Flyers at Blackhawks Game 2 NHL Stanley Cup Finals Odds & Picks: It will be unlikely NHL fans will be treated to an 11 goal explosion for Monday's Game 2 as they were for Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup finals Saturday night at United Center in Chicago between the Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers. The teams doubled up the 5 1/2 goal total exceeding the total by 5 1/2. The Blackhawks won the shootout with the Flyers after coming from behind three times in the game.
After Saturday's win, BetUS.com has updated the series odds favoring the Blackhawks at -450. For Game 2, BetUS.com has lined the Blackhawks as -190 moneyline favorites with a 6 goal total. Flyers backers are getting +160 odds.
In spite of giving up five goals on 20 shots in just over 35 minurtes, Flyers coach Peter Laviolette revealed on Sunday that he wil go with goalie Michael Leighton as goalie for Game 2 versus the Blackhawks. Leighton was pulled in favor of Brian Boucher, who stopped 11 of 12 shots but gave up the winning goal to Tomas Kopecky.
The Flyers have had a lot to think about after Game 1. They left the middle of the ice open way too much and the Hawks burned them for goals. According to Laviolette, the Flyers were not as physically engaged as they should have been in the 1-on-1 battles. They won only 38 percent of the faceoffs. The top line of Simon Gagne, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter was shut out.
For the Blackhawks, it was a win and they'll take it, but the Hawks could do without the heart attacks that accompanied their 6-5 victory. The Hawks rallied from behind three times to tie the game at 1-1, 3-3 and 4-4. They also blew leads of 2-1 and 5-4. Antti Niemi was uncharacteristically off his game, at least for these playoffs, in the first and second periods before rebounding with several solid stops in the third period. Just like the Flyers, Chicago's top line was blanked.
Chicago is the favorite and they are at home. Look for a more settled down performance with Game 2 and the Hawks should win on home ice.
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