| Free NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche at Phoenix Coyotes |
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| Written by Steve Hastings | |||||||
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Friday, 22 February 2008
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 The Colorado Avalanche face off against the Phoenix Coyotes. BetOnline.com has the Phoenix Coyotes at –135 odds as the favorite against the Colorado Avalanche +115 with a over/under set at 5.5 goals. Despite desperately needing points in a heated playoff race, neither team has been particularly impressive as of late. The Coyotes were blown out 4-1 on Tuesday by the Calgary Flames. Phoenix is relatively inexperienced, and it shows; the team has been unable to maintain a long-term winning streak, its longest this season being five.“The Avalanche are pinning hopes of a successful road trip on getting back the services of Joe Sakic's as they started off the road trip with a loss without him,” stated Point-Spreads.com NHL Pick Expert Michael Alexander of Alexander Sports when asked to comment on the St Louis Blues at Anaheim Ducks game. “However, Sakic had his first full practice Tuesday with the Avs since late December and is expected to get in on the action before the conclusion of the road trip .” Before the drubbing in Calgary, though, Phoenix had won three straight and taken over a playoff spot. The loss to the Flames vaulted Calgary ahead and pushed the Coyotes out of the postseason for now. It's big games like those that Phoenix needs to capitalize on, and Friday's match-up is no different – Colorado is only a point back of Phoenix. The Avalanche, meanwhile, have completely lost their offense. It's somewhat excusable because of the absence of Joe Sakic, Paul Statsny and Ryan Smyth, but Smyth returned last week and Colorado has lost all three games he's appeared in since then. Smyth has been held pointless during that stretch, and during the team's current four-game losing skid, they've scored only three goals. Phoenix has had its way with Colorado this season, winning all three of their meetings. The Coyotes aren't strangely weak at home (13-14-2), but they're simply playing better hockey right now. Colorado at Phoenix, Friday @ 9:00 p.m. ET NHL Pick: Phoenix Coyotes There's still plenty of time to get in on the NHL betting action. Visit BetOnline.com, home to the best online sports book in the world !                        |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 22 February 2008 ) | |||||||