The online sports betting experts usually use numbers to develop their odds for each upcoming NHL playoff series, and the hockey betting world sees the Vancouver Canucks as underdogs. In the upcoming Western Conference semi-final series between the Vancouver Canucks and the Chicago Blackhawks, the Blackhawks are -155 favorites to win. The Canucks biggest obstacle to overcome is their captain and goaltender Roberto Luongo.
In past years NHL playoff betting has usually passed the Canucks by as they get deeper into the playoffs. Luongo's inability to perform in the big games has seen the Canucks falter in every playoff tournament he has played for them. This year was supposed to be different because this year Luongo is a gold medal winning Canadian Olympic hero. But in the first round against the Los Angeles Kings, Luongo showed signs of cracking with a sub-900 save percentage and a goals against average hovering around 3.00.
Game 1 will look like a bunch of Kentucky Derby contenders blasting out of the starting gate. The Blackhawks with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews will be buzzing all around the Vancouver net, and the Sedin twins will have that Canuck logo flying around Chicago goalie Antti Niemi. The difference is that Niemi can withstand the pressure, Luongo has shown that he cannot.
This first game will set the tone for what should be a hockey fan's dream series. The Canucks have significant firepower with Henrik and Daniel Sedin complimented by Mikael Samuelsson, and they can hit with players like Kevin Bieska and Christian Ehrhoff. The Blackhawks have a very well-rounded team with offense from Kane and Toews along with Marian Hossa, along with grinders like Duncan Keith. These are two hockey teams built for NHL playoff hockey.
The Blackhawks are 7-2 favorites to win the Stanley Cup, and the Canucks are given 6-1 odds at being champions this season. Given the inconsistent play of the San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings in these playoffs, the Western Conference champion will probably come from this Chicago versus Vancouver series.
This game will be high-flying, hard-hitting and full of precision passing that makes highlight reels at the end of the season. It will come down to a battle between Luongo and Niemi, and in past years that sort of a situation was an area of concern for Canuck fans. But Luongo has been gaining in confidence all season long. From his gold medal in the Olympics to the first round win over the Los Angeles Kings, Luongo is feeling good about himself and he is hoping that this is the year that he gets the playoff monkey off his back.
The Blackhawks have a lot of contracts coming up at the end of this season and are pressed right up against the cap, so there may be some movement on the Chicago roster when this season is over. The Blackhawks will want to make one good push for the Cup, and they have the talent to get there.
Pick: Chicago Blackhawks 6-4
