The Detroit Red Wings look to rebound against the Phoenix Coyotes tonight, Tuesday April 20, as Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarter Finals. Phoenix won Game 3, 4-2 as +170 road dogs and lead the series 2-1. NHL oddsmakers at BODOG.com have the Red Wings as -230 moneyline home favorites over the Coyotes (+190) with the over/under set at 5 goals. Be sure to get your 2010 NHL Playoffs: 2010 NHL Playoffs: Phoenix Coyotes vs Detroit Red Wings Game 4 Odds & Prediction in now at BODOG.com
The Coyotes won Game 3 thanks to goals from Sami Lepisto, Wojtek Wolski, Petr Prucha and Radim Vrbata. Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 29 of 31 shots and is 2-1 with a 3.66 GAA and a .935 SVPCT. The Coyotes did a good job of team defense and clogging up the neutral zone and keeping the Wings contained into one corner of the ice. Now, the Wings will try to be less stubborn in their attack. Instead of trying to skate the puck through the neutral zone or make quick passes, they will try to play more of a chip-and-chase game. On a bad note Phoenix captain Shane Doan left Game 3 after tripping and crashing into the end boards, injuring his shoulder. Doan left the game and did not return. He will be re-evaluated after the morning skate Tuesday to determine his availability for Game 4. Forward Vernon Fiddler, who missed Game 3 with an upper-body injury, is expected to return to the lineup. Wojtek Wolski continues to pay dividends for the Coyotes, scoring in each game of the series.
The Red Wings offense was disabled last game by the speed of the young Coyotes team and their play in the neutral zone. The Wings clearly had the jump in Game 2 and the Coyotes had it in Game 3. The most obvious and quantifiable difference was turnovers. Counting their own giveaways and the Coyotes takeaways, the Wings coughed up the puck 24 times in Game 3 . They turned it over six times in their 7-4 victory in Game 2. "In both of those games, the team that turned over pucks and ended up chasing it hasn't done very good," Babcock said. "When you are chasing pucks, you get exhausted fast. When you are coming through the neutral zone and continually turning it over, then you get to back-check and that's not a very fun activity." Goalie Jimmy Howard has given up four goals in back to back starts and has just a .889 SVPCT for the series , but the Red Wings are standing behind him. Valtteri Filppula has three goals and an assist for the Red Wings in the last two games, while Henrik Zetterberg followed up his Game 2 hat trick with a pair of assists in Game 3.
Recent Trends to Consider:
- Over is 3-0-3 in the last 6 meetings.
- Over is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings in Detroit.
- Coyotes are 2-7 in the last 9 meetings in Detroit.
- Underdog is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- Road team is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- Red Wings are 1-5 in their last 6 vs. Pacific.
Phoenix Coyotes vs Detroit Red Wings
When: Tuesday April 21, 2010 6:30 PM ET
Line: BODOG.com
Pick: Wings -230
Point-Spreads.com 2010 NHL Playoffs: Phoenix Coyotes vs Detroit Red Wings Game 4 Odds & Predictions
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