stars. Although the Red Wings still have the best record in the NHL by far they have looked anything but the best team in hockey. Coming into this one they have lost 5 in a row to put them at 41-14-0-5. The main culprit of their recent problems really has been both their offense and defense. In fact, Detroit has allowed three goals or more in each of their last five games and haven't scored an even strength goal in their last three games. With starting goaltender Dominik Hasek sidelined with a hip flexor the Red Wings have had to turn to Chris Osgood. Osgood has struggled getting pulled in each of his last three starts, the most recent in the second period after giving up 3 goals in the first. As a result the Red Wings will turn to Jimmy Howard between the pipes who will be making his first start in more than two years. Apparently the public is thinking that the losing streak could possibly end today for the Red Wings as they are listed as a -110 road favorite on the money line and -1.5/+220 on the puck line at BetUs.com.

The Dallas Stars coming into this NHL Picks contest red hot as they have won 8 of their last 9 overall. Unlike the Red Wings the Stars have been doing it with both offense and defense as they are scoring 3.0 goals per game while giving up only 2.0 per game in their last five contests. Goaltender Turco has been red hot over his last seven games going 6-1-0 with a sparkling 1.98 goals against average. However, he has struggled in his career versus Detroit in 16 starts going a horrible 1-9-0 with five ties and a very high 2.98 goals against average. The recent return of right wing Jere Lehtinen has provided Dallas with added help. Lehtinen, who missed more than two months following sports hernia surgery, has two goals and five assists in eight games since getting back into the lineup.

Looking at this matchup overall the Detroit faithful certainly have the right to be optimistic about today’s outcome as they haven't lost six in a row since a seven-game losing streak from Jan. 14-30, 1991 and have outscored the Stars 7-1 in winning both meetings this season. Detroit is also 6-0-1 in its last seven matchups with Dallas.

Michael Alexander has been handicapping the NHL for 20 years and has hit 67% of his selections over the last two seasons and ended last year’s playoffs on a 22-3 run! Join Michael at Alexandersports as he has GUARANTEED Winning NHL Picks all season long.

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