The online sports betting is getting ramped up for the Western Conference finals game one between the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks. The NHL betting world sees this series as a power versus speed series with San Jose having the power and Chicago having all of the speed.
The Blackhawks come into this series as the number two seed in the conference and the series underdog. They are riding a wave of momentum created when they ousted Canadian Olympic hero Roberto Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference semifinals. But even with that task in the books, the Stanley Cup betting still seems to center around the Sharks.
The Sharks dumped the Detroit Red Wings in their Western Conference semifinal series and looked impressive doing it. The power up front with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau proved to be too much for the Red Wings, and it will definitely give the Blackhawks something to worry about.
The Blackhawks Sharks betting will be looking at the inexperience of Chicago goalie Antti Niemi. Regardless of how quickly Niemi seems to be maturing in these playoffs, he still shows moments of instability that could easily be exploited by a Sharks team that enjoys crashing the net. But Niemi has posted two shutouts in these playoffs, and he leads all playoff goalies in that stat. He has been there when it has counted, and he is getting more confident as the games go by.
The Sharks will also have to deal with some very confident young goal scorers up front from the Blackhawks including Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Dustin Byfuglien. Byfuglien is someone that the Sharks may be unfamiliar with, but will have to deal with in their series. He has power, speed and scored four goals in the Vancouver series including a hat-trick in game two. He is not afraid to mix it up in the corners, and his 6' 4" 257 pound frame makes him an imposing opponent.
The Chicago defense is anchored by Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. Both are strong in the corners and can keep the front of the Chicago net cleared. Speed from the defense comes from the likes of Brian Campbell. This will be a much more mobile and active defense than the Red Wings had, and the Sharks may have a difficult time adjusting to it.
On the Sharks' side of the ice there is Joe Pavelski who is one of the top goal scorers in this year's playoffs. The Sharks seem to be getting production from their centers in the playoffs, but aside from Patrick Marleau the wingers are not putting the puck in the net. To this point regular season scorers such as Ryane Clowe and Dany Heatley are having problems scoring, and if the Sharks want to get past the Blackhawks then they will need their wingers to start playing better.
The Blackhawks will try and turn game one into a shootout, and if they do then the Sharks do not have the guns to match them.
Pick: Chicago Blackhawks 5-2
