| NHL Pick: Detroit Red Wings vs Chicago Blackhawks |
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| Written by Scott Burgess | |||||||
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Tuesday, 11 March 2008
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 The Detroit Red Wings are back on their winning ways since the return of Nicklas Lidstrom to the lineup. With the Blackhawks injuries and the Red Wings confidence up, it should be a successful night for the Wings. Betway.com has the Red Wings as 1.62 favs over the Blackhawks with the over/under listed at 5 ½. Get your NHL Pick in now at Betway.comThe Red Wings are happy to have Captain Nicklas Lidstrom back; he had two assists after missing the previous six contests with a sprained right MCL suffered Feb. 18 at Colorado. Since Lidstrom has been out the Wings went 3-4 SU. They have three straight wins after they recently beat Nashville 4-3 as 230-moneyline home favs. They’ve averaged four goals a game in their last three. Their power play scored three goals against the Preds, and they have a power play goal in five of their last six games. Goalie Dominik Hasek has taken over for struggling Chris Osgood. Hasek has eight wins in his last ten starts and has allowed an average 2.00 GAG during their three game winning streak. Hasek is 0-2-1 with a 3.27 GAA in three games against Chicago this season. While Lidstrom is back in the lineup, the Red Wings are still without defenseman Chris Chelios (knee) and forwards Daniel Cleary (broken jaw) and Tomas Holmstrom (groin). Holmstrom missed Sunday's game after he was injured during Friday's practice. The Wings are 23-8-0-2 at home where they average 3.20 GAG. They are 16-12 over/under at home. Get your NHL Pick in now! The Blackhawks have dropped two straight after they recently lost 5-6 (OT) to Edmonton as 155-moneyline road favs. They’ve averaged 3.80 GAG in their last five and their power play has scored a goal in six straight. Their top goalie Nikolia Khabibulin is out with back spasms and it’ll be up to Patrick Lalime to getter done. Lalime has won two of his last five starts for a 3.80 GAA. He hasn't faced Detroit this season but is 1-10-0 with a 4.85 GAA in 11 career starts against them. Detroit boasts one of the best home records in the league, but Detroit is 0-2 SU against Chicago at Joe Louis Arena. The Blackhawks haven't won three straight there since Jan. 13-Nov. 27, 2000. They are 15-15-2-3 away from home and they sit in 3rd place in the Central Standings. Recent Trends to Consider:
GAME: Chicago Blackhawks (33-29-4-3) at Detroit Red Wings (45-18-1-5) DATE/TIME: Tuesday, March 11 - 7:30 PM EST LINE: Betway.com TOTAL: 5.5 PICK: Detroit 1.62 The Low Down: With Nicklas Lidstrom back the Red Wings are the team they were at the start of the season, they’ll be even better when Chris Chelios returns. It’s been eight years since the Blackhawks took three straight. Get your NHL Pick in now at Betway.com                        |
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