The Chicago Blackhawks host the Vancouver Canucks tonight, Friday Mar 05, as the bad blood flows after the Hawks eliminated them from the playoffs last year. Vancouver holds a 2-1 edge in the season series over Chicago. NHL oddsmakers at SPORTSBOOK.com have the Blackhawks as -155 moneyline favs over the Canucks (+135) with the over/under set at 5.5 goals . Be sure to get your Vancouver Canucks vs Chicago Blackhawks NHL Prediction in early at SPORTSBOOK.com
The Canucks (39-22-0-2) have won six of their last ten games and four of their last five on the road. They are 16-15-0-1 on the road where they average 2.84 GAG and allow 2.94 GAG. They recently won in Detroit 6-3. They got goals from Ryan Kesler (2), Alexandre Burrows, Kyle Wellwood, Sami Salo and Mikael Samuelsson. Goalie Roberto Luongo stopped 28 of 31 shots and is 7-3 in his last ten with a 2.50 GAA. Overall he’s 32-17-2 with a 2.36 GAA and a .919 SVPCT. Henrik Sedin leads Vancouver with 25 goals and 58 assists. Ryan Kesler scored twice against Detroit Wednesday and has 13pts in his last 11 games . He’s been rejuvenated because of his play for USA in the Olympics where he received a disappointing silver medal. Ryan Kesler been teamed up with Slovak Pavel Demitra, on the second line, after Demitra was the highest scoring player during the Olympics. Vancouver is in a tight race with Colorado for first in the Northwest Division. They have four stops left on an NHL record 14-game road trip and will play 10 of their final 15 games back in British Columbia.
The Blackhawks (42-16-0-5) are winners of six of their last ten games and three of their last five at home. They are 24-6-0-2 at home where they average 3.19 GAG and allow 2.22 GAG. They recently beat Edmonton 5-2 at home. They got goals from Marian Hossa, David Bolland, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Dustin Byfuglien and Jonathan Toews. Goalie Cristobal Huet stopped a low 12 of 14 shots and is 4-6 in his last ten with a 3.50 GAA. Overall he’s 25-12-4 with a 2.30 GAA and a .901 SVPCT. Chicago's big guns have not slowed down after the two-week Olympic break. Patrick Kane has been red-hot with a six-game point streak (four goals, seven assists) and leads the Hawks in scoring with 26 goals and 46 assists. Marian Hossa has five points in his last five outings. The Hawks are currently locked up in a neck-and-neck battle with San Jose for the West's top seed, but there could be major implications if their goaltending doesn't return to its form . Whoever is in net is going to get peppered by the Canucks as they average the second most goals per game in the League.
Recent Trends to Consider:
- Canucks are 7-0 in their last 7 games as an underdog.
- Canucks are 5-0 in their last 5 vs. Central.
- Canucks are 4-0 in their last 4 games as an underdog of +110 to +150.
- Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Chicago.
- Blackhawks are 1-4 in their last 5 games as a favorite of -151 to -200.
- Underdog is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Vancouver Canucks vs Chicago Blackhawks
When: Friday Mar 05, 2009 8:30 PM ET
Line: SPORTSBOOK.com
Pick: Canucks +135
Point-Spreads.com Vancouver Canucks vs Chicago Blackhawks NHL Prediction
The Bottom Line: The Canucks are playing great and so is Luongo. Be sure to get your Vancouver Canucks vs Chicago Blackhawks NHL Prediction in early at SPORTSBOOK.com and Get a 50% Deposit Bonus and $25 Free Bet at Sportsbook.com, simply use promo code WIN100 and start winning today!
